John is a partner in the Houston office with over 18 years experience as a litigator and trial attorney. He is the lead trial lawyer for clients involved in personal injury, commercial, admiralty, products liability and employment claims in state and federal courts. He has extensive experience in assessment and defense of personal injury claims. He represents maritime employers in defense of Jones Act and Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act claims, ship and shipyard owners in defense of general liability claims, and ship and vessel owners in limitation of liability actions. His medical training and experience have been valuable resources in his handling of medical malpractice, pharmaceutical and medical device claims. He handles general liability claims on behalf of premises owners, business owners and operators, building contractors, oil field exploration, service and production companies, and utility providers. He has represented manufacturers in defense of product liability claims and defended various energy and oil field related companies in defense of claims ranging from down hole failures and "blowouts" to enforcement of contractual provisions. His experience also includes representation in environmental claims and insurance coverage. His commercial litigation background includes representation of creditors in bankruptcy proceedings. He has tried several FELA cases and has handled numerous grade crossing and other general liability claims for railroad clients. John is active in both jury and bench trials, and has presented arguments on the appellate level. He is licensed and has experience practicing in both Texas and Louisiana.

• Louisiana State University, J.D., 1988; Chancellors List
• Louisiana State University, B.S. in Zoology/Pre-Medicine, 1985

• Member: American Bar Association: State Bar of Texas; Houston Bar Association; Louisiana State Bar Association; Houston Mariners Club; Houston Propeller Club
• Louisiana Medical Spec I and II with practical experience in OR and ER.

• Frequent speaker at annual trade organizational meetings. He also presents updates on recent developments in the law to in-house counsel and to attorneys within the firm.
• "Where Have We Gone," Texas Association of Railroad Trial Counsel Annual Meeting (1998).
• "Evidence and Disability Applications," TARTC Annual Meeting (1999).
• "Ethical Considerations when Contacting Injured Employees," an analysis of the struggle between 45 U.S.C. and State Ethical Rites presented to in-house counsel (1998).

• Representation of the largest railroad company in the United States regarding separate triple fatality, double fatality, and single fatality incidents.
• Involvement in an environmental nuisance claim brought by residents of Houston neighborhoods against an industrial facility located near the neighborhoods. The residents are seeking damages for reduction in property values and personal discomfort, including noise and soot pollution, as a result of an alleged change in the operations at the industrial facility.
• Defense of Jones Act claims brought by injured seamen.
• Employment litigation inlcuding defense of wrongful discharge claims and enforcement of employment agreements.
• Representation of creditors in adversarial and other bankruptcy proceedings.
• Representation of Physicians and medical device manufacturers in nationwide MDL related litigation.