Charles C. (“Chuck”) Bourque

Chuck Bourque

Chuck Bourque was born in New Orleans and lived there until moving to Baton Rouge to attend college at Louisiana State University. Chuck graduated from Louisiana State University in 1985, with a degree in accounting, following which he was commissioned as an officer in the United States Army and entered helicopter flight training at Fort Rucker, Alabama. Upon completion of flight school, Chuck began serving as a commissioned officer and helicopter pilot in the Louisiana Army National Guard.

Chuck subsequently enrolled in law school at Loyola University in New Orleans in 1987 and graduated with honors as a member of the Loyola Law Review in 1990. Chuck was admitted to the Louisiana State Bar in 1990, and is currently licensed to practice before all State and Federal Courts in Louisiana. Prior to entering private practice, Chuck served as a law clerk to the Honorable A.J. McNamara, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana. Upon completion of his clerkship with Judge McNamara, Chuck worked in New Orleans with a large defense firm, representing various businesses and insurance companies in litigation in State and Federal Court.

Since joining Michael St. Martin in 1999, Chuck has achieved substantial verdicts and settlements for his clients. Chuck has represented seriously injured persons, families of wrongfully killed workers, residents of nursing homes who have suffered as a result of substandard care, and numerous other companies and persons in wide-ranging disputes. Over the past years, Chuck has been involved in a number of aviation and maritime law cases, involving severe personal injury and wrongful death. Chuck’s numerous years as a helicopter pilot in the military have provided him with unique insight into helicopter accidents occurring offshore and on land. Chuck retired from the Louisiana National Guard in 2011 after 26 years of service as a commissioned officer and helicopter pilot, where he held the rank of Major and was assigned to the State Aviation Command.

Chuck is currently a member of the Terrebonne Parish, New Orleans, Louisiana State, Federal and American Bar Associations, the American Association for Justice (previously the American Trial Lawyers Association), the Louisiana Association for Justice (previously the Louisiana Trial Lawyers Association), and St. Thomas More Inn of Court.

Charles “Chuck” Bourque was recently interviewed by MSNBC with regard to the impact of the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill on the people of Terrebonne Parish and the rest of South Louisiana.  Chuck’s interview can be viewed online at MSNBC.com.

Mr. Bourque recently settled a wrongful death claim on behalf of a person killed in a railroad crossing accident on behalf of his wife and child for $1.825 million.

Recent Settlements and Verdicts

• $11.45 million for crew member who sustained serious, and ultimately fatal, burn injuries when his vessel struck and punctured an underwater gas pipeline
• $4.5 million for four clients injured during offshore rig decommissioning accident
• $1.065 million settlement for head-on collision with 18-wheeler that killed occupants of car
• $1.825 million settlement of railroad crossing accident resulting in death
• $4.5 million in total settlement for 3 injured Jones Act seaman working upon an offshore drilling rig that collapsed
• $11 million settlement for Floorhand injured on a jack-up drilling rig
• $4.9 million jury verdict against electric company for house fire that caused the deaths of 4 people