Profile
Larry Curtis is the leading partner of the law firm Larry Curtis, maritime attorney, in Lafayette, Louisiana. As a personal injury attorney, his primary focus is on representing maritime workers and their families in cases that involve offshore drilling rigs or platforms, offshore oil and gas production platforms, supply boats, utility boats, crew boats, construction barges, pipe-laying barges, dynamically positioned vessels, seismic vessels, jack-up boats and dive boats.
In one landmark case, Clausen vs. Icicle Seafoods, Mr. Curtis and a colleague obtained $1.3 million in punitive damages for a seaman who was injured while working on a fish-processing barge. The case is believed to have been the first punitive damage award against a shipowner since the U.S. Supreme Court's final ruling in the case of Atlantic Sounding Inc. vs. Townsend. Mr. Curtis also holds an AV Preeminent* peer review rating through Martindale-Hubbell and is listed in the Martindale-Hubbell bar register of Preeminent Lawyers for admiralty/maritime law and personal injury law.
In addition to his legal activities, Mr. Curtis hosts a local TV program on Catholic social teaching once a month, which focuses on the seven values of Catholic social thought regarding the sanctity and fundamental rights of humanity.
*AV Preeminent and BV Distinguished are certification marks of Reed Elsevier Properties Inc., used in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Martindale-Hubbell is the facilitator of a peer review rating process. Ratings reflect the anonymous opinions of members of the bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell peer review ratings fall into two categories: legal ability and general ethical standards.
About Larry Curtis
Law School: Loyola University New Orleans College of Law
Admitted: 1978, Louisiana
Honors and Awards:
- AV Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
- Martindale-Hubbell Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers (Admiralty/Maritime Law; Personal Injury), 2003 - Present
- The Academy of Trial Advocacy, 2006 - Present
- Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory, AV Rating (Highest Rating), 1998 - Present
- The Aletheia Institute, Founding Member, 2008 - Present
- Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White), 2008, 2009 and 2010
- Million Dollar Advocates Forum, 1996
- St. John's University, Alumni Outstanding Achievement Medal, 1994
Bar/Professional Activity:
- U.S District Court Western District of Arkansas
- U. S. District Court Western District of Texas
- U. S. District Court Southern District of Texas
- U. S. District Court Eastern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court Western District of Louisiana
- U.S. District Court Middle District of Louisiana
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Louisiana
- Member, Maritime Law Association of the United States, 1997 - Present
- Member, Association of Interstate Trucking Lawyers of America, 2007 - Present
- Member, Inn of Court of Acadiana (Master of the Bench 1994 - Present)
- Member, Lafayette Bar Association, 1980 - Present (Board of Directors, 2006 - 2009; Secretary/Treasurer, 2009 - 2010; Incoming President, 2010 - 2011)
- Member, Federal Bar Association, 1978 - Present
- Member, Louisiana Association for Justice, 1978 - Present (President's Advisory Council, 1987 - 1989; Board of Governors, 1989 - 1991 and 2002 - 2003; Council of Directors, 2007 - 2011; Chair, Maritime Law Section, 2010 - 2011)
- Member, American Association for Justice, 1978 - Present
- Member, Bar Association of the Fifth Federal Circuit, 1985 - Present
- Member, American Bar Association, 1978 - Present
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- U.S. Supreme Court
- Member, Louisiana Bar Association, 1978 - Present
- Louisiana, 1978
Pro bono/Community Service:
- Publications Chairman, Middlesboro Kiwanis Club, 1986 - 1987
- Board Member, Sunday School Teacher-Trinity United Methodist Church
Scholarly Lectures and Writings:
- "Case Wreckers: The ME and Other Defense Experts," Last Chance CLE, and CLE a la Carte, Louisiana Association for Justice, New Orleans, Louisiana (December 9, 2010 and December 30, 2010)
- "Maritime Punitive Damages: Catch a Rising Star-Clausen v. Icicle Seafoods, Inc," High Stakes on the High Seas, Louisiana Association for Justice, New Orleans, Louisiana (August 13, 2010)
- "Assessing the Case for the Plaintiff, Fundamentals of Civil Litigation," LSU Law Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana (April 10, 2008)
- "The Railroad Crossing Case," Auto Torts in Louisiana, Louisiana Trial Lawyers Association, Baton Rouge, Louisiana (March 8, 2002)
- "Louisiana Procedure," 2001 Last Chance Seminar - Review of Louisiana Law, Louisiana Trial Lawyers Association, New Orleans, Louisiana (December 7, 2001)
- "Accident Reconstruction, Car Wrecks II: A Roadmap for Winning Your Case, Louisiana Trial Lawyers Association," Baton Rouge, Louisiana (March 30, 2001)
- "Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure: Last Chance Seminar, Louisiana Trial Lawyers Association," New Orleans, Louisiana (December 16, 1999)
