John is a trial lawyer who defends businesses, professionals, and insurers in high-stakes civil litigation in state and federal courts. His practice focuses on insurance coverage, professional liability, employment, construction, commercial disputes, and catastrophic injury and wrongful death claims.
- Resolved a wrongful death action in which plaintiffs sought more than $100 million in damages, in a venue where a verdict well above $200 million was a realistic possibility.
- Obtained summary judgment and dismissal with prejudice for an insurance broker in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas. A commercial client brought breach of contract, negligence, and third-party beneficiary claims after its errors and omissions claim was denied. The court held that the broker had no special relationship with the client that would impose a duty to advise on the scope of coverage.
- Obtained summary judgment and dismissal with prejudice for an employer in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas. The former employee had brought claims for breach of contract, promissory estoppel, and FMLA retaliation.
- Obtained summary judgment for an inspection company in Benton County Circuit Court.
- Obtained summary judgment for a real estate brokerage, its agent, and a co-defendant in White County Circuit Court.
- Successfully handled appeals before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.
- Successfully defended an abortion clinic in lawsuit concerning the alleged violation of state and federal laws limiting the use of fetal tissue for research.
- Settled a multi-million dollar complex construction case for less than 20% of the claimed damages.
- Represented a country club in a favorable resolution of a dispute involving the New Mexico Environment Department, the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission, a utility company, and a local water association.
Admissions
- Arkansas
- New Mexico
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit
- U.S. District Courts, Eastern and Western Districts of Arkansas
- U.S. District of Court, New Mexico
Memberships
- New Mexico Trial Lawyers Association
Education
- Tulane University Law School, 2006, Environmental Law Certificate
- B.S., Philosophy and Psychology, 1999, Presidential Scholar