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Martha Y. Curtis - New Orleans, LA
909 Poydras StreetSuite 2800 New Orleans, LA 70112
Sher Garner Cahill Richter Klein & Hilbert, L.L.C.
New Orleans Bad Faith Insurance Lawyer
Overview
Martha Y. Curtis is a member (partner) of Sher Garner Cahill Richter Klein & Hilbert, L.L.C. Ms. Curtis was one of the founding members of Sher Garner law firm when it opened its doors in January, 1999. It has since grown into one of the top New Orleans law firms with over 40 attorneys and more than 80 employees...
Martha Y. Curtis is a member (partner) of Sher Garner Cahill Richter Klein & Hilbert, L.L.C. Ms. Curtis was one of the founding members of Sher Garner law firm when it opened its doors in January, 1999. It has since grown into one of the top New Orleans law firms with over 40 attorneys and more than 80 employees...
Martha Y. Curtis is a member (partner) of Sher Garner Cahill Richter Klein & Hilbert, L.L.C. Ms. Curtis was one of the founding members of Sher Garner law firm when it opened its doors in January, 1999. It has since grown into one of the top New Orleans law firms with over 40 attorneys and more than 80 employees. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree, summa cum laude, from Vanderbilt University and her Juris doctorate, summa cum laude, from Tulane Law School where she served as Senior Managing Editor of the Tulane Law Review.
Ms. Curtis has extensive appellate advocacy experience, having argued before the United States Fifth and Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, the Louisiana Supreme Court, and numerous appellate courts in Louisiana and Texas. She also has significant trial experience, serving as first chair for jury trials taken to verdict and bench trials taken to judgment. Ms. Curtis is a FINRA arbitrator.
Before beginning private practice, Ms. Curtis clerked for Honorable W. Eugene Davis on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit from 1990 to 1991. Ms. Curtis was appointed by the Louisiana Supreme Court to serve as an assistant Bar Examiner from 1997 to 2000. She also served as an appointee of the Louisiana Supreme Court on the Louisiana State Bar Association’s Committee on Uniform Judicial Rules Committee.
Ms. Curtis has been involved in numerous other community and legal organizations, including the following: Tulane Law Review, Board of Advisory Editors; Tulane Alumni Association, Board of Directors; Louisiana Bar Foundation, Fellow; Association for Women Attorneys; and Federal Bar Association. She has received numerous recognitions including: 2015-2017 Louisiana Super Lawyers (Insurance Coverage), 2013-2017 Best Lawyers, 2013 Women of the Year Honoree from New Orleans CityBusiness, “Local Litigation Star” in Louisiana recognition by Benchmark Litigation Guide to America’s Leading Litigation Firms & Attorneys (2012); New Orleans City Business’s 2010 Leadership in Law Award; New Orleans Magazine’s recognition as one of the Top Lawyers in New Orleans (2009); Martindale-Hubbell A-V rated since 1999; Rittenberg-Weinstein Award, Tulane Law Review (1990); and Harry S. Truman Scholar from Louisiana (1985). Ms. Curtis also has authored several scholarly articles and has been a faculty member on numerous Continuing Legal Education panels for both the legal profession and the judiciary.
About Martha Y. Curtis
Current Employment Position(s)
- Member
Practice Areas
- Bad Faith Insurance
- Business & Commercial Law
- Insurance Defense
- Insurance Law
- Litigation & Appeals
Representative Cases
- Pontchartrain Nat. Gas Sys. v. Tex. Brine Co., 317 So. 3d 715 (La. App. 1st Cir. 2020)
- Palermo v. Century Indemnity Company, 248 So.3d 462 (La. App. 3rd Cir. 2018)
- Texas Brine Company, LLC and Occidental Chemical Corporation, 879 F.3d 1224 (10th Circ. 2018)
- Crosstex Energy Services, LP v. Texas Brine Company, LLC, , 240 So.3d 1024 (La. App. 1st Cir. 2017)
