Janice M. Culotta

"I thrive in using my knowledge as an attorney to help my client find the best possible resolution – whether through settling the case quickly and discretely or by aggressively defending their rights all the way through a trial and appeal."

Janice Culotta brings more than 25 years of experience in defending and resolving state and federal court claims involving general civil litigation, including toxic tort and product and premises liability defense. Among her clients are industrial facilities along the Mississippi River faced with serious and multi-million dollar premises liability claims involving asbestos, benzene, and talc exposure, among other examples.

From the initial filing and analyzing case facts, which can include copious amounts of information and data, to taking and defending depositions, working with experts, such as medical professionals, industrial hygienists, and economists, Janice serves as case facilitator from file to trial and on appeal. In everything she does, Janice’s goal is to mitigate the damages associated with her client’s lawsuit and assuage the demands inherent in a loss of consortium.

Appreciated for her ability to step into a case at any moment or phase of development and realize fluency quickly, Janice is about knowing the facts of every lawsuit to mount the most veritable defense imaginable. In or out of court, Janice’s outstanding analytical and writing skills have resulted in comprehensive representation and litigation team support that generates the right end game.

Approachable, easy to work with, and an outstanding communicator, clients and colleagues alike appreciate that Janice is considerate when it comes to reconciling the reality of their lawsuit with smart and practical resource conversation. Every action Janice takes is about reinforcing and leveraging her client’s position.

Janice served as an Assistant District Attorney for the Parish of Orleans, where she gained extensive trial and courtroom experience – skills that can only be earned as opposed to learned in school. As an ADA, Janice thrived on managing extensive litigation and trial dockets, multi-tasking that focused on helping humanity by ensuring the rights of victims were realized through the justice system. Her public service sharpened her case management abilities, aptitude for executing effective voir dire, and in honing her ability to explain case facts in a manner that is both simple and clear to judges, juries, and opposing counsel alike.

Prior to the law, Janice worked as an English and Journalism teacher for 21 years. Today, she brings exceptional writing skills to defending major litigation claims. Working as a teacher also prepared her for anything and everything – as she never knew what students were going to say – just like today’s judges and juries. Janice’s “calm under fire” demeanor was both cultivated and perfected while working as a teacher. A classroom, like a courtroom, requires the ability to respond to any scenario.