James-Plummer

James “Jim” C. Plummer Partner

Jim Plummer is a Partner with Berg Plummer Johnson & Raval, LLP. He has been licensed to practice law in Texas since 1974, and has handled litigation affecting the legal of both individuals and businesses for 48 years. While has handled all types of civil litigation across his extensive career, Jim currently focuses his practice on insurance claims and insurance litigation. In addition to his current work, he has also represented clients in personal injury matters and in business litigation.

The genesis of his insurance litigation practice focus occurred when Jim was hired by a young couple with two small children who had just lost their home in a fire. The insurance company denied their homeowners’ claim based on mere suspicion that they had committed arson and burned down their own home. Jim took their case and won a multimillion-dollar jury verdict – reportedly the third largest verdict in that county at the time. It was discovered that the insurance company had no evidence the homeowners set the fire and the evidence in fact pointed to others with an axe to grind with the homeowners. This trial epitomized the notion that insurance companies too often violate their duty to handle claims fairly and in good faith.

Since then, Jim has prosecuted a number of insurance claims on behalf of individuals and businesses holding the insurer to its duty of good faith and fair dealing, and compelling them to live up to the promises made in the insurance policy. In addition to property and casualty claims, Jim has prosecuted a large number of claims for life insurance, accidental death insurance, and disability insurance benefits under individual policies and group insurance policies governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). The ERISA claims on group insurance policies have also included claims against the employer and insurer for breach of fiduciary duty resulting in a loss to the policyholder or beneficiary.

Jim has successfully resolved insurance disputes against virtually all of the insurance companies selling ERISA governed group insurance policies, including Metropolitan Life Insurance Co., Prudential Insurance Co., Sun Life Assurance Co. of Canada, Hartford Life & Accident Insurance Co., Unum Life Insurance Co. of America, Provident Life & Accident Ins. Co., Lincoln National Insurance Co., Lincoln Financial, Jefferson Pilot Life Insurance Co., Cigna, Life Insurance Company of North America, Liberty Life Assurance Co. of Boston, Paul Revere Life Ins. Co., The Standard Insurance Co., The Principal Life Ins. Co., and Reliance Standard Insurance Co.

Jim has longstanding relationships with many clients, several of which have left him thankful online reviews, including statements such as “Mr. Plummer and his staff make you feel that you are the most important client that they have. They answer and respond to your phone calls promptly. My lawsuit was a disability insurance case against The Hartford. Like all of these cases it seemed to take forever but they were there to keep you going. I won my case and obtained all I legally could ask for. Even after winning the case, I continue to use their services to represent me in all my communications with The Hartford.” Another grateful client said, “Nice words are not enough to describe how pleased I am with this office. If you are looking for the most honest, professional, ethical, and knowledgeable attorney look no further than Mr. Plummer and his associates. They have a special way to make you feel that you’re the most important client they have. They are great listeners and will give you the time and provide you with the most sincere expert advice. They’re very prompt in returning phone calls and answering all your questions. They are truly on your side and they will fight for you. Given the five stars service you get, you would think that Mr. Plummer’s fees are sky high; however, surprisingly, Mr. Plummer’s fees are extremely reasonable and his office is worth every penny, even if they charged me more.”

Jim is licensed to practice in Texas, as well in the United States District Courts for the Southern District of Texas, Northern District of Texas, Eastern District of Texas, and Western District of Texas. He is also admitted to practice before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and the United States Supreme Court. He graduated from Antioch College with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. He obtained his Juris Doctorate from University of Michigan Law School in 1974.In addition to achieving and maintaining a Martindale Hubbell AV Preeminent Rating, he was selected by his peers for inclusion in Texas Super Lawyers from 2019 – 2023. He is a member of the Houston Bar Association and State Bar of Texas as is a Former President of the Houston Lawyers Association and Houston Trial Lawyers Association.

Practice Areas

  • Disability Claims
  • ERISA
  • Bad Faith Insurance
  • Civil Litigation

Berg Plummer Johnson & Raval, LLP
Partner
February 2017 – present

Plummer | Raval
Partner
January 2015 – January 2017

Plummer & Associates (and prior incarnations)
Associate
September 1990 – December 2014

Baker Botts
Associate
Years?

  • University of Michigan Law School, Juris Doctorate, 1974
  • Antioch College, Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, 1970
  • Texas, 1974
  • United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas
  • United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas
  • United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
  • United States District Court for the Western District of Texas
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
  • United States Supreme Court
  • Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization
  • State Bar of Texas
  • American Board of Trial Advocates – Houston Chapter, Former Member
  • American Association of Justice, Former Member
    • Insurance Law Section, Former Secretary
    • Bad Faith Litigation Group, Former Secretary
    • National College of Advocacy, Member, Former Member of Board of Trustees
  • Houston Bar Association
    • Litigation Section, Former Member
    • Former Director
    • Speakers Bureau, Former Co-Chair
  • Houston Lawyers Association, Former Member
    • Former President
    • Board of Directors
  • Houston Trial Lawyers Association, Former Member
    • Former President
    • Board of Directors, Former Member
    • Former Treasurer
  • Texas Trial Lawyers Association, Former Member
    • Board of Directors, Former Member
  • Ethical Considerations in Witness Preparation, Harris County Attorney’s Office CLE, 2011
  • Bad Faith Remedies and Alternative Cause of Actions in the 50 States, American Association for Justice Summer Conference, 2007
  • The Search for Insurance Coverage in Auto Cases, Automobile Injury Conference, South Texas College of Law, 2006
  • UM/UIM, Automobile Injury Conference, South Texas College of Law, 2005
  • Advocacy Track   II: Bad Faith Insurance Litigation: Definitions, Exclusions, Conditions: The Defense Arsenal, American Association for Justice Winter Convention, 2004
  • UM/UIM, Automobile Injury Conference, South Texas College of Law, 2004
  • Arson – The Plaintiff’s Perspective, IAAI 55 Annual Meeting and Conference, 2004
  • Challenging Experts in Insurance Cases: A Practical Perspective, Texas Insurance Law Symposium, South Texas College of Law, 2003
  • Masters in Trial: Examination of Plaintiff’s Psychology Expert Direct & Re-Direct, ABOTA, 2003
  • Proving Insurance Company Bad Faith: Ten Things I Have Learned Along the Way, American Association for Justice Annual Convention, 2002
  • Uninsured Motorists/Stowers Doctrine, Automobile Injury Conference, South Texas College of Law, 2002
  • Depositions, American Association for Justice Trial Advocacy College, 2001
  • Tactics-Tactics-Tactics: From Voir Dire to Final Argument, Texas Trial Lawyers Association Mid-Year Meeting, 2001
  • Handling Difficult Clients, Texas Trial Lawyers Association Mid-Year Meeting, 2001
  • Good Counsel – Deflect Attacks On You In Bad Faith Cases, Trial Magazine, Vol. 41, No. 10, 2005
  • City of Houston Planning & Zoning Commission, Former Member