Special Loyola Law Clinic Unveiling tomorrow Sept 18

Stuart H. Smith, one of the largest donors to the Loyola University New Orleans College of Law and founder of the Stuart H. Smith Law Clinic and Center for Social Justice at the university’s Broadway campus, will be honored Wednesday, Sept. 18 at 5:30 p.m. with a sculpture unveiling of his likeness.

The event will take place at the Stuart H. Smith Law Clinic and Center for Social Justice, 540 Broadway St., and is hosted by College of Law Dean María Pabón López, J.D.

The sculpture is by Jeroen Henneman, a 71-year-old Dutch visual artist whose works are included at the Netherland's Kroller-Muller Museum and are represented in the U.S. by Sotheby's.

Smith has practiced law for 25 years, litigating against oil companies and other energy-related corporations for damages associated with radioactive oilfield waste. He has been lead counsel on a number of oil pollution cases, which focus primarily on damages caused by produced water and sludges oil companies discharge into the environment. The oil and gas industry generates waste water (or produced waters) during production processes, and that waste and sludge has leached into groundwater and contaminated aquifers and other drinking water sources in oil-producing states –– like Kentucky, Louisiana and Mississippi –– posing a health risk to the general public. In 2001, Smith was lead counsel in an oilfield radiation case that resulted in a verdict of $1.056 billion against ExxonMobil for contaminating private property it leased from the Grefer family in Harvey, Louisiana. He is also representing thousands of individuals, businesses and property owners against BP for the largest man-made disaster in U.S. history in the Gulf of Mexico.

The Stuart H. Smith Law Clinic is a fully functioning legal clinic which allows third-year law students the opportunity to represent indigent clients under the supervision of experienced attorneys. Career Services educates law students and alumni regarding their professional development in the practice of law, and the methods of achieving career ambitions and employment options that exist for those in possession of a Juris Doctor degree.

For interviews: Call (504) 593-9600, Dawn Taylor or C. Brylski (504) 897-6110 For interviews with the artist: Call (504) 593-9600, Dawn Taylor