The Firm

Jerry Hermann
jerry@kopflerhermann.com

With a background in journalism, Jerry has long been a champion of the underdog and has spent much of his legal career fighting against large corporations and insurance companies on behalf of injured victims. A 1979 graduate of the LSU Law Center in the top 20% of his class, Jerry entered private practice in 1981 following a two-year clerkship on the Louisiana First Circuit Court of Appeal. His interest in advocacy and trial work led him to streamline his practice almost exclusively to litigation.

He has won multi-million verdicts for clients in accident cases, and has been successful in numerous jury and judge-tried cases protecting the rights of injured workers and victims. Jerry has also represented local governments in a variety of legal matters, including constitutional challenges to the regulation of some forms of gambling and civil rights litigation.

Born on March 11, 1953, Jerry grew up in a working class neighborhood in the bayou country. He attended Nicholls State University, a small regional college in Thibodaux, La., graduating cum laude in 1975. To pay his way through college, he worked, often full time, at the Houma Daily Courier as a news reporter and editor. He served as managing editor for a year before enrolling at the LSU Law Center. Scholastic achievements at Law School included recognition for the top grade in evidence law and scholarships for outstanding work in mineral law. He worked his way through law school, clerking for a local law firm and for the Sea Grant Legal Program.

The father of five children, Jerry enjoys fishing, football, and water sports during family time. He has been active in community affairs, having served on the Louisiana Coastal Commission, the Louisiana Judiciary Commission, the Houma-Terrebonne Home Rule Charter Commission and other community organizations. He is a past member of the Terrebonne Parish Democratic Executive Committee. Jerry has coached tot-ball and youth flag football.

Joe Kopfler
joe@kopflerhermann.com

Studies in physiology, anatomy, biochemistry and the related sciences have given clients of Joseph G. “Joe” Kopfler the edge in medical negligence, maritime and offshore litigation. In cases where knowledge of medicine plays such a crucial role, Joe’s background in “what doctors do and how doctor’s do it has meant the difference on significant damage issues.

Born and raised in Baton Rouge, Joe learned early on the value of hard work and its effect on success, competing on the state championship track and field team at Baton Rouge High School. The unusual dichotomy of team/individual excellence that is the essence of top track and field competition parlayed smoothly into Joe’s legal studies and work, where teamwork and individuality combine in the effective representation of his clients.

Joe completed his undergraduate studies at LSU in 1973 with a B.S. in arts and sciences. He obtained his law degree at Loyola University School of Law in 1977. Participation in the school’s litigation clinic gave Joe the first taste of courtroom battle, and he liked what he tasted. He has been a practicing trial attorney in Houma, La., for 27 years, with clientele ranging from oyster fisherman damaged by an oil spill, residents forced to evacuate their homes because of a high pressure gas explosion and patients whose doctors did more harm than good in rendering negligent medical care. Joe used the lesson of hard work in the handling of these and other legal matters successfully.

Critical analysis of complex industrial conditions aided Joe’s client whose business was destroyed by a gasoline truck filling an above ground tank, leading a jury to penalize the fuel company for gross mishandling of its product. The same analysis in a maritime setting has led to justice for many injured deckhands, floor hands, welders and others where knowledge of the mechanical, chemical and physical causes of accidents is essential.
(see our case link for details)

Joe became and remains actively involved in organizations committed to the protection of the rights of the unfortunate, downtrodden and other victims in our industrialized society. He has served on the Board of Governors of the Louisiana Trial Lawyers Association and is an Advocate of the National College of Advocacy. He is a section member of the Admiralty and Professional Negligence Sections of the American Trial Lawyers Association. He is a past member of the Terrebonne Parish Democratic Executive Committee and past chairman of the Board of Directors of the Terrebonne Parish Recreation District No. 9.

The father of three children, Joe enjoys fishing, physical fitness, sports and the arts, yet maintains time in his schedule to devote to community service. He has coached youth football, basketball and track. He is chairman of the Advisory Board of the Houma-Thibodaux Unit of the Salvation Army and lifetime member of the Coastal Conservation Association. He has served as the Treasurer of the Houma Kiwanis Club and also as a member of the Board of Directors. He is currently serving as the Vice President of the Houma Terrebonne Arts & Humanities Council.