John's experience spans more than 40 years of practicing law, enhancing his ability to advise clients in both litigation and employment matters. He serves as the firm’s General Counsel and is a member of the Labor & Employment Service Line. John has recently served as Interim Employment Counsel for an International Fortune 500 corporation.
Major manufacturers turn to John for representation in pharmaceutical, toxic tort, and product liability cases, as well as commercial litigation. His breadth of experience includes:
- Serving as regional trial counsel for a pharmaceutical manufacturer in product liability cases covering a nine-state region
- Serving as regional trial counsel for a national tire manufacturer in product liability cases in the Midwest and Northeast United States
- Counseling employers on labor and employment issues, and
- Representing clients in Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Ohio Civil Rights Commission (OCRC), National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and arbitration proceedings
- Defending employers in employment discrimination and wrongful discharge actions in both federal and state court
- Representing employers in all phases of workers’ compensation proceedings, both administratively and in court
- Defending employers in intentional tort cases.
Education
J.D., magna cum laude, University of Detroit, 1978
B.B.A., with distinction, University of Michigan, 1975
Professional Associations
- Toledo Bar Association
- Ohio Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- Defense Research Institute
- International Association of Defense Council
- Master, American Inns of Court, Morrison R. Waite Chapter
Honors
- Best Lawyers in America, 2005 – 2024
- Best Lawyers “Toledo Workers’ Compensation Law – Employers Lawyer of the Year,” 2019, 2021, 2024; “Toledo Product Liability Litigation – Defendants Lawyer of the Year,” 2020
- AV® Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
- Ohio State Bar Foundation, Fellow
Representative Matters
- John served as Regional Trial Counsel and National Discovery counsel for an international pharmaceutical company in nationwide mass tort litigation alleging childhood vaccines caused autism. More than 300 cases were filed and over 5000 claims were asserted by the Plaintiffs and their parents. The defense counsel team successfully litigated these cases and every case and claim was dismissed without settlement
- John has recently served as Interim Employment Counsel for an International Fortune 500 Corporation. In this role, he counseled and advised the company's corporate and business units, including international entities, on all aspects of employment law, participated in investigations, and represented the company in mediations