Jump to Navigation
Phone: 337-205-0321 | Toll Free: 888-335-8640
  • William H. Goforth
  • W. Alan Lilley
  • William H. Goforth

    E-mail MeWilliam H. Goforth

    Partner
    Location:
    Lafayette, Louisiana
    Phone:
    337-237-5777
    Fax:
    337-232-0786
    Email:

    William H. Goforth has received the following honors:

    -Martindale Hubbell Peer Review - AV Rating for Ethics & Ability
    -Top 100 Trial Lawyers - National Trial Lawyers Association, Listed 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 Louisiana
    -Super Lawyers, Listed 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 Louisiana (Top 5%)
    -Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum - Life Member
    -National Board of Trial Advocacy - Board Certified - Civil Trial Advocacy
    -National College of Advocacy - Fellow
    -Who's Who - Marquis

    He obtained his Juris Doctorate Degree from Louisiana State University School of Law in 1982 and his Bachelor in Social Sciences from Troy State University in 1977. He saw service during the Vietnam War with the United States Army Security Agency. Bill is a managing partner in the firm of Goforth & Lilley and concentrates in personal injury, products liability, and litigation. He is a Board Certified Civil Trial Advocate, certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy and a member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, having successfully completed jury and judge trials with verdicts of at least two million dollars. Mr. Goforth has been designated as a Fellow by the National College of Advocacy and is a sustaining member of the American Association for Justice. He is a member of the Trial Lawyers for Public Justice and is a Fellow of the Louisiana Bar Foundation. He is also Senior Counsel Member of the American College of Barristers and a member of the Lafayette Barrister's Club. He is admitted to practice in the United States Supreme Court, the Louisiana Courts, all United States District Courts in Louisiana , the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal, and the Chitimacha Tribal Court of the Chitimacha Nation. He is a member of the Lafayette Parish Bar Association and the Lafayette Volunteer Lawyers, where he served on the Boards of both groups. He is a past Delegate to the Louisiana Republican Convention. He co-wrote "Trial Advocacy in Louisiana "; "Uninsured & Underinsured Motorist Law"; "How to Win Your Cases Using Settlement Brochures"; and "Presentation of Exhibits and Brochures at Trial". He is a frequent speaker on trial tactics, having spoken on topics such as trial advocacy, evidence, insurance issues, uninsured motorist insurance, and preparation of settlement packages, cross-examination, and has been a sponsor of the People's Law School on behalf of the Louisiana Trial Lawyers Association.

    Areas of Practice

    • 18-Wheeler Truck Accidents / Big Truck Accidents
    • Car & Truck Accidents
    • Motor Vehicle Accidents
    • Personal Injury
    • Products Liability
    • Premises Liability
    • Workers Compensation

    Bar Admissions

    • Louisiana, 1982
    • U.S. District Court Eastern District of Louisiana
    • U.S. District Court Western District of Louisiana
    • U.S. District Court Middle District of Louisiana
    • Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana
    • U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit
    • U.S. Supreme Court

    Education

    • Louisiana State University Law Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
      • J.D. - 1982
    • Troy State University, Troy, Alabama
      • B.S. - 1977
      • Honors: Fellow, National College of Advocacy
      • Major: Social Science

    Published Works

    • "Low Speed Impact & Connective Tissue Injuries", Sample Deposition - Cross-Examination of Defendant's - Contributor, Litigation Packet - AAJ, 2008

    References

    • Mid-South National Bank
    • First National Bank

    Classes/Seminars

    • Classes and seminars taught by Mr. Goforth:
    • Auto Torts: Serious Injuries - A Deposition Technique, L.A. Association of Justice, 2010
    • Litigating Auto Collision Cases - Uninsured Motorists, Jazz Fest Seminar, American Association of Justice, 2009
    • Personal Injury Cases, Calculating & Proving Damages National Business Institute, 2008
    • Personal Injury Cases: Calculating & Proving Damages, National Business Institute, 2007
    • Trial Advocacy in Louisiana, National Business Institute, 2004
    • Insurance Law - Third Party Coverage, National Business Institute, 2002
    • Uninsured / Underinsured Motorists Law, National Business Institute, Louisiana, 2001
    • Moderator, What Happens When There's a Car Crash, The People's Law School, 2001
    • Uninsured Motorist Coverage Issues, Lafayette Paralegal Assoc., 2001
    • Trial Advocacy in Louisiana, National Business Institute, 1998
    • Medical Malpractice Trial - (Our Examination of Experts), Columbia Hospitals, 1997
    • Say it With Exhibits - Presentation and Communication, Louisiana Trial Lawyers Association, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 1997
    • Trial Advocacy in Louisiana, National Business Institute, 1996
    • How to Win a Case by Using Settlement Brochures, Exhibits & Brochures at Trial - Louisiana Trial Lawyers Assoc. Orlando, Florida, 1996
    • Mock Malpractice Trial, Cardiovascular Institute of the South, CME Division, Lafayette, Louisiana, 1996
    • Ethics, Louisiana Trial Lawyers Association, 2009
    • Radio - KJCB "Ask a Lawyer" Program
    • Expert Witnesses, The Peoples Law School / Louisiana Trial Lawyers Association
    • Exhibits - Presentation of Communications, Louisiana Trial Lawyers
    • Faculty, National Business Institute
    • Faculty, National College of Advocacy
    • Depositions, Baton Rouge, New Orleans, 2011

    Honors and Awards

    • Martindale Hubbell Peer Review - AV Rating for Ethics & Ability
    • Top 100 Trial Lawyers - National Trial Lawyers Association, Listed 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 Louisiana
    • Super Lawyers, Listed 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 Louisiana (Top 5%)
    • Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum - Life Member
    • National Board of Trial Advocacy - Board Certified - Civil Trial Advocacy
    • National College of Advocacy - Fellow
    • Who's Who - Marquis

    Professional Associations and Memberships

    • Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, Life Member
    • Lafayette Volunteer Lawyers
    • Lafayette Parish Bar Association
    • Louisiana Association for Justice, Member
    • American Association for Justice, Member
    • Alice Boucher Elementary School, SAB Club for Improvement of Student Conduct
    • American Bar Association, Member
    • Lafayette Barrister's Club, Member
    • Trial Lawyers for Public Justice, Member
    • Friends of Grand Isle, Louisiana, Member
    • Viet Nam Veterans of America, Life Member
    • Phi Delta Phi
    • American Trial Lawyers Association, Member
    • Diplomat with National College of Advocacy

    Past Employment Positions

    • United States Army Security Agency, Sergeant
    • Viet Nam Campaign; National Defense; Viet Nam Service; Vietnamese Cross of Gallentry and Unit Citation; and Good Conduct.