James M. Garner

Attorney Profile
Top Rated Business Litigation Attorney in New Orleans, LA
New Orleans, LA 70112
- Business Litigation (10%),
- Insurance Coverage (30%),
- Constitutional Law (20%),
- Civil Litigation: Plaintiff (10%),
- Appellate (10%),
- Civil Litigation: Defense (10%),
- Class Action/Mass Torts: Plaintiff (10%)
- English,
- French
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, California, West Virginia, 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, commercial, banking, bankruptcy and financial litigation. He is admitted to practice before the federal courts in Arkansas and all courts in Texas and Louisiana. He serves as regional counsel for several companies.
Mr. Garner is very active in the oil and gas field, being a chemical engineer and former drilling engineer. He represents a number of companies as claimants in the BP Macondo Litigation. Mr. Garner is also lead counsel for Texas Brine Company in defending and prosecuting its claims in the Bayou Corne sinkhole litigation.
Mr. Garner has extensive appellate argument experience by regularly arguing before the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans, the Louisiana Courts of Appeal and the Louisiana Supreme Court. He was unanimously appointed by the Tulane Faculty to Adjunct Lecturer in Law for the Fall 2014 Semester, teaching Advanced Appellate Advocacy at Tulane University School of Law.
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.
Top Lists
- Top 50: 2021 Louisiana Super Lawyers
- Top 50: 2021 New Orleans Super Lawyers
- Top 50: 2020 Louisiana Super Lawyers
- Top 50: 2020 New Orleans Super Lawyers
- Top 50: 2019 Louisiana Super Lawyers
- Top 50: 2019 New Orleans Super Lawyers
- Top 50: 2018 Louisiana Super Lawyers
- Top 50: 2018 New Orleans Super Lawyers
- Top 50: 2017 Louisiana Super Lawyers
- Top 50: 2017 New Orleans Super Lawyers
- Top 50: 2016 Louisiana Super Lawyers
- Top 50: 2016 New Orleans Super Lawyers
- Top 50: 2015 Louisiana Super Lawyers
- Top 50: 2015 New Orleans Super Lawyers
- Top 50: 2014 New Orleans Super Lawyers
- Top 50: 2013 Louisiana Super Lawyers
- Top 50: 2013 New Orleans Super Lawyers
- Top 50: 2012 Louisiana Super Lawyers
- Top 50: 2011 Louisiana Super Lawyers
- Top 50: 2010 Louisiana Super Lawyers
- Top 50: 2009 Louisiana Super Lawyers
- Top 50: 2008 Louisiana Super Lawyers
- Top 50: 2007 Louisiana Super Lawyers
About James Garner
Admitted: 1989, Louisiana
Professional Webpage: http://www.shergarner.com/Bio/JamesGarner.asp
Honors/Awards:
- New Orleans CityBusiness - 2016 Leadership in Law Honoree; Chambers and Partners 2007 - 2016 USA Rankings in Litigation – Key Individuals: “The highly regarded James Garner is well versed in class action work, representing both plaintiffs and defendants in areas such as noise pollution, banking and the energy sector.”; Best Lawyers in America since 2006 with special designations, during 2016 or a prior year, in Appellate Practice, Arbitration, Commercial Litigation, Construction Law, Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law, Litigation – Construction, Litigation – Environmental, Litigation – Securities, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Plaintiffs, Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs, Mortgage Banking Foreclosure Law, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs, Product Liability Litigation – Defendants, Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs, Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants, 2006-2016; Louisiana Super Lawyers 2007-2016, recognized in the New Orleans Top 50 (2013, 2015, 2016), and Louisiana Top 50 (2007-2013, 2015, 2016); Global Law Experts Oil & Gas Tort Litigation Attorney of the Year in the USA, 2015; 2014-2015 Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America; 2013 Top Rated Lawyer for Energy, Environmental and Natural Resources, Martindale-Hubbell; The Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America, 2007 – 2012; Lawdragon's 100 Managing Partners You Need to Know, 2008; The Lawdragon 500 New Stars, New Worlds, 2006; Top 50 Lawyers, Louisiana Super Lawyers: Appellate Law and Commercial, Mass Tort, Products Liability and Personal Injury Litigation, 2007 – 2012; Benchmark: The Definitive Guide to America's Leading Litigation Firms and Attorneys, Local Litigation Star, 2008 – 2014; Gerson Lehrman Group, GLG Leader, 2010 – Present; Super Lawyers, Corporate Counsel Edition -- Business Litigation, 2008; New Orleans City Business has awarded Mr. Garner the first annual Leadership in Law Award, as one of the top 50 Lawyers in New Orleans, 2005; New Orleans City Business Power Generation, 2003
