Kurt S. Blankenship

Attorney Brief

Complex trial and appellate litigation for healthcare providers, design and construction professionals, businesses, insurers, and other organizations facing substantial legal exposure.

Kurt Blankenship has nearly five decades of litigation experience in medical malpractice, professional liability, construction, commercial disputes, premises liability, toxic torts, general casualty matters, and healthcare litigation. He also advises healthcare clients on corporate, contractual, and regulatory issues.

Kurt has served as lead counsel in complex, high-profile cases involving hospitals, physicians, architects, engineers, contractors, and businesses. His experience includes lengthy jury trials, federal litigation, class actions, arbitrations, and appeals. He helps clients evaluate risk, manage complicated factual and expert evidence, and develop a strategy suited to the legal, financial, and operational consequences of the matter.

Kurt has tried medical malpractice cases involving physicians and hospitals throughout Louisiana. His construction experience includes disputes arising from major hotel and airport projects, professional liability claims against architects and engineers, and alleged design and workmanship defects.

Previously serving as an adjunct member of the faculty for the Tulane Law School Trial Advocacy program and with a history of frequent continuing legal education speaking, Kurt brings both practical courtroom experience and a deep understanding of trial strategy to his representation.

Kurt joined Blue Williams in 1996 and serves as Of Counsel in the firm’s New Orleans office.

Education

J.D., Tulane University Law School, 1977

B.A., Loyola University New Orleans, 1974

Jesuit High School of New Orleans

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Narrative

Kurt represents clients in complex civil litigation involving healthcare, construction, professional liability, commercial disputes, premises liability, toxic torts, casualty claims, and contractual conflicts between healthcare providers.

In his healthcare practice, Kurt defends physicians, hospitals, and other medical providers in professional liability litigation. He also advises healthcare clients on corporate and regulatory matters and has represented organizations in disputes arising from contractual relationships between providers.

Kurt served as lead defense counsel for a national hospital company in a highly visible class action involving conditions at a New Orleans hospital during and after Hurricane Katrina. The matter required the management of complex factual, medical, operational, and expert issues under intense public scrutiny.

His construction practice includes extensive trial and arbitration experience. Kurt tried a two-month jury case involving alleged defects in the construction of a major hotel and a six-week federal trial concerning the construction of airport runways. He has also handled disputes involving architects, engineers, contractors, and other construction professionals.

Kurt represents clients at both the trial and appellate levels. His experience allows him to identify dispositive issues, develop a strong evidentiary record, work effectively with expert witnesses, and preserve important arguments for appeal.

Awards

• · The Best Lawyers in America®, 2009–2010 and 2013–2021

  · Louisiana Super Lawyers, 2008, 2010, and 2012–2020

  · Louisiana Super Lawyers, Business Edition, 2011

  · Louisiana Life Top Attorneys in Louisiana, 2016–2017

  · New Orleans Magazine Top Lawyer, 2012 and 2020

  · National Association of Distinguished Counsel, Top One Percent, 2016

  · AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rating by Martindale-Hubbell

  · Appointed by the Governor of Louisiana to the Louisiana Medical Disclosure Panel

Bar, Courts & Professional Affiliations

Mr. Blankenship has been a member of the Louisiana State Bar Association since 1977, and is now a fellow of that organization. He is admitted to practice before all of the federal courts of Louisiana, including the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. He has served as an adjunct professor of trial advocacy in Tulane Law School's Trial Advocacy Program and is active in the New Orleans Pro Bono Project. He is a member of the International Association of Defense Counsel, Defense Research Institute, Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel, Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel, the New Orleans Bar Association and the Louisiana Association of Hospital Attorneys. Mr. Blankenship holds an AV® Peer Review Rated certification from Martindale-Hubbell and is also a frequent lecturer at Continuing Legal Education (CLE) programs.

Community Involvement

· Louisiana State Bar Association, Fellow

· International Association of Defense Counsel

· Defense Research Institute

· Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel

· Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel

· New Orleans Bar Association

· Louisiana Association of Hospital Attorneys

· Tulane University Law School Trial Advocacy Program, Adjunct Faculty

· Frequent continuing legal education lecturer

· The Pro Bono Project, Volunteer

Representative Work

· Served as lead defense counsel for a national hospital company in a complex class action arising from conditions at a New Orleans hospital during and after Hurricane Katrina.

· Tried a two-month jury case involving alleged defects in the construction of a major hotel.

· Tried a six-week federal case involving alleged defects in airport runway construction.

· Tried numerous medical malpractice cases on behalf of physicians and hospitals throughout Louisiana.

· Represented clients in complex construction trials and arbitrations involving design and workmanship claims.