Redmanns’ Legal Legacy Extends to Four Generations and...
Transcript of Redmanns’ Legal Legacy Extends to Four Generations and...
Louisiana Bar Journal Vol. 54, No. 6 441
There has been an attorney
named Redmann practicing
in Louisiana since 1917, ac-
cording to family records.
The family is now in its fourth
generation of attorneys, with no signs of
stopping there. This family, with blood
relations and marriages stemming from
two Joyce sisters, also gathers in many
other Louisiana legal families. (See re-
lated article on page 443.)
The first generation of this family
begins with two gentlemen, Morris Ben-
jamin Redmann and Joseph Francoise
Monie.
Morris Benjamin Redmann was
born in New Orleans in March 1896. He
died in September 1955. He graduated
from Tulane Law School in 1916 and
was admitted to practice in March 1917.
He had a general practice in civil law and
Redmanns’ Legal Legacy Extends toFour Generations and Spans 90 Years
was first associated with the law firm of
Merrick &Schwarz and later with Guste,
Barnett & Redmann. He appeared before
the United States Supreme Court in two
reported decisions: Lacoste v. Depart-
ment of Conservation of State of Louisi-
ana, 263 U.S. 545, 44 S.Ct. 186, 68 L.Ed.
437 (1924), and Rickert Rice Mills v.
Fontenot, 297 U.S. 110, 56 S.Ct. 374, 80
L. Ed. 513 (1936). He was the father of
nine sons and one daughter. (His daugh-
ter and two sons are listed below in the
second generation. He is the paternal
grandfather of the Redmann grandchil-
dren listed in third generation.)
Joseph Francoise Monie was born in
Wallace, La. in February 1898. He died
in April 1972. He graduated from Loyola
University Law School in 1924. He was
custodian of notarial records for Orleans
Parish in the 1930s, was an Orleans Par-
ish assistant district attorney in the 1940s
and then worked in private practice at the
Pere Marquette Building (and prior to
that the former Maison Blanche Build-
ing) until his hospitalization in 1972. (He
is the maternal grandfather for lawyers
John B. Donnes, Denise C. Redmann and
Esther A. Redmann.)
There are three attorneys in the sec-
ond generation of the Morris B. Redmann
line — Sister Esther Redmann, Hon.
William V. “Bill” Redmann and Robert
Eugene Redmann.
Sister Esther Redmann, OSU, was
born in New Orleans in 1926. She earned
a licentiate in canon law (JCL degree) in
1989 from the Pontifical of St. Thomas
Aquinas, Rome, Italy. She served through
1998 as judge for the Diocesan Tribunal
of Springfield, Ill., and for the Court of
Appeals of the Interdiocesan Tribunal of
Attorneys in the Redmann family gathered
in front of the Louisiana Supreme Court
building. Front row from left, Denise C.
Redmann, Sr. Esther Redmann, OSU, and
Esther Redmann Giovatella. Middle row
from left, Eugene P. Redmann, Danielle
Palmatier Mitternight and Maria Redmann
Treffinger. Back row from left, David E.
Redmann, Jr., John W. Redmann, Amy
Redmann Gibbons and Kristopher
Redmann. Photo provided by the Redmann
family.
4Generations
442 April / May 2007
In January 2005, Judge William V. “Bill” Redmann received the
Loyola University School of Law St. Ives Award. On hand for the
ceremony were several family members. Kneeling from left, Ralph C.
Redmann, Bobbie Monie Redmann (Ralph’s wife), Ceci Redmann
Smith, Judge Redmann and Esther Redmann Giovatella. Middle
row, standing, from left, Maria Redmann Treffinger, Kevin M.
Mitternight (Danielle’s husband), Danielle Palmatier Mitternight,
Ana Redmann Chandler, Mrs. Ana Macouzet Redmann (Judge
Redmann’s wife), Michelle Scafidi Redmann (Gene’s wife), Sr. Esther
Redmann, OSU, Mary Redmann Duran, Alice Redmann and Denise
Redmann. Back row from left, Howard Chandler, Tere Redmann
Bible, Richard P. Redmann, David E. Redmann, Ronald L. Redmann,
John W. Redmann and Robert E. Redmann. Photo provided by the
Redmann family through Loyola University.
Chicago, Ill. She was formerly prioress
of the Ursuline Community in New Or-
leans (1998-2001). She currently serves
as judge for the Metropolitan Tribunal
for the Archdiocese of New Orleans.
