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James E. Looper, Jr

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James E. Looper, Jr

Partner
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Biography

James Looper serves as Co-Managing Partner for our Nashville office. He is currently licensed in Georgia, Tennessee, and Kentucky. In addition to being licensed in a number of states, James handles complex litigation as a part of the National Trial Counsel team across the country. James’ practice is centered on medical-related issues, complex litigation, alternative dispute resolution, and health care, and he has had numerous jury trials in multiple states.

Prior to attending law school, James attended graduate school in pharmacology and medical school. Upon graduating from law school, James began a general litigation practice in Dalton, Georgia and in 1999 relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, where he joined HBS and began to focus his practice on medical issues. He relocated to the Nashville office in 2006 and has been there ever since.

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In addition to being an experienced litigator, James understands and appreciates alternative dispute resolution. As a Rule 31 certified mediator in Tennessee, James is available to help you resolve your case outside the court room.

James routinely speaks at a number of continuing education programs and is involved in several professional organizations. In addition, he is actively involved in the community serving on the board of the Wang foundation for Sight Relief and the board of the Hospital Hospitality House, including two terms as Chairman of the Board.

James currently serves as the assistant chair of the firm’s medical malpractice practice group. He has received numerous awards including being listed as one of the leaders in Tennessee health care. Since 2012, Nashville Medical News InCharge Healthcare has regularly named James to the list of key decision makers in Nashville’s health care industry. James is also AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rated™ on Martindale-Hubbell.

Experience

Aging Services

James has tried health care cases in multiple states, including long-term care cases. He has obtained successful results for his clients in jury trials, motion practice, and alternative dispute resolution. Thanks to his medical background, James has a unique understanding of the challenges faced by long term care facilities and their employees. This allows him to work more closely with these professionals for the best possible outcome.

Arbitration & Mediation

James offers general mediation services. He is certified as a Rule 31 mediator in Tennessee, and his practice has included experience in a multitude of mediation settings as an advocate and as a mediator. He offers alternatives to litigation in an environment which facilitates effective compromise and decision making empowerment as a neutral. Clients can look forward to being fully engaged and involved in resolving their own disputes and matters using a cost-efficient alternative to litigation.

Correctional Health Care

James’ medical background along with his work in all of the firm’s health care related practice groups serves him well in the unique role of correctional health care representation. James has an excellent understanding of the professional negligence interplay with the constitutional issues presented by §1983. He has successfully defended all varieties of correctional health care cases, both in motion practice and trial.

Dental

James’ medical and transactional experience comes together in his successful representation of dental practices. His expertise in providing sound legal advice in the day-to-day legal matters encountered in a dental practice are well recognized. These matters include patient consent forms, lease agreements, independent contractor arrangements, landlord tenant issues, and all healthcare-related issues encountered in dental practice including liability issues and claims of professional negligence.

Health Care

James comes from a medical background and represents health care clients on numerous aspects of their business. In addition to his involvement in the litigation of various medical legal issues, James advises his clients on issues ranging from HIPAA to EMTALA and both has represented and continues to represent his clients in the areas of peer review, privileging, credentialing, state board investigations, and other licensing-related issues. James also assists on hospital ethics committees and mental health commitment issues.

Medical Malpractice

James has a background in medicine and focuses his practices on the defense of health care professionals and entities in professional liability suites. He zealously represents his clients in all phases in the litigation process, including pre-trial motions, alternative dispute resolution, trial, and appeal. James handles cases ranging from dental malpractice to birth trauma. Additionally, James leads a team of experienced litigators who handle prison health issues, including malpractice and 1983 compliance.

Products Liability

James has defended a wide spectrum of manufacturers in products liability actions including cases involving pharmaceuticals and medical devices. He also handles catastrophic exposure matters and FDA reporting and investigations.

Credentials

Admitted

State Courts:

  • Georgia
  • Kentucky
  • Montana
  • Tennessee

U.S. District Courts:

  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia
  • U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee
  • U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee
  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee

U.S. Courts of Appeals:

  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit

U.S. Supreme Court

Education

  • J.D., Mercer University, 1996
  • Ph.D., Pharmacology, University of South Carolina, 1990
  • B.A., History, Furman University, 1988
  • B.S., Biology, Furman University, 1988

Memberships

  • American Society for Healthcare Risk Management
  • DRI
  • Economic Club of Nashville
  • Georgia Defense Lawyers Association
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  • Nashville Bar Association
  • Nashville Claims Association
  • Tennessee Bar Association
  • Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility
  • Tennessee Hospital Association

Recognition

Publications

James has numerous publications and presentations. He has published in legal and medical sources and has presented to insurance, legal, and medical groups.

In the Press

58 HBS Attorneys Recognized as The Best Lawyers in America® Award Recipients

Hall Booth Smith, P.C. is pleased to announce that 58 lawyers have been included in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®

55 Hall Booth Smith Lawyers Recognized as 2024 Best Lawyers® Award Recipients

We’re pleased to announce that 55 lawyers have been included in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®.

