John has a national litigation practice focused on class action defense, Lanham Act and related cases, financial institution litigation and product liability litigation. 

Overview

John regularly handles litigation in St. Louis and across the country for a large consumer products company, regional and national banks, and broadcast media owners. John was managing partner of Stinson's St. Louis office for ten years, until 2016, while maintaining a full-time litigation practice. He is certified to act as a mediator in Missouri's state and federal courts and frequently is retained as mediation counsel in national and international disputes. At the request of the Missouri Supreme Court, John sits on the Attorney Disciplinary Committee for St. Louis County.

Experience

Class Actions

Represented Fortune 500 Company in putative nationwide class actions that asserted claims based on alleged chemical risks associated with the use of client's products. Cases settled for nominal amounts after District Court denied nationwide, multistate and single-state class certification motions.

False Advertising, Copyright, and Other Media-related Claims

Represented market leader diaper pail manufacturer in defense of Lanham Act claims brought by competitor. Representation began following entry of $13MM verdict against client. District Court ultimately vacated verdict and entered judgment in client's favor. The District Court's rulings were affirmed by the Ninth Circuit.

Financial Services

Represented national bank following entry of multimillion verdict for punitive damages against bank. Parties entered into confidential settlement following appellate court's ruling setting aside verdict and ordering new trial.

Represented national bank following entry of $60MM judgment against bank in southern Illinois state court. Parties entered into confidential settlement after bank for the first time raised potentially dispositive arguments in post-trial motions.

Represented national bank in its claims against competitor bank and seven former employees based on competitor bank's "lift out" of employees and formation of subsidiary that competed with client's investment subsidiary. Client received eight-figure settlement during second week of trial.

News & Insights

Recognitions

Recognitions

Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® list, 2023-2025

Benchmark Litigation, Local Litigation Star

Listed in the 2013-2017 editions of Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business for Litigation: General Commercial. In the 2014 edition, sources say he "garners praise from clients for his effective partnership working alongside in–house counsel on a range of business litigation matters."

Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers©, Business Litigation, 2010-2019

Professional & Civic Activities

Professional & Civic Activities

American Bar Association

The Missouri Bar

Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis

Midwest Innocence Project

Admissions

  • Missouri, 1981
  • Southern District of Illinois, 1997
  • Connecticut, 2005
  • Southern District of Ohio, 2001
  • Southern District of New York, 2011
  • Central District of California, 2011
  • Eastern District of California, 2012
  • Eastern District of Michigan, 2014
  • Eastern District of Missouri, 1982
  • Western District of Missouri, 2011
  • U.S. Courts of Appeal:
  • First Circuit, 2004
  • Eighth Circuit, 1987
  • Ninth Circuit, 2013

Education

University of Missouri - Columbia, J.D., 1981

University of Missouri - Columbia, B.J., 1978

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