John is a shareholder in the Philadelphia office of Marshall, Dennehey, Warner, Coleman & Goggin. He practices in the areas of civil rights, municipal liability, school claims and employment law.
John has represented police officers and public officials in state and federal court in all aspects of civil rights litigation including claims involving use of force, wrongful arrest and land use. In addition, John has represented public and private employers in wrongful discharge, employment discrimination and defamation claims from administrative proceedings through trial. John has tried dozens of cases in state and federal courts and argued cases before the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.
In addition to his trial work, John has presented numerous seminars to police departments, law firms and government agencies in the areas of police practices, civil rights issues and municipal liability. He has consulted with police departments concerning the development of policies and procedures and provided advice and guidance to employers concerning employment-related matters.
John received his juris doctor from Temple University School of Law, where he was a member of the Moot Court Honor Society, and graduated from the University of Scranton with a Bachelor of Arts in history and philosophy and a Master of Arts in history. He is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania and the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Middle Districts of Pennsylvania and the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.
Significant Representative Matters
· Defense verdict for local police department in case involving false arrest and malicious prosecution arising out of the misidentification of a suspect in a police lineup.
· Defense verdict for county employer in case involving Title VII Sex Discrimination in the termination of a county court reporter.
· Defense verdict for county employer in case involving allegations of sexual harassment and hostile work environment at a county prison.
· Defense verdict for local police department in case involving allegations of false arrest and excessive force arising out of the arrest of a suspect who allegedly assaulted a police officer during a traffic incident.
· Successful defense of a local police department in the district court and then on appeal to the Third Circuit in case involving allegations of excessive force in the death of a suspect who was alleged to have died while in custody from compression asphyxia.
· Successful defense of a local municipality in the district court and then on appeal to the Third Circuit in case involving a land use civil rights claim that a developer's substantive due process rights were violated in the context of zoning and land use decisions by a Board of Supervisors.
· Defense verdict for county employer in case involving claims of first amendment retaliation by a former deputy chief probation officer.
· Defense verdict for local police officers accused of wrongfully arresting a husband in a domestic dispute.
· Defense verdict for township detective accused of racial discrimination and conspiracy by an African American police officer in a failure to hire case.
Published Works
· "Pennsylvania's Emergence Code: An Additional Level of Protection for Municipalities and Their Employees Performing Emergency Services," Defense Digest, Apr. Vol. 6, No. 2, 2000
· Co-author, "Employment Discrimination Claims: Arbitration Under Collective Bargaining Clauses," Defense Digest, Vol. 2, No. 6, 1996
· Co-author, "Sex-Based Shift Assignments: Employers May Use Common Sense," Defense Digest, Vol. 2, No. 7, 1996
· Co-author, "Third Circuit Takes Pennsylvania Beyond 402(A)," Defense Digest, Winter, 1994
Classes/Seminars Taught
· Land Use Litigation and Liability Issues for Local Government, Delaware Founders Insurance Trust, September 2011
· Land Use Civil Rights and Avoiding Liability video and webinar, Delaware Valley Insurance Trust, 2009
· Police Liability Seminar, Delaware Valley Insurance Trust, November 2007
· Law Enforcement Seminar - Use of Force Issues, Dauphin County, 2006
· Train the Trainers Program, Municipal Police Officer Education and Training Commission, November 2005
· Use of Force in Pennsylvania, Lorman Education Services, CLE, February 4, 2005
· Use of Force in Pennsylvania, Lorman Education Services, CLE, February 6, 2004
· Tort Claims Act, Delaware Valley Insurance Trust, March 2004
· Civil Rights Liability, Delaware Valley Insurance Trust, March 2004
Associations & Memberships
· Montgomery County Bar Association
· Pennsylvania Bar Association
Honors & Awards
· AV® Preeminent™ by LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell
Year Joined Organization: 1994
News
John Gonzales (Philadelphia, PA) and Art Aranilla (Wilmington, DE) recently presented a seminar on land use issues
October 1, 2011
John Gonzales (Philadelphia, PA) and Art Aranilla (Wilmington, DE) recently presented a seminar on land use issues to representatives of municipalities from all three Delaware counties, organized by the Delaware Founds Insurance Trust. (10/11)