John is a member of Marshall Dennehey's three-person Executive Committee, which is responsible for the firm’s daily operations and management of more than 500 attorneys across 19 offices in seven states. He also serves on the firm’s Board of Directors and as chair of the fifteen-attorney Post-Trial and Appellate Advocacy Practice Group.
As appellate counsel, John has litigated more than 500 appeals in state and federal appellate courts, representing individuals, corporations, and insurers in many of Pennsylvania’s highest-profile civil appeals. As amicus curiae counsel, John has represented a diverse clientele, including the United States Chamber of Commerce, the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, the American Medical Association, the Pennsylvania Medical Society, the Pennsylvania Defense Institute, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, other Pennsylvania lawyers, and academics interested in the outcome of appellate litigation.
John is actively involved in the Pennsylvania legal community. He has edited and co-authored two books on Pennsylvania appellate courts. The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania; Life and Law in the Commonwealth, 1684-2017, was published by the Pennsylvania State University Press in 2018. Keystone of Justice: The Pennsylvania Superior Court, 1895-1995, was published by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 2000.
John serves by appointment of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania as the co-chair of the Court’s Historical Commission and on the Commission on Judicial Independence, a group of state and federal judges, academics, and attorneys who promote public awareness of the importance of a strong and independent judiciary. He also spent six years on the Supreme Court’s Civil Procedural Rules Committee, the last two years as chair, and served on the Board of Governors of the Bar Association of the Third Federal Circuit and as co-chair of the Amicus Curiae Committee of the Pennsylvania Defense Institute. He also serves on the advisory board of Ohlbaum on the Pennsylvania Rules of Evidence (Lexis-Nexis) and regularly speaks at appellate court events and continuing legal education seminars.
Pennsylvania Super Lawyers magazine has repeatedly recognized John as a Top 100 lawyer in both Philadelphia and Pennsylvania based on a peer selection and evaluation process. He has also been selected as a Super Lawyer in the area of appellate practice every year since 2008. He has been repeatedly selected to The Best Lawyers in America and is a fellow of the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers, a member of the International Association of Defense Counsel, and has an AV Preeminent (5.0/5.0) rating by Martindale-Hubbell, the highest rating for professional competence.
John is regularly called upon by the media to provide insight and commentary on significant legal issues. To view recent articles in which John is quoted, click the Thought Leadership tab and scroll down to the Media Commentary section.
Honors & awards
Legal 500 Philadelphia Legal Elite, Commercial Disputes
2025
Chambers USA, Pennsylvania: Litigation: Appellate Law, Band One
2025
AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell
The Best Lawyers in America, Appellate Practice
2024-2026
Pennsylvania Super Lawyers
2008-2025; Top 100 in Pennsylvania, 2018-2025; Top 100 in Philadelphia, 2018-2025
Philadelphia Business Journal, Best of the Bar Award, 2023 and 2018
The Philadelphia Inquirer, Influencers of Law Award, 2019
Results
Favorable Precedential Decision Obtained in High-Stakes Construction Defect Case
Appellate Advocacy & Post-Trial Practice
Architectural, Engineering & Construction Defect Litigation
September 29, 2023
We prevailed in a unanimous, precedential decision in the Superior Court of Pennsylvania, which reconciled conflicting case law in the state. The plaintiffs were joined by 55 amici, and our client was joined by numerous construction organizations as amici. The court eventually applied Pennsylvania’s statute of repose to bar construction defect claims brought by homeowners.
Pennsylvania Appellate Courts Uphold Nonsuit Obtained By Jack Delany In $11.5 Million Construction Death Case
Appellate Advocacy & Post-Trial Practice
Catastrophic Claims Litigation
Construction Injury Litigation
April 5, 2023
By Order dated April 5, 2023, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania refused to review the Superior Court’s affirmance of a 2021 nonsuit obtained by Jack Delany in hotly contested litigation stemming from the death of a construction worker. John Hare and Shane Haselbarth handled the appeal along with Jack.
Appellate attorneys prevail in the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.
Appellate Advocacy & Post-Trial Practice
February 16, 2022
The decision, which reversed the trial court and Superior Court, reinstated a jury verdict in favor of our clients. Following a defense verdict, the trial court awarded a new trial based on a question posed by defense counsel, who was not a Marshall Dennehey attorney. The Superior Court affirmed the award of a new trial, but the Supreme Court reversed and reinstated the defense verdict on the basis that defense counsel’s question was neither improper nor prejudicial.
