When a business dispute threatens your company, you need attorneys ready to litigate from day one. At Melancon, Rimes & Daquanno, our partners directly manage every commercial matter for Zachary business owners, with results that include a $16 million judgment in a consumer fraud class action.
Combined Experience
Lost one trial in 20 years
A commercial dispute can disrupt operations, drain resources, and put years of work at risk. Zachary business owners often face complex legal battles where opposing counsel is well-funded, motivated, and willing to drag the matter out.
These matters demand attorneys who understand both the legal complexities and the underlying business stakes. Half-measures and quick settlements rarely serve your company’s long-term interests.
We prepare every commercial case for full litigation. We never assume a matter will settle, which forces opposing parties and their insurers to take your claims seriously from the start. This approach has produced significant results, including a $16 million judgment in a consumer fraud class action representing approximately 67,000 Louisiana citizens and a $1.5 million antitrust settlement.
When you hire one of our partners, you get the collective expertise of the entire firm. Jason Melancon leads our litigation work and has handled complex commercial matters in federal courts across Louisiana, Georgia, Texas, California, and New York. Learn more about our broader commercial litigation practice and how we approach business disputes.
Our practice covers the full range of commercial disputes Zachary companies encounter. We represent both plaintiffs pursuing recovery and defendants facing claims, with the same level of attention regardless of case size.
Disputes over agreements with vendors, partners, employees, and longtime clients across various industries and sectors.
Misappropriation of proprietary designs, customer lists, formulas, and confidential business information by competitors or insiders.
Litigation involving infringement of patented technology, manufacturing processes, or proprietary product and equipment designs.
Price-fixing, vertical price coordination, monopolization claims, and unfair trade practice disputes under Louisiana law.
Consumer fraud, business fraud, and misrepresentation cases involving financial harm to individuals or to your company.
Large-scale matters representing groups of consumers or businesses with shared claims against a common defendant.
Louisiana Unfair Trade Practices Act violations, competitor misconduct, and false advertising or marketing claims.
Tortious interference with contract, defamation, and other wrongful conduct between businesses or competing market actors.
Coordinated misconduct by multiple parties resulting in financial damage to your business or to your customers and clients.
Each commercial matter receives partner-level attention from filing through resolution. We do not pass complex litigation off to junior associates or delegate strategic calls.
Your case is handled directly by a named partner from beginning to end. You speak with the attorney working your matter, not a junior associate or paralegal screening calls.
Admitted to all three Louisiana federal districts and the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, with active federal court experience across five states nationally.
Every case is prepared for trial from day one. Defendants and their insurers settle for fair amounts when they see our team is genuinely ready to go to verdict.
Our results in business litigation include the $16 million class action judgment, a $1.5 million antitrust price coordination settlement involving Louisiana power companies, and millions recovered in trade secret matters spanning more than a decade of active litigation.
We follow a structured approach designed to position your case for the best possible outcome, whether through negotiated settlement or final trial verdict. Each phase builds on the last to develop maximum leverage.
We meet with you to understand the dispute, review the key documents, and assess the legal and business issues at stake.
We gather evidence, review contracts and internal communications, and identify all parties and claims involved in the matter.
We develop a personalized strategy based on your business goals, the available evidence, and the specific defendants involved in the dispute.
We file the lawsuit and conduct thorough discovery, including document production, depositions, and coordination with retained expert witnesses.
We pursue fair settlement when terms make sense, but prepare aggressively for trial when opposing parties refuse a reasonable resolution.
Throughout the process, you receive regular updates and direct access to your attorney for any questions about strategy, settlement posture, or case progress.
We pursue the full value of your claims rather than rushing into low settlements that leave money on the table for opposing parties to keep.
You communicate directly with the partner handling your case by phone, email, and text, with prompt response times throughout active litigation.
When you hire one partner, you gain the experience and knowledge of every attorney in our firm working in support of your matter.
Our willingness to take cases all the way to verdict gives us settlement leverage that high-volume firms simply cannot match in negotiation.
These results show what is possible with the right legal team committed to thorough preparation. Past outcomes are illustrative only and depend on the specific facts of each case. Below are several representative recoveries from our prior successful cases.
recovered for approximately 67,000 Louisiana citizens charged illegal service fees by an insurance company defendant.
 secured for a tech company whose wireless surveillance system designs were stolen by public officials and competing parties.
settlement in a vertical price-fixing case involving Louisiana power companies and a marketing distribution agency defendant.
settlement in a separate consumer fraud matter handled to resolution by our litigation team.
Past results do not guarantee similar outcomes. Each case depends on its specific facts, applicable law, and procedural posture.
Your initial consultation costs nothing. We meet with you to discuss the dispute, review the relevant documents, and provide an honest assessment of the legal options available to your business. There is no obligation to hire us after the consultation.
