A graduate of Louisiana Tech University and LSU Law School (where he was a member of Louisiana Law Review and Order of the Coif), Tom clerked for United States District Judge Earl Vernon before entering private practice.
After practicing with two large defense firms, Tom joined the firm in 1991 and is now the firm’s senior partner. Tom has handled numerous multimillion dollar cases ranging from automobile defect cases to toxic tort and environmental exposure cases to securities lawsuits for defrauded investors, just to name a few.
Tom has developed an expertise in class actions and has spearheaded medical provider litigation, which has to date resulted in recovering over $300 million via judgments and settlements in favor of Louisiana healthcare providers who have been underpaid for their services. Tom has also handled thousands of workers’ compensation claims as well as a wide variety of plaintiff personal injury and commercial litigation matters.
Areas of Practice
- 50% Class Action & Related Litigation
- 25% Workers’ Compensation
- 25% Plaintiff Personal Injury & Commercial Litigation
Bar Admissions
- Louisiana, 1988
- U.S. District Court Western District of Louisiana, 1988
- U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit, 1991
Litigation Percentage
- 100% of Practice Devoted to Litigation
Published Works
- “Stipulated Attorneys Fees – A Compromising Position,” Louisiana Law Review, 1987
Education
- Louisiana State University Law Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
- J.D. – 1988
- Honors: With Honors
- Honors: Order of the Coif
- Law Review: Law Review, Member
- Louisiana Tech University, Ruston, Louisiana
- B.S. – 1985
- Major: Business Finance
Honors and Award
U.S. News and World Report Best Lawyers, 2011 – 2023
SuperLawyers, 2011 – 2023
Top Lawyers of Acadiana Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions- 2014, 2015
Top Lawyers of Acadiana Workers Compensation Law- 2014, 2015
Best Lawyers Lawyer of the Year, 2023
Representative Cases
- Gunderson v. F.A. Richard, 44 S.3d 779 (La. 3d Cir. 2010)
- Stutes v. Koch Services, 629 S.2d 987 (La. 3d Cir. 1994)
Professional Associations and Memberships
- LSBA, Member
Past Employment Positions
- U.S. District Court Western District of Louisiana, Law Clerk, 1988 – 1989
Pro Bono Activities
- Project Build a Future – Officer and Board of Directors, 2001 – 2012
Fraternities / Sororities
- Sigma Nu
Contact Us Today
A law firm rooted in plaintiffs’ rights: the Cox Law Firm of Lake Charles, Louisiana.