John T. Clendenin is a shareholder in our Litigation Department. His practice is concentrated in the areas of life and disability insurance, annuities, product liability and toxic exposure, appellate practice, and business and commercial litigation.
John is a member of the Association of Life Insurance Counsel, Defense Research Institute, and the Iowa Defense Counsel Association. He has also served on Drake University Law School's Board of Counselors.
John received his B.A. from the University of Illinois and his J.D. with honors from Drake University.
John has been selected as a Benchmark Leading Litigation Attorney.
Significant Cases
Depositors Ins. Co. v. Gen. Elec. Co., 506 F.3d 1092 (8th Cir. 2007). Represented General Electric Company as trial and appellate counsel in product liability fire case involving design and manufacturing defect claims. Successfully obtained summary judgment on all counts in United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa. Following oral appellate submission, successfully defended grant of summary judgment in United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.
Rants v. Vilsack, 684 N.W.2d 193 (Iowa 2004). Represented Iowa legislature in constitutional challenge to Governor's exercise of item vetoes. Obtained decision declaring vetoes unconstitutional.
National Litigation and Coordinating Counsel; John regularly appears throughout the United States as lead counsel in various life insurance litigation involving the following companies:
Aviva Life and Annuity Company, Des Moines, Iowa
Indianapolis Life Insurance Company
Aviva Life and Annuity Company of New York
Aviva USA Corporation, Des Moines, Iowa
Aviva Investors, Des Moines, Iowa
Client References
Richard ("Rich") C. Cohan, Jr., Executive Vice President and General Counsel, Aviva USA Corporation, 7700 Mills Civic Parkway, West Des Moines, Iowa 50266, 515-342-4588
Erik H. Askelsen, Senior Vice President & Assistant General Counsel, Aviva Life & Annuity Company, 7700 Mills Civic Parkway, West Des Moines, Iowa 50266, 515-342-3160
Recent Speeches
Defining and Delivering Greater Client Value: An ACC Value Challenge Event, presented overview of Association of Corporate Counsel Value Challenge program and best practices in client services to in-house legal departments (May 2010). If you would like a copy of the PowerPoint slides, emailsjhankel@nyemaster.com.
Publications
Effective Management of Life, Health and Disability Litigation, Federation Forum, Federation of Iowa Insurers (2006).
Community Involvement
Drake University Law School Board of Counselors, 1999-2006
Academic Achievements
Order of the Barristers, 1998
Rodney L. Hudson Senior Advocacy Award, 1998
Associations & Affiliations
Member, Association of Life Insurance Counsel
American Bar Association
Iowa State Bar Association
Appellate Practice Committee, 2003-2004
Young Lawyers Division
Polk County Bar Association
Iowa Defense Counsel Association
Defense Research Institute
Appellate Practice Committee
Professional Experience
Law Clerk, Hon. Terry L. Huitink, Iowa Court of Appeals, 1998-1999