On the surety side, Jonathan regularly handles performance and payment bond matters through the lifecycle of the claim including related issues such as bankruptcy and salvage. He is often asked to get involved before litigation arises and has successfully negotiated a variety of business-oriented solutions for surety clients, including completion, takeover, security, collateral, and funding agreements.
On the insurance side, Jonathan is experienced with defending insurance companies and insureds in a wide variety of matters including professional liability, property & casualty, SDI, fidelity, and environmental claims. He has successfully litigated matters through trial and appeal in both state and federal court.
Prior to attending law school at Tulane, Jonathan earned a Ph.D. in Applied Biopsychology, where his research focused on the assessment of brain injury and chronic pain claimants involved in litigation.
When not practicing law, Jonathan enjoys staying active and spending time with his family.
J.D., magna cum laude, Tulane University Law School (2013)
Ph.D., Applied Biopsychology, University of New Orleans (2010)
B.S., Evergreen State (2003)
Louisiana, 2013
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
U.S. District Courts for the Eastern, Middle and Western Districts of Louisiana
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
Cane River Waterway Comm. v. Womack & Sons Construction Group, Inc. et al. (10th JDC, La. 2018). Defense of a surety against a lawsuit brought by the project owner seeking over $5.8 million on claims that a high-volume river water pump and filtration system did not perform as intended. The firm took the lead on addressing engineering design issues and obtained a favorable settlement resulting in no loss to the surety.
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Opelousas Hotel Group, LLC v. DDG Construction, Inc., et al. (W.D. La. 2018). Defense of a structural engineer against claims brought by a project owner seeking over $7 million in damages for alleged defects in design and construction of a hotel. The matter was resolved with a favorable settlement resulting in no loss to the structural engineer.
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Ochsner Clinic Found. v. Lexington Ins. Co., Civ. Action No. 15-2313 (E.D. La. 2016). Defense of an insurer in a complex first-party claim seeking over $20 million for property damages, loss of revenue, and bad faith arising from the collapse of a building being renovated into a primary care facility for the hospital. The court granted partial summary judgment and a favorable settlement was reached.
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Myers v. Welch, 233 So.3d 49 (La. App. 1 Cir. 2017). Defense of an insurer against a $4 million wrongful death claim. The court granted summary judgment on coverage and dismissed all claims, with the ruling affirmed on appeal.
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Petroplex Int’l, LLC v. St. James Parish et al., 158 F. Supp. 3d 537 (E.D. La. 2016). Defense of St. James Parish against challenges to the constitutionality of a land use ordinance and claims of due process violations in connection with a proposed $800 million oil tank farm facility. The court granted summary judgment affirming the validity of land use ordinance and denied a preliminary injunction against the Parish after a three-day bench trial.
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Washington v. South Gateway Tire, Civ. Action No. 2012-7943 (12th JDC, La. 2012). Defense of a claim for over $10 million relating to alleged injuries and punitive damages following a rollover accident. The court partially dismissed the punitive damage claim on summary judgment and the jury returned a favorable verdict after a one-week trial.
American Bar Association
Louisiana State Bar Association
New Orleans Bar Association