Commercial Litigation Litigation - Insurance Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants Railroad Law
Thomas Louis "Louis" Colletta, Jr.
Awarded Practice Areas
Biography
Thomas Louis Colletta, Jr. he concentrates his practice on varied areas of casualty litigation in New Orleans and Lake Charles. Mr. Colletta worked as an executive assistant to United States Congressman Jimmy Hayes of Louisiana’s seventh congressional district during and after college. Following law school at Tulane School of Law, Mr. Colletta served as a law clerk for the Honorable Gene Thibodeaux, Chief Judge of the Louisiana Third Circuit Court of Appeal. Upon completion of his clerkship, Mr. Colletta entered private practice specializing in general casualty litigation. Mr. Colletta has represented governmental clients such as the Lake Charles Harbor & Terminal District, City of New Orleans, and the Orleans Parish School Board. He has also successfully defended cases for self-insured funds including the Louisiana Restaurant Association, Louisiana Construction & Industry Self Insured Fund and the Louisiana United Businesses Association. Working within the Railroad and Transportation Practice Area, Mr. Colletta also handles mass tort, class action, and commercial litigation. He has successfully defended freight rail carriers in a wide range of cases, including cases involving the Federal Employer’s Liability Act.
Overview
New Orleans, Louisiana
- Tulane University, J.D., graduated 2000
- McNeese State University, BA, graduated 1994
- Louisiana, Louisiana State Bar Association
- Texas, State Bar of Texas
- Federalist Society - Member
- The Heritage Foundation - Member
- Association of Transportation Professionals - Member
- Bar Association of the Federal Fifth Circuit - Member
- Defense Research Institute - Member
- Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel - Member
- National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel - Member
- New Orleans Association of Defense Counsel - Member
- New Orleans Bar Association - Member
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Louisiana
- U.S. District Court, Middle District of Louisiana
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
- Louisiana - Intermediate Appellate Courts
New Orleans, Louisiana
- Louisiana, Louisiana State Bar Association
- Texas, State Bar of Texas
- Federalist Society - Member
- The Heritage Foundation - Member
- Association of Transportation Professionals - Member
- Bar Association of the Federal Fifth Circuit - Member
- Defense Research Institute - Member
- Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel - Member
- National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel - Member
- New Orleans Association of Defense Counsel - Member
- New Orleans Bar Association - Member
- Tulane University, J.D., graduated 2000
- McNeese State University, BA, graduated 1994
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Louisiana
- U.S. District Court, Middle District of Louisiana
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
- Louisiana - Intermediate Appellate Courts
Client Testimonials
Awards & Focus

Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
- Railroad Law, New Orleans (2022)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
- Commercial Litigation
- Litigation - Insurance
- Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
- Railroad Law
Additional Areas of Practice:
- Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants
- Product Liability Litigation - Defendants
Special Focus:
- Casualty
- Mass Tort
Awards:
- Elected to Louisiana State Bar Association's House of Delegates
- Distinguished Service Award - Louisiana Association of Self Insured Employers
- New Orleans Top Lawyers 2013
- AV Rating from Martindale Hubbel
- Best Lawyers (2013-2023)
- Louisiana Super Lawyers (2016-present)
- City Business Leadership in Law Honoree 2017
News & Media
Additional Information
- Published Work and Lectures
- 2004 Cumulative Supplement, Co-author of Louisiana Section, "State-By-State Guide to Architect, Engineer, and Contractor Licensing," Aspen Publishers
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