John is a Shareholder in the firm’s Litigation Group. He is an active trial lawyer who has tried more than 100 jury trials in both state and federal court throughout Florida. His cases have included personal injury, products liability, medical malpractice, premises liability, long-term healthcare, and pharmaceutical litigation.
John has represented several major national corporations in defense of personal injury litigation. In addition, he has served as counsel for pharmaceutical corporations in cases throughout our state. During his career he has represented long-term healthcare providers, hospitals and physicians.
For the first several years of John’s career, he represented individuals and corporations as counsel selected by some of the largest insurance carriers in America. He has tried numerous cases involving automobile litigation, products liability, medical malpractice, premises liability and construction litigation.
John is active in both professional and Bar-related activities. He is past National President of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), in which capacity he led over 6,000 seasoned trial lawyers nationwide. John has previously served as the National Secretary for ABOTA and National Vice President. He was President of the Florida Chapters American Board of Trial Advocates (FLABOTA) in 1998 and President of the Tampa Bay Chapter in 1995. John is a Master in the J. Clifford Cheatwood Inn of Court and served as President in 2014. He has served as a faculty member of the ABOTA Trial College at Princeton University and Harvard University. He is a member of the Litigation Counsel of America and International Association of Defense Counsel, and is also a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation and the American College of Trial Lawyers. John is also listed in America's Top 100 Attorneys for North Florida.
John has also given back to the community. He served on the Executive Board of Seminole Boosters, Inc. following an earlier career as a scholarship football player for Florida State University. In addition, he was a charter member of the University Center Club in Tallahassee where he served on the Board of Directors.
John was the inaugural recipient of the Tampa Bay Seminole Club's Distinguished Alumni Award. He has also been awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award for the Florida State University School of Social Sciences. John has served as the President of HARC and the President of its Foundation. John is a proud trustee of The Kaul Foundation where he has helped to direct donations to many local, state and national charitable organizations and institutions of higher learning.
Practice Areas
Personal Injury
Drug & Medical Device
Long Term Care/Nursing Home Automotive Liability Litigation Hospital Liability
Medical Malpractice
Products Liability
Healthcare Litigation & Administrative Proceedings
Education
Florida State University, B.S., 1977, cum laude
University of Florida College of Law, J.D., 1979
Bar Memberships
American Bar Association
Federal Bar Association
The Florida Bar
Hillsborough County Bar Association
Court Admissions
All Florida State Courts
All Florida Federal Courts
U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
Professional Recognition
A-V Preeminent Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
Best Lawyers in America (2007-2017)
Florida Chapters of the American Board of Trial Advocates
FloridaTrialLawyeroftheYear(2006) American Board of Trial Advocates
MastersinTrialAward(1996)
Hillsborough County Bar Association
MichaelA.Fogarty"In-The-Trenches"Award
(2012)
Florida Trend’s Legal Elite (2009, 2011-2012)
Florida Super Lawyers (2006-present)
Super Lawyers Business Edition (2008-present)
Florida's Top Lawyers
FloridaMonthlyMagazine
Published Decisions
- Metcalf v. Beverly Health and Rehabilitation Services, Inc.,
- 32 F.Supp.2d 1307 1999 WL 14252 4:98CV278-RH United States District Court, N.D. Florida, Tallahassee Division. January 08, 1999
- Extendicare, Inc. v. Johnson,
834 So.2d 251 2002 WL 31487255 2D01-4949 District Court of Appeal of Florida, Second District. November 08, 2002
- Leonard v. Target,
Not Reported in F.Supp.2d 2008 WL 4613093 8:07- CV-946-T-24TBM
United States District Court, M.D. Florida, Tampa Division. October 16, 2008
-
Zwyers v. Target Corp.,
Not Reported in F.Supp.2d 2009 WL 5127975 809- CV-868-T-33TBM
United States District Court, M.D. Florida, Tampa Division. December 18, 2009
- Nelson v. Target Corp.,
Not Reported in F.Supp.2d 2009 WL 971414 8:07- CV-1990-T-17EAJ
United States District Court, M.D. Florida, Tampa Division. April 08, 2009
- Nelson v. Target Corp.,
Not Reported in F.Supp.2d 2009 WL 2150893 8:07- CV-1990-T-17
United States District Court, M.D. Florida, Tampa Division. July 13, 2009
- Cox v. Target Corp.,
351 Fed.Appx. 381 2009 WL 3497730 09-12375 United States Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit. October 30, 2009
- Gritt v. Target Corp.,
Not Reported in F.Supp.2d 2008 WL 1777744 807CV181T27EAJ
United States District Court, M.D. Florida, Tampa Division. April 18, 2008
- Sammon v. Target Corp.,
Slip Copy 2012 WL 3984728 8:11-CV-1258-T- 30EAJ
United States District Court, M.D. Florida. September 11, 2012
- Zwyers v. Target Corp.,
Not Reported in F.Supp.2d 2011 WL 1526907 8:09- CV-868-T-33TBM
United States District Court, M.D. Florida, Tampa Division. April 21, 2011
- Gritt v. Target Corp.,
Not Reported in F.Supp.2d 2007 WL 3011095 8:07- CV-181-T-27EAJ
United States District Court, M.D. Florida, Tampa Division. October 12, 2007
-
Jackson v. Georgopolous,
552 So.2d 215 1989 WL 116618 88-03093 District Court of Appeal of Florida, Second District. October 04, 1989
Professional Associations
Defense Research Institute
Florida Defense Lawyers Association
International Association of Defense Counsel
American College of Trial Lawyers Fellow
American Bar Foundation Fellow
Litigation Council of America Fellow
American Board of Trial Advocates NationalPresident(2009)
Diplomate
Florida Chapters of the American Board of Trial Advocates PastPresident
