Christopher Otten

Professor of Practice | Tulane University

New Orleans, LA, UNITED STATES

Christopher Otten is an expert on insurance coverage, professional liability and specialized focus on LGBT issues.

Spotlight

Are soaring home insurance rates in Gulf Coast states coming for the rest of the country?

2024-07-03

Biography

Christopher Otten joined the full-time faculty as a professor of practice in 2023 after serving more than a decade as an adjunct lecturer. Otten spent the first 14 years of his career as an attorney in New Orleans, where he helped clients ranging from individuals to multinational companies navigate myriad legal issues, including insurance coverage and professional liability. He has also had a specialized focus on LGBT issues, including helping to coordinate legal and communications strategies for the successful lawsuit which overturned Louisiana’s ban on same-sex marriage. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Management from the Freeman School and a Juris Doctor from Loyola University New Orleans College of Law.

Areas of Expertise (6)

Hurricane Insurance Coverage

Insurance Coverage

Personal Injury Law

Professional Liability

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Lgbt Issues

Accomplishments (2)

Selected by Thomson Reuters / Super Lawyers as a Louisiana Rising Star (professional)

2019, 2020, 20221, 2022, 2023

Selected by Thomson Reuters / Super Lawyers as a Louisiana Super Lawyer (professional)

2024

Education (2)

Tulane University: Bachelor of Science, Management 2005

Loyola University, New Orleans: Juris Doctor, Law 2009

Certificates in International Law and Environmental Law Civil Law Program

Affiliations (3)

Member of Academy of Legal Studies in Business
Member of Louisiana State Bar Association
Member of State Bar of Texas

Media Appearances (3)

'Sho 'nuff': First same-sex couple marries in New Orleans

Nola.com | The New Orleans Advocate online

2019-07-18

Despite Jindal and Caldwell's directives, Jefferson Parish Clerk of Court Jon Gegenheimer began issuing licenses Monday. The Benjamin-Robinsons were the second couple to obtain a marriage license there, forum board chair Chris Otten said, before driving to New Orleans for the ceremony.

Hot Seat: Gay Marriage and the State

WDSU-TV (CBS New Orleans)

2015-06-29

On the Hot Seat, State Representative Mike Johnson and Chris Otten of the Forum for Equality Louisiana discuss the recent Supreme Court ruling that legalizes same-sex marriages.

Lafayette judge rules gay marriage ban unconstitutional

Daily Advertiser online

2014-09-23

"We are very pleased that this judge chose to follow all of the other judges in the country and not discriminate against Louisiana families," said Chris Otten, president-elect of Forum for Equality.

Articles (2)

Marriage Equality: The 'States' of the Law Post-Windsor and Perry

SSRN

Monica Hof Wallace and Christopher Gerald Otten

2014-09-24

On June 26, 2013, the United States Supreme Court issued two historic rulings that simultaneously gave gay rights activists their most influential win, while it provided opponents of same-sex marriage with a welcomed delay in finding a constitutional right to same-sex marriage. In this article, amid growing acceptance of same-sex marriage, we will consider whether the Supreme Court will nationalize same-sex marriage in the near term. To do so, we will conduct a comprehensive analysis of each case decided since the twin landmark decisions. After briefly discussing what the Court said (and did not say) in Hollingsworth v. Perry and United States v. Windsor, we will outline the arguments surrounding federalism, liberty, due process, and equal protection, and apply them to the similar but different questions of marriage celebration as opposed to marriage recognition. We will then consider every post-Windsor court decision overturning state marriage bans, drawing similarities and distinctions when available. We will conclude by discussing the three circuit court decisions to address the issue as well as the pending case in Louisiana. Finally, we will present our prediction (for better or worse) of the outcome of these important issues.

A Primer on Kentucky’s Same-Sex Marriage Lawsuit

American Bar Association

Hof Wallace, Monica and Otten, Christopher Gerald

Hof Wallace, Monica and Otten, Christopher Gerald (2014). A Primer on Kentucky’s Same-Sex Marriage Lawsuit, LGBT Litigator, American Bar Association, Summer 2014, Vol. 4, No. 2.