Fee arrangements vary based on the type and complexity of your matter. Some cases are handled on a contingency basis, others on hourly or hybrid arrangements that combine reduced hourly rates with success fees tied to the outcome. We discuss the structure openly during your consultation and identify the arrangement that fits your business goals.
"Great experience. They were very professional and were there whenever I called or needed them. My settlement was well worth the wait. I recommend them to anyone needing legal services. They will fight for you and get you what you deserve for your injuries. I didn't just gain good legal representation I also gained friends and a law firm that cared.
"I couldn't be more pleased with choosing Jason and all of the associates at Melancon & Rimes. I was told by several people throughout the duration of my litigation that I was in good hands with one of the best attorneys in Louisiana, and the results did not disappoint. A very efficient group that worked diligently to win my case and keep me well informed along the way."
"Jason and his entire staff are terrific. They are honest, thorough, meticulous and totally professional. You could not ask for more from a law firm. Highly recommended."
Our clients consistently highlight responsiveness, professionalism, and tangible results, the foundations of how we approach every business litigation matter we accept.
Our partners bring complementary backgrounds suited to complex business disputes. Jason Melancon leads our litigation section, recognized as a Louisiana Super Lawyer and Rising Star, with active federal court experience across five states. The firm collectively brings more than five decades of legal experience to matters that range from local contract disputes between Zachary businesses to multi-million dollar federal class actions throughout Louisiana.
Jason Melancon was recognized as a Louisiana Super Lawyer (2018-2021) and Rising Star (2013-2015).
Admitted to all Louisiana federal districts, the Fifth Circuit, and the U.S. Supreme Court.
Successfully prosecuted complex class actions, including a $16 million consumer fraud judgment.
Across two decades of active courtroom practice, our partners have only lost one trial. That record gives us credibility in settlement discussions and earned confidence inside the courtroom.
We handle a broad range of business disputes, including breach of contract, trade secret theft, patent infringement, antitrust and unfair trade practice claims, fraud, business torts, and class actions. Our experience spans matters from local contract disputes between Zachary companies to multi-million dollar federal class actions involving thousands of plaintiffs across Louisiana. We represent both plaintiffs pursuing recovery and defendants facing claims, with the same level of attention given to every matter regardless of size or complexity.
Timelines vary significantly based on case complexity, court jurisdiction, and the parties’ willingness to negotiate. Simpler contract disputes may resolve within months through early negotiation or summary judgment. Complex matters such as trade secret theft or antitrust class actions can take years to reach final resolution. One of our trade secret matters spanned 13 years of active litigation against multiple defendants. We provide realistic timeline estimates during your initial consultation based on the specific facts of your case and the venue.
Yes. Our attorneys are admitted to practice in all three federal district courts in Louisiana (the Middle, Eastern, and Western Districts) and before the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. Jason Melancon is also admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court. We have active federal court experience across Louisiana, Georgia, Texas, California, and New York, which is particularly valuable for commercial cases involving interstate commerce, federal questions, or multi-jurisdictional defendants.
Fees depend on the type and complexity of your matter. Some cases are handled on a contingency fee basis where we collect only if we recover for you. Others use hourly billing or hybrid arrangements that combine reduced hourly rates with success-based fees tied to the outcome. We discuss the fee structure transparently during your free initial consultation and work with you to identify an arrangement that fits your situation, the size of the dispute, and the realistic range of recoveries.
Yes. Unlike larger firms where senior attorneys hand cases to junior associates after the initial meeting, our partners directly manage every business matter from filing through final resolution. You communicate directly with the partner handling your case and have access by phone, email, and text. This direct attorney access is one of the three foundations of our practice and one of the main reasons clients choose our firm for serious disputes.
Yes. We have substantial class action experience, including a $16 million judgment in a consumer fraud class action representing approximately 67,000 Louisiana citizens and a separate $5 million class action settlement in a consumer protection matter. Class actions require specific procedural expertise around class certification, notice requirements, and final settlement approval. Our team has navigated these requirements successfully in both state and federal courts in Louisiana and beyond.
Our practice serves business owners and executives throughout the greater Baton Rouge area and surrounding parishes. We understand the local business communities and the regional courts where commercial disputes between Louisiana parties are typically litigated.S
East Baton Rouge | West Baton Rouge | Ascension | Livingston | Iberville | Pointe Coupee | West Feliciana | East Feliciana | St. HelenaS
If your business is located outside these communities but your matter involves Louisiana law or a Louisiana party, contact us to discuss whether our firm is the right fit for your case.
LSU Law School (Juris Doctor), Senior Associate with the Louisiana Law Review. Recognized as a Super Lawyer (2018-2021). Admitted to U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals and U.S. Supreme Court.
Loyola University School of Law (Juris Doctor), Member of Moot Court Staff, finalist for J. Sanford Levy best brief writing competition.
Southern University Law Center (Juris Doctor, magna cum laude), Senior editor of Southern University Law Review. Admitted to U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.