Mr. Pedersen’s extensive trial practice has led to multiple steering committee appointments in state and federal courts as lead trial and liaison counsel, as well as service as a special master and liquidator. Jonathan also represents lawyers and judges facing allegations of professional misconduct and applicants in bar admission proceedings. He has built a winning trial practice and has represented clients throughout Louisiana District Courts, Appellate Courts and the Louisiana Supreme Court. Jonathan maintains an active practice in the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Western District of Louisiana and the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal. As an owner of SMS Dispute Resolution, Jonathan has mediated over 3,500 cases, drawing on his multi-faceted experience in mass tort, toxic tort, aviation disasters, catastrophic injury, medical malpractice and professional ethics matters. He currently serves as a special master for the 24th JDC for all property damage cases related to Hurricane Ida, where he and his colleagues at SMS Dispute Resolution have closed over 4,600 cases with a 97% success rate. Jonathan prides himself on straightforward communication and his unvarnished style produces successful, realistic outcomes.
Mr. Pedersen is presently serving as General Counsel and Trust Secretary in the Archdiocese of New Orleans Settlement Trust, created by the federal bankruptcy court-approved settlement agreement, the trust beneficiaries are the over six hundred survivors of clergy sexual abuse. The total settlement amount is over $300,000,000.00. The settlement agreement provides for survivor compensation and is the first of its kind implementation of court ordered remedial relief and preventative accountability. The Settlement Trust was created for the purpose of serving and supporting abuse survivor beneficiaries.
Outside of the courtroom, Jonathan serves as a Board Member of the Louisiana Judges and Lawyers Assistance Program, and he is the Co-Chair of the LSBA Committee on Alcohol and Drug Abuse. He served as an adjunct professor at the University of Holy Cross for five years where he taught Law, Ethics & Policy in Healthcare Administration at the graduate and undergraduate levels. Jonathan’s professional associations include the Academy of Court Appointed Neutrals (Fellow), LSBA, New Orleans Bar Association, Jefferson Bar Association, Louisiana Association for Justice and The National Trial Lawyers Top 100.
Jonathan graduated from Millsaps College (B.S., Political Science) and earned his J.D. from Loyola New Orleans College of Law, where he was a member of the Spring National Moot Court Competition Team and was a Moot Court Teachers Assistant.
Mass Tort/Class Action Cases and Court Appointments
• Special Master appointed by en banc vote of 24th Judicial District Court(Jefferson Parish, Louisiana) for all cases that relate to property damage caused by Hurricane Ida. Drafted Case Management Order, Disaster Discovery Protocols and Interim Protective Order that implements and oversees a Streamlined Settlement Program (“SSP”) to fairly and efficiently resolve 4,609 Hurricane Cases. This appointment is currently active.
• Anderson v. Bob Dean, Jr., et al, 24th Judicial District Court, Jefferson Parish, Louisiana,
docket no. 820-839 “H”; removal, USDC, EDLA, docket no. 2021-cv-01891, Plaintiffs Steering Committee Member.
Gist: Appointed as member of Plaintiffs Steering Committee to represent patients who were negligently evacuated from multiple nursing homes into an abandoned warehouse.
• Slocum v. International Paper Company, USDC EDLA No. 2:16-cv-12563, c/w 16-12567,16-13793
Gist: Appointed as Co-Lead Trial Counsel, Co-Lead Liaison Counsel and member of Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee and in this class action involving a paper mill in Bogalusa, Louisiana discharging Black Liquor into the atmosphere that caused damages to real property, movable property, economic losses, personal injuries and nuisance.
• In Re: Lumber Liquidators Chinese-Manufactured Flooring Products Marketing, Sales Practices and Products Liability Litigation USDC Eastern District of Virginia – (Alexandria) MDL No. 1:15-md-02627-AJT-TRJ
Gist: Multi-District Litigation involving environmental damages and personal injuries related to formaldehyde exposure from defective flooring. Co-Lead Counsel on behalf of multiple personal injury claimants.
• Sandra L. Dupuy, individually and all others similarly situated v. Fred A.Miller, D.C.,et al., 22nd JDC (St. Tammany) No. 2017-14515, Div. “H”
Gist: Co-Lead Trial Counsel in putative class action involving violations of Louisiana Balanced Billing Act and Medical Lien Statute by defendant medical provider. Negotiated settlement of all claims for a confidential amount.
• Evans v. Temple Inland, Inc., USDC EDLA No. 2:11-cv-02067-LMA-ALC
Gist: Chemical discharge into Pearl River from Paper Mill in Bogalusa, Louisiana that caused damages to the environment (including extinction of two species of aquatic life), real property, movable property, economic losses and personal injuries. Organized, scheduled and took depositions on a “triple track;” weekly motion practice on discovery disputes, heavily involved in settlement negotiations resulting in class wide settlement in excess of $13,000,000 and completed settlement of claims for over 1,500 individual clients.
• Paternostro v. Choice Hotels International Services Corp. et al, USDC EDLA No. 2:13-cv-00662-EEF-MBN
Gist: Lead Trial Counsel in these consolidated cases arising from a Legionella outbreak at local hotel that caused severe personal injuries and wrongful death.
• Robinson v. Radiator Specialty Co., et al., Civil District Court for the Parish of Orleans, Case No. 2015-9742, Div. “C-10”
Gist: Lead Trial Counsel in these consolidated cases arising from a Legionella outbreak at local hotel that caused severe personal injuries and wrongful death.
• Thigpen v. Florida Gas Transmission Co., USDC EDLA No. 14-1415 c/w 15-1749 CJB-SS
Gist: Co-Lead Trial Counsel in in putative class action that involved a natural gas pipeline explosion that caused property damages, loss of property values and personal injuries. Negotiated confidential settlements of all consolidated cases.
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