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Attorney Profiles
James Lamar Porter 
Little Rock, Arkansas
Head of Litigation Department, Head of Medical Negligence Department
phone 501-221-0444
800-603-5100 (Toll Free)
fax (501) 219-0608
email Email Me

Lamar Porter was born in Fayetteville, Arkansas,  while his parents were in college, but he grew up in Little Rock, attending Catholic High School and Hendrix College in Conway before returning to Fayetteville for law school.   Married to Debbie Porter, they (and their three dogs) live on a small lake in Lonoke, County.  Lamar was named after a great uncle who was memorialized by his family with land and money donated to build "Lamar Porter Field."  The baseball field was completed in 1936 and at one time was the only baseball field in Arkansas to have electric lights.  Lamar proudly remembers Hall of Fame star Brooks Robinson started his career at Lamar Porter Field. Lamar is presently a trustee for the field.

With over thirty years of legal experience , Lamar concentrates his practice on medical malpractice cases,  also handling wrongful death cases, cases involving defective products, drug litigation, and trucking accidents and car wrecks  involving severe injuries or death.  He has extensive experience in handling birth injury cases (obstetrical malpractice). Although only a handful of malpractice verdicts have ever been handed down against an Arkansas physician, Lamar won a significant verdict in this area and has negotiated hundreds of settlements in favor of his clients over his many years of practice.

Recently Lamar almost lost his wife due to surgical complications.  Debbie is now out of the hospital after almost five months (three months on a respirator).This experience was life changing, and has given Lamar a profound empapthy and understanding of clients who have undergone similar life altering experiences.

 

Areas of Practice:
Personal Injury -- Plaintiff
Aviation Accidents -- Plaintiff
Motor Vehicle Accidents -- Plaintiff
Premises Liability -- Plaintiff
Railroad Accidents -- Plaintiff
Wrongful Death -- Plaintiff
Products Liability Law
Chemicals & Cosmetics
Firearms
Food & Agricultural Products
Machinery & Tools
Medical Products & Devices
Motor Vehicle Defects
Pharmaceutical Products
Recreational Products
Professional Malpractice Law
Legal Malpractice
Medical Malpractice
Other Professionals Malpractice
Toxic Torts
Class Actions
Hazardous Waste
Pesticides
Litigation Percentage:
80% of Practice Devoted to Litigation
Bar Admissions:
Arkansas, 1978
Texas, 1988
U.S. Court of Appeals 8th Circuit, 1979
U.S. District Court Eastern District of Arkansas, 1979
Education:
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Leflar Law Center, Fayetteville, Arkansas, 1978
J.D.
Honors: With Honors
Law Review: Arkansas Law Review, Associate Editor, 1976 - 1978


Hendrix College, Conway, AR, US, 1975
B.A.
Minor:  Social Science


Published Works:
Suing Arkansas Hospitals in Medical Negligence Cases, Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association, Winter, 2008


Removal and Discipline of Judges in Arkansas, Arkansas Law Review, Volume 32, 1978


Representative Cases:
Haupt v. Kumar, 103 Ark.App. 298 (Ark. Sup. Ct. 2009)
Sowders v. St. Joseph's Mercy Health Center, 368 Ark. 466 (Ark. Supreme Ct. 2997)
Dairy Farmers of America v. Coker, 98 Ark. App. 400 (Ark. Ct. of Appeals 2007)
Merez v. Squire Court Ltd. Partnership, 353 Ark. 174 (Ark. Supreme Court 2003)
Raynor v. Kyser, 64 Ark. App. 365 (Ark. Ct. of Appeals 1998)
Arthur v. Zearley, 320 Ark 273 (Ark. Sup. Ct. 1995)
Campbell v. Cauthron, 623 F.2d 503 (Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals 1980)
Garner v. Holland, 264 Ark. 536 (Arkansas Supreme Court 1978)
Classes/Seminars Taught:
Handling Medical Negligence Claims, National Business Institute, 2007 - Present


2006 Medical Malpractice Seminar, Pulaski County Bar Association


Trial Book & Presentation Software, Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association, 2005


Medical Malpractice: Cases Post Act 649, Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association, 2005


Discovery in Medical Negligence Cases, Pulaski County Bar Association, 1998


Medical Negligence, Arkansas State University, 1997


Professional Associations and Memberships:
Little Rock Boy's Chief Board of Directors, 1984 - 1988
Board of Directors


Lamar Porter Field, 2009 - Present
Trustee


Past Employment Positions:
Sebastian County Prosecuting Attorney, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, 1978 - 1979


Sekton & Porter, P.A., Partner, 1979 - 1981


Gary Eubanks & Associates, Associate, 1981 - 1983


Swindoll Law Firm, Associate, 1983 - 1984


Whetstone Law Firm, Associate, 1984 - 1986


Hicks Law Firm, Associate, 1986 - 1988


The Haskins Law Firm, Associate, 1988 - 1992


Hicks Law Firm, 1992 - 1994


Pro Bono Activities:
VOCALS (Central Arkansas Legal Services)
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