Law(s) of the United States of America
The Enduring Legacy of Daniel Elmore "Danny" Becnel Jr.
Daniel Elmore "Danny" Becnel Jr., a towering figure in American tort law, left an indelible mark on the legal landscape through his relentless pursuit of justice for everyday people against powerful corporations. Born on June 14, 1944, in Louisiana to Daniel Elmore Becnel Sr.—a respected World War II prosecutor and state legislator—and Edna Vicknair Becnel, Danny grew up in the close-knit communities of Garyville and Reserve, where values of hard work, community service, and integrity were instilled early. His father's legacy as a small-town lawyer and public servant inspired Danny to follow a similar path, blending sharp legal acumen with a deep commitment to his roots in St. John the Baptist Parish.
Educated at Holy Cross High School in New Orleans, Danny earned his bachelor's degree from Louisiana State University in 1966 and his Juris Doctor from Loyola University Law School in 1969. He dove into practice with fervor, establishing offices in Reserve and LaPlace, where he built the Becnel Law Firm into a powerhouse for personal injury, class actions, and multi-district litigation. As a young attorney, he made history by securing Louisiana's first million-dollar personal injury jury verdict in 1972, a landmark achievement that catapulted him into national prominence and set the tone for a career defined by bold advocacy.
Danny's legacy is perhaps best encapsulated in his role as a champion for the underdog in some of the most high-profile mass tort cases in U.S. history. Self-dubbed the "king of torts," he represented plaintiffs in groundbreaking lawsuits against industry giants, including the tobacco companies, where he helped secure multi-billion-dollar settlements that reshaped public health policies. His involvement in the Dow Corning breast implant litigation, fen-phen diet pill cases, and Toyota sudden-acceleration recalls demonstrated his strategic brilliance and unyielding determination, resulting in over six billion-dollar-plus resolutions that provided relief to countless victims. Closer to home, Danny played a pivotal role in the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill recovery efforts, fighting for Gulf Coast communities devastated by the 2010 disaster—a case that held personal resonance for the Louisiana native who cherished the region's waterways and way of life.
Beyond the courtroom, Danny's influence extended into politics and community leadership. Though he faced setbacks in electoral bids for positions in the River Parishes, his campaigns reflected a genuine desire to serve the people of southeast Louisiana. He was a generous philanthropist, often supporting local causes, and his larger-than-life personality—marked by charisma, wit, and a love for storytelling—endeared him to colleagues, clients, and dignitaries alike, including presidents and celebrities he encountered through his work. Friends recalled his adventuresome spirit, from skiing in Aspen to discussing a wide array of topics with infectious enthusiasm.
At heart, Danny remained a "country boy," finding joy in simple pleasures like tending his garden and riding his tractor on his LaPlace property. His personal legacy endures through his family: married for 42 years to Mary Hotard Becnel, he was a devoted father to four sons—Daniel "Becket" E. Becnel III, Christopher Devon, Bradley Douglas, and Ainsley Michael—and a doting grandfather to seven. The Becnel Law Firm, now carried forward by his son Becket and others, continues to embody his ethos of zealous representation for the River Parishes and beyond.
Danny passed away on April 7, 2020, after a long illness, but his impact resonates far beyond his lifetime. He transformed the practice of mass tort law, empowering ordinary individuals to hold corporations accountable and securing justice that improved lives across the nation. In St. John the Baptist Parish and the legal community, Danny Becnel Jr. is remembered as a trailblazer whose passion for fairness, combined with his Louisiana roots, created a legacy of resilience, generosity, and triumph.
BECNEL LAW FIRM
Founded in 1969 by Daniel E. Becnel, Jr., the Becnel Law Firm has provided quality legal services for over 45 years. The Becnel Law Firm began as a small office servicing the River Parishes, specializing in personal injury cases. In 1972, Mr. Becnel became the first attorney to win a million dollar verdict in Louisiana for a single individual. The firm expanded to take on more complex litigation such as the Luling Ferry Disaster, the Eunice train derailment, the American Tobacco Company, and the Vioxx drug case among numerous other mass tort litigations, resulting in hundreds of millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts. Most recently, the Becnel Law Firm has worked to secure compensation for victims of Chinese drywall and the B.P. oil spill. Even though the firm has expanded to represent clients all over the country in complex litigation, the Becnel Law Firm continues to provide dedicated individual legal services in the spirit with which Mr. Becnel first began this firm in 1969, no matter the size of the case.
DANIEL E. BECNEL JR.
