Joseph G. Glass

For nearly 30 years, Joe has successfully defended insurers, manufacturers, and transportation companies against product liability, insurance, toxic tort, trucking, and environmental law claims. He has extensive experience handling high exposure claims at the trial and appellate State and Federal Court levels in both Louisiana and Mississippi, including multi-district and class action litigation.

Well-reputed for his responsiveness and eye toward early, cost-efficient resolution of a claim, Joe believes that his working partnership with his clients is as important as the end result of any defense. He takes time to understand each client’s unique objectives and works closely with them throughout all stages of the claims process, from emergency response through final appeal.

Joe is trusted counsel to multiple worldwide Fortune 100 and 500 manufacturers of on-road and off-road vehicles and watercraft. His clients include, among others, the world’s largest manufacturer of water vehicles as well as the world’s largest and second-largest manufacturers of motorcycles. Joe’s experience representing such a vast array of leading vehicle and powersport manufacturers has provided him with critical insight into not only the legal intricacies of his clients’ claims, but also the unique manufacturing processes for each of the products that he defends.

Joe also serves as national coordinating counsel for individual product lines within his clients’ portfolios. He leads mediations, settlement conferences, and trials throughout the United States and is frequently asked to parachute into matters on the eve of trial and join the defense trial team or take complete control of the matter. Joe routinely tries cases to verdict, often obtaining complete defense verdicts on behalf of his clients in cases with seven, eight, and nine-figure demands at close.

Joe represents several trucking carriers and insurers and leads many of their regional emergency response efforts, as well. He understands the importance of being available 24/7 to be present in the earliest stages following a catastrophic loss, gathering details and witness reactions, and coordinating on site intervention. This early involvement helps Joe and his clients to mitigate further damage, anticipate the potential demands of a claim from the onset, and strategize accordingly. He closely tracks developments and changes to DOT/FMCSA regulations and industry trends to ensure his clients not only respond to claims in a timely manner, but have the information on hand to help avoid them as well.

Joe appreciates that the risk appetite of each client varies. He partners closely with his clients to implement defense strategies that align with each individual client’s objectives, giving thoughtful consideration to the business implications of each and every claim.

Notably, Joe has served as a member of the defense steering committee in the In Re FEMA Formaldehyde Trailer Products Liability Multi-District Litigation (United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana) and was a member of the trial team that obtained a defense verdict in the MDL’s first bellwether trial.