400 Travis St., Suite 1700, Shreveport, LA 71101
318-221-4196
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Bobby S. Gilliam

Managing Partner
Location: Shreveport, Louisiana
Phone: 318-221-4196
Email: bgilliam@wcglawfirm.com
Fax: 318-221-3705

Bobby Gilliam is the managing partner of the firm and is listed in The Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers.  He is also listed in Best Lawyers in America and Super Lawyers, most recently in 2016.  He is the former President and an officer in the Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel, the largest organization of defense counsel in the state and a Guest Lecturer at Tulane University Law School.  He has an active Federal and State litigation and appellate practice, appearing in courts throughout Louisiana and in surrounding states including the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals.  He also practices extensively before the Louisiana Public Service Commission.  His practice focuses on the defense of corporate clients including railroad law and litigation, public utility and regulatory law, employment and labor law, and insurance and corporate defense litigation.

The many cases and matters which he has handled generally include:

  • The approval and certification by the Louisiana Public Service Commission of generating and power plants with value of over $2.5 billion and multiple rate cases including for the years 2007, 2008 and 2009 and the acquisition of a lignite mine currently serving as the sole fuel supply for a generating facility.
  • Extensive railroad litigation in grade crossing, FELA, occupational,environmental, employment and trespass litigation in state and federal courts including defense verdicts and Motions for Summary Judgment and Partial Summary Judgments for the defense.
  • Multiple labor arbitrations and extensive employment litigation including multiple successful defense verdicts and summary judgments in trial courts and appeals to the U.S. Fifth Circuit.
  • The associated litigation and regulatory approvals of the merger and acquisition of two Louisiana electric cooperatives including the first transaction of this nature in the State of Louisiana in 1993 and second transaction being completed in 2010.

Areas of Practice

  • Public utility and regulatory law
  • Railroad law
  • Labor and employment
  • Insurance defense
  • Corporate and civil litigation

Education

  • Louisiana State University Law Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
    • J.D. – 1978
  • Ouachita University
    • B.A. cum laude – 1975

Representative Cases

  • Player v. Kansas City S. Ry. Co., 2011 WL 5572920 (W.D. La. 2011), affirmed, 2012 WL 5688021(5th Cir. 2012)
  • Benavidez v. Kansas City S. Ry. Co., 2012 WL 2499495 (W.D. La. 2012), , Civil Action No. 3:11-CV-1263, Record Doc. #56 (2012)
  • In re Cajun Elec. Power Coop., Inc. (SWEPCO), 2012 WL 2378130 (5th Cir. 2012)
  • In re: LPSC Docket U-23327, Subdocket F, Settlement of SWEPCO’s Formula Rate Plan Revenue Requirement Review for 2009 Test Year (9/21/2012)
  • In re Southwestern Electric Power Company, Shreveport, Louisiana v. International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 329, Matthews Seniority Grievance, upholding company’s interpretation of seniority provisions, Labor Arbitration, FMCS 10-05066-6 (Petersen, May 22, 2012)
  • In re Local 329 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers v. Southwestern Electric Power Company, Ellis Termination, Labor Arbitration sustaining termination of employment, FMCS 11-03617-7 (Walker, March 15, 2012)
  • Cargo v. KCSR Co., 408 B.R. 631(W.D. La. June 18, 2009)
  • Maxie v. Dolet Hills Lignite Co., 2008 WL 4762982 (W.D. La. Oct. 28, 2008)
  • Lee v. KCS Co., 08-30444 (5th Cir. 6/30/09) 574 F.3d 253
  • Turner v. KCS Co., 622 F.Supp.2d 374 (E.D. La. 2009)
  • In Re: LPSC Docket U-29702, U-27866 Subdocket B (consolidated) – A, Certification of intermediate and baseload generating facilities, for J. Lamar Stall Combined Cycle Gas Unit at the Arsenal Hill Plant (10/7/2008)
  • In Re: LPSC Docket U-30975 Joint Application of CLECO and SWEPCO for authorization to purchase the permit, leases and reserves of the Oxbow Lignite Mine (9/30/2009)
  • In Re: LPSC Docket U-29702, consolidated with U-27866 Subdocket B, Certification of intermediate and baseload generating facilities, for John W. Turk Ultra Supercritical Coal Plant (4/28/2008)
  • Marshall National Bank v. Norwell Equipment Co., 787 F.2d 1004 (5th Cir. 1986)
  • Joslyn Manufacturing Co., et al v. Koppers Co. and KCSR Co., 40 F.3d 750 (5th Cir. 1995)
  • Cajun, et al v. Southwestern Electric Power Company, 150 F.3d 503 (5th Cir. 1998)
  • Rivers v. Central & South West Corp., 186 F.3d 681 (5th Cir. 1999)
  • Moufarrej v. Unum Provident Corp. 2004 WL 1240528 (Not selected for publication in the Federal reporter) (5th Cir. 2004)
  • Home Port Rentals, Inc., v. International Yachting Group, Inc., 99-0464 (W.D. LA 2000) 95 F.Supp.2d 623 Southwestern Electric Power Co. v. Talley, 377 So.2d 364 (La. App. 2 Cir. 9/24/79)
  • Southwestern Electric Power Co. v. Scurlock, 485 So.2d 72 (La., App. 2 Cir. 2/26/86)
  • Boyd v. B.B.C. Brown Boveri, Inc., 26, 889 (La. App. 2 Cir. 5/10/95) 656 So. 2d 683
  • Herndon v. Southwestern Electric Power Company, 26, 889 (La. App. 2 Cir. 5/10/95) 655 So. 2d 678
  • Provenza v. Central & Southwest Services, Inc., 34, 162 (La. App.2 Cir. 12/15/00) 775 So. 2d 84
  • In re: Southwestern Electric Power Company and Central and Southwest Corporation and American Electric Power Company, Inc., approval of a proposed Business Combination and Merger, Docket No. U-23327, Louisiana Public Service Commission (7/28/99)
  • In re: Analysis of the Regulatory Implications of the Dolet Hills Settlement entered into by CLECO Power, LLC and Southwestern, Electric Power Company, Inc., Docket Nos. U-21453, U-20925 (SC) and U-20292 (SC) (Subdocket G), Louisiana Public Service Commission (5/31/2001)
  • In re: Docket U-31351, Joint Application of Valley Electric Membership Corporation (VEMCO) and Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO) for Expedited Approval of VEMCO’s Voluntary Plan of Dissolution and the Purchase of its Assets by SWEPCO (11/10/10)
  • Marlin Player, et al v. KCSR, 2011 WL 5572920 (W.D. La. Nov. 16, 2011)
  • In re: LPSC Docket U-23327, Subdockets C and D, Settlement of SWEPCO’s 2007 and 2008 Formula Rate Plan Test Years
  • In re: LPSC Docket U-32095, Application of SWEPCO for Certification of Contracts for the Purchase of New Long Term Renewable Resources

Honors and Awards

  • Listed in the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers
  • Best Lawyers in America
  • Super Lawyers, 2016

Professional Associations and Memberships

  • Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel (President: 2015 and 2016; Officer: 2012 and 2015; former Board member: 1989 and 2000), Board Member
  • Shreveport Bar Association
  • Louisiana State Bar Association, Member of Labor & Employment, Public Utility, Insurance, Environmental and Transportation Law, Member
  • Federal Bar Association
  • National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel, Member
  • Defense Research Institute, Inc., Member
  • International Association of Defense Counsel
  • Edison Electric Institute, Legal Committee
  • American Bar Association, Member
  • American Board of Trial Advocates, Member