“One call, that’s all.” You might know these words from the commercials of Morris Bart, the lawyer who set the benchmark for TV advertising in New Orleans. “Look,” Bart says, pointing to an old, framed newspaper, “I am only following in the footsteps of President Abraham Lincoln, who advertised his law services in the Springfield, Illinois, Daily Illinois State Journal newspaper in April 1857 — four years before he was inaugurated president of the United States in March 1861.”
Today, Bart presides over a regional staff of 200, including 75 lawyers in his 13 offices in four states. His local offices in the First Bank & Trust Tower take up three floors of the building. Bart’s 1,300-square-foot personal perch on the 20th floor includes a corner office with a perfect view of the New Orleans skyline, an adjoining private conference room and a reception area. “My conference room is special for me because it is where we have settled some amazing million-dollar personal injury lawsuits over the years,” he says.
Why did Bart decide to pursue personal injury law? “I like the excitement of going into court, and I like the risk/reward of handling cases on a contingency basis. If we win, we are paid well; if we lose, we get nothing. “We are no longer the only attorneys advertising on television, yet our ads still dominate the airways, and I have the second-largest personal injury law firm in the country.”
Bart called in architects John Chrestia and Sandy Staub of New Orleans’ Chrestia Staub Pierce to design his office when he moved into his present location in 1994. “I enjoyed working with John and Sandy,” he says. “They know I like an eclectic look and to be surrounded by family photos and career mementos, and they gave me exactly the warm and friendly spaces that I wanted.”
His office and conference room aren’t pretentious spaces at all. Most of the furniture — armoire, credenza, side table and conference table — were made by Glen Armand, a well-known furniture maker in Alexandria, and the handsome art of Lafayette artist Francis X. Pavy hangs over the sofa across from Bart’s desk. Sixty-three other pieces of original Louisiana art hang in the hallways, reception areas and offices of the law firm, including works by Ida Kohlmeyer, Robert Gordy, Shirley Rabe Masinter, Allison Stewart, George Rodrigue, and even a John James Audubon. “I am a promoter of all things pertaining to Louisiana,” he says. “I am extremely proud of my collection of Louisiana art.”
There is plenty more eye candy to get your attention in his two-room office and reception area, like signed boxing gloves personally given to him by heavyweight champions Mike Tyson, and Ken Norton. “Norton filmed a public service announcement with me and then signed and gave me the boxing gloves as a gift,” Bart says.
Bart points out a framed photograph of Rolling Stones front man Mick Jagger flanked by Bart’s wife of 33 years, Cathy, and Bart himself. But “nothing is more important than this photo of my only grandchild, a healthy grandson,” he adds, holding up a photo of himself holding a baby.
Yes, there is a story that goes along with everything in view. While Bart may be known for his personal injury work, he would also like to be thought of as a doer of good deeds and promoter of worthy causes. “Be sure to mention the colorful desk that was painted by art students at McDonogh 42 Elementary Charter School and given to me for my Bart’s Flight School Project to promote scholarship at the school,” he says. Another gift desk is on display in his reception area.
His offices are filled with evidence of his philanthropic work. “Here’s one of my favorites,” he says as he holds up a glass award from New Hope Baptist Church for allowing the church to use one of his prominent billboards to promote a church sign reading “Thou Shalt Not Kill,” a slogan popularized by the New Hope’s late pastor, Rev. John L. Raphael. A plaque from the New Orleans Police Department’s 2nd District thanks him for funding the remodeling of its Magazine Street headquarters. “I believe in giving back to the community,” Bart says. “And nothing satisfies me more than the philanthropic work I have been able to do.”
Other beneficiaries include the Contemporary Arts Center, University of New Orleans and Loyola University law school (both are alma maters), Jewish Community Center, , and Louise S. McGehee, Metairie Park Country Day, and Isidore Newman schools. For many years Bart has also given away hundreds of turkeys and gift cards during the holidays.
The busy lawyer has also found the time to produce three full-length feature movies filmed in New Orleans between 2005 and 2008. The wall of his reception area displays a movie poster for “Shooting Gallery.” The other two films were “Factory Girl” and “Kill Theory.” “I liked the excitement of making movies; I liked the glamour and the people I worked with,” he says, and then adds with a laugh, “what I didn’t like was losing money.”
Jumping to the subject of sports, he says, “I love our NBA basketball team, now the Pelicans, and I was one of the people who fought hard to keep the team in New Orleans when there was an indication it may leave,” he says. He lives near Tulane University and says he loves its new home. “I am pleased to be a supporter of Tulane’s new stadium,” he adds.
It’s amazing what the slogan, “One call, that’s all,” has meant to the Knoxville, Tennessee native, who grew up in New Orleans. Look around his office and you’ll see a man devoted to his community service. Walk around the halls and you’ll see employees hard at work. Check out his call center, which fields the calls generated by his TV ads, and you’ll marvel at Morris Bart’s success story about one man who, if he hasn’t done it all, has done a lot.
“I am very excited about the future,” he says. “We are growing rapidly, expanding to new markets and hiring lots of young, smart, motivated attorneys. After all these years, I still get ‘juiced’ going to work. Looking back on my life’s work, I feel a huge sense of pride and accomplishment.”
