Less than ten years ago, John Houghtaling took a job moving boxes in the file room of the Gauthier firm to pay for room and board during law school at Loyola. Now at just 36, he has become one of the most successful attorneys in the region.

In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, Mr. Houghtaling has been retained by a variety of victims, from some of Louisiana's largest corporations, owning Class A high rises, to individuals with damage to their homes. To date, the Firm has collected over $47.3 million in property damage and business interruption claims.

Mr. Houghtaling has had astonishing litigation success, collecting over $80 million for individual clients since 2003: $12 million dollars for a local Louisiana business due to contamination of its land in 2003, and $6.25 million dollars for a local New Orleans business in a breach of contract action in 2005. Additional recoveries include $7 million dollars in one of the largest personal injury settlements in Louisiana, $5.25 million dollars in a multi-death fatality in Bordelon v. Kansas City Railroad in 2004, $4.7 million for a drunk driver fatality in Deshotel v. Classic Cable in 2004.

In March of 2005, in an article entitled "Legendary Law Firm Ruled by New Lawyer", CityBusiness Magazine featured Mr. Houghtaling on their front cover when he overtook the leadership of the Gauthier firm following Wendell Gauthier's passing. In 2007, for the third year in a row, Mr. Houghtaling was ranked as one of the "Top 50 Lawyers in New Orleans" by CityBusiness Magazine. Fewer than four lawyers in New Orleans have been recognized so consecutively.

He received his law degree from Loyola University where he was a member of the law review. He holds a B.A. from Emory University.

Other Activities, Honors

Board member, Cancer Crusaders

Founder, French Quarter Classic

2005 New Orleans CityBusiness Leadership in Law Honoree

2006 New Orleans CityBusiness Leadership in Law Honoree - one of only five attorneys to receive this award consecutively.