Daniel Elmore Becnel Jr., widely known as Danny Becnel, was a distinguished trial attorney whose career spanned over four decades, marked by groundbreaking litigation and a deep commitment to his community in Louisiana's River Parishes. Born on June 14, 1944, in New Orleans, Louisiana, to Daniel Elmore Becnel Sr. and Edna Vicknair Becnel, he grew up in a family steeped in legal and public service traditions. His father, a prosecutor in post-World War II war-crimes trials and a former Louisiana state legislator, instilled in him a strong sense of justice and civic duty. Becnel spent his formative years in Garyville and Reserve, attending St. Peter Catholic School in Reserve before graduating from Holy Cross High School in New Orleans. He pursued higher education at Louisiana State University, earning a bachelor's degree in government and political science in 1966, followed by a Juris Doctor from Loyola University New Orleans College of Law in 1969.
Upon completing his legal studies, Becnel established his law firm in Reserve, Louisiana, in 1969, later expanding to an office in LaPlace. His career quickly gained momentum, as he achieved a historic milestone in 1972 by securing the first million-dollar personal injury verdict for a single individual in Louisiana, stemming from a lawsuit against a trucking company. This victory set the tone for his specialization in personal injury, class actions, and multidistrict litigation, where he represented plaintiffs in some of the nation's most prominent cases. Becnel's firm, part of a legacy dating back to 1944 when the Becnel name became synonymous with legal advocacy in the River Parishes, focused on serving Southeast Louisiana and the Greater New Orleans area in both civil and criminal matters. He self-identified as the "king of torts," a moniker reflecting his aggressive pursuit of justice against powerful corporations.
Among his notable achievements, Becnel led representation for 13 families in the aftermath of the 1976 Luling-Destrehan ferry disaster, which claimed 77 lives, resulting in a $29 million settlement. He was appointed to handle approximately 4,000 plaintiffs in nationwide litigation over side effects from the swine flu vaccine, yielding $500 million in damages. In 1988, he served on the plaintiffs' committee for 18,000 claims following a Shell Oil refinery explosion in Norco, securing over $200 million in settlements. His portfolio included high-profile class actions related to the 2010 BP oil spill, fen-phen diet pills, Dow Corning breast implants, Big Tobacco, Toyota sudden-acceleration defects, the 1999 Mother's Day bus crash, tainted Chinese drywall (representing New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton and others), and a $330 million settlement against Murphy Oil after a Hurricane Katrina-related oil spill in St. Bernard Parish. Additionally, he advocated for Saints quarterback Drew Brees in a 2013 tax credits lawsuit. Through these efforts, Becnel not only achieved substantial financial recoveries for his clients but also advanced accountability in industries affecting public health and safety.
Beyond his courtroom successes, Becnel was actively engaged in local politics, reflecting his dedication to public service. In the late 1970s, he served as parish attorney for St. John the Baptist Parish. He ran unsuccessfully for several positions, including St. John Parish President in 2015 (losing narrowly in a runoff to incumbent Natalie Robottom), district attorney, an appeals court judgeship, and a seat on the St. John school board. Becnel also supported other candidates through fundraising and campaigning, contributing to the political landscape of the River Parishes.
Becnel's philanthropy and contributions to the River Parishes community and broader Louisiana were characterized by generosity and a focus on education, legal access, and community support. In 2018, he and his wife donated $1 million to Loyola University New Orleans College of Law to establish the Danny and Mary Becnel Trial Advocacy Program, enhancing the curriculum for aspiring trial lawyers. He was a consistent supporter of the Louisiana Bar Foundation, contributing in categories ranging from $100 to $250 and serving as a Benefactor’s Circle sponsor for events such as the 2013 Gala. Tributes highlight his broader impact, including long-term assistance to organizations like Landmark Land since 1978 and his reputation for helping individuals and community groups in need. Becnel's legal practice itself served as a form of community contribution, providing zealous representation to residents of St. John the Baptist Parish and beyond, often in cases that addressed environmental and health injustices stemming from local industries. Described as a "generous man with a bigger-than-life personality who touched many lives," he remained deeply rooted in his hometown, frequently engaging in local activities such as gardening and tractor operation.
In his personal life, Becnel married Mary Hotard Becnel, a former state trial judge who served for 23 years in St. John the Baptist Parish before retiring in 2016, in 1978; they shared 42 years together. The couple had four sons—Daniel Elmore "Becket" Becnel III (married to Kathryn), Christopher Devon Becnel (married to Toni), Bradley Douglas Becnel (married to Ashley), and Ainsley Michael Becnel—all of whom pursued legal careers, continuing the family legacy. He was also survived by seven grandchildren, his brother Robert M. Becnel (a lawyer to whom Danny donated a kidney more than two decades earlier), and his sister Susan Becnel Williams. Becnel battled leukemia for over 20 years and faced health complications following the kidney donation.
Daniel Elmore Becnel Jr. passed away on April 7, 2020, at his home in LaPlace, Louisiana, at the age of 75, following a prolonged illness. Services were private, with a memorial held later. His legacy endures through the Becnel Law Firm, his family's continued legal practice, and his lasting influence on tort law and community welfare in Louisiana.