Born in Montclair, New Jersey (1964), J. P. graduated with a B.S. in Finance from Louisiana Tech University in 1987. He subsequently earned his Juris Doctorate from Tulane University School of Law in 1990. While at Tulane, J.P. was a member of the J. Braxton Craven, Jr. Memorial Moot Court Competition and a finalist in the Tulane Moot Court Junior Appellate Competition. Upon obtaining his law degree, J. P. moved to Monroe and began practicing with Hudson, Potts & Bernstein, L.L.P.
J. P.’s professional affiliations have included American Inns of Court, Louisiana State Bar Association, Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel, NAPSLO, Claims Litigation Management Alliance, Louisiana Claims Association, Baton Rouge Claims Association and the Defense Research Institute. He served as the District Representative for the Young Lawyers Section of the Louisiana State Bar Association and as a member of the House of Delegates of the Louisiana State Bar Association. J.P. has also completed training at the Hastings School of Law Trial Academy in San Francisco, California, and the International Association of Defense Counsel Trial Academy in Boulder, Colorado.
J. P. is licensed to practice in every State and Federal court in Louisiana, including the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal. His practice has reached virtually every parish and appellate court in Louisiana. He has tried over one hundred cases to Judgment in both State and Federal courts throughout Louisiana and has in excess of forty reported appellate decisions.
J.P. is AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell (their highest rating) and has spoken at conferences in various venues in the areas of insurance law and workers compensation.
J. P. is active in the community as a high school soccer referee and is a past member of the Northeast Louisiana Soccer Association Board of Directors.
J.P. is a member of the New Iona Presbyterian Church of West Monroe, is married to Karla Kaye Christiansen, and is the proud father of three children: Emily, Anna and Jakob.
Practice areas include:
- Arson Litigation
- Divorce, Custody, and Family Law
- Health & Healthcare Law
- Insurance Litigation
- Medical Malpractice
- Nursing Home Law Litigation
- Premises Liability
- Toxic Torts
- Workers Compensation
Related Cases
J.P. Christiansen wins appeal in Mary Murphy v. Graphic Packaging
In Mary Murphy v. Graphic Packaging and Liberty Mutual Ins. Co, J.P. Christiansen won an appeal for his client on a workers compensation matter. In Murphy, the plaintiff claimed to have carpel tunnel syndrome as an occupational disease as a result of her job. The Office of Workers Compensation hearing officer ruled in the plaintiff’s favor. However, on appeal, J.P. convinced the Second Circuit Court of Appeal to reverse, finding that the plaintiff failed to provide medical evidence to support her claim of an occupation disease.
Pinkie Allen v. Evergreen Missionary Baptist Church
J.P. Christiansen and Adam Cossey recently won a jury trial in El Dorado, Arkansas on a premises liability claim. The plaintiff tripped over a threshold and claims that the threshold was a defective condition on the property. However, the jury rendered a verdict in favor of the defendants finding no liability on the part of the church.
J.P. Christiansen recently won a victory for the defendants in the matter of Jerry Campbell v. ACCC Insurance Company in Winnsboro, Louisiana.
In this case, the plaintiff was operating an 18 wheeler that was struck from behind. Our client testified that the 18 wheeler had changed lanes immediately in front of his vehicle while he was in the process of passing the 18 wheeler. The court agreed and dismissed the case.
Ralph LeCroy v. Interim Health Care Staffing of North Louisiana, Inc, et al
J. P. Christiansen recently obtained a favorable verdict for his client in a nursing malpractice case tried before a jury in Ouachita Parish. In the case, the plaintiff claimed to have suffered brain damage as a result of a respiratory arrest caused by our client. However, the jury came back with a low damage award consistent with a rejection of the plaintiff’s allegations that he had sustained a brain damage injury.
