On referral from District Attorney Cam Morvant II, Lafourche Parish retained Mike Gee of the firm’s Thibodeaux office to handle negotiations and possible litigation in a dispute with out-of-state landowners. Porteous, Hainkel & Johnson will represent the Parish in renegotiation of public rights to an important recreational and commercial fishing water access. The assignment follows Mikes recent success defending Lafourche Parishread more…

Michael Gee in the Thibodaux office scored a resounding victory for Lafourche Parish when Louisiana Federal Eastern District Judge Donald Walter granted defense judgment as a matter of law. His ruling took  the matter from a jury after four days of trial. The civil rights action under federal law alleged that the parish negligently failedread more…

James Thompson won a jury verdict on finding of no negligence or strict liability favoring his client, a St. Charles Parish homeowner. Plaintiff, who was wearing a prosthetic leg, claimed she fell and fractured her femur as a result of a defect in the defendant’s garage. Among other damages, she claimed permanent disability, including permanentread more…

Porteous, Hainkel & Johnson partner Chauntis T. Jenkins received an appointment pro tempore from the Louisiana Supreme Court to the Orleans Parish Civil District Court seat held by Judge Herbert Cade. Judge Cade was elected to fill a vacant seat in Orleans Parish Traffic Court. Her appointment commenced on January 1, 2012. Chauntis will remainread more…

See the firm Insurance Law Blog for details on a series of successful Civil District Defenses by Porteous, Hainkel & Johnson partners. Louisiana Insurance Law Blog

and graduates as a member of the Claims Litigation Management Alliance’s first Litigation Management Institute graduating class. Press Release Congratulations Ryan!

Professional accomplishments are necessary metrics by which clients judge our success, but life is not limited to occupation. In recognition of that fact, we proudly recognize New Orleans Associate Matthew Mann for his recent induction as a member of the 2002 Tulane University baseball team into the school’s Athletics Hall of Fame. Quoting from aread more…

Two more Porteous attorneys obtained defense judgments in recent weeks. Former managing partner James Thompson proved, once again, the value of experience shortly before associate Michelle Trowbridge provided an object lesson in the quality of her training. Mr. Thompson prevailed on behalf of Louisiana Farm Bureau in the same court, the 24th Judicial District inread more…

Following a four day jury trial, Kathleen Simon took down another claimant for no recovery. The St. Tammany Parish jury found that a motorist was not at fault for a collision with a bicyclist. Once again, a North Shore jury succumbs to the wit and wisdom of our esteemed colleague. Congratulations.

Jim Nieset defended on appeal summary judgement in favor of firm client ANPAC and it insured on a premises liability claim. Trial and appellate courts agreed with Nieset’s affirmative defense that plaintiff injured himself on an open and obvious hazard. A full write up and link to a pdf text of the opinion is postedread more…

Porteous, Hainkel & Johnson partner Nick Gristina successfully defended a personal injury lawsuit arising out of an altercation between his female client and her former boyfriend. The plaintiff’s initial demand was over $200,000. After a two day jury trial in the 24th JDC before Judge Liljeberg, the jury deliberated for 33 minutes before returning aread more…

Chauntis Jenkins was honored as Southern University’s 2011 law school alumna during an April 7 reception at the Shaw Center in Baton Rouge. The distinction is well earned and the firm is honored too for having her as our partner. Pictured from left to right are: Adrianne Baumgartner (Managing Partner), Charles L. Chassaignac, IV, Chauntisread more…

Porteous, Hainkel & Johnson is pleased to announce that Mr. James Nieset Jr has been invited to join the prestigious Council on Litigation Management. The Council is a nonpartisan alliance comprised of thousands of insurance companies, corporations, Corporate Counsel, Litigation and Risk Managers, claims professionals and attorneys. Through education and collaboration the organization’s goals areread more…

The Louisiana Fifth Circuit recently affirmed dismissal of a plaintiff personal injury claim on Exception of Res Judicata. In the matter of McKinnis v. Reine, the evidence established that plaintiff accepted settlement payment and executed a release prior to filing suit. The result in favor of Reine and her insurer, Louisiana Farm Bureau, represented byread more…

UPDATE: To read the Defense Reasearch Institute (DRI) article click here. The Louisiana Supreme Court unanimously denied plaintiff’s writ application seeking to overturn a summary judgment in favor of PH&J’s client in an automobile/bicycle collision. We first noted this case HERE. Nick Gristina Matt Mann

Louisiana’s First Circuit Court of Appeal affirmed dismissal in favor of Porteous client defendants disposing of a lawsuit filed by plaintiff under the Death on the High Seas Act.  The trial court victory was modified only to make the dismissal with prejudice.  Ryan Acomb represented the prevailing defendants.  The appellate court agreed that an ex-wife is not a “dependent relative” entitledread more…

Ryan Acomb preserved a trial court summary judgment at the US Fifth Circuit on a Jones Act negligence and maintenance and cure claims. Representing L&M Botruc Rental, Inc., Acomb supported the motion with a showing that plaintiff failed to produce evidence of defendant/employer negligence resulting in injury. Further, the Fifth Circuit concurred that plaintiff wasread more…

Two more favorable outcomes for defendants represented by Porteous attorneys.  Chauntis Jenkins successfully presented a comparative fault defense as a Civil District Court (Orleans Parish) jury returned a verdict finding plaintiff 80% at fault.  Jim Nieset secured a favorable judgment in the 24th Judicial District Court (jefferson Parish) for an insurance agent alleged to haveread more…

Chauntis Jenkins, a partner in the firm’s New Orleans office was awarded the Southern University Law Center Distinguished Alumni Award for 2011.  Contgratulations Chauntis!

UPDATE: To read the Defense Reasearch Institute (DRI) article click here. Nick Gristina, a partner in the Porteous, Hainkel & Johnson New Orleans office teamed up with associate Matt Mann to win a difficult summary judgment that has now been affirmed by Louisiana’s Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal. Even with plaintiff disputing the facts, defendants,read more…

At the firm’s annual meeting on November 12, Adrianne Baumgartner was elected to replace James Thompson as the firm’s managing partner.  Mr. Thompson is stepping down after eight years at the helm.  We all appreciate Jim’s hard work steering Porteous, Hainkel & Johnson through the traumas of Hurricane Katrina and the loss of two senior partners.read more…