Howard L. Murphy joined Deutsch Kerrigan in 1980, after spending seven years as a broadcast journalist working as a news reporter for television stations in New Orleans, Louisiana and San Antonio, Texas. The skills he developed as a news reporter he has brought to the courtroom.
Mr. Murphy engages in a diversified practice that includes the routine representation of clients in the areas of commercial transportation, casualty litigation, products liability with an emphasis on oil and gas equipment, maritime law and insurance coverage. Mr. Murphy has tried dozen of cases and has garnered numerous defense verdicts. Among them are “zero verdicts” in three wrongful death cases. Mr. Murphy also has achieved success in the appellate courts by handling the appeal of an oil well damage case that resulted in a $19 million dollar plus judgment being reduced to less than $45,000. He also obtained the reversal of a $1.4 million verdict against an uninsured motorist insurer.
A hallmark of Mr. Murphy’s practice is the ability to nurture long-lasting client relationships by being sensitive to a client’s commercial needs, and at the same time, striving to secure a positive result at realistic cost. These aims have enabled Mr. Murphy to represent a national insurance company for 25 years and a major product manufacturer for nearly 30 years.
Mr. Murphy was born and raised in New Orleans. He and his wife, Beverly, have two daughters. He is an enthusiastic Saints fan. Away from work, he enjoys reading, with an emphasis on history, and he continues to attempt to play golf.