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Client service is at the core of my practice. I strive to be responsive and timely in my communication, while diligently obtaining cost-effective resolutions for my clients' concerns. In addition, I maintain good relationships with opposing counsel as I work to resolve matters, but am always prepared to litigate when the need arises.

Primary Practice:

Diana Cole Surprenant assists clients in the oil and gas, construction, manufacturing, agricultural, hospitality, health care and pharmaceutical arenas. She focuses on products liability and toxic tort matters and represents clients in the state and federal courts, including in multi-district litigation. She also serves as the leader of the firm’s Products Liability Team. In addition, she represents health care providers in medical malpractice suits.

She also advises employers in state and federal courts, arbitration proceedings and in administrative proceedings before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Louisiana Commission on Human Rights.

At the appellate level, Diana maintains an active post-trial motion practice and drafts appellate briefs stemming from toxic tort litigation and medical malpractice litigation. She also applies for emergency supervisory writ applications before the Louisiana appellate courts. At trial, Diana often draws on her appellate experience to preserve objections.  She also has extensive experience litigating in state and federal courts (including the appellate courts), as well as in arbitration proceedings and before administrative agencies. She has handled matters before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commissions and the Louisiana Commission on Human Rights, among others.

When she previously clerked for Judge Jay C. Zainey in the US District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana, Diana gained great admiration for the judge’s ability to use his legal abilities and knowledge to improve the lives of those in the surrounding community and inspire lawyers to do the same.

Diana is an active member of the Young Friends of St. Andrew’s Village, an organization that helps people with special needs. She also provides legal consultation and notary services through the Homeless Experience Legal Protection program. She is also a member of the International Association of Defense Counsel. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the New Orleans Chapter of the Federal Bar Association and the New Orleans Labor & Employment Law CLE Committee, which offers continuing legal education seminars in the field of labor and employment.

“ My integrity, diligence and determination enable me to develop solutions to complex issues and build long-lasting relationships with clients. ”

Education

  • The Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law, J.D., 2010
  • Colby College, B.A., 2007

Bar Admissions

  • Louisiana
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Areas of Practice

Acknowledgements

  • "Leadership in Law" - New Orleans CityBusiness, 2023

Professional Affiliations & Memberships

  • Defense Research Institute - Drug and Medical Device Committee, 2024
  • Louisiana State Bar Association
  • American Bar Association
  • Young Friends of St. Andrew’s Village
  • SOLACE (Support for Lawyers/Legal Personnel - All Concern Encouraged)
  • Federal Bar Association
  • HELP (Homeless Experience Legal Protection)
  • Young Leadership Council
  • International Association of Defense Counsel

Related Knowledge

News

  • The Antithetical Definition of Personal Seizure: Filling the Supreme Court Gap in Analyzing Section 1983 Excessive-Force Claims Arising After Arrest and Before Pretrial Detention, 59 CATH. U. L. REV. 493 (2010).
  • The Emerging Battlefield: Should the Use of a Nonmonotonic, Non-Threshold Dose-Response Curve for Alleged Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals Survive a Daubert/Frye Challenge?, Co-author, 80 Def. Couns. J. 45 (2013).
  • Current Regulatory and Liability Issues for Drug Compounding, DRI: For the Defense, Co-author(Sept. 2013).
  • Represented an American multinational pharmaceutical company against a claim in connection with allegedly defective breast implants.
  • Represented an American multinational healthcare company regarding allegedly defective dialysis solution. 
  • Currently advising two retailer-owned companies that service independent retail grocers in a matter involving allegedly defective phenylephrine medications. 
  • Currently representing a British-Swedish multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology company in a matter in connection with Nexium alleging gastric cancer.