Mr. James M. Garner, Private Law Practice

Mr. Garner, a Member of the firm is a trial lawyer specializing in commercial and complex litigation. He has been lead counsel in cases in New Mexico, Kansas, Arizona, Indiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas, involving complex and class action litigation ranging from asbestos exposure, benzene exposure, mass closings of big box retailers, noise pollution, and financial litigation. He is admitted to practice before the federal courts in Arkansas and Mississippi and all courts in Texas and Louisiana. He serves as regional counsel for several companies.

Mr. Garner has served and is serving as lead trial counsel for several corporations seeking in excess of $1.5 billion in damages related to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.  These include Xavier University of Louisiana, Dillard University, Children's Hospital of New Orleans, Universal Health Services, Pioneer Resources, Touro Infirmary, St. Augustine High School, Imperial Trading, Coleman A. Adler and Sons as well as Safeguard Storage Corporation.  Mr. Garner was lead advocate in two of the seminal Katrina insurance cases argued to the Louisiana Supreme Court and United States Fifth Circuit.

Mr. Garner has also served as lead trial lawyer in complex construction litigation involving the Federal Bureau of Investigation Building in New Orleans, The Astor Crowne Plaza Hotel, The St. James Hotel, The Hilton Garden Inn Convention Center, The Hotel Le Cirque, as well as Woldenberg Village Nursing Home and Assisted Living Facility.

While attending Tulane Law School, Mr. Garner served as a member of the Board of Editors for 1987-1988 and managing editor of the Tulane Law Review for 1988-1989. He is also a member of the Order of the Coif. As an undergraduate at Tulane, he was a member of the Tau Beta Pi, Phi Eta Sigma, Omega Chi Epsilon, and Omicron Delta Kappa honorary societies.

Professional and civic activities include: American (member); Louisiana (member) and Federal (Director, Membership Chair, Recording Secretary, Treasurer, President Elect and Vice-President, President and National Council Delegate, member) Bar Associations; Defense Research Institute (member); Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (member); Louisiana Bankers Association (member); Holy Cross High School (Board Member); Our Lady of Holy Cross College (Development Board); Tulane University (Admissions Council and Externship Committee); Tulane Law Review Board of Advisory Editors; St. Catherine of Siena Cub Scout Pack 230 Den Leader.