John S. Campbell III is a partner in our firm who has been practicing law since 1996.  Mr. Campbell is engaged mainly in a litigation practice.  In the last several years, his work has primarily involved commercial litigation, admiralty and maritime cases, construction litigation, premises liability and general tort litigation, and insurance coverage and litigation.

Mr. Campbell is admitted to practice in all Louisiana state courts, in the United States District Courts for the Middle, Eastern and Western Districts of Louisiana, and the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.  Mr. Campbell is a member of the Louisiana State Bar Association, the Baton Rouge Bar Association, the Louisiana Associate of Defense Counsel, the Southeastern Admiralty Law Institute, Associated Builders and Contractors, and the Defense Research Institute. 

Mr. Campbell graduated from Louisiana State University Paul. M. Hebert Law Center as a member of the Order of the Coif and received his BBA from Millsaps College summa cum laude with membership in Beta Gamma Sigma.  He was a law clerk to John M. Shaw, Chief Judge, United States District Court, Western District of Louisiana, 1995-1996.  He is a member of the LSU Law Center Hall of Fame.

Mr. Campbell is actively involved in the Baton Rouge community.  He has a wife and three children, and is an active supporter of St. James Episcopal Church, where he is a member of the Vestry.  He is also an active supporter of St. James Episcopal Day School, where he serves as President of the Board, and where his children attend school.

Recent Notable Cases

• Counsel for The Dow Chemical Company in a multi-million dollar lawsuit involving underground salt cavern storage wells, in particular, claims for damages to the wells/caverns, response costs, loss of use, revenues and profits;  
• Lead counsel for Quality Marine Services, Inc./Ozark Transportation, Inc., in a case involving alleged damages to a commercial dock on the Missisippi River, resulting from a collision; 

• Counsel for the Sabine River Authority arising out of construction defects to the Cypress Bend Conference Center facility in Sabine Parish, Louisiana, and culminating in a settlement providing funds for extensive remodel and repair to the facility;
• Lead counsel for Clarendon National Insurance Company in defense of claims for wrongful death and catastrophic personal injuries (paraplegia) arising from an accident in Ascension Parish.  This litigation involved a number of complex legal, factual, and insurance issues including spoliation of evidence claims, accident reconstruction and mechanical defect issues, coverage issues, and significant economic and general damage claims;
• Lead counsel for Clarendon National Insurance Company in a claim exceeding $1 million resulting from a fire, destroying the entirety of a home and two automobiles.  The fire originated with a propane-fired barbecue pit and allegedly resulted from the overfilling of the propane tank;
• Lead counsel for Argosy Gaming Company as the owner of the Sheraton Hotel in downtown Baton Rouge in a complex, multi-party litigation and arbitration proceeding involving construction defect claims.  The litigation resulted in a renovation of the exterior of the hotel at a cost exceeding $2 million;
• Lead counsel for LaCour’s Carpet World in a commercial construction case involving breach of contract claims against a general contractor with regard to the Bon Carré project in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  Successful in obtaining a judgment, after trial, for the full amount claimed for all work performed, notwithstanding defenses relating to provisions of the contract, workmanship, and non-payment by the owner;
• Lead counsel for D&D Maintenance & Millwright Services, Inc., in defense of a class action brought in Orleans Parish and removed to Federal Court, involving alleged release of toxic chemicals (ammonia gas) near downtown New Orleans.  This litigation involved hundreds of claimants, numerous defendants, coverage issues, and complex legal issues.  Successfully defended, resolving all claims for the client by payment of a minor portion of the settlement and a fraction of the realistic exposure;
• Lead counsel for Hollywood Casino - Baton Rouge and Argosy Casino, Baton Rouge in numerous cases at the trial and appellate court levels over the last several years, successfully defending against claims of admiralty and maritime jurisdiction for patron/visitor accidents occurring on the riverboats and associated premises.  Successful in defeating admiralty and maritime jurisdiction for patrons, as well as defeating claims brought by riverboat casino employees as Jones Act seamen;
• Lead counsel for Halliburton Energy Services, Inc., in multi-party litigation resulting from claims of harassment and infliction of emotional distress in an offshore worksite. 

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