$40.2 million medical malpractice verdict vacated and remanded for new trial.
Birth & Catastrophic Injury Litigation
Appellate Advocacy & Post-Trial Practice
August 24, 2020
Our appellate attorneys succeeded in convincing the Pennsylvania Superior Court to vacate a $40.2 million medical malpractice verdict and remand for a new trial. In its unanimous, precedential decision, the Superior Court ruled that the trial court had erroneously allowed plaintiffs’ counsel to utilize hearsay medical literature as substantive evidence. The case involved a spinal cord birth injury and was tried in Delaware County.
Amicus Curiae Brief on Behalf of PDI and PADC
Appellate Advocacy & Post-Trial Practice
Automobile Liability
Insurance Services - Coverage & Bad Faith Litigation
June 12, 2020
Marshall Dennehey’s appellate attorneys filed an amicus curiae brief on behalf of the Pennsylvania Defense Institute and Pennsylvania Association of Defense Counsel in a case pending in the Pennsylvania Superior Court that involved interpretation of a “regular use” exclusion that commonly appears in underinsured motorist coverage in automobile policies. The Superior Court enforced the exclusion, as PDI and PADC had requested. The plaintiff regularly used a company vehicle for his daily work. But one or two days before the accident, the specific vehicle he had been driving was taken
Thought Leadership
What Lawyers Can Do to Protect and Promote Judicial Independence
Philadelphia - Headquarters
Appellate Advocacy & Post-Trial Practice
January 1, 2026
Marshall Dennehey Appellate Leader John J. Hare Elected to Firm’s Executive Committee
Appellate Advocacy & Post-Trial Practice
December 16, 2025
Marshall Dennehey announced today that John J.
Marshall Dennehey Trial Lawyers and Appellate Chair Talk Nuclear Verdicts in A.M. Best’s Insurance Law Podcast
Catastrophic Claims Litigation
Health Care Liability
Appellate Advocacy & Post-Trial Practice
November 7, 2025
Three attorneys from Marshall Dennehey- John “Jack” Delany, III, Chair of Marshall Dennehey’s Catastrophic Claims Litigation Practice Group, veteran medical malpractice shareho
Combatting Nuclear Verdicts in Plaintiff-Friendly Jurisdictions
Philadelphia - Headquarters
Catastrophic Claims Litigation
Health Care Liability
October 30, 2025
Liberty Mutual Insurance Names Marshall Dennehey External Law Firm Partner of the Year
October 24, 2025
Marshall Dennehey is honored to accept the External Law Firm Partner of the Year Award from Liberty Mutual Insurance.
Classes/Seminars Taught
Combatting Nuclear Verdicts in Plaintiff-Friendly Jurisdictions, A.M. Best Insurance Law Podcast, October 30, 2025
New Voir Dire Rule Pa.R.C.P. 220.3, Philadelphia Bar Association Live Webcast CLE, March 19, 2025
Speak Easy and Write Stuff: Effective Communication Techniques for Appellate Courts, CLE presented to Superior Court of Pennsylvania judges, law clerks, and legal staff, September 22, 2023
The Chief Justices of Pennsylvania, CLE presented to Supreme Court of Pennsylvania at The Lawyers Club of Philadelphia, September 14, 2023
The Transformation of Pennsylvania Law, CLE presented for Pennsylvania Coalition for Civil Justice Reform, September 11, 2023
Annual Civil Litigation Update 2023, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, August 31, 2023
Litigation Update Seminar, Pennsylvania Coalition for Civil Justice Reform, May 29, 2023
The Development of Our Supreme Court, Tricentennial Anniversary of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, National Constitution Center, May 21-22, 2022, Moderator and Speaker
Civil Litigation Update 2022, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, March 4, 2022
Civil Litigation Update 2021, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, March 4, 2021
Judicial Engagement and the Pennsylvania Constitution, Institute for Justice, Center for Judicial Engagement, October 16, 2020
The “New” Pennsylvania Supreme Court; Reflections on the Last Three-Plus Years, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, September 9, 2019
Your Case is in the News; Handling High-Profile Litigation, Moderator, American Academy of Appellate Lawyers, 2019 Spring Conference, April 13, 2019
The Pennsylvania Constitution: An Independent Source of Rights and Judicial Power, Pennsylvania State Trial Judges Conference, February 21, 2019
The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania: Life and Law in the Commonwealth, 1684-2017: A Conversation, hosted by Duquesne University for Pennsylvania Supreme Court, October 24, 2018
Media Commentary
'Pa. Supreme Court justices rarely lose seats in retention elections, so why is this year's race so important?', Philly Voice, September 29, 2025
'Monsanto Takes Roundup Preemption Defense to Pennsylvania Supreme Court,' The Legal Intelligencer, August 15, 2025
'Where Did All of Philadelphia's Big Verdicts Go?' The Legal Intelligencer, July 31, 2025
'Key Issue in Roundup Litigation Gets First-Time Review From Pa. Appeals Court,' The Legal Intelligencer, March 28, 2025
'Justices Wary of Overturning Longstanding Precedent on Tort Immunity for General Contractors,' The Legal Intelligencer, March 6, 2025
'Diving Into a Judicial Hellhole - A look at ATRF’s latest list and examining the top jurisdiction,' CLM Magazine, January 7, 2025
'Philly and the Pa. Supreme Court Are Top 'Judicial Hellholes,' A Tort Reform Group Says. Trial Attorneys Aren't Happy.' The Philadelphia Inquirer, December 12, 2024.
'Judge Orders New Trial in Temple Health Medical Malpractice Case with $45 Million Jury Verdict,' The Philadelphia Inquirer, December 11, 2024
'Turning the Tables: Defense Litigators Embrace Lawsuits, Alleging Fraud at Plaintiffs Shops,' The American Lawyer, October 7, 2024
'Pa. High Court Reversal Rate of Superior Court Rulings Has Plummeted, Report Shows,' The Legal Intelligencer, April 23, 2024
'As Stakes Escalate, Kline & Specter Begin Stepping in to Defend Phila.’s Largest Verdicts Post-Trial,' The Legal Intelligencer, January 31, 2024
'Parties Clash Over Jury Instruction in Hearing on $976M Defective Seatbelt Verdict,' The Legal Intelligencer, April 2, 2024
' Unanimity Is Rare on Pennsylvania Supreme Court, Data Reveals, ' The Legal Intelligencer, February 15, 2024
' Pennsylvania Litigation To Watch In 2024 ' Law360, January 1, 2024
' Top Pennsylvania Cases of 2023, ' Law360, December 21, 2023
''Passion and Prejudice': Mitsubishi Seeks to Overturn Nearly $1B Defective Seatbelt Verdict,' The Legal Intelligencer, November 15, 2023
' Superior Court Breaks String of Plaintiff-Side Forum Rulings, Upholding Case's Move From Phila .' The Legal Intelligencer, November 1, 2023
' Could Proposed Changes to Civil Jury Selection Rules Slow Down Pa.'s Courts? ' The Legal Intelligencer, September 21, 2023
' Pa. Civil Law Has Developed Pro-Plaintiff Slant, PCCJR Panelists Say, ' The Legal Intelligencer, September 11, 2023
' Jury Verdicts Like the $183 Million Award Against Penn Medicine Can Be Tied Up for Years, But Usually Stand, ' The Philadelphia Inquirer, May 2, 2023
'PA Budget, Political Appointment Decisions for Gov. Josh Shapiro,' GoErie.com, January 3, 2023
'Defense Attorneys Brace for Impacts as Medical Malpractice Venue Rule Changes Loom,' The Legal Intelligencer, October 5, 2022
'Pa. Legal Community Remembers Chief Justice Baer as a Consensus Builder, Family Law Icon,' The Legal Intelligencer, October 3, 2022
'Lawyers Argue for New Trial, Reduction of $19 Million Verdict for Pool Injury,' The Tribune-Review, August 8, 2022
'Woman Gifted Groupon Massage Must Arbitrate Assault Claims: Court,' Pennsylvania Law Weekly, August 2, 2022
'Guns, Abortion & Voting Rights: 5 Critical PA Supreme Court Cases to Keep an Eye on in 2022,' Pocono Record, July 18, 2022
'Plaintiffs Seek to Narrow Pa. High Court's Ruling Axing Jurisdiction by Business Registration,' The Legal Intelligencer, February 1, 2022
'Pa. Justices: Defense Attorney's Question During Ex-NFL Player's Med Mal Trial Was Not Improper,' Pennsylvania Law Weekly, December 28, 2021
'Pa. Justices Say Two Disputed Words Don't Warrant New Trial,' Law360, December 22, 2021
'Pa. Justices Split Over Whether Two Words Warrant Retrial,' Law360, September 21, 2021
''Even Bad People': Legal Community Divided on Unpopular Decision That Freed Cosby,' The Legal Intelligencer, July 1, 2021
'Pa. Cases to Watch in 2021: Midyear Report,' Law360, July 9, 2021
'Pa. Atty Off Hook for Extended Interest on Malpractice Award,' Law360, March 31, 2021
'Pa. Justices Snub Appeal Over Axed $40M Spinal Injury Award,' Law360, March 30, 2021
'Pennsylvania Cases to Watch in 2021,' Law360, January 3, 2021
'Pa. Court Scraps $40M Suburban Phila. Jury Verdict Over Birth Injury,' The Legal Intelligencer, July 20, 2020
'Measure to Split Pa. Court Seats Seen as Political Play,' Law360, July 17, 2020
'Pa. Panel Wipes Out $40M Award for Baby's Spinal Injury,' Law360, July 16, 2020
'Top Pennsylvania Cases of 2020: A Midyear Report,' Law360, July 2, 2020
'3rd Circ. Punts Amazon Seller Liability Case to Pa. Justices,' Law360, June 2, 2020
'Panel Axes $10M Award in Surgery Patient's Drug Death Suit,' Law360, April 9, 2020
'Pa. Appeals Court Slashes Award; Finds Jury Went Too Far With $10 Million Verdict,' The Legal Intelligencer, April 9, 2020
'Pennsylvania Cases to Watch in 2020', Law 360, January 3, 2020
'Drifting Away From Precedent?: Some See Pa. Supreme Court Upending Established Case Law,' Pennsylvania Law Weekly, December 23, 2019
'The Biggest Pa. Appellate Rulings Of 2019: Midyear Report,' Law360, July 3, 2019
'Pa. Jurisdiction in Grenfell Tower Suit May be Tested by Evolving Case Law,' The Legal Intelligencer, June 12, 2019
“Law Firms Going ‘Old School’ as Phila. Court System Struggles to Recover From Computer Virus,” The Legal Intelligencer, May 31, 2019
'At Last, Unpublished Superior Court Opinions Can Be Cited. Now What?,' The Legal Intelligencer, March 29, 2019
'This Pennsylvania Committee Is Proposing Changes That Benefit Five Of Its Members' Law Firms,' Forbes and Pennsylvania Record, February 19, 2019
'Tough Sell On Cancer Link Awaits At 1st Philly Talc Trial,' Law360, February 5, 2019
'CBS Tells Justices No Liability For Asbestos Added By Others, Law360, September 20, 2018
'The Biggest Pa. Appellate Rulings Of 2018: Midyear Report,' Law360, July 12, 2018
'Judge Says Pa.'s Corporate Registration Law Doesn't Create Jurisdiction,' The Legal Intelligencer, June 11, 2018
'Superior Court Throws Out $32M Wrongful Death Award,' The Legal Intelligencer, May 3, 2018
'Pa. Tort Ruling Highlights Discrepancies in Jury Instructions,' Law360, February 23, 2018
'Commonwealth Court: Philly Beverage Tax is Legal,' WHYY's Keystone Crossroads, June 14, 2017. John's interview about the soda tax also aired on WHYY's Morning Edition program on June 16, 2017.
'Changes to PA Tort Law Not Coming Fast Enough, Attorneys Say,' Law360, April 20, 2017
'Justices' 'Abnormal' Requests Pose Legislative Challenges,' The Legal Intelligencer, October 7, 2017
'Attorneys Agree Ban on Citing Nonprecedential Opinions is a Hurdle,' The Legal Intelligencer, September 1, 2016
'The Biggest PA Appeals Court Decisions So Far in 2016,' Law360, August 4, 2016
'Appellate Courts Prepare to Transition Interim Appointees,' The Legal Intelligencer, July 11, 2016
'Zimmer Win May Force Harder Look at Runaway Verdicts,' Law360, June 10, 2016
''When in Doubt, Appeal' in Consolidated Cases,' The Legal Intelligencer, May 31, 2016
'Superior Court's 2016 Output Low on Civil Rulings,' The Legal Intelligencer, May 27, 2016
'Revamped PA High Court Looks To Make Mark on Tort Law,' Law360, February 4, 2016
'Supreme Court Orders Reargument in 26 Cases From 2015,' The Legal Intelligencer, January 22, 2016.
'Intermediate Courts Must Weather Vacancies,' The Legal Intelligencer, January 9, 2016
'