Jeffrey M. Cole

Jeff Cole was recently appointed by United States District Judge James Cain to serve on a panel of neutrals to mediate cases arising from Hurricanes Laura and Delta. Before retiring from his firm in 2016, Jeffrey M. Cole was a partner at Plauché, Smith & Nieset LLC. He practiced primarily in insurance defense and worker’s compensation defense litigation. He joined the firm in March of 1980 and participated in a wide variety of litigation, including products liability, trucking accidents, premises liability, automobile accident cases and business litigation. His principal areas of practice included personal injury defense and workers’ compensation defense matters. Mr. Cole is experienced in all types of litigation and its attendant discovery issues and motion practice.

Biography

PROFILE

Mr. Cole was admitted to the Louisiana Bar in 1980. He is also admitted before the U.S. District Court: Eastern, Middle and Western Districts of Louisiana; and the U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit. He is a member of the Louisiana State Bar Association, the Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel, and the Southwest Bar Association.

By appointment of the Louisiana Supreme Court, Cole served on the Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Committee, and in the past served on the Judicial Campaign Oversight Committee and the Ad Hoc Committee to study the finances of the Office of Disciplinary Counsel. He was also asked by local Workers’ Compensation Judges to form a Workers’ Compensation Section of the Southwest Louisiana Bar Association and served as its first President in 2009.

Mr. Cole is a member of the Episcopal Church of Good Shepherd and is involved in various community activities. As President of the Southwest Louisiana Bar Association, Mr. Cole accepted on behalf of the organization, the 2006 Pro Bono Publico Award for outstanding pro bono services to the victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

TESTIMONIAL

“Mr. Cole was an excellent mediator."

Louisiana State Bar Association Southwest Louisiana Bar Association Louisiana Association Defense Counsel