Joseph F. Clark | Attorney

Joseph F. Clark, Jr., born January 20, 1949.  Graduated Villanova University 1971 AB in Social Sciences. J.D. Tulsa University 1973.  Admitted to practice of law April 26, 1974., Oklahoma Bar Association, also admitted United States Supreme Court, 10th Circuit Court of Appeals, United States District Courts for the Northern, Eastern and Western Districts of Oklahoma .  Member Tulsa County Bar Association ,  ADR Committee 1991-1993 (Chairman 1992),  Fee Arbitration Committee ( 1997-98: 2004-present) , Professional Responsibility Committee (2001-2003).  Inns of Court Master Emeritus.

Certified under Texas law as a mediator 1991. 

Lecturer on various CLE topics including.  Bad Faith Litigation in Oklahoma 1991, Settlements Conference, Mediation  and Arbitration in Insurance Cases  Spring 1992, New Causes of Action in Insurance  Fall 1995,  Insurance Coverage Law In Oklahoma Spring 1997, 1998. Insurance Law In Oklahoma ,   Spring 1996, Trying the Wrongful Death Case. Winter 1997, Auto Insurance Law and Accident Litigation in Oklahoma, Fall 1998, 1999, ERSA for the General Practitioner , 2005,  Third Party Insurance Coverage in Oklahoma , Spring 2004 and 2005.

Mr , Clark has tried about 100 jury trials as either sole attorney or lead attorney  to verdict and has been lead counsel in as many appeals both in Federal and State Court.  For his first 15 years of practice he was in insurance defense firms representing insureds in third party actions and insurers in first party actions.  The last ten years of insurance defense work had a strong  emphasis on first party claims, one were the claimant or plaintiff is seeking benefits under their own policy or the claimant is a beneficiary under the policy,  with significant bad faith allegations.  Since that time his practice has been representing insureds, beneficiaries or third party claimants in insurance matters, personal injury and wrongful death.   He obtained a million dollar verdict against an insurance company in Ottawa County in 1991 which included $900,000.00 in punitive damages.  The jury verdict was upheld on appeal. 

Published opinions include Lewis v. Aetna U.S, Healthcare Inc., 78 F. Supp 2d 1202, (N.D. 1999) which resulted in a front page article in Lawyers Weekly about the opinion. 

Other published opinions include   Taylor v. State Farm Fire and Cas. Co., 1999 Ok. 44, 581 P2d 1253, Kating  v. City of Pror ex el Municipal Utility Bd. Of Pryor,  1999 Ok. Civ. App. 26, 977 P2d, 1142,  Durocher v. Nelson Stone Co., Inc., 1999 OK  CIV  23. 978 P2d 371, Independent School Dist No. 1 v. Jackson, 1980 OK 38, 608 P2d 1153, McCullogh v. Safewary Stores,   Inc., 1981 OK 38, 626 P2d  1332,  Moon v. Guarantee Ins. Co.,  1988 Ok. 85, 775 P2d 273, Walker v. Matthews, 1988 Ok 143, 775 p2d 273, Carver v. Ford, 1979 OK 26, 591 P2d 305, Matter of D.W.S., 1977 OK CR 163, 563 P2d 663, Booker v. Sear, 1989 OK. 156, 785 P2d 297, Prod. Liab. Rep. (CCH) P 12,320,   Sixkiller v. Summers. 1984 OK 14, 680 P2d 360,  Massey v. Farmers Ins. Goup,  1992  OK., 80, 837 P2d 880,  and Thompson v. Shelter Mut. Ins., 875 F2d 1460 (10th Cir 1989)

In 1995 Mr. Clark started arguing that Oklahoma 's Insurance Bad Faith Law was not preempted by ERISA leading to the Lewis v. Aetna, opinion above.  Although this argument latter was unsuccessful Conover v. Aetna U.S. Health Care Inc.., 320 F3d  1076 (10th Cir 2003) and Holloway v. UNUM Life Ins Co., Of America,  2003 OK 90, 89 P3d 1022 it indicates his devotion to helping those that need help the most.  Since opening up his own practice in 1999 the main focus of the practice has been trying to help people.