Planning for Success
A local attorney focuses on understanding his clients’ needs and helping them succeed.
“I help those who cannot fight for themselves.”
–David W. Gernhauser, Jr.
Before joining the Law Offices of Dan A. Robin, Jr., in 2015, David W. Gernhauser, Jr., worked as a solo practitioner for six years. With a primary focus on personal injury cases, he obtained millions of dollars in settlements or verdicts for his clients. Additionally, he accepted appointments on numerous indigent criminal cases, learning well the difficulties faced by people with the odds stacked against them.
The Law Offices of Dan Robin, Jr., offer personal injury/civil representation and criminal defense ranging from automobile accidents to workman’s compensation injuries to multiple party civil litigation. “I embraced the opportunity to join with Dan because he and I share a philosophy,” Gernhauser says. “We want to help those who are injured by no fault of their own and need a strong advocate.” Robin, who has more than two decades of experience as a personal injury attorney, was formerly an insurance defense attorney and is familiar with how insurance companies work.
After earning his Bachelor of Arts in English from Louisiana State University, Gernhauser went to Tulane School of Law to obtain his Juris Doctor in 2009. When asked why he chose the legal profession, Gernhauser says he has always been fascinated by the law. From his years in high school through college, he followed the class action lawsuits against the tobacco giants. “I watched as this motivated group of trial lawyers brought this entire industry to task, and those cases created a tremendous amount of benefit and we still see the effects 17 years later,” he says.
As a young lawyer being appointed to represent indigent clients, Gernhauser claims he gained the experience that shaped his career. “I learned how to argue a case from motion to trial, and I learned what life was like for those who really do not have anything or anyone working for them. I now use the tools that I learned back then to help my clients in every way that I can. There is no down time practicing law, you need to roll up your sleeves and work the case,” he said.
Fighting for those who cannot fight for themselves, Gernhauser recently helped a client who was struck by a flatbed truck win against stacked odds. Because he had two prior neck surgeries, and questions concerning causation of his new injuries, the gentleman could not find a lawyer to represent him. “No one wanted to deal with the complexity of the case,” Gernhauser says. “He was an honest man who needed help, and I helped him recover the full complement of his damages, including the cost of another cervical spinal fusion and his ongoing medical treatments.”
Gernhauser further explains that there are many working people who, through no fault of their own, get hurt on the job. Either they fall down a loading dock, or have a heavy piece of equipment fall on them, and they have the double-edged sword of being injured and unable to work and having additional medical expenses. “We work with our clients to obtain the benefits they need to get back on their feet and back to work,” Gernhauser says.
Perhaps best known for his ability to communicate, he takes pride in making himself available to his clients, answering his client’s questions directly and making sure they have all the information required to succeed in their case.
When it comes to what advice he would give to those looking for legal representation, Gernhauser says it is important to make sure whoever you choose to represent you will stop at nothing when it comes to your representation. “When in a panic, the tendency is for people to jump first and ask questions later,” he says. “I want people to realize not all attorneys are alike. I will do everything I can to make sure my clients have the greatest chance of success in their litigation.”
Active in the legal community, Gernhauser remains updated and informed on the latest and most important developments in the legal field. A frequent volunteer for the HELP Legal Consultation and Notary Services for the homeless and The Pro Bono Clinic, he was recognized at The Pro Bono Project Volunteer Recognition Awards in 2016. He is a member of the St. Bernard Parish Bar Association, and he continues to volunteer for the Public Defender’s Office of St. Bernard Parish when needed.
When not practicing law, he enjoys spending time with his wife Valerie, and their three girls, Ramona (6), Veronica (4) and Francesca (6 months).
David W. Gernhauser Jr.
The Law Offices of Dan A. Robin, Jr.
9117 W. St. Bernard Hwy.
Chalmette, LA 70043
(504) 271-9854
mylawyerdan.com