James C. Plummer
In his five decades of practice, Jim Plummer accomplished what almost no attorney ever does: he was an outstanding advocate who was at the same time liked, admired, and respected by everyone he met, including his opponents. Those who were privileged to know and work with Jim were universally better off for it. His passing is a loss not only for the firm but also for the profession and the community he spent so long serving.
Jim was licensed to practice law in Texas in 1974. He immediately became a trailblazer when he was among the first African American lawyers to be hired by one of the country’s largest and most prestigious law firms.
More recently, and for over a decade, Jim was a beloved partner, first with Berg Plummer Johnson & Raval LLP and then with Berg PC.
While he handled all types of civil litigation, Jim focused his practice in his later years on insurance claims and insurance litigation. He also represented clients in personal injury matters and in business litigation.
Jim’s insurance litigation practice began when he was hired by a young couple with two small children who had just lost their home in a fire. The insurance company had denied their homeowners’ claim 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. Discovery showed the insurer had no proof the homeowners set the fire; the evidence instead pointed to others with an axe to grind with the couple. The trial epitomized the notion that insurance companies too often violate their duty to handle claims fairly and in good faith
From then on, Jim prosecuted insurance claims on behalf of individuals and businesses. He held insurers to their duty of good faith and fair dealing and compelled them to live up to the promises made in their policies. In addition to property and casualty claims, Jim prosecuted a large number of claims for life, accidental death, and disability insurance benefits. These arose under individual policies and under group insurance policies governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). His ERISA claims on group insurance policies also included claims against employers and insurers for breach of fiduciary duty resulting in a loss to the policyholder or beneficiary.
Jim 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. of America, Sun Life Assurance Co. of Canada, Hartford Life and Accident Insurance Co., Unum Life Insurance Co. of America, Provident Life and Accident Insurance Co., Lincoln National Life Insurance Co., Jefferson-Pilot Life Insurance Co., Cigna, Life Insurance Company of North America, Liberty Life Assurance Co. of Boston, Paul Revere Life Insurance Co., Standard Insurance Co., Principal Life Insurance Co., and Reliance Standard Life Insurance Co.
As a testament to his skill, professionalism, and decency, Jim had longstanding relationships with many clients, several of whom left him thankful reviews, including this one:
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 wrote:
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 practiced in state and federal courts across Texas and was admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court. He graduated from Antioch College with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and earned his Juris Doctor from the 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 to 2023. He was a member of the Houston Bar Association and the State Bar of Texas, and he served as President of both the Houston Lawyers Association and the Houston Trial Lawyers Association.
Practice Areas
- Disability Claims
- ERISA
- Bad Faith Insurance
- Civil Litigation
Employment History
Berg PC
Partner
February 2017 – October 2026
Plummer | Raval
Partner
January 2015 – January 2017
Plummer & Associates (and prior incarnations)
Associate
September 1990 – December 2014
Baker Botts
Associate
Education
- University of Michigan Law School, Juris Doctorate, 1974
- Antioch College, Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, 1970
Bar & Court Admissions
- 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
Certifications
- Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization
Professional Affiliations
- 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
Professional Awards
- AV Preeminent Rating, Martindale-Hubbell
- Texas Super Lawyers, 2019 – 2023
Speaking Engagements
- 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
Publications
- Good Counsel – Deflect Attacks On You In Bad Faith Cases, Trial Magazine, Vol. 41, No. 10, 2005
Community Involvement
- City of Houston Planning & Zoning Commission, Former Member