Bio
Jay focuses his practice on the defense of product manufacturers, including medical device, pharmaceutical, chemical, and consumer-product manufacturers in individual and mass-tort actions. Jay is experienced in all phases of the litigation process, including pre and post-suit fact investigation, discovery, witness preparation, taking and defending depositions, drafting and arguing motions, trial preparation, and trial.
Jay’s scientific and business education and background makes him unique in his practice and lends particularly well to being able to distill complex technical issues in litigation into simpler concepts that can be understood by a jury. He is particularly adept at utilizing this background to work closely with technical witnesses and experts, and also investigate complex scientific issues relevant to a particular case.
Before attending law school, Jay received an undergraduate degree in Biomedical Engineering with a minor in Mathematics, during which time Jay performed extensive research and literature review on orthopedic implants. Jay also helped lead a team design project to design a mounting system for a patient with Muscular Dystrophy.
After college, Jay earned a master’s degree in Engineering Management with a focus on assisting companies in the market assessment of their respective technology platforms.
Prior to joining Irwin Fritchie, Jay worked with corporate clients on scientific and legal issues involving a variety of complex technologies in intellectual property and general transactional and litigation matters.
Experience
Representation of medical device and pharmaceutical manufacturers in multidistrict, federal, and state products liability litigation.
Representation of chemical and consumer-product manufacturer in federal and state products liability litigation in Louisiana.
Identification, retention, and coordination of teams of experts in nationwide mass-tort litigation.
Preparation of expert witnesses, company witnesses, and 30(b)(6) witnesses for depositions in pending federal multidistrict litigation (MDL) surrounding medical implants.
Taking and defending fact, 30(b)(6), and expert witness depositions in state and federal litigation, including multidistrict litigation (MDL).
Representation of steel manufacturer in Clean Air Act action against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the District Court for the District of Columbia to compel EPA action.
Representation of steel manufacturer in an administrative action seeking review of a PSD/Title V permit issued by the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality under the Clean Air Act.
Representation of two (2) medical practitioners in a medical malpractice bench trial, resulting in a ruling dismissing the action with prejudice.
Honors & Affiliations
Honors & Recognitions
Best Lawyers in America, Product Liability Litigation - Defendants (2022-2023)
DRI Young Lawyers, Rookie of the Year Award, 2021-22
New Orleans Top Lawyers, 2021-2022
Louisiana Super Lawyers, Rising Star 2017-2021
Loyola Law Review
Loyola Moot Court
William L. Crowe Scholar
Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot Team, Vienna, Austria (2012-13), Honorable Mention, Best Memorandum for Claimant
Judicial Extern, Honorable Barbara M.G. Lynn, United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas
Civic Affiliations
- Member, St. Pius Catholic School Advisory School Board
- Member, American Institute of Stuttering (AIS) Junior Board
Professional Affiliations
- International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC), CLE Steering Committee, 2024 IADC Mid-Year Meeting, Miami, FL
- IADC, Vice Chair of Communications, Social Justice and Pro Bono Committee (2023-2024)
- IADC, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Committee, Drug, Device and Biotechnology Committee, Trial Techniques and Tactics Committee
- Lawyers for Civil Justice, Civil Justice Fellow - Inaugural Class (2019-2022), Diversity and Young Lawyers Committee
- DRI, Drug and Medical Device Committee, Co-Young Lawyer Liaison (2021-2022; 2022-23); Regional Marketing Team
- DRI, Young Lawyer Committee, Co-Vice Chair of Raising the Bar Subcommittee (2021-2022)
- DRI, Cybersecurity and Data Privacy Steering Committee, Committee Secretary, Marketing Representative
- New Orleans Bar Association, Drug and Device Committee
- American Bar Association, Expert Witness Committee
- Louisiana State Bar Association
News
Publications & Presentations
Publications
Practice Areas
Admissions
- Louisiana State Courts
- United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
- United States District Court for the Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts of Louisiana
- United States Patent & Trademark Office
Education
J.D., Loyola University College of Law (2013)
M.E.M., Master of Engineering Management, Duke University (2009)
B.S.E., Biomedical Engineering, Tulane University (2008)
International Association of Defense Counsel's Trial Academy, Stanford Law School