Friday Eldredge & Clark LLP

62 Best Lawyers awards

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Awarded Practice Areas

Insurance Law Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants

Biography

James C. Baker focuses his practice on the areas of casualty insurance defense, commercial and construction litigation. He has first-chaired more than 120 jury trials to verdict and he has represented clients in more than 300 non-jury trials, arbitrations and mediations.

J.C. speaks regularly on matters regarding trial practice and workers’ compensation, addressing self-insureds, the Arkansas Bar Association, insurance companies and trade and industry associations.

Key Matters

Representatives Appeals:

  • Jones Bros., Inc. v. Whitlock, 366 Ark. 254 (2006)
  • Thornton v. Arkansas Valley Electric Cooperative Corp., 95 Ark. App. 151 (Ark. App. 2006)
  • CDI Contractors, LLC v. Allbrite Electrical Contractors, Inc.,780 So.2d 963 (Fla. 5th DCA 2001) and on second appeal 836 So.2d 1031 (Fla. 5th DCA 2003)
  • Stolze v. Arkansas Valley Electric Cooperative Corp., 354 Ark. 601 (2003)
  • Woodline Motor Freight v. Troutman Oil Company, 327 Ark. 448 (1997)

    Representative Trials:

    • Johnson v. First Electric Cooperative Corp., 2008.
      • Saline County, Arkansas, defense verdict in a wrongful death case arising out of an electrocution
      • Cook v. Clarksville Refrigerated Lines, 2006.
        • Conway County, Arkansas, defense verdict in a wrongful death and personal injury case arising out of a commercial motor vehicle accident
        • DeWeese v. United Parcel Service, 2004.
          • Conway County, Arkansas, defense verdict in a wrongful death case arising out of a UPS package car accident and $5,000,000 verdict in favor of UPS driver on his counterclaim against the estate for personal injuries
            Representative Clients
            • ACE Insurance Company
            • Arkansas Electric Cooperative, Inc.
            • CDI Contractors, LLC
            • Cigna Insurance Company
            • Entergy Arkansas, Inc.
            • Federated Rural Electric Ins. Co.
            • Liberty Mutual Insurance Company
            • Progressive Northwestern Ins. Co.
            • Safeco Insurance Company
            • Union Pacific Railroad Company
            • United Parcel Service
              Noteworthy
              • Listed in The Best Lawyers in America, Insurance Law and Personal Injury Litigations - Defendants, since 2011
              • Selected by attorney peers for inclusion in Mid-South Super Lawyers

                Associations & Memberships
                • DRI (formerly Defense Research Institute)
                • American Bar Association
                • Arkansas Bar Association
                • Pulaski County Bar Association
                  Admissions
                  • Arkansas, 1986
                  • United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
                  • United States District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Arkansas
          Friday Eldredge & Clark LLP

          62 Best Lawyers awards

          Friday Eldredge & Clark LLP logo

          Overview

          • University of Arkansas, J.D., graduated 1986
          • Hendrix College, BA
          • University of Arkansas, J.D., graduated 1986
          • Hendrix College, BA

          Client Testimonials

          Awards & Focus

          Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
          • Insurance Law
          • Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
          Additional Areas of Practice:
          • Personal Injury Litigation

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