John L. Hammons

Meet Louisiana's medical malpractice pioneer. John Hammons was born in New Orleans. He graduated from Northeast Louisiana University, magna cum laude, in 1973 with a B.A. in government and from Louisiana State University Law School with a J.D. in 1976, where he won First Place in the Robert L. Tullis Moot Court Competition. John Hammons was one of the founding members of Nelson & Hammons, APLC, in 1977. He was fresh out of law school from Louisiana State University in the late 1970s when two clients approached him needing representation in medical malpractice cases. At the time, he did not practice in that area, but he felt led to undertake the challenge. Within three years, John's caseload was substantial enough for him to focus exclusively on medical malpractice law. John has helped victims of medical malpractice throughout Louisiana since 1980. John served on the Governor's Commission on Medical Malpractice in 1989-1990. He has been selected as a Super Lawyer every year since 2007. John's interests include active outreach and Bible teaching, fly fishing in mountain streams, exploring and hiking with his terrier, Zelda, and a variety of sports, having coached the Shreveport Rugby Club. "The practice of law is more than a job or even a profession; rather, it is a calling."