Healthcare Risk Management: Gresh & Looper on Common Mistakes to Avoid in Medical Malpractice Defenses

In an article published by Healthcare Risk Management on March 29, 2021, Partners Jack Gresh and James E. Looper, Jr. are quoted discussing medical malpractice defenses and common mistakes to avoid when facing a lawsuit. The first actions taken after receiving notice of a medical malpractice lawsuit can have significant implications for the outcome of

The Department of Health and Human Services Issues Declaration under the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness (“PREP Act”)

Written by: Christopher Eads, Esq. The Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) recently issued a declaration under the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness (“PREP Act”) Act to provide immunity to liability for activities related to medical countermeasures against the coronavirus(COVID-19). The declaration is effective retroactively to February 4, 2020. Executive Summary Under the declaration,

HBS Opens New Office in Memphis, Tennessee

Hall Booth Smith, P.C. (HBS) is pleased to announce the opening of its newest office in Memphis, Tennessee.

Hall Booth Smith, P.C. – Relocating and Expanding in Downtown Nashville

NASHVILLE – Hall Booth Smith, P.C. (HBS) is pleased to announce that on April 1, 2014, it will move its Nashville office to the Fifth Third Center in downtown Nashville. The new offices will occupy the 29th and 30th floors, encompassing a total of 14,367 square feet, including three large conference rooms and state-of-the-art technology.  HBS’s

HBS Congratulates Partners John Hall, Paul Justice, Jack Gresh and James Looper for recognitions as 2013 Top Rated Lawyers in Healthcare Law

We are excited to congratulate four HBS partners, John Hall, Paul Justice, Jack Gresh and James Looper, with receiving recognitions in The American Lawyer & Corporate Counsel magazine’s 2013 “Top Rated Lawyer in Healthcare Law” recognitions. As a leading provider of news and information to the legal industry, American Lawyer Media teamed with Martindale-Hubbell to highlight these nominated healthcare lawyers

Hall Booth Smith Attorneys Recognized in Tennessee’s Top Rated Lawyers 2012

Hall Booth Smith is pleased to announce that four of its attorneys in Nashville, Tennessee office have been recognized for their achievements as the AV Preeminent® by LexisNexis® Martindale-Hubbell®, in National Law Journal’s publication, Tennessee’s Top Rated Lawyers 2012. The AV Preeminent® rating is a significant accomplishment and a testament to the fact that a

Two HBS Attorney’s named to list of Nashville’s Healthcare Leaders

Nashville Medical News InCharge Healthcare named James Looper, Jr. and Bryant Witt of Hall, Booth, Smith to the list of key decision makers in Nashville’s healthcare industry. According to the publication, InCharge Healthcare was created to, “shine a light on the people – well known and behind the scenes – who are helping drive local

John Hall and James Looper Defense verdict in the Daily Report

John Hall along with partner James Looper recently received a Defense verdict in a Medical Malpractice case pending in Murfreesboro, TN. Download The Daily Report

John Hall Received Defense Verdict in Medical Malpractice Case

John E Hall, Jr., Received Defense Verdict in Medical Malpractice Case October 4, 2011 John E. Hall, Jr., along with his partner, Jamas Looper received a defense verdict in a case pending in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.  Mr. Hall represented two physicians and their group who were accused of alleged failure to diagnose appendicitis in a 30

James Looper and Bryant Witt were featured in Nashville Medical

James Looper and Bryant Witt were featured in an article “Open Yourself Up to Liability” in the September 3, 2011, Nashville Medical News.  Looper and Witt, both Nashville attorneys working in the health care practice groups of HBS, offered insight into several areas where hospitals, practices, and physicians could find themselves involved in legal disputes.

James Looper featured in Nashville Post

James Looper was recently featured in Nashville Post where he discussed the Nashville office’s abilities to serve our clients with solidity, experience, and sincerity.  The Nashville office, as well as all of HBS’s other offices, receive the full support of the Atlanta home office.  As James Looper says, “We do good work and serve our communities.”    

Nashville Office’s James E. Looper, Jr. Has Recently Been Invited to Join the Board of Directors for The Wang Foundation for Sight Restoration

Nashville Office’s James E. Looper, Jr. has recently been invited to join the board of directors for the Wang Foundation for Sight Restoration.  The Wang Foundation for Sight Restoration is a registered 501c(3) non-profit charitable organization that provides financial support to help patients for whom all conventional surgeries have failed and who may benefit from

James E. Looper, Jr. Elected Chairman of the Hospital Hospitality House of Nashville, TN

Hall Booth Smith’s James E. Looper, Jr. has been elected the Chairman of the Hospital Hospitality House of Nashville, TN.  Mr. Looper is in the Nashville office of HBS and is honored to receive such recognition.  Mr. Looper has been on the board since 2008.  He served as secretary in 2010 and will serve as Chair in 2011.  The