Member Mark Hanna has more than 30 years of experience as a litigator. Mark’s practice focuses on government and municipal liability, product liability, insurance defense litigation, and commercial/construction litigation. He is also skilled in handling toxic tort and asbestos cases. He has represented national insurers, governmental entities, construction and commercial-related businesses and oil and gas companies. As supported by the peer honors he has received, including Super Lawyers and New Orleans Magazine Top Lawyers, Mark has developed a reputation as one of the top attorneys in civil litigation and municipal law.

Mark is known for being driven to achieve the goals of his clients. “A lot of success in the law is being more prepared than the other guy. I am persuasive in crafting arguments, and knowledgeable about statutory law and jurisprudence that is advantageous to the position of my client. This greatly increases the chance of a favorable outcome no matter how challenging the case.”

He has been both lead counsel and second chair counsel in trials in state and federal courts and has argued numerous appeals in the Louisiana Supreme Court; First, Second, Fourth, and Fifth Circuit Courts of Appeal, and the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal.

Mark is active with the Defense Research Institute. He is currently a member of the Civil Rights and Governmental Tort Liability Committee, where he serves on the steering committee; the Partnering with Industry Committee; and serves as chair of the Land Use Litigation Group.  Mark previously served as the program chair for the Civil Rights and Governmental Tort Liability Seminar.  He is also active with the Louisiana Public Risk Management Association (“PRIMA”).  He routinely lectures at Continuing Legal Education Seminars for the insurance industry and has been a judge and mediator at ABA mediation competitions for law students.

Professional Activities

• Defense Research Institute, Member of Civil Rights and Governmental Tort Liability Committee (Land Use SLG Chair, 2019; Program Chair, 2017; Program Vice Chair, 2015-2016; Membership Chair, 2011-2013)
• Claims and Litigation Management (CLM) Alliance, Member
• Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel, Member
• Louisiana State Bar Association, Member
• New Orleans Bar Association, Member
• Jefferson Bar Association, Member
• Louisiana Bar Foundation, Member (Past Member, Development Committee)

Recognition

• Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent
• Louisiana Super Lawyers – Civil Litigation: Defense (2017-2023)
• New Orleans Magazine Top Lawyers – Municipal Law (2016-2023); Alternative Dispute Resolution (2016); Insurance Law (2020, 2021)

Panels and Presentations

• Speaker, “Recent Developments Involving the Attorney Client Privilege in Coverage/Bad Faith Litigation,” Defense Research Institute, Insurance Coverage and Claims Institute (March 25-27, 2015)
• Speaker, “Lawyer and Insurer Beware – a Continuing Duty of Good Faith,” Claims and Litigation Management (CLM) Alliance, Insurance Bad Faith/Coverage/Fraud Conference (February 28, 2014)
• Speaker, “Case Evaluation and Claims Handling in Louisiana,” Honorable Order of the Blue Goose International (September 17, 2013)
• Speaker, “Risk Management Perspectives For Representing Municipal Clients,” Claims and Litigation Management (CLM) Alliance Annual Conference (April 11, 2013)
• Presenter, “Mediation vs. Arbitration: What is Best For Your Case?” ADR, Inc., (February 21, 2013)
• Presenter, “Mediation and Arbitration,” Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel, Associate Skills Set Seminar #3 (April 5, 2012)
• Speaker, “No Lawyer? No Problem! Practical Tips for Handling Pro Se Litigants,” Defense Research Institute, Civil Rights and Governmental Tort Liability Seminar (Feb. 2-3, 2012)
• Presenter, “The Strategic Use of Heck v. Humphrey to Bar or Potentially Limit Plaintiff’s Claims Under Section 1983 and State Law,” Claims and Litigation Management (CLM) Alliance, webinar (November 16, 2011)
• Speaker, “Civil Rights and Governmental Liability: Case Evaluation and Claims Handling,” Claims and Litigation Management (CLM) Alliance Annual Conference (March 24, 2011)
• ABA Representation in Medication Competition for Law Students/Sponsored by Loyola University College of Law (March 9, 2009)
• Speaker, Emerging LGBT Issues for Municipalities, Schools and Other Public Entities/CLM Annual Conference Boca Raton, Florida (April 10, 2014)

