Sara P. Scurlock is a partner and primarily practices in the areas of general casualty insurance defense and insurance coverage, construction, commercial automobile/trucking and products liability.  Additionally, and outside of the litigation context, she is often called on by clients to offer business advice, including the drafting and review of contracts and agreements, formation and development issues, and employment matters.  

Sara is an AV Preeminent rated attorney as recognized by her peers, and represents a variety of clients ranging from large corporations and small family-owned businesses to individuals and municipalities.  She has coordinated large-scale discovery proceedings and has tried numerous matters in both state and federal court, Louisiana workers’ compensation court,  arbitration proceedings.  She even stepped into bankruptcy court to resolve liability in a pending claim.  In each instance, Sara has worked tirelessly to advocate for her clients and ensure they have a voice in the threat or defense of claims brought against them.  She believes that the best litigation practices start with thorough evaluation at the onset of the claim, to narrow the issues where available, prepare strategy, and advise clients on the best strategy for an optimal solution.  Not every matter requires a full-scale trial, and experience with early and alternative dispute resolution is a strength her clients embrace.  Sara has also successfully briefed and argued writs and appeals in every appellate district for the State of Louisiana, the Louisiana Supreme Court, and the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. 

While in law school, Sara clerked with the Tulane Law School Civil Litigation Clinic, which provides pro bono representation to indigent clients.  She has continued pro bono work into her practice, volunteering to provide legal advice to those who cannot otherwise obtain the assistance of counsel, and has been appointed in pro bono representation of indigent clients at the request of the Court.

​

Representative Matters

• Successful defense of fraud claims in multiple trucking cases, resulting in large-scale investigation and ultimately voluntary dismissal and/or abandonment of claims.

• Summary judgment dismissing hundreds of claims against a general contractor based on the government contractor immunity defense, precluding millions in potential liability.

• Defense of hundreds of claims involving ride-share drivers.

• Favorable ruling regarding scope of arbitration provision in subcontractor agreement resulting in dismissal.  

• Prevented multiple attempts to certify class action proceedings.

• Successful defense of Louisiana Products Liability Act claim regarding responsibilities and warranties of manufacturer versus seller resulting in dismissal of claim.

• Summary judgment on liability dismissing claim against commercial trucking client, subsequently affirmed on appeal, with writs denied by Louisiana Supreme Court.

• Summary judgment regarding application of strict liability claims for pile driving activities.

• Multiple defense verdicts in employment claims in federal district court.

• Summary judgment for manufacturer regarding feasible and/or alternative design under the Louisiana Products Liability Act.  

• Grant of injunction in action on behalf of homeowner’s association regarding application of covenants and restrictions.

• Pre-trial resolution of multi-party litigation regarding the authority for and legal application of contractual indemnity obligations after multiple appellate proceedings.

• Numerous defense verdicts in Louisiana workers’ compensation trials on behalf of employers and insurers.

• Favorable Supreme Court ruling on the retroactive application of the peremptive period of La. R.S. 9:2772 and its application to claims under contract and for indemnification.

• Favorable appellate decision on jurisdiction and venue requiring transfer of multi-party commercial litigation despite initial adverse ruling at district court.

• Representation of construction and business clients in drafting contracts and agreements, as well as operational issues and employment law matters.