John “Trip” McCormick diligently protects each client’s legal interests while helping grow and develop the client’s business. Trip’s legal counsel seeks not only to achieve the best legal outcomes, but also to preserve valuable business relationships and the client’s hard-earned reputation. Trip takes deep pride in the partnerships he forges with his clients, and is committed to fostering the growth and prosperity of the businesses working in Louisiana’s most vital markets.
Focused on his clients’ business success, Trip aggressively defends contractual or third-party claims, pursues debts gone unpaid, and helps craft strategic business plans by identifying and eliminating uncertainties that may stand in the way. He provides general advice and assistance to his clients in negotiating and drafting contracts, selecting insurance products and coverages, managing risk, and resolving conflicts early.
More specifically, Trip focuses his practice on commercial and construction litigation, representing a broad spectrum of clients ranging from architects and engineers to general contractors, subcontractors, land surveyors, and material suppliers. He has litigated cases arising from a variety of public, private, commercial, and industrial projects in bench trials, jury trials in state and federal court, and arbitrations. Types of matters include claims under the Louisiana New Home Warranty Act; payment claims on federal projects under the Miller Act; major public works such as storm levees and pumping stations, emergency response centers, and university classroom buildings; commercial projects, including luxury hotels, condominiums and apartment complexes, shopping centers, and hospitals; and catastrophic structural failures. In addition to the construction industry, Trip also represents clients in trucking and transportation, energy, oil and gas, real estate and property management, and regulated utilities.
A native of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Trip moved to his adopted home of New Orleans in 2001. He is a former high school English teacher and freelance writer and editor. Trip has been a player, coach, and now ardent supporter of the New Orleans Rugby Club for over 20 years. Trip, his wife Danielle, and two sons Aidan and Dylan now enjoy cheering on NOLA Gold Rugby, one of the founding franchises of Major League Rugby.
Representative Matters
- Obtained a jury award of $509,381.99 on behalf of a general contractor against an architect and engineer following a 10-day trial (U.S.D.C., Eastern District of Louisiana).
- Obtained a complete defense verdict on behalf of a trucking company and a driver in a bench trial involving an alleged side-swipe incident.
- Obtained dismissal on summary judgment for a civil engineer in a case involving substantial delay and extra work claims on construction of a middle school (22nd Louisiana JDC, St. Tammany Parish).
- Obtained a jury award of $113,766.36 on behalf of a general contractor against a hotel owner, representing recovery of all damages sought under six of seven distinct claims and partial recovery of damages under the seventh claim (U.S.D.C., Eastern District of Louisiana).
- Obtained a defense verdict on behalf of a mechanical/electrical engineer in a case involving claims of professional negligence and detrimental reliance related to the design of a high-powered hydraulic pumping system for a cooling tower at NASA’s Stennis Space Center.
- Defended a general contractor in a five-week arbitration hearing against claims by a hotel owner of defective work allegedly resulting in extensive mold and water damage in which the owner sought more than $20 million for repair costs and lost profits. We settled with the owner post-hearing for less than 15% of the total claim.