Hon. William V. “Bill” Redmann
was born in New Orleans in 1927 and
died in May 2005. He graduated first in
his class in 1952 from Loyola University
Law School and thereafter received a
master’s degree in philosophy from Notre
Dame. He served three years as execu-
tive counsel for Louisiana Gov. John
McKeithen. In 1968, he was appointed to
the 4th Circuit Court of Appeal, where he
served until May 1987, ultimately as chief
judge. Judge Redmann also was a profes-
sor of law at Loyola Law School and
recipient of the Loyola University School
of Law St. Ives Award in January 2005.
He was a member of the Order of the Coif
and various bar and judicial associations
on local and national levels. He also
lectured and wrote extensively on the
law, being published in the state and
nationally. He received numerous awards,
distinctions and high praise for his ser-
vice to his profession and his community.
Judge Redmann also was a skilled pianist
and sang for decades with the St. Louis
Cathedral adult choir.
Robert Eugene Redmann was born
in New Orleans in 1940. He graduated
from Loyola University Law School in
1965. He was a captain in the U.S. Army
Judge Advocate General Corps from
1965-68. He served as a Louisiana assis-
tant attorney general and headed the Con-
struction Litigation Division (significant
projects litigated include the Louisiana
Superdome, LSU Medical Centers in New
Orleans and Shreveport and various large
state university projects). He was head of
the New Orleans office and deputy attor-
ney general statewide from 1972-87. He
retired from full-time private practice in
2005.
The third legal generation of nine at-
torneys includes the grandchildren of
Morris B. Redmann.
Kristopher M. Redmann was born
in New Orleans in 1957 (son of deceased
Mr. Kerry P. Redmann and Mrs. Audrey
Shuh Redmann). He graduated from
Loyola University Law School in 1987.
He is a shareholder of Lugenbuhl,
Wheaton, Pelk, Rankin & Hubbard
Louisiana Bar Journal Vol. 54, No. 6 443
The Joyce Sisters andTheir Louisiana Legal Descendants
John William and Margaret Smith Joyce were the parents of five
daughters who lived to adulthood. They were Eleanor Joyce, wife of Paul
S. Stuart; Esther Joyce, wife of Morris B. Redmann; Winifred Joyce, wife
of Claude J. Kelly; Ogiana Joyce, wife of James W.A. Dyson; and Hyacinth
Joyce, wife of Joseph R. Sellers. All but Ogiana had children.
The attorney descendants are in the lines of Esther Joyce Redmann
and Winifred Joyce Kelly.
Winifred’s daughter, also named Winifred, married Oliver Stanislaus
Delery. He was admitted to the Bar in 1952 and is a retired judge of New
Orleans Traffic Court, having served on that bench for 32 years.
Judge Delery is part of a long and distinguished line of attorneys himself.
His great-grandfather was Albert Esnoul Livaudais (1844-1911) who had
served as a judge in St. Bernard and Plaquemines parishes. Judge Livaudais
had two attorney sons — Oliver Stanislaus Livaudais who also served in
those parishes as a judge, and Philip Livaudais who served as district
attorney of St. Bernard. Oliver Livaudais, Jr. was also an attorney.
Judge Delery has cousins in his generation who are attorneys with
familiar names: Judge Robert Joseph Klees (retired from the Louisiana
4th Circuit Court of Appeal), Charles Hughes Livaudais, Charles L.
Chassaignac, Octave C. Livaudais, Andre D. Livaudais, Richard Ainsworth,
Andrew Lane Plauche, Jr. and, by marriage, Paul Ramoni, James Nieset
and Michael McNulty, Jr. (In another tie-in to the Joyce sisters, Judge
Delery’s sister, Noel Delery Donovan, married Paul S. Stuart, Jr.)
The next generation of Judge Delery’s family brings in yet more
attorneys: Robert E. Guillory, Jr., a former president of the Louisiana State
Bar Association; Winifred M. Delery (Hills) who served on the Law
Institute’s Committee on Curatorship and was a law clerk to Judge William
V. Redmann; Charles Livaudais, Jr.; Noel Delery; Isabella delaHoussaye
Crane; Nadia delaHoussaye; Elise delaHoussaye (Frantzen), a law clerk
on the 4th Circuit; Hamilton Davis; Charles L. Chassaignac, Jr.; James
Nieset, Jr.; and John Nieset.
The next generation includes two second-year law students: Judge
Delery’s grandson, Kelly Christian Comarda, and Gavin Hodges Guillot.
