Personal injury attorney countersues Gulf Coast Bank and Trust for allegedly destroying documents

NEW ORLEANS – A personal injury attorney who is being sued by Gulf Coast Bank and Trust is countersuing accusing the bank of tampering with documents to avoid litigation.

Damon J. Baldone filed suit against Gulf Coast Bank & Trust Company, its insurer and an unknown employee in the Orleans Parish Civil District Court on Nov. 18.

On Jan. 28, 2011, Gulf Coast Bank and Trust filed a claim against Baldone in the Orleans Parish Civil District Court in order to obtain a private guarantee Baldone allegedly signed in 2002.

During the course of the trial, Gulf Coast Bank and Trust allegedly mishandled the documents. The petitioner contends that an associate with Gulf Coast Bank and Trust deliberately destroyed both paper and electronic records to increase its chances of success in the litigation. Another associate, an unidentified insurance company, allegedly presented an insurance policy to cover up the alleged acts committed by the defendant at the trial.

The plaintiff is seeking an unspecified amount in damages for loss of enjoyment of life, pain and suffering, mental agony, loss of wages and decline in future income.

In addition, the defendant is accused of intentionally destroying documents, failing to retain records and ordering its personnel to conceal records.

The plaintiff is representing himself pro se through his law offices Damon J. Baldone & Associates APLC.

The case has been assigned to Div. G Judge Robin M. Giarrusso.

Case no. 2014-11068.