BRIAN A. HOMZA
SHAREHOLDER
Mr. Homza’s practice principally involves trying cases and all work associated with a trial. Mr. Homza’s work includes the defense of professional liability claims, First Party coverage issues, defense of products liability claims, professional errors and omissions claims, and large complex multiple party catastrophe claims. Mr. Homza has tried cases in all districts of the Louisiana federal courts and most state parishes. He received his law degree in 1979 from Louisiana State University. While in law school, he was selected to participate on the Moot Court Board and in the National Moot Court competition. From 1979 to 1980 he served as a law clerk with the Louisiana Second Circuit Court of Appeal and joined the firm in 1980. He was named The Best Lawyers in America® from 2011-2022 and two-time recipient of the Louisiana Lawyer of the Year for products liability defense and Insurance Law. He is listed by SuperLawyers as having attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement in his areas of trial work. He is a member of the Defense Research Institute and, since 2001, has served on the subcommittee on Fire & Casualty Claims. He was invited to become a member of the International Association of Defense Counsel. He was also asked to become a member of the Loss Executives Association. He was invited to join the Harry V. Booth and Judge Henry A. Politz American Inns of Court. Mr. Homza is a member of the Shreveport Bar Association, the American Bar Association, and past president of the North Louisiana Federal Bar Association. He is a member of the Louisiana State Bar Association, the Shreveport Bar Association, and is a two-time instructor for the Louisiana Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms Chapter on investigation of fire and explosions. Mr. Homza is AV Preeminent rated by Martindale-Hubbell.
He joined Cook, Yancey, King & Galloway APLC in 1980
AREAS OF PRACTICE
- Professional Liability Defense, including Medical and Malpractice, Broker Malpractice, Product Liability Defense, and Engineer Malpractice Claims
- Fire Science & Technology Claims, including Catastrophic Damage and Subrogation
- Insurance Coverage and First Party Coverage Issues
- Defense of Extra Contractual Claims
- Insurance Agent & Broker Errors and Omissions Claims
BAR ADMISSIONS
- Louisiana, 1979
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Louisiana, 1984
- U.S. District Court Middle District of Louisiana, 1984
- U.S. District Court Western District of Louisiana, 1984
EDUCATION
- Louisiana State University Law Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
- Honors: Member, Moot Court Board
- Honors: National Moot Court Competition
- Louisiana State University
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AND MEMBERSHIPS
- Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel, Board Member
- Loss Executives Association, Member
- Property Loss Research Bureau, Member
- Defense Research Institute, Fire & Casualty Subcommittee, Member
- International Association of Arson Investigators, Member
- Harry V. Booth and Judge Henry A. Politz American Inn of Court, Member
- Certified Insurance Fraud Examiners, Member
- National Association of Fire Investigators (NAF), Member
- Trucking Industry Defense Association
PUBLISHED WORKS
- Top 10 Mistakes of Fire Investigators, National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies newsletter, May, 2006
REPRESENTATIVE CASES
- Tony Ferguson v. Swift Transportation Co. of Arizona, et al, Cause No. 17-cv-1570 (USDC, WDLA, Shreveport Div.2021). Defense jury verdict.
- Benjamin Turner and Gwendolyn Turner v. Knight Transportation, Inc., et al, Cause No. 13-cv-2864 (USDC, WDLA, Alexandria Div. 2013). Defense jury verdict.
- Tammy Bloxham, et al v. HDI-Gerling America Insurance Company, et al, Cause No. 149,515 (26th JDC, Bossier Parish, La., 2019). Defense jury verdict.
- Stretch Your Dollar, Inc. v. Scottsdale Insurance Company, Cause No. 99-CV-1411S (USDC, WD La. Shreveport Div. 1999). Arson coverage defense. Defense jury verdict.
- Mayfield v. Knight Transportation, Cause No. 12-1299 (USDC, EDLA, New Orleans). Defense jury verdict.
- Mamco Company Inc. v. American Employers Insurance Company, 736 F.2d 187 (5th Cir. 1984); Defense jury verdict.
- Layton v. State Farm Fire & Casualty Company, Cause No. 11-455 (USDC, WDLA, Shreveport Division). Jury trial’s dismissal of plaintiff’s case after cross examination of plaintiff.
- Devin Enterprises Inc. v. American Central Insurance Company and Mid-South Insurance Agency d/b/a Sulphur Insurance Center, Cause No. 99-2114 (14th JDC, Calcasieu Parish, La. 2003); Defense jury verdict.
- Bessie Mae Vital v. Employers Mutual Casualty Insurance Company, Cause No. 98-CV-1558 (USDC, WD La. Lake Charles Div., 2000); Defense jury verdict.
- Maldonado Investments, L.L.C., on behalf of Olive Street Bistro v. State Farm Fire & Casualty Company, Cause No. 16-31206 (United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit), Obtained summary judgment voiding coverage due to fraud of $1.6 million property claim upheld by Fifth Circuit.
- Valentine v. Bonneville Ins. Co., 691 So.2d 665, 96-1382 (Louisiana Supreme Court 1997); obtained summary judgment on coverage issue by the Louisiana Supreme Court.
- Austin Tucker v. Harold Blend v. American State Insurance, 747 So. 2d 620 (La. App. 2d Cir. 9/22/99; Louisiana Supreme Court granting writ remanding case to Second Circuit and granting summary judgment on absence of a duty.
CLASSES/SEMINARS
- Shreveport Bar Association – Instructor, 2022 Trial Academy
- “IAAC – Successful Daubert Challenge, Savannah, Georgia” – February, 2017
- “Louisiana Recent Developments Seminar” – September, 2015
- “Protecting the Claims File” – 2007 to Present
- “Common Bad Faith Mistakes” – 2005 to Present
- “Insurance Update, Arson & Hot Topics” – Louisiana State Bar Association, 1996 to Present