| Biography | John Hoffman concentrates his practice in the areas of consumer litigation, class actions and appellate practice. He has handled a number of high-profile lawsuits, and he is a frequent author and speaker on civil practice topics. Author: "Forum Non Conveniens: A Brief History and a Report on Recent Developments," ITLA Seminar, 2003; "Addressing Damages in Voir Dire," ITLA Seminar, 1999; "Exclusive Remedies & Third Party Practice," Handbook on Illinois Workers' Compensation Law & Procedure (Supp. 1998). Mr. Hoffman previously served as an I.S.B.A. Assembly Representative for the 20th Judicial Circuit. Congressional Testimony: In 2001, Mr. Hoffman was asked to testify before the Illinois House Appropriations and Government Oversight Committee concerning discriminatory and predatory insurance practices. City of University City, Missouri, et al. v. AT&T Wireless Services, Inc. (AT&T), St. Louis County Circuit Court (2007) - Mr. Hoffman represented a class of 240 Missouri municipalities suing wireless telephone companies to collect unpaid business license taxes. During the course of this litigation, the Missouri legislature passed an industry-sponsored bill (HB 209) that immunized the carriers from back-tax liability and mandated the dismissal of pending collection suits. Mr. Hoffman and Stephen M. Tillery challenged the law as unconstitutional and prevailed before the Missouri Supreme Court in City of University City v. AT&T Wireless Services, Inc., 203 S.W.3d 197 (Mo. banc 2006). In December 2007, AT&T Wireless agreed to pay $65.4 million to settle the cities' back-tax claims and to pay municipal license taxes at existing rates going forward. Mr. Hoffman served as lead class counsel. This was the second largest business settlement in Missouri in 2007 according to Missouri Lawyers Weekly. City of University City, Missouri, et al. v. AT&T Wireless Services, Inc. (Sprint-Nextel), St. Louis County Circuit Court (2007) - Reston, Va.-based Sprint-Nextel's settlement with the Missouri cities was the last cell phone tax resolution of 2007. Sprint, the third largest cellular company in the United States, agreed to pay $52 million for 27 months of back taxes to the cities and to pay all business license taxes prospectively. Mr. Hoffman served as lead class counsel. This was the third largest business settlement in Missouri in 2007 according to Missouri Lawyers Weekly. City of University City, Missouri, et al. v. AT&T Wireless Services, Inc. (Verizon), St. Louis County Circuit Court (2007) - Six years ago, a group of 240 Missouri municipalities sued Verizon Wireless and five other cell phone companies for failing to pay taxes on their local wireless operations. The companies claimed for years that they were not traditional utility companies and therefore weren't obligated to pay taxes on their phone services. In August 2007, the Circuit Court of St. Louis County granted preliminary approval of the first settlement between one of the defendants, Verizon Wireless, and the municipalities. It called for Verizon's payment of $25 million in back taxes, plus payment of municipal license taxes at existing rates going forward. Mr. Hoffman served as lead class counsel. This was the fourth largest business settlement in Missouri for 2007 according to Missouri Lawyers Weekly. In addition, the settlement was recognized as being one of the top settlements in the country for 2007 by the National Law Journal. City of University City, Missouri, et al. v. AT&T Wireless Services, Inc. (US Cellular), St. Louis County Circuit Court (2007) - US Cellular's settlement with the Missouri cities was the second cell phone tax resolution of 2007. Similar to the other settlements, US Cellular agreed to pay $6 million in back-taxes and to pay all business license taxes prospectively. Mr. Hoffman served as lead class counsel. City of Wellston, Missouri, et al. v. SBC Communications, 203 S.W.3d 189 (Mo. Banc 2006) - An outgrowth of the telephone tax litigation, Mr. Hoffman and Stephen M. Tillery prevailed in this appeal before the Missouri Supreme Court in an important decision clarifying issues of municipal standing and capacity to sue. Keith A. Shuppert, et al. v. James Blair Down, 00-L-223 (Ill.Cir.Ct. Feb. 18, 2004) - Plaintiffs contended in this litigation that a Canadian resident - through a complex network of at least 27 associated corporations and 51 business aliases and fictitious names - wrongfully induced class members to participate in "lottery pools" and "puzzle contests" between 1990 and 1998. Mr. Hoffman assumed responsibility for this trans-continental litigation in 2004 and successfully navigated the case to conclusion following the departure of lead counsel. After years of negotiations, the parties reached a settlement agreement which provided, inter alia, that Down would establish a fund in the amount of $10 million to pay refunds to class members for lottery and/or puzzle product purchases made during the class period. Wheeler v. Sears, Roebuck & Co., 99-L-529 (Ill.Cir.Ct. Apr. 17, 2003) - Sears, Roebuck & Co. offered for sale a 5-step wheel balancing service, known as "AccuBalance," at its Tire & Auto Centers between 1989 and 1994. According to Plaintiff, Sears' employees routinely failed to perform the "tire-matching" portion of this service, despite payment for same by consumers. Mr. Hoffman assumed primary responsibility for this litigation shortly after joining the firm and was instrumental in reaching a $10 million settlement on behalf of all persons in the United States who purchased the AccuBalance tire balancing service between 1989 and 1994. Rogers v. Tyson Foods, Inc., 308 F.3d 785 (7th Cir. 2002) - In this case, Mr. Hoffman prevailed before the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals in defeating a corporate defendant's attempt to remove a state law claim to federal court. The decision resolved important issues concerning the doctrine of "complete preemption," and it is cited frequently by courts and legal commentators. |