Winifred Joyce Kelly’s son, the late Claude J. Kelly, Jr., is the father of
Claude J. Kelly III, an attorney, who is married to Anne Wallis Kelly, who
is also an attorney. Claude Jr.’s widow, Angela Brady Kelly, is the sister of
Katherine Brady Casey, wife of retired State Sen. Thomas A. Casey, another
family of attorneys.
Esther Joyce Redmann has descendants who, while not attorneys
themselves, are connected to other legal families. Her granddaughter, Karen
Redmann, is married to Gary Gulotta, son of retired 4th Circuit Judge
James Gulotta. Gary’s brother and sister-in-law are also attorneys. Her
daughter-in-law Rose Marie Rapier Redmann’s late brother, Thomas G.
Rapier, was an attorney as well.
(1987-present) and served as a law clerk
to Hon. A.J. McNamara, United States
District Court, Eastern District of Louisi-
ana. His practice involves commercial
litigation, personal injury defense and
products liability.
Eugene P. Redmann was born in
New Orleans in 1958 (son of deceased
Judge Redmann and Mrs. Ana Maria
Macouzet Redmann). He graduated from
Loyola University Law School in 1991
and served as law clerk from 1990-92 to
Hon. Gerald P. Federoff, Orleans Parish
Civil District Court. From 1992-94, he
was an associate with Keaty & Keaty in
Lafayette, La. in personal injury-disaster
litigation. Since 1994, he has been in solo
practice, primarily in personal injury and
criminal defense.
Denise C. Redmann (Hoffman) was
born in New Orleans in 1959 (also mater-
nal granddaughter of attorney Joseph F.
Monie, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph
C. Redmann). She graduated from Tulane
Law School, cum laude, in 1984, where
she was a member of the National Moot
Court Team. She worked as a law clerk to
Hon. Peter H. Beer, United States Dis-
trict Judge, Eastern District of Louisiana,
from July 1984-July 1985, and returned
as senior law clerk in 1992 through April
1994. She was an associate with Jones,
Walker, Waechter, Poitevent, Carrère and
Denègre from 1985-91. She joined the
Legal Department of Entergy Corp. as
senior counsel in the corporate and secu-
rities law group in April 1994 and was
promoted to assistant general counsel in
2001. She has been active in the Louisi-
ana State Bar Association —member,
Board of Governors; member, Profes-
sionalism and Quality of Life Committee
and Drug and Alcohol Abuse Commit-
tee; and member, Young Lawyers Sec-
tion Council. She has been a member of
the Louisiana Bar Foundation and a mem-
ber and former treasurer/secretary of the
New Orleans Chapter of the Federal Bar
Association. She currently serves on the
board of directors of The Pro Bono
Project (New Orleans) and Executive
Committee of The Pro Bono Project’s
annual Justice For All Ball.
Maria Redmann (Treffinger) was
444 April / May 2007
born in New Orleans in 1962 (daughter
of deceased Judge Redmann and Mrs.
Ana Maria Macouzet Redmann). She
graduated from Loyola University Law
School in 1988 and attended the LSU
Law Center summer program in Aix-en-
Provence. She worked as a law clerk for
Louisiana Supreme Court Justice Harry
T. Lemmon; for Hon. David R.M. Will-
iams; as central staff law clerk for the
Louisiana 4th Circuit Court of Appeal;
and for Hon. Mary Ann Vial Lemmon,
29th Judicial District Court. She has
served for more than 16 years as staff
attorney for the Louisiana Department of
Social Services, Child Support Enforce-
ment Services. She is co-founder of the
International School of Louisiana (a char-
ter public school that opened in August
2000) and served as board president from
2000-05.
John William Redmann was born in
New Orleans in 1963 (son of deceased
Judge Redmann and Mrs. Ana Maria
Macouzet Redmann). He graduated from
Loyola University in 1986 with BA de-
grees in French and psychology and from
Loyola Law School in 1989. He clerked
at the Orleans Parish Sewerage and Wa-
ter Board from 1989-90 and served as
law clerk from 1990-92 to Hon. George
C. Connolly, Orleans Parish Civil Dis-
trict Court. He was an associate with
Liska, Exnicios & Nungesser in New
Orleans from 1992-94 and in 1994 opened
the Law Office of John W. Redmann,
P.L.C., handling personal injury and
workers’ compensation claims. He has
been involved in several professional
and community organizations, among
them, A.P. Tureaud Inn of Court (in-
ducted 2005); member/treasurer, Louisi-
ana State Bar Association Bench and Bar
Section; member, Louisiana Bar Foun-
dation; member, Louisiana Association
for Justice; diplomat, National Institute
of Trial Advocacy, 1991; graduate, New
Orleans Regional Leadership Institute,
2003; board member, United Way of
New Orleans (2005-); Marquis’ Who’s
Who in American Law (1998-2006);
Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Loui-
siana, since 1998; presenter and modera-
tor of continuing legal education semi-
nars; and former president, Celtic Club
of New Orleans.
