Russ Herman
Of Counsel | Herman, Katz, Gisleson & Cain, L.L.C.
Russ Herman is a personal injury, product liability and mass torts trial lawyer and of counsel at Herman, Katz, Gisleson & Cain, L.L.C. in New Orleans, Louisiana. J.D., Tulane University Law School (1966).
Meet Russ
Contact
Suite 1860
New Orleans, Louisiana 70112
Russ M. Herman is of counsel at Herman, Katz, Gisleson & Cain, L.L.C. in New Orleans, Louisiana. A plaintiffs’ trial lawyer, he has served as lead counsel and liaison counsel in major product liability and mass tort litigation, and he is a past president of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America.
Herman earned a bachelor’s degree from Tulane University in 1963 and an LL.B. from Tulane University School of Law in 1966. He was lead trial counsel in Scott v. American Tobacco, in which a Louisiana jury returned a verdict of more than $591 million in 2004. He was lead negotiator and liaison counsel for plaintiffs in the Vioxx MDL, which produced a $4.85 billion settlement with Merck, and he served as plaintiffs’ liaison counsel in the Chinese drywall MDL.
His other recoveries include a $28 million recovery for a quadriplegic client injured at a railroad crossing and a $16 million recovery in a drilling injury case. He served as president of the Louisiana Trial Lawyers Association in 1980-81, president of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America in 1989-1990 and president of the Roscoe Pound Foundation from 1991 to 1993.
Herman received the Leonard M. Ring Champion of Justice Award, the highest honor of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, in 2001. He has been listed in Best Lawyers in America since 1983 and in Louisiana Super Lawyers from 2007 to 2026, and he wrote a book and video series on courtroom persuasion.
Experience and Expertise
Qualifications
Timeline
- Tulane University, B.A. (1963)
- Tulane University School of Law, LL.B. (now J.D.) (1966)
Practice Areas
- Association of Trial Lawyers of America (President, 1989-1990)
- Louisiana Trial Lawyers Association (President, 1980-81)
- Civil Justice Foundation (President, 1987-1988)
- Roscoe Pound Foundation (President, 1991-1993)
- International Academy of Trial Lawyers (Fellow and Director)
- American Board of Trial Advocates
- International Society of Barristers (Fellow)
- American College of Barristers (Barrister)
- American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys (Diplomate)
- National College of Advocacy (Diplomate)
- Louisiana Trial Lawyers Association President's Award, Outstanding Louisiana Trial Lawyer (1977)
- ATLA Lifetime Achievement Award (1999)
- ATLA Leonard M. Ring Champion of Justice Award (2001)
- Pursuit of Justice Award, American Bar Association Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section (2005)
- Best Lawyers New Orleans Personal Injury Litigator of the Year (2010)
- Louisiana Super Lawyers (2007-2026)
- Tulane Law School Inaugural Hall of Fame (2013)
- Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers (2020-2024, 2026)
- Chambers USA Senior Statespeople, Litigation: Mainly Plaintiffs (2025)
- The Best Lawyers in America (1983-present)
- $591 Million Verdict: Lead trial counsel in Scott v. American Tobacco Company (Orleans Parish, Civil District Court), in which a jury returned a verdict of more than $591 million for a class of Louisiana smokers (2004).
- $4.85 Billion Vioxx Settlement: Lead negotiator and liaison counsel for plaintiffs in the Vioxx MDL 1657 settlement with Merck.
- $28 Million Railroad Crossing Recovery: Landry v. Union Pacific, recovery for a client left quadriplegic in a railroad crossing accident.
- $47 Million Class Action Judgment: Brodie v. PMIC, final judgment for exclusive agents against an insurer for wrongful termination.
- $16 Million Drilling Injury Recovery: Mote v. Diamond Drilling, personal injury recovery for unsafe drilling practices.
- $8 Million Drilling Injury Recovery: Burnham v. Schuler Drilling Co., personal injury recovery for unsafe drilling practices.
- $4.5 Billion Tobacco Recovery: Ieyoub, Attorney General, State of Louisiana v. American Tobacco Company, recovery of medical benefits against major tobacco companies.
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