Nelson & Hammons
Medical Malpractice | Serving Lafayette, LA
318-716-7329Louisiana Medical Malpractice Law Firm
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Nelson & Hammons was formed in 1977 by Sydney B. Nelson and John L. Hammons. Presently, the firm includes John L. Hammons, Cornell Flournoy Dumas, and William W. Murray, Jr. who all focus on handling medical malpractice cases. Clients benefit from the experience and energy of every attorney because all three attorneys work together as a team as they pursue each case. Members of the firm are active in professional and civic activities and participate in continuing legal education seminars pertaining to their field of practice.
The area of medical malpractice includes negligence by doctors, nurses, hospitals, and nursing homes. Nelson & Hammons is committed to providing professional guidance and representation, as well as obtaining fair compensation for those patients, and their families, who have been seriously injured as a result of substandard medical care. With all four attorneys handling medical malpractice and related matters, Nelson & Hammons is specially situated to thoroughly investigate and effectively handle such cases.
In order to better assist people throughout Louisiana, the firm has two offices. The principal office is located in a three-story building one block from the courthouse in Shreveport. The second office is located in the heart of Lafayette. With in-house registered nursing expertise and professional relationships with physicians around the United States, Nelson & Hammons is uniquely positioned to handle claims of malpractice victims. While many lawyers “advertise” medical malpractice, few, if any, emphasize this area of practice, as does Nelson & Hammons. For more information or a free consultation, contact us today.
Contact us today if you need legal assistance with any of the following:
- Birth Injury
- Medical Malpractice
- Nursing Home Abuse
We’re eager to help you make it through this difficult injury or loss in your life. Please get in touch with the attorneys at Nelson & Hammons with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your medical malpractice case. We look forward to hearing from you. Call 318-716-7329 today to arrange your free initial consultation.
Attorney John L. Hammons 
John Hammons graduated from Northeast Louisiana University, magna cum laude, in 1973 with a B.A. in government and from Louisiana State University Law School with a J.D. in 1976, where he received the award of First Place in the Robert L. Tullis Moot Court Competition. John is a founding member of Nelson & Hammons and has been featured in Super Lawyers continuously since 2007.
Bar Admissions:
- Louisiana State Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- Louisiana Association for Justice (Member: Board of Governors, 1992-1993; Medical Malpractice Section)
- The American Association for Justice; American Society of Law, Medicine, and Ethics
Education:
- Northeast Louisiana University (B.A., magna cum laude, 1973)
- Louisiana State University (J.D., 1976)
- Phi Kappa Phi
- Phi Delta Phi
- Omicron Delta Kappa
- Recipient, First Place – Robert L. Tullis Moot Court Competition
- Louisiana State University Law School, 1976. Member, Governor’s Commission on Medical Malpractice, 1989-1990
Professional Memberships and Achievements:
- Governor’s Commission On Medical Malpractice, 1989-1990
- Louisiana Medical Disclosure Panel, 1989-1990
- American Society Of Law, Medicine & Ethics, 2000-2003
- Medical Malpractice Section Of Louisiana Association for Justice
- Professional Negligence Section of the American Association for Justice
- American Association for Justice Medical Malpractice Exchange
- Medicine & Law Committee Of American Bar Association
- Professional Negligence Section Of American Association for Justice
- Featured in Super Lawyers in 2007-2017
- National Trial Lawyers Top 100
- Medical Malpractice Trial Lawyers Top 25
Attorney Cornell Flournoy Dumas
Cornell Flournoy Dumas grew up in Shreveport and graduated from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge with a B.A. in English in 1980. She graduated from Louisiana State University Law School in 1984 and joined Nelson and Hammons in 1986. Cornell has been a diplomate of the American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys continuously since 2009.
Education:
- Louisiana State University at Baton Rouge (B.A., 1980; J.D., 1984)
Professional Memberships and Achievements:
- Diplomate of the American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys with a Special Competence in Medical Professional Liability
- Shreveport, Louisiana State Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- Louisiana Association for Justice (Member, Medical Malpractice Section)
- American Association for Justice
Attorney William W. Murray, Jr.
William “Billy” Murray, Jr., graduated from Louisiana State University Shreveport, summa cum laude, with a B.A. in accounting in 2004, and an M.B.A. in 2005. Billy graduated from Louisiana State University Law School, earning his Juris Doctor/Diploma of Civil Law, in 2010, where he received the award of First Place in the Ira S. Flory Trial Advocacy Competition. Billy joined Nelson & Hammons in 2012 and was selected as a Super Lawyers Rising Star in 2018 and 2019.
Bar Admissions:
- American Association for Justice
- Louisiana Association for Justice (Member, Medical Malpractice Section)
- Louisiana State Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- Shreveport Bar Association
- Shreveport Bar Association – Former Member of Young Lawyers Section Executive Council
- Member of Shreveport Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals Initiative
- Member of LSU Shreveport Alumni Association
Education:
- Louisiana State University Shreveport (B.A. in Accounting, Summa Cum Laude, 2004)
- Louisiana State University Shreveport (MBA, Summa Cum Laude, 2005)
- Paul M. Hebert Law Center, Louisiana State University (J.D., Diploma of Civil Law, 2010)
Professional Memberships and Achievements:
- LSU Trial Advocacy Board President
- LSU Moot Court Board Member
- Recipient, First Place – Ira S. Flory Trial Advocacy Competition
- Voted as a ‘Top Attorney’ in SB Magazine, 2011-2018
Attorney Robert “Clayton” Christian
Robert "Clayton" Christian grew up in Morton, Mississippi, and graduated from Rhodes College with a B.A. in International Studies and History in 2015. He graduated from Tulane University Law School in 2020, earning his Juris Doctor and Master of Business Administration. While at Tulane, Clayton served as the Senior Articles Editor of the Tulane Journal of International and Comparative Law. Additionally, Clayton served as a Student Attorney in Tulane’s Juvenile Litigation Clinic.
Bar Admissions:
- American Association for Justice
- Louisiana Association for Justice
- American Bar Association
- Shreveport Bar Association
Professional Memberships and Achievements:
- Rhodes College Football Team – Four Year Letterman
- Senior Articles Editor, Tulane Journal of International and Comparative Law
- Article “EIG Energy Fund v. Petroleo Brasilero: the FSIA Continues to Narrow” selected for publication in the 27th Issue of the Tulane Journal of International and Comparative Law
Office Locations
Since 1997, the "Lead Counsel Verified" status has been granted to attorneys who possess:
- The Right Professional Experience
- A Spotless Record
The following attorneys at this firm are Lead Counsel Verified:
William Murray, Jr.
This attorney practices in Louisiana and is Lead Counsel Verified in the following practice areas:
| Practice Area | Year |
|---|---|
| Medical Malpractice | Since 2023 |