James C. Baker, Jr.

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