Hunting rifle discharged inside of a hunting camp due to camp owner’s negligence resulted in the death of victim
Houma, Louisiana – after a four-day jury trial, a Terrebonne Parish jury has returned a verdict of $10.5 million dollars for the surviving family of the deceased.
One lifelong resident of South Louisiana was killed at a hunting camp owned by the defendant when the defendant negligently and without warning began “messing with his gun” inside of the camp while the gun was loaded and with the barrel pointed at the decedent.
Evidence presented showed the defendant materially altered his firearm and also ignored his own camp rule – “All Guns Must Be Unloaded Before Entering the Cabin” – which was posted on the entry door to the camp.
Present at the incident were the son and grandson of the decedent who were feet away from the decedent when the gunshot occurred. The son and grandson attempted to render emergency aid and contact emergency services as the decedent passed away in their presence. There was initially confusion as to whose firearm discharged.
As first responders and investigators arrived, the defendant remained silent – allowing the decedent’s son and grandson to believe perhaps one of their firearms accidentally discharged and killed the decedent – despite the investigation revealing all other firearms were unloaded at the time of the incident. After almost 2 hours of silence by the defendant subsequent to the discharge, the defendant ultimately admitted to investigators that it was his gun that discharged when he was “messing with it” inside of the camp. The defendant denied liability through the culmination of the jury trial.
After a four-day jury trial, the jury rendered a unanimous verdict for the plaintiffs of $10.5 million dollars for the wrongful death, survival action, and Lejeune claims of the plaintiffs and placed 100% of fault on the defendant.
Counsel for Plaintiffs Debra Chiasson, Darby Chiasson, Chett Chiasson, and Carson Chiasson: Robert M. Marionneaux, Jr., B. Cade Melancon and Robert M. Marionneaux, III of The Marionneaux Law Group, Baton Rouge & J. Christopher Erny of J. Christopher Erny Attorney at Law, Houma.
A special thanks to the jurors and the court for taking the time from their daily lives to hear such a heart wrenching case – their verdict will not fill the void left by the death of the decedent, but it does provide closure and validation of the decedent’s life to his surviving family.
Debra Chiasson, et al versus Glenn Plaisance, et al
Civil Suit Number: 196054 “A”
32nd Judicial District Court
Parish of Terrebonne
State of Louisiana
August 28, 2025