John is a member of the Firm's Litigation Department and Labor & Employment group and was recognized by Super Lawyers in their Connecticut Rising Stars listing. John represents companies in complex commercial litigation, employment and restrictive covenant matters. John's litigation experience includes noncompete, confidentiality, wrongful termination, wage and overtime, breach of contract, unfair trade practices, fraud and patent infringement claims, to name a few. John also has extensive experience drafting and negotiating executive employment agreements and regularly counsels clients on the enforceability of non-solicitation and non-competition clauses in employment agreements and stock and asset acquisition agreements. John is also a member of the Firm's Privacy and Data Protection Group and is often asked to speak on the privacy and employment-related issues that stem from social-networking.
Notable Experience
· Obtained the dismissal of an action seeking a declaratory judgment and alleging federal antitrust violations and unfair business practices commenced in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.
· Successfully argued before the Second Circuit Court of Appeals to affirm summary judgment in favor of client sued by a former employee hired in connection with a business acquisition and claiming unjust enrichment and violations of Connecticut's wage statute.
· Obtained a defense verdict after trial in a case pending in the Connecticut superior court wherein claims of breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, fraud and unjust enrichment were advanced in connection with the sale of the Joe Boxer brand.
· Successfully defended a pharmaceutical excipient manufacturer at trial in a patent infringement suit in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware.
· Obtained the dismissal of a multi-million dollar claim alleging fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, legal malpractice, fraudulent concealment and negligence commenced in the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut.
· Successfully argued before the Second Circuit Court of Appeals to affirm summary judgment in favor of employer with respect to all claims advanced by plaintiff, including claims of age and sex discrimination, sexual harassment and retaliation.
· Successfully sought and obtained the dismissal of all claims advanced by a former employee, including wrongful discharge, defamation, false imprisonment, interference with custodial rights, intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress, negligent supervision and retention, tortuous interference with business expectancies and violation of the Connecticut Due Process Clause in an action pending in the Connecticut Superior Court.
· Obtained, as a sanction for the plaintiff's failure to appear at his deposition, dismissal of a Title VII discrimination claim pending before the United States District Court, District of Connecticut.
· Successfully defended numerous discrimination claims before the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission and the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities.
Recent Speaking Engagements and Publications
· "Connecticut Limits Employers' Use of Credit Reports," co-author, Edwards Wildman Palmer LLP Client Advisory, October 2011.
· "Connecticut Mandates Paid Sick Leave For Workers," co-author, Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge Client Advisory, June 2011.
· "The Supreme Court Announces Third Party Reprisals Violate Title VII," co-author, Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge Client Advisory, January 27, 2011.
· "Effective M&A Strategies for the Buyer and Seller," speaker addressing restrictive covenant issues, Hales & Company Seminar Series, 2010.
· "Appearance Policies and Sex Discrimination: More Than Meets the Eye?," co-author, Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge Labor & Employment Bulletin, Summer 2009.
· "Preparing and Implementing Employee Evaluations," speaker, Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge Labor & Employment Webinar, December 11, 2008.
· "Avoiding Legal Problems in Hiring, Managing and Terminating Employments," speaker, Business Networking Intl' Westport, Connecticut chapter event, June 26, 2008.
· "Courts increasingly recognize discrimination by association claims," Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge Labor & Employment Bulletin, Summer 2008.
· "Connecticut Employers Are Not Entitled to Reimbursement of Commission Advances Unless the Commission Agreement Specifically Requires Payment," co-author, Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge Client Advisory, June 2008.
· "Big Brother in the workplace. Balancing business necessities with employee privacy.," speaker, ADP's 2007 Business Solutions Expo, Windsor, Connecticut, September 27, 2007.
· "Avoiding Legal Problems When Hiring, Managing and Terminating Employees," speaker, ADP's Winning the War on Talent Workforce Management, Holyoke, Massachusetts, June 7, 2007.
· "Separation Anxiety," co-author, The Connecticut Law Tribune, April 2007.
· "The Cost of Electronic Discovery," Edwards & Angell Labor and Employment Bulletin, Summer 2005.
· "Second Circuit Expands Potential FLSA Liability for Outsourcing and Subcontracting," Edwards & Angell Labor and Employment Bulletin, Spring 2004.
News & Publications
October 6, 2011, EAPD Attorneys Selected For Inclusion in Super Lawyers 2011
October 2011, Client Advisory - Connecticut Limits Employers' Use of Credit Reports
June 2011, Client Advisory - Connecticut Mandates Paid Sick Leave For Workers
January 2011, Client Advisory - The Supreme Court Announces Third Party Reprisals Violate Title VII
October 7, 2010, EAPD Attorneys Selected For Inclusion in Super Lawyers 2010
June 8, 2010, EAPD Counsels Client in Acquisition of Mutual of Omaha's Employer Stop Loss Line
Summer 2009, Labor & Employment Bulletin - Summer 2009
July 31, 2009, EAPD Success on Behalf of Aetna
December 17, 2008, Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge Announces Six New Partners and Three New Counsel
Summer 2008, Labor & Employment Bulletin - Summer 2008
June 2008, Client Advisory - Connecticut Employers Are Not Entitled to Reimbursement of Commission Advances Unless the Commission Agreement Specifically Requires Repayment
August 1, 2005, Labor and Employment Bulletin - Summer 2005
2004, Second Circuit Expands Potential FLSA Liability for Outsourcing and Subcontracting
Edwards & Angell, LLP - Labor and Employment Bulletin
2004, Labor & Employment Bulletin - Spring 2004
Edwards & Angell, LLP
Events
February 1, 2012, Edwards Wildman on Recent Trends in FLSA Class Action Litigation: The Rise of Wage and Hour Claims and the Impact of Dukes on Class Action Litigation
December 11, 2008, Preparing and Implementing Effective Employee Evaluations
June 26, 2008, Westport, CT, Avoiding Legal Problems in Hiring, Managing and Terminating Employees
September 27, 2007, Windsor, CT, ADP's 2007 Business Solutions Expo
June 7, 2007, Holyoke, MA, Winning the War on Talent Workforce Management Seminar
Memberships
· Connecticut Bar Association
· American Bar Association