Skip to main content

Jennifer Thornton

Jennifer is a dedicated attorney who thrives on solving problems and making a meaningful difference in her clients’ lives.

With a career rooted in hard work, empathy, and a strong sense of justice, Jennifer’s journey to becoming a founding member of Samuels & Thornton was driven by her desire to address the real-world challenges people face every day whether in their personal lives or their work and businesses. Jennifer’s commitment to personal injury and medical malpractice law reflects her passion for advocating for those in need, providing not just legal prowess but genuine support during difficult times. Her down-to-earth nature and dedication have earned her the trust and respect of her clients and peers alike.

After earning her law degree, Jennifer was honored by the opportunity to spend two years as a judicial law clerk, first for Louisiana Supreme Court Justice Catherine “Kitty” Kimball and then for federal District Court Judge Carl J. Barbier. After completing her clerkships, which gave her valuable insight into the inner workings of the state and federal courts and sharpened her legal research and writing skills, she spent many years handling complex business disputes, appellate work, and a variety of litigation matters for a wide range of clients.

The most personally rewarding work for Jennifer, however, was always the personal injury, medical malpractice, and wrongful death cases she handled as co-counsel. These cases made a real difference in injured people’s lives and led her to shift her focus to these areas of law.

Outside the office, Jennifer enjoys life in New Orleans with her husband, where she spends time restoring their historic home, gardening, and caring for their family of rescue pets.

With a reputation for being both compassionate and tough, Jennifer is deeply committed to fighting for justice on behalf of her clients. She works hard to ensure her clients feel heard, involved, and supported throughout their cases, providing honest guidance and practical advice.

Her work is more than just a career—it’s a calling to make a positive impact on those who need it most.

Call 504-558-9478

Areas Of Practice

  • Medical Malpractice
  • Personal injury law
  • Civil appellate work
  • Embryo Litigation
  • Toxic Tort Cases
  • Business Disputes

Bar Admissions

  • Louisiana
  • United States District Courts for the Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts of Louisiana
  • United States Court of Appeals, 5th Circuit

Education

  • J.D., Tulane Law School, magna cum laude, Order of the Coif
  • M.A., Literature, Georgia State University
  • B.A., Tulane University, cum laude

Experience

  • Louisiana Supreme Court, Judicial Clerk to Justice Catherine “Kitty” Kimball (2000-2001)
  • United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, Judicial Clerk to Judge Carl J. Barbier (2001-2002)
  • Stanley Reuter Thornton & Alford LLC (Associate 2002-2008; Member 2009-2024)

Representative Cases

  • Ervin Jack, Jr. v. Evonik Corporation: Obtained a reversal from the federal court of appeals of the dismissal of a wrongful death claim in an ethylene oxide toxic exposure case
  • Thibodeaux v. Orsak: Won a $4.34M jury verdict in federal court in an 18-wheeler accident case
  • Crosby Marine Transp., LLC v. Triton Diving Services, LLC: Won a $1.9M judgment for an injured Jones Act seaman
  • Billeaudeau v. Opelousas General Hospital: Successful appeal in medical malpractice case that there was insurance coverage for the plaintiffs’ claims
  • Turbine Powered Technology v. Crowe: Won state court appeal in a trade secret misappropriation case

Associations & Memberships

  • Louisiana State Bar Association
  • New Orleans Bar Association
  • Louisiana Association for Justice

Awards

  • Best Lawyers, 2013-2024, Medical Malpractice, Commercial Litigation, and Appellate Practice
  • Best Lawyers “Lawyer of the Year” in New Orleans in Plaintiff’s Medical Malpractice (2025)
  • Super Lawyers, 2014-2024
  • Super Lawyers, Rising Star, 2012-2013
  • New Orleans Magazine’s Top Lawyers for multiple years

Presentations and Publications

From Voir Dire to Closing Statements: Keeping Your Cool and Maintaining Professionalism During a Jury Trial, NOBA CLE (2024)
Let the Ghoul Times Roll! The Essential Guide to Voir Dire, LSBA CLE (2022)
Ethics Guidance for Admiralty Practitioners, LSBA’s 27th Annual Admiralty Symposium (2021)

Is it a Writ or an Appeal: I’m So Confused, LSBA Trial Practice Seminar (2019)

Can Professionalism and Aggressive Lawyering Co-Exist, NOBA CLE (2019)
Professionalism: Lessons from a Survey of Lawyers about Lawyers, Tulane Law School CLE (2019)

Writ Practice: Avoiding Procedural Traps, LSBA Advanced Appellate Practice Seminar (2018)

Writ Practice: Herlitz, Writ-Grant Considerations, and Law of the Case, LSBA CLE (2017)
Accurate and Precise Brief Writing, LSBA Appellate Seminar (2016)

Common Ethical Issues Associated with Litigation, NOBA Maters of the Courtroom CLE (2016)

A Louisiana Primer on Judgments, Tulane Law School CLE (2015)
Louisiana Revised Statute Section 9:5605: A Louisiana Lawyer’s Best Friend, 74 Tul. L. Rev. 659 (1999).

Based in New Orleans, our lawyers handle accident and injury cases — as well as other types of legal matters — throughout Louisiana.

When a flood of legal obstacles threatens to sweep you away, contact our attorneys.

CALL 504-558-9478
Skip to content