Douglas L. Grundmeyer
Position: Partner
Direct Number: (504) 585-7028
Fax: (504) 544-6076
Email: grundmeyer@chaffe.com Download VCard

Areas of Practice

  • Appellate

Education

J.D., Tulane University School of Law, 1976
M.A., University of New Orleans, 1974
B.A., Tulane University, 1970

Professional Memberships

Louisiana Bar Foundation
Bar Association of The Fifth Federal Circuit
New Orleans Bar Association
Defense Research Institute
Scribes (The American Society of Legal Writers)

Bar Admissions

Louisiana
California
U.S. District Court for the Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts of Louisiana
U.S. First, Third, Fifth, and Eleventh Circuit Courts of Appeals
Supreme Court of the United States

Douglas L. Grundmeyer

Mr. Grundmeyer heads Chaffe McCall's Appellate Section, where he concentrates on briefing and arguing appeals and writ applications in a wide variety of civil cases in state and federal courts, including admiralty and maritime law, commercial litigation, insurance, employment law, railroad law, and products-liability actions.

Before joining Chaffe McCall in 1988, he served as the Senior Law Clerk to the Chief Judge of the Louisiana Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal and was an editor for a national legal publisher.

In addition to his appellate work, Mr. Grundmeyer works closely with trial counsel in district court and arbitration proceedings to plan strategies, file pre-trial and dispositive motions, and preserve issues for interlocutory and final appellate review.

RECENT PRACTICE HIGHLIGHTS:

  • Smith v. American Life Assurance Co. of Columbus, 584 F.3d 212 (5th Cir. 2009) - successfully appealed a ruling on cross-motions for summary judgment interpreting an accident insurance policy and secured the dismissal of an action claiming benefits in excess of those already properly paid.
  • Brookshire Bros. Holding, Inc. v. Dayco Products, Inc., 554 F.3d 595 (5th Cir. 2009), cert. denied, 172 L. Ed. 2d 578 (2009) - successfully appealed a discretionary-remand order, enjoined plaintiffs' attempt to litigate in state court, and opposed plaintiffs' certiorari application in the U.S. Supreme Court.
  • Founding Co-Chair of the Appellate Practice Committee of the New Orleans Bar Association (2010-12).
  • Co-author, "Appeals: A District Court's Reasons for Judgment," New Orleans Bar Association's Briefly Speaking (Fall 2012)
  • Co-author, "When Does the Time Period for an Appeal or Supervisory Writ Application Begin?," New Orleans Bar Association's Briefly Speaking (Summer 2011).

HONORS AND AWARDS:

  • Named as one of six appellate attorneys in Louisiana in Super Lawyers 2013
  • Named as a "Top Lawyer" in Appellate Practice in New Orleans Magazine (November 2012)
  • Listed in Who's Who in America and Who's Who in American Law

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT:
Mr. Grundmeyer serves as a Board member and Secretary of Southern Rep Theatre.  He is also a member of The Pirate's Alley Faulkner Society, The Laussat Society of the Historic New Orleans Collection, and The College of Music and Fine Arts Visiting Committee of Loyola University.