Representative Reported Cases

• Verdin v. Cook, 2019 WL 917730 (E.D. La. 2019); affirmed on appeal, –Fed. Appx.–, 2020 WL 1166724 (5 Cir. 2020)
• Lockwood v. Allstate Ins. Co., 47-746, 2013 WL 163821, 2010-1447 (La.App. 2 Cir. 1/16/13), 109 So.3d 931
• Alexander v. Parish of St. John the Baptist, 12-173 (La. App. 5 Cir. 10/16/12), 102 So.3d 904
• Tusa v. City of Kenner Police Dept.,10-791 (La.App. 5 Cir. 5/10/11), 64 So.3d 904
• White v. City of Kenner ex rel. Police Dept., 996 So.2d 294, 2008 WL 4255212, 08-195 (La.App. 5 Cir. 9/16/08), La.App. 5 Cir., September 16, 2008 (No. 08-CA-195.)
• Smith v. Vazquez, 933 So.2d 878, 2006 WL 1756667, 2005-0619 (La.App. 4 Cir. 5/31/06), La.App. 4 Cir., May 31, 2006(No. 2005-CA-0619.)
• Weaver v. Malinda, 925 So.2d 763, 2006 WL 782704, 05-693(La.App. 5 Cir. 3/28/06), La.App. 5 Cir., March 28, 2006(Nos. 05-CA-693 to 05-CA-696.)
• Brown v. Unknown Driver, 925 So.2d 583, 2006 WL 861333, 2005-0421 (La.App. 4 Cir. 1/18/06), La.App. 4 Cir., January 18, 2006(No. 2005-CA-0421.)
• Yates v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 894 So.2d 1157, 2005 WL 155462, 04-1028 (La.App. 5 Cir. 1/25/05), La.App. 5 Cir. January 25, 2005(No. 04-CA-1028.)
• White v. State Farm Ins. Co., 862 So.2d 263, 2003 WL 22871680, 2003-0754 (La.App. 4 Cir. 11/26/03), La.App. 4 Cir., November 26, 2003(No. 2003-CA-0754.)
• Metairie Country Club v. Louisiana Tax Com’n, 860 So.2d 165, 2003 WL 22439750, 03-538 (La.App. 5 Cir. 10/28/03), La.App. 5 Cir., October 28, 2003(No. 03-CA-538.)
• Langlinais v. City of Westwego, 818 So.2d 760, 2002 WL 1173510, 2001-3069 (La. 5/31/02), La., May 31, 2002(No. 2001-CC-3069.)
• Edwards v. State ex rel. Dept. of Health and Hospitals for Southeast Louisiana State Hosp. at Mandeville, La., 804 So.2d 886, 2001 WL 1659221, 2000-2420 (La.App. 1 Cir. 12/28/01), La.App. 1 Cir., December 28, 2001(No. 2000-CA-2420.)

Articles by Mark E. Hanna

• Pro Se Litigant Given Opportunity to Cure Inadequate Complaint - Aug 5, 2022
• Fifth Circuit Reverses the District Court and Grants Officers Qualified Immunity - Jul 7, 2021
• Louisiana Supreme Court Ruling Reaffirms Limitations to Absolute Judicial Immunity - Aug 13, 2019
• Deputies Entitled to Qualified Immunity in 42 U.S.C. §1983 Case - Mar 1, 2019
• Decision by Fifth Circuit: Vehicle Passengers’ Arrest for Refusing to Provide Identification Violates 4th Amendment - Jun 5, 2018

Read more posts by Mark E. Hanna

In The News

• 12 MBLB Attorneys Included in New Orleans Magazine Top Lawyers 2023 - Nov 8, 2023
• 6 MBLB Attorneys Become Louisiana Bar Foundation Fellows - Aug 3, 2023
• Mark Hanna and John Zazulak Secure Summary Judgment in Municipal Law Case - Jan 4, 2023