Pro bono/Community Service:
- President and National Council Delegate, Federal Bar Association of New Orleans, 2008
- Forekids Foundation -- Charitable organization serving various children's charities in Louisiana and puts on the Zurich New Orleans Open to serve this purpose., 2011
- Xavier University of Louisiana, Board of Trustees, 2007
Scholarly Lectures/Writings:
- Moderator, Trying the Bad Faith Insurance Case, American Bar Association, 2009
- Professor, The Warranties Within: A Comparative Look at the Warranties Implied in the Sale of Goods under U.S. Law with an Emphasis on European and International Influences Thereon, Tulane Law School Summer Abroad, 2008
Representative Clients:
- Zeigler v. Housing Auth. of New Orleans, No. 2015-CA-0626, 2016 WL 1165437 (La. App. 4th Cir. 2016); M.R. Pittman Group, L.L.C. v. Plaquemines Parish Government, 182 So.3d 312 (La. App. 4th Cir. 2015); Kenner Plumbing Supply, Inc. v. Rusich Detailing, Inc., 175 So.3d 479 (La. App. 5th Cir. 2015); Hanover Ins. Co. v. Plaquemines Parish Government, 2015 WL 3953145 (E.D. La.); Louisiana Pigment Co., L.P. v. Air Liquide America, L.P. , 149 So.3d 997 (La. App. 3rd Cir. 2014); First Bank and Trust v. Redman Gaming of Louisiana, Inc. , 131 So.3d 224 (La. App. 5th Cir. 2013); First Bank & Trust v. Treme, 129 So.3d 605 (La. App. 5th Cir. 2013); Smoothie King Franchises, Inc. v. Southside Smoothie & Nutrition Center, Inc., 516 Fed.Appx. 362 (5th Cir. 2013); Tolmas v. Parish of Jefferson, So.3d (La. App. 2nd Cir. 2013); U.S. Fire Ins. Co. v. Housing Authority of New Orleans, F.Supp.2d (E.D. La. 2013); Dennis Melancon, Inc. v. City of New Orleans, 703 F.3d 262 (5th Cir. 2012); Rain CII Carbon, LLC v. ConocoPhillips Co., So.3d (La. App. 4th Cir. 2012); In re Katrina Canal Breaches Litigation, 696 F.3d 436 (5th Cir. 2012); Marshall v. Air Liquide-Big Three, Inc., So.3d (La. App. 4th Cir. 2012); Dennis Melancon, Inc. v. City of New Orleans, F.Supp.2d (E.D. La. 2012); Rain CII Carbon, LLC v. ConocoPhillips Co., 674 F.3d 469 (5th Cir. 2012); Crews & Assoc.’s, Inc. v. Nuveen High Yield Mun. Bond Fund, 783 F. Supp. 2d 1066 (E.D. Ark. 2011); Safeguard Storage Properties, L.L.C. v. Donahue Favret Contractors, Inc., 60 So.3d 110 (La. App. 4th Cir. 2011); Public Citizen Inc. v. Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Bd., 632 F.3d 212 (5th Cir. 2011); Wede v. Niche Marketing USA, LLC, 52 So.3d 60 (La. 2010); In re Katrina Canal Breaches Litigation, 495 F.3d 191 (5th Cir. 2010); Versai Management Corp. v. Clarendon America Ins. Co., 597 F.3d 729 (5th Cir. 2010); Jeansonne v. New York Life Ins. Co., 11 So.3d 1160 (La. App. 3d Cir. 2009); Royal Cloud Nine, L.L.C. v. Lafayette Ins. Co., 987 So. 2d 355 (La. App. 4th Cir. 2008); Sher v. Lafayette Ins. Co., 988 So. 2d 186 (La. 2008); In re Katrina Canal Breaches Litigation, 495 F.3d 191 (5th Cir. 2007); Cambridge Toxicology Group, Inc. v. Exnicios, 495 F.3d 169 (5th Cir. 2007); Historic Restoration, Inc. v. RSUI Indemnity Company, 955 So.2d 200 (La. App. 4th Cir. 2007); Larroquette v. Cardinal Health 200, Inc., 466 F.3d 373 (5th Cir. 2006); Touro Infirmary v. Sizeler Architects, 947 So.2d 740 (La. App. 4th Cir. 2006); Dillard University v. Lexington Ins. Co., 466 F. Supp. 2d 723 (E. D. La. 2006); City of New Orleans' Dept. of Finance v. Touro Infirmary, 905 So.2d 314 (La. App. 4th Cir. 2005); In re Crutcher-Tufts Resources, Inc., 347 B.R. 189 (Bkrtcy.E.D.La. 2005); Memorial Hall Museum, Inc. v. University of New Orleans Foundation, 847 So. 2d 625, 2002-1810 (La. App. 4th Cir. 2003); M.K.L. Development, L.L.C. v. City of New Orleans, 772 So. 2d 797 (La. App. 4th Cir. 2000); Walls v. American Optical Corp., 740 So.2d 1262 (La. 1999); Estate of Patout v. City of New Iberia, 738 So.2d 544 (La. 1999); Dumas v. Angus Chemical Co., 728 So.2d 441 (La. App. 2 Cir. 1999); Williams v. AKZO Nobel Chemicals, Inc., 999 S.W.2d. 836 (Tex. App. - Tyler 1999); Earl J. Adams et al. v. J.E Merit Construction, Inc., 712 So.2d 88 (La 1998); Simmons v. Templeton, 723 So.2d 1009 (La. App. 4 Cir. 1998); TGX Corp. v. Simmons, 62 F.3d 666 (5th Cir. (La.) 1995); U.S. v. Eighty Three Rolex Watches, 992 F.2d 508 (5th Cir. (Tex.) 1993); Cole v. Celotex Corp., 599 So.2d 1058 (La. 1992)
Newsletters:
- Federal Bar Association of New Orleans, The Advocate, 2002
Educational Background:
- Tulane University, B. Che. Eng., Summa Cum Laude, Valedictorian, 1986
Industry Groups
- Banking
- Chemical
- Governmental
- Hotel/Motel
- Insurance
- Oil And Gas
Additional Sources of Information About James M. Garner
James M. Garner:
Last Updated: 12/28/2020