- Claimant ID 100128765 v. BP Exploration & Production, Incorporated, , 2017 WL 4310087 (5th Cir. 2017)
- Claimant ID 100247288 v. BP Exploration & Production, Incorporated, 688 Fed.Appx. 265 (5th Cir. 2017)
- Florida Gas Transmission Co. v. Texas Brine Co., No. 2015-1331, 2016 WL 7407344 (La. App. 1st Cir. 2016)
- Florida Gas Transmission Co. v. Texas Brine Co., No. 2015-1332, 2016 WL 7407345 (La. App. 1st Cir. 2016)
- ART Janitorial Services, L.L.C. v. Progressive Waste Solutions of Louisiana, Inc., No. 2016-01292, 2016 WL 7155884 (E.D. La 2016)
- Louapre v. Booher, So.3d (La. App. 4th Cir. 2016)
- Smith v. Regional Transit Authority, 827 F.3d 412 (La. App. 5th Cir. 2016)
- Louisiana Crawfish Producers Association—West v. Amerada Hess Corp., 2015 WL 12781021 (W.D. La. 2015)
- Morvant v. Maryland Cas. Co., No. 2014-226, 2014 WL 2739423 (E.D.La 2014)
- In re Deepwater Horizon, 744 F.3d 370 (La. App. 5th Cir. 2014)
- In re Deepwater Horizon, 579 Fed.Appx. 256 (5th Cir. 2014)
- 727 Toulouse, L.L.C. v. Bistro at the Maison De Ville, L.L.C., 122 So.3d 1152 (La. App. 4th Cir. 2013)
- Carmen Group Inc. v. Xavier University of Louisiana, 2014 WL 3015228 (App. D.C. Cir 2014)
- Daigle v. Tallow Creek, LLC, No. 2012-1656, 2013 WL 2487746 (La. App. 1st Cir. 2013)
- Burrus Mortg. Portfolio Partnership III v. Northern Bank Ltd., No. 2012-1445, 2013 WL 2250151 (E.D. La 2013)
- U.S. Fire Ins. Co. v. Housing Authority of New Orleans, 917 F.Supp.2d 581 (E.D. La 2013)
- Brooks v. Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club, Inc., 110 So.3d 703 (La. App. 4th Cir. 2013)
- Rain CII Carbon, LLC v. Kurczy, 2012 WL 3577534 (E.D. La. 2012)
- Jefferson Door Co., Inc. v. Cragmar Const., L.L.C., 81 So.3d 1001 (La. App. 4th Cir. 2012)
- Spence v. Cassano, 2011 WL 5419710 (La. App. 1st Cir. 2011)
- Bisso Marine Co., Inc. v. Marine Response Consultants, Inc., 2011 WL 4381576 (E.D. La. 2011)
- Koch v. Lamulle Const., L.L.C., 2009 WL 1270440 (La. App. 1st Cir. 2009)
- Khalil v. Ebrahim, 2008 WL 8921976 (La. App. 4th Cir. 2008)
- Nassar v. Academy Sports and Outdoors, 227 Fed.Appx. 392 (Miss. 2007)
- Touro Infirmary v. Sizeler Architects, 948 So.2d 261 (La.App. 4 Cir. 2006)
- Touro Infirmary v. Sizeler Architects, 947 So.2d 740 (La.App. 4 Cir. 2006)
- Fergusson v. Allstate Property and Cas. Ins. Co., Not reported in F. Supp. 2d. (S.D. Miss. 2006)
- Touro Infirmary v. Sizeler Architects, 900 So.2d 200 (La.App. 4 Cir. 2005)
- Exposition Partner, L.L.P. v. King, LeBlanc & Bland L.L.P., 869 So.2d 934 (La.App. 4 Cir. 2004)
- Ackel v. Academy Louisiana Co., 821 So.2d 109 (La.App. 5 Cir. 2002)
- Estate of Patout v. City of New Iberia, 813 So.2d 1248 (La.App. 3 Cir. 2002)
- Squirrel Run Inv. Group, Inc. v. City of New Iberia, 813 So.2d 1253 (La.App. 3 Cir. 2002)
- Brown v. Manhattan Life Ins. Co., 791 So.2d 74 (La. 2001)
- Squirrel Run Investment Group, Inc. City of New Iberia, 791 So.2d 748 (La.App. 3 Cir. 2001)
- Estate of Patout v. City of New Iberia, 791 So.2d 741 (La.App. 3 Cir. 2001)
- Smith Barney, Inc. v. Henry, 775 So.2d 722 (Miss. 2001)
- Coalition for Good Government v. Louisiana Dept. of Environmental Quality, 772 So.2d 715 (La.App. 1 Cir. 2000)
- M.K.L. Dev., L.L.C. v. City of New Orleans, 772 So.2d 711 (La. App.4 Cir. 2000)
- Specialty Food Systems, Inc. v. Reliance Ins. Co. of Illinois, 45 F Supp.2d 541 (E.D. La. 1999)
- Walls v. American Optical Corp., 740 So.2d 1262 (La. Sup. Ct. 1999)
- Estate of Patout v. City of New Iberia, 738 So.2d 544 (La. Sup. Ct. 1999)
- Adams v. J.E. Merit Constr., Inc., 712 So.2d 88 (La. Sup. Ct. 1998)
- TGX Corp. v. Simmons, 62 F.3d 666 (U.S. 5th Cir. 1995)
- Young v. Bichan Partnership, 709 So.2d 794 (La. App. 5 Cir. 1997)
- Jones v. Hyatt Corp., 681 So.2d 381 (La. App. 4 Cir. 1995)
- Henning Constr. v. First E. Bank & Trust, 635 So.2d 273 (La. App. 4 Cir. 1994)
- United States v. 83 Rolex Watches, 992 F.2d 508 (U.S. 5th Cir. 1993)