- "Direct Examination: Your Client, Your Witness, The Big Picture of Your Case, Louisiana Trial Lawyers Association," New Orleans, Louisiana (October 30, 1998)
- "Effective Cross Examination of Medical Doctors: The Ten Most Important Questions to Ask," Car Wrecks Seminar, Louisiana Trial Lawyers Association, Baton Rouge, Louisiana (November 14, 1997)
- "Current Update on the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, 1995 Yours to Choose Seminar," Louisiana Trial Lawyers Association, Baton Rouge, Louisiana (December 28, 1995)
- "A Practical Guide to Federal Court Rules & Procedure in Louisiana," National Business Institute, Inc., Lafayette, Louisiana (October 24, 1995)
- "Pre-Trial Discovery," Retainer to Verdict Seminar, Louisiana Trial Lawyers Association, Baton Rouge, Louisiana (May 25, 1990)
- "Recent Case Law on Closing Arguments," Holiday Seminar, Louisiana Trial Lawyers Association, San Antonio, Texas (December 1, 1989)
- Opening Statement for the Plaintiff, "Your Case ... From Start to Finish Seminar," Louisiana Trial Lawyers Association, New Orleans, Louisiana (November 12, 1988)
- "Plaintiff's Intoxication as Contributory Negligence in Motor Vehicle Death, Spring Seminar," Louisiana Trial Lawyers Association, Point Clear, Alabama (April 3, 1985)
- Speaker, Kentucky Bar Associations Speakers Bureau
- Speaker, Peoples Law School, 1987
- Speaker, Louisville Bar Association, 1990
- Speaker, Kentucky Bar Association Leadership Institute, 1986 - 1997
- Speaker, Florida Supreme Court, Family Law Symposium, 2000
- Host-Inside Family Court, A Public Service Television Broadcast
- Speaker, Annual Nuts & Bolts: Practical Applications in Family Law, Louisville Bar Association, Continuing Legal Education, June 17, 2010
- Speaker, Annual Nuts & Bolts: Practical Applications, Louisville Bar Association, Continuing Legal Education, June 14, 2007
- Speaker, Child Custody and Shared Parenting, National Business Institute, May 9, 2007
- Speaker, Annual Nuts & Bolts: Practical Applications, Louisville Bar Association, Continuing Legal Education, June 22, 2005
- Speaker, BTGS Session 5: Domestic Relations Practice, Louisville Bar Association, Continuing Legal Education
- Speaker, Eighth Annual Family Law Seminar - Family Law, Louisville Bar Association, Continuing Legal Education, April 14, 2005
- Speaker, Nuts/Bolts of Divorce, Louisville Bar Association, Continuing Legal Education, June 28, 2000
- Speaker, Kentucky Law Update 1999-London, Kentucky Bar Association, September 30, 1999
- Speaker, 2nd Annual Family Law Seminar, Louisville Bar Association, Continuing Legal Education, April 9, 1999
- Speaker, Family Law & Domestic Relations, Kentucky Legislative Research Commission, June 16, 1997
- Speaker, Kentucky Law Update '96, Kentucky Bar Association, October 7, 1996
- Speaker, Kentucky Law Update '96, Kentucky Bar Association, October 24, 1996
- Speaker, Jefferson Family Court Rules, Jefferson County Family Court, September 20, 1996
- Speaker, Kentucky Law Update '93, Kentucky Bar Association, October 2, 1995
- Speaker, Kentucky Law Update '93, Kentucky Bar Association, September 9, 1993 - September 10, 1993
Verdicts and Settlements:
- Sepulvado v. Alpha Drilling, LLC, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 78337 (W.D. La. Aug. 2, 2010)
- Clausen v. Icicle Seafoods, Inc., 2010 A.M.C.793
- Capozzi v. Atwood Oceanics, Inc., 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 91911 (W.D. La. Sept. 20, 2009)
- Tobeh v. Brown Water Marine Service, Inc., 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 76834 (W.D. La. Aug. 27, 2009)
- Linton v. Shell Oil Co., 563 F. 3d 556 (5th Cir. 2009)
- In re Omega Protein, Inc., 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 17917 (W.D. La. March 9, 2007)
- Renfro v. Burlington Northern & Santa Fe RR, 06-952 (La. App. 3rd. Cir. 12/06/06); 945 So. 2d 857
- Lambert v. Diamond "M" Drilling Co., 683 F. 2d 935 (5th Cir. 1982)
- Landry v. Apache Corp., 2008 U.S. Dist LEXIS 1754 (W.D. La., Jan. 7, 2008)
- Fontenot v. Patterson Ins., 972 So. 2d 401 (La. App. 3rd. Cir. 2007)
- Boutte v. Fireman's Fund County Mut. Ins. Co., 930 So. 2d 305 (La. App. 3rd. Cir. 2006)
- Delcambre v. Blood Systems, 893 So.2d 23 (La. 2005)
- Fontenot v. Dual, 179 F. 3rd. 969 (5th Cir.1999)
- Matter of TT Boat Corp., 1999 WL 223165 (E.D. La. 1999)
- Marceaux v. Conoco, Inc., 124 F.3d 730 (5th Cir. 1997)
- Fitch v. Vintage Petroleum, Inc., 652 So.2d 998 (La. App. 3rd Cir. 1994)
- Miguez v. Southern Pacific Transp. Co., 645 So.2d 1184 (La. App. 3rd Cir. 1994)
- Wright v. Otis Engineering Corp., 643 So.2d 484 (La. App. 3rd Cir. 1994)
- Henderson v. Domingue, 626 So.2d 555 (La. App. 3rd Cir. 1993)
- Arnaud v. Commercial Union Ins. Co., 594 So.2d 992 (La. App. 3rd Cir. 1992)
- Matter of Talbot Big Foot, 924 F.2d 85 (5th Cir. 1991)
- Matter of Talbot Big Foot, 887 F.2d 611 (5th Cir. 1989)
- Matter of Talbot Big Foot, 854 F.2d 758 (5th Cir. 1988)
- Lazzell v. Booker Drilling Co., 816 F.2d 196 (5th Cir. 1987)
- Moody v. Arabie, 498 So.2d 1081 (La. 1986)
Educational Background:
- St. John's University, Queens, New York, B.A., 1974
profile