Amy Redmann (Gibbons) was born
in New Orleans in 1964 (daughter of
deceased Mr. and Mrs. Richard P.
Redmann). She graduated from Loyola
University Law School in 1990. She has
worked as a staff attorney for more than
16 years with the Louisiana Department
of Social Services, Child Support En-
forcement Services. She received the Pro
Bono Award from The Pro Bono Project
(New Orleans) and received the Out-
standing Attorney Award for Child Sup-
port Enforcement Services.
Esther A. Redmann (Giovatella)
was born in New Orleans in 1964 (also
maternal granddaughter of Joseph F.
Monie, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph
C. Redmann). She graduated from
Loyola University Law School in 1994.
She was an associate with Weigand,
Levenson and Costa from 1994-2003;
juvenile practice and Child in Need of
Care with Hammond City Court, 2004-
05; and staff attorney and judicial
administrator, City Court for Slidell,
since 2005. She was appointed as
arbitrator in small claims court for the
City of Slidell and coordinator-fiscal
agent of the Juvenile Drug Court
Program for the City Court of Slidell. She
is a member of the Louisiana and
National Drug Court Professionals
Associations and the Slidell Bar
Association.
David E. Redmann, Jr. was born in
New Orleans in 1969 (son of Mr. and
Mrs. David E. Redmann). He graduated
from Louisiana State University Paul M.
Hebert Law Center in 1994. He is a
partner with Lemle & Kelleher, L.L.P. He
appeared before the Louisiana Supreme
Court in Meral v. Aucoin, 772 So.2d 10
(LA 11/13/00). He co-authored, with
Dwight C. Paulsen III, Louisiana
Chapter, Products Liability Defenses
(Defense Research Institute, 4th ed. 2004
and 3rd ed. 2001). He is a lecturer,
“Where is Daubert going and where
should it go?,” New Orleans Association
of Defense Counsel continuing legal
education program, 2001; and an author,
“The Role of ‘Unilateral’ Error in
Contract Rescission, Construction and
Damage Valuation: A Modest Proposal,”
53 Louisiana Law Review 1879 (1993).
Michael Benjamin Redmann was
born in New Orleans in 1980 (son of Mr.
and Mrs. Robert E. Redmann). He is a
second-year law student at Louisiana
State University Paul M. Hebert Law
Center and is expected to graduate in
May 2008.
The two attorneys in the fourth gen-
eration are both great-grandchildren of
Morris B. Redmann.
Danielle Palmatier Mitternight was
born in Boston, Mass., in 1980 (daughter
of Mrs. Mary Redmann and Mr. Timothy
Palmatier, a 1984 graduate of Loyola
University Law School and chief deputy
judicial administrator of the Louisiana
Supreme Court). She graduated from
Loyola University Law School in 2005.
She has clerked for the Jefferson Parish
District Attorney’s Office; for Hon.
Fredericka H. Wicker, 24th Judicial Dis-
trict Court, August 2005-February 2006;
for Hon. Fredericka H. Wicker, Louisi-
ana 5th Circuit Court of Appeal, Febru-
ary 2006-August 2006; and for Justice
Catherine D. “Kitty” Kimball of the Loui-
siana Supreme Court, August 2006-
present. She served as the duty law clerk
for the 24th JDC during the aftermath of
Hurricane Katrina. She graduated from
Loyola University in 2002 (BA degree in
psychology, minor in Spanish) and Ben-
jamin Franklin High School in 1998. She
is a member of Psi Chi, National Honor
Society of Psychology; and member, New
Orleans Metropolitan Association of
Realtors.
Daniel M. Redmann was born in
Metairie in 1981 (son of Mr. Kristopher
Redmann and Mrs. Kelly McGinity
Hoefeld, maternal grandson of Patrick
McGinity, also an attorney). He gradu-
ated from Loyola University Law School
in 2006. He is an associate with Hailey,
McNamara, Hall, Larmann & Papale,
L.L.P., in a general civil litigation and
insurance defense practice.