- Cole v. Celotex Corp., 599 So.2d 1086 (La. Sup. Ct. 1992)
- Jones v. Administrators of Tulane Educational Fund, WL 5097769 (E.D. La. 1st Cir. 2021)
- Shops and Garage at Canal Place, L.L.C. v. Wilson Canal Place II, LLC, WL 3621891 (E.D. La. 2021)
- Sika Investments, LLC v. RLI Corporation, WL 2134697 (E.D. La. 2021)
- St. Charles Surgical Hospital LLC v. HUB International, Ltd., WL 1561218 (E.D. La. 2021)
- VCS, LLC v. Mt. Hawley Insurance Company, WL 1399879 (E.D. La. 2021)
- Texas Brine Co., LLC v. Naquin, So.3d (La. 2020)
- Deland v. Wright Flood Insurance Co., WL 3872128 (E.D. La. 2018)
Qualifications
Bar Admissions
- Louisiana, 1990
- Texas, 2000
- U.S. Supreme Court, 2003
- U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit, 1991
- U.S. Court of Appeals 10th Circuit, 2017
- U.S. Court of Federal Claims, 2006
- U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia, 2013
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Louisiana, 1991
- U.S. District Court Middle District of Louisiana, 1991
- U.S. District Court Western District of Louisiana, 1991
- U.S. District Court Southern District of Texas, 1992
- U.S. District Court Northern District of Texas, 1992
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Texas, 1992
- U.S. District Court Western District of Texas, 1993
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Arkansas, 2021
- U.S. District Court Western District of Arkansas, 2021
Other Affiliations
- Federal Bar Association, New Orleans Chapter- Board Member
- FINRA Arbitrator, 2019 - Present
- GNO Federal Credit Union, 2016 - Present (Member of the Board of Directors)
- Tulane Law Review, Board of Advisory Editors, 1992 - Present (Member)
- Tulane Alumni Association, Board of Directors Representing Law School, 1995 - 1997 (Member)
- Louisiana Bar Foundation, 2008 - Present (Fellow)
- Association for Women Attorneys
- New Orleans Association of Defense Counsel
Classes and Seminars
- Louisiana Coverage Issues, Perrin Conferences, June 14, 2016
- Construction CPM Conference EnProMaC Construction CPM Conference in New Orleans, February 1, 2016
- A City Below Sea Level Rises Above: Exploring the Legal Impacts of Katrina Over the Last Decade Loyola University, College of Law in New Orleans, October 16, 2015
- Martinet End of Year CLE, Louis A. Martinet Legal Society, New Orleans Chapter, December 4, 2012
- Appellate Judges Education Institute Summit Southern Methodist University/Appellate Judges Education Institute in New Orleans, November 15, 2012
- Procrastinators' Programs, New Orleans Bar Association, December 15, 2011
- An Ethical Christmas Carol: Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet-to-Come, New Orleans Bar Association, Procrastinators Program, 2011
- Civil Court Judicial Forum: Advanced Discovery and Trial Practice, NBI, 2011
- Appeals, Appeals, Appeals, Expert of the Bar & Bench, LA State Bar Association, 2010
- “May it Please the Court”, Effective Case Presentation at Trial, NBI, 2010
- Trying the Bad Faith Insurance Case, A Requiem on Hurricane Cases, Coverage Litigation Committee, American Bar Association, 2009
- Drafting the Key Documents in Insurance Coverage Litigation, California Coverage Dreaming on a Winter’s Day, 17th Annual Tort and Insurance Practice Section, Insurance Coverage Litigation Meeting, American Bar Association, 2009
- Bench Bar Conference, 2008 is NOBA's License to Practice, NOBA, 2008
- Third Party Coverage, NBI, 2007
- Trial Academy, Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel, 2006
- Police Indiscretion Litigation and Claims Avoidance Strategies, Lorman Business Center Inc., 2005
- Insurance Law: Third Party Coverage in LA, NBI, 2003
- Insurance Bad Faith Claims in LA, NBI, 2003
- D & O Liability and Insurance in the New World, Loyola University School of Law, 2002
- Adjusting the Automobile Injury Claim in LA, NBI, 2001
- Insurance Coverage Law in Louisiana, National Business Institute, 1999
- Defending Hotel/Motel Negligent Security Claims, Defense Research Institute, 1997
Pro Bono Activities
- Tulane Law School Alumni, Chair of Class of 1990 Reunions for 5th (1995), 10th (2000), 15th (2005) and 20th (2010) years
- New Orleans Spring Fiesta Association, Legal Advisor on Advisory Board, 2012 to Present, 2012 - Present
- Corresponding Secretary, Society of the Founders of the City of New Orleans, 2011 to Present, 2011 - Present
- New Orleans Vanderbilt Club, President, 1998–2000; Alumni Recruiting Chairperson, 1992–1995; Member of Reunion Committee Class for 25th Reunion, 2012
- Active member of the Mercy Academy Alumnae Association, former President and Board Member
- Jefferson Dollars for Scholars, Vice Chair, Scholarships, June 1, 2003 - June 1, 2005
- Catholic Charities New Orleans, Former Member of Advisory Board
- Former Board Member, Spirit of ’76 Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution
- Volunteer at her children’s past and present schools, St. Catherine of Siena; St. George’s Episcopal School; St. Mary’s Dominican High School
Past Positions
- McGlinchey Stafford, Associate, 1991 - 1997
- McGlinchey Stafford, Partner, 1998 - 1999
- U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, Judge W. Eugene Davis, Law Clerk, 1990 - 1991
Education
- Tulane Law School, New Orleans, Louisiana, 1990
J.D.
Honors: summa cum laude
Honors: Order of the Coif
Honors: John Minor Wisdom Award
Law Review: Tulane Law Review, 1988 - 1990 - Vanderbilt University, Nashville, 1987
B.A.
Honors: summa cum laude
Honors: History Honors
Honors: Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society
Major: English
Major: History
Fraternities and Sororities
- Phi Beta Kappa
- Omicron Delta Kappa
Fees
Accepts Credit Cards
Articles
Published Works
- The Status and Evolution of First-Party Property Insurance Bad Faith Claims After Hurricane Katrina, 62, Loy. L. Rev. 25, 2016
- Tort Law Desk Reference: A Fifty-State Compendium, Contributing Editor, 2015
- The Salem Witch Trials 300 Years Later, 64 Tul. L. Rev. 235, 1989
- Giepert v. Wingerter: Mandatory Retirement Delayed for Incumbent Louisiana Judges, 63 Tul. L. Rev. 1197, 1989
- Two Recent 5th Circuit Cases Liberally Apply Sherman Antitrust Act, 40 La. B.J. 130, 1992
- Western District Finds Illegal Tying Agreement in Sugar Cane Leases, 40 La. B.J. 242, 1992
Office Information
Address
909 Poydras StreetSuite 2800 New Orleans, LA 70112
Phone
Fax
- 504-299-2311
Websites
Achievements
Other Sources of Feedback About Martha Y. Curtis
Included on the 2024 Louisiana list
Past Lists
- 2023 Louisiana Super Lawyers list
- 2022 Louisiana Super Lawyers list
- 2021 Louisiana Super Lawyers list
- 2020 Louisiana Super Lawyers list
- 2019 Louisiana Super Lawyers list
- 2018 Louisiana Super Lawyers list
- 2017 Louisiana Super Lawyers list
- 2016 Louisiana Super Lawyers list
- 2015 Louisiana Super Lawyers list
Honors
- Best Lawyers in America since 2013, with special designations in Insurance Law and Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs, 2013 - 2023
- American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys, 10 Best Personal Injury Female Attorney, 2019
- Lawdragon’s 500 Leading Litigators in America, 2024
- Louisiana Super Lawyers, 2015 - 2023
- Local Litigation Star – Plaintiffs in commercial, insurance and tort litigation, Benchmark Plaintiff Litigation Guide to America’s Leading Litigation Firms & Attorneys, 2012-2014
- New Orleans CityBusiness - 2013 Women of the Year Honoree
- New Orleans CityBusiness - 2010 Leadership in Law Honoree
- New Orleans Magazine - Named one of the Top Lawyers in New Orleans, 2009.
- Martindale-Hubbell A-V rated since 1999
- Senior Managing Editor, Tulane Law Review
- Rittenberg-Weinstein Award, Tulane Law Review
- Harry S. Truman Scholar from Louisiana, Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation
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