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Overview

Working as a trial lawyer from Spokane, Washington, John has represented clients in state and federal courts in Washington, Idaho, Oregon and Utah, as lead counsel in litigation, including intellectual property, contract, real estate, employment defense, environmental and trespass and nuisance. 

  • John has represented clients in a wide variety of cases, including:
    • Intellectual Property Litigation, including defense and prosecution of patent, trademark and copyright infringement claims
    • Contract Litigation, including commercial sales, construction, professional malpractice and partnership dissolution disputes
    • Real Estate Litigation, including sales contract, misrepresentation/ failure to disclose, boundary, easement and water rights disputes
    • Employment Defense Litigation, including discrimination, retaliation, wrongful discharge and competition disputes
    • Environmental Litigation, including defense of Clean Water Act and Clean Air Act citizen suits and conjoined toxic tort claims
    • Trespass and Nuisance Litigation, including claims of surface and groundwater contamination, insurance recovery and cleanup allocation

John has been admitted to practice in Washington, Utah and Idaho. He has also served as a federal law clerk for the Eastern District of Washington, and as Chair of the Washington State Bar Association's Litigation Section.

Professional Activities

  • Federal Bar Association, Eastern District of Washington
    • President, 2010
    • Board of Directors, 2005-2012
  • Litigation Counsel of America, Fellow

    • Order of the Certus
    • Order of the Veritas
    • Diversity Law Institute, Member
    • Trial Law Institute, Member
  • Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference, Lawyer Representative, 2005-2008
  • Washington Civil Procedure Deskbook, Editorial Board, 2012, 2004, 1998, 1995
  • Washington State Bar Association
    • Litigation Section, Executive Committee, 1997-2004
      • Committee Chair, 2002-2003
  • Washington Trial and Evidence Manual
    • Editor in Chief, 2004
    • Editorial Board, 1997

Community Activities

  • Friends of Mt. Spokane State Park
    • Board of Directors, Ski Patrol
  • National Ski Patrol, 1991-Present
    • Pacific Northwest Division, Counsel

Experience

Experience

News & Insights

Speaking Engagements

Past Appearances

  • Video CLE
    Virtual, 12.17.20
  • “The Employment Relationship: Employment at Will, Benefits and More,” National Business Institute
    Speaking engagement
    12.18
  • “Top Trial Strategies the Pros Use to Win Their Case – Opening Statements and Direct Examinations,” National Business Institute
    Speaking engagement
    10.18
  • “An Overview of Strategic and Legal Considerations in Voir Dire,” 11th Annual Federal Civil Trial Practice Seminar
    Speaking engagement
    5.17
  • “The Rules of Evidence: A Practical Tool Kit,” National Business Institute CLE
    Speaking engagement
    9.15
  • Speaking engagement
    11.14
  • Speaking engagement
    9.14
  • “Federal Bar Association for the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington,” 2012 District Conference and CLE – Jurisdiction and Venue in Federal Courts, September 2012
    Speaking engagement
    9.12
  • "Effective Use of Summary Judgment Motions in Federal Court," 5th Annual Federal Civil Trial Practice Seminar
    Speaking engagement
    5.11
  • "Commencing the Action, Responsive Pleadings - What to Use, When and How, and Non-Complaint Claims and Third Party Practice," The Mechanics of Washington Civil Procedure
    Speaking engagement
    12.17.10
  • “FLSA/Wage and Hour in Today’s Economy,” Fundamentals of Employment Law
    Speaking engagement
    Spokane, WA, 11.09
  • “Zen and the Art of Post-Employment Agreements,” Non-Competes in a Down Economy: Protecting Your Company's Trade Secrets From Disclosure by Former Employees
    Speaking engagement
    6.09
  • “Anatomy Of An Employment Case,” Northwest Association of Human Resource Professionals
    Speaking engagement
    6.07
  • “Legal Ethics Issues in Employment Cases,” Spokane County Bar Association's CLE, Hot Topics in Employment Law
    Speaking engagement
    3.07
  • “Can You Hear Me Now?!? What Mediators, Arbitrators and Litigators Really Want to Say to Each Other,” WSBA Sections on Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution
    Panel discussion
    9.06
  • “Depositions in a Commercial Case -- Defense Perspective,” WSBA Litigation Section CLE, Elements of Litigation: Advanced Strategies, Techniques and Demonstrations from Both Sides of the Bar
    Speaking engagement
    6.06
  • “Documenting Discipline and Discharge from a Trial Lawyer's Perspective,” Lorman Education Services
    Speaking engagement
    5.06
  • “Trial Themes,” Spokane County Bar Assoc. CLE: Trial Techniques for Every Attorney
    Speaking engagement
    1.06
  • “Sex & Other Discrimination Claims,” Laws Against Discrimination in Rental Properties, Olympic Rental Association, Spokane Chapter
    Speaking engagement
    9.05

Publications

  • Jurisdiction, Venue, Removal and Remand in Federal Court
    Eastern District of Washington Annual Meeting, 9.12
  • Non-Compete, Confidentiality and Solicitation Materials, and Terminating the Employment Relationship
    Author and speaker at related CLE Hiring and Firing in Washington, 9.03
  • Personal Liability for Directors and Managers and Litigation of FLSA Claims
    Washington Wage and Hour Update, 9.03
  • Employment: Creation and Use of An Employment Manual; Agreements and Their Enforceability; and Harassment Suits
    Washington State Bar Association CLE Essentials of Advising the Small Business, 8.97
  • Employee Handbooks, Hiring, Firing & Employee Contracts
    Co-author/Speaker: Appropriate Termination Practices at Washington State Bar Association CLE, 4.97
  • Basic Wage & Hour Law in Washington
    Author/Speaker: Ethical Considerations and Litigation of Wage and Hour Claims, National Business Institute CLE, 4.97
  • Pleadings and Motion Practice
    Author/Speaker at a CLE offered in conjunction with the WSBA Litigation Section's publication of the Washington Civil Procedure Deskbook, 95
  • ER 702 and Expert Opinion Testimony
    Author/Speaker at CLE offered in conjunction with publication of the WSBA Litigation Section's Trial Manual, 94

Admissions

  • Washington (all state and federal courts)
  • Utah (all state and federal courts)
  • Idaho (all state and federal courts)
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit

Education

J.D., University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law, 1986

M.A., University of Washington, 1983

B.S., Utah State University (cum laude), 1981

Clerkships

  • The Hon. Alan A. McDonald and the Hon. Justin L. Quackenbush, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington

Honors & Recognition

  • Litigation Counsel of America, Fellow, 2022-present
  • The Best Lawyers in America©
    • Commercial Litigation, 2013-present
    • Litigation - Environmental, 2019-present
    • Litigation - Labor and Employment, 2019-present
    • Best Lawyers “Lawyer of the Year,” Litigation - Labor and Employment (Spokane, WA), 2025 and 2020
  • Spokane Top Lawyers, Spokane/Coeur d'Alene Living magazine, 2008-Present
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