Jon practices in the areas of marine energy, state and federal workers’ compensation, insurance and contractual indemnity coverage, transportation law, tort litigation, environmental litigation, business law and litigation, products liability, general civil litigation and defense of class action litigation. In addition, Jon has successfully handled Plaintiff personal injury matters resulting in many advantageous results for his clients. Jon has tried multiple matters to conclusion in both state and federal court, as well as the United States Department of Labor and the Louisiana Office of Workers’ Compensation.
Jon earned his Juris Doctorate from Louisiana State University Law School in 2003, where he was named to the Moot Court Board in 2002-2003, elected Vice-Chairman, and awarded the CALI Award for the highest grade given in Appellate Advocacy. A former LSU pole vaulter, Jon has developed a reputation for tenaciously and passionately advocating on behalf of his clients. Jon is an “AV Preeminent” rated attorney by the venerable Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings for both ethical standards and legal ability. AV Preeminent is the highest rating possible.
Jon was designated a “2019, 2020 and 2021 Louisiana Super Lawyer” by Thompson Reuters in the fields of Transportation & Maritime Law. He was previously named by Super Lawyers to the Louisiana Rising Star List for 2017 and 2018. Jon has also been continuously selected since 2016 by Acadiana Profile Magazine as a Top Lawyer in the Acadiana area in the fields of Admiralty & Maritime Law, Personal Injury Litigation and Workers Compensation Law. He has more than 35 reported decisions on Westlaw/Lexis. He is licensed to practice in all state and federal courts in the states of Louisiana and Texas. He is actively involved the Lafayette Bar Association, the Lafayette community and regularly engages in a variety of civic and philanthropic activities. Finally, Jon is an avid outdoorsman who is passionate about all things hunting and fishing.
Areas of Practice:
- Admiralty, Maritime and Energy ~ Wrongful Death, Personal Injury and Property Damage
- Jones Act
- Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA)
- Vessel Collisions / Allisions
- Cargo / Hull
- Offshore Construction
- Business Law & Litigation
- Contractual Indemnity and Insurance
- Environmental and Pollution insurance Coverage, Litigation and Recovery
- Workers’ Compensation
- State
- Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA)
- The Defense Base Act and War Hazards Compensation Act
- Mass Torts and Class Actions
- Premises Liability
- Professional Liability
- Directors and Officers Liability
- Law Enforcement Professional Liability
- Toxic Tort
- Transportation Law
Education:
- Louisiana State University, J.D., 2003
- Louisiana State University, B.A., 2000
Bar Admissions:
- Louisiana
- Texas
Court Admissions:
- All Louisiana State Courts All Texas State Courts United States
- Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit United States
- District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana United States
- District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana United States
- District Court for the Western District of Louisiana United States
- District Court for the Southern District of Texas
Professional and Community Affiliations:
- American Bar Association
- Federal Bar Association
- Lafayette Bar Association
- Louisiana State Bar Association
- State Bar of Texas
- Lafayette Volunteer Lawyers
- Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel
- Phi Delta Phi
- Vice Chairman, LSU Law Center Moot Court Board, 2002-2003
- Director, Robert Lee Tullis Moot Court Competition,2002
Experience:
- First Chair trial experience in eight state, federal and administrative law proceedings
- Second Chair trial experience in approximately five state and federal trials.
- Personally handled and successfully resolved by way of settlement more than 10 matters where he represented personal injury Plaintiffs.
- First Chair experience in representing Louisiana Oil & Gas contractors in investigations before the United States Department of Interior, Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE).
- Successfully obtained complete contractual defense and indemnity rulings in favor of a Louisiana Oilfield subcontractor and its Company Man in a burn matter involving two personal injury Plaintiffs who were injured on a “spud barge” in the Atchafalaya Basin where damages in excess of $6 million dollars in addition to punitive damages were sought.
- Successfully obtained a complete dismissal of Petroleum Engineering Company and its Company Man in an oil well blow-out related to insufficiently weighted drilling mud on a procedural exception where several million dollars of property damages were at stake.
- Successfully obtained a complete dismissal of transportation defendant in class action water contamination lawsuit where millions of dollars in property damages were sought.
- Successfully obtained complete defense rulings on issues of compensability in three state workers’ compensation matters.
- Successfully obtained a complete dismissal of corporate defendant by way of procedural defense in a transportation related case involving a double amputee Plaintiff who reportedly fell out of her wheelchair while being transferred to an inpatient medical facility.
- Successfully obtained compete dismissals by way of dispositive motions or procedural exception of defense clients in more than 35 cases involving maritime, general casualty and transportation personal injury cases.
- More than 35 reported decisions on Westlaw/Lexis.
- 15th JDC, Parish of Lafayette, La; Substituted as counsel of record in 3 criminal matters for the Louisiana Public Defender’s Office due to state budget crisis, 2016. All successfully resolved via procedural motions or plea deals.
- Lafayette Volunteer Lawyers and Acadiana Legal Services – Regularly handles divorce and family law proceedings, 2003 – present.
Publications and Presentations:
- Thomson Smith & Leach Insurance Group Seminar-Indemnity and Insurance Obligations in Master Service Agreements, June 10, 2015
- Louisiana Companies Risk Management Seminar- Indemnity and Insurance Obligations in Master Service Agreements, April 4, 2014
- Preis PLC Client Retreat and Seminar, 2010- Medicare Set Asides
Recognitions:
- Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Rating
- Named “2019, 2020 and 2021 Louisiana Super Lawyer” by Thompson Reuters in the fields of Transportation & Maritime Law
- Named “2017 and 2018 Louisiana Rising Star” by Super Lawyers and Thomson Reuters
- Named “2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 Top Lawyer” by Acadiana Profile in the fields of Admiralty & Maritime Law, Personal Injury Litigation & Workers Compensation Law
- CALI Excellence for the Future Award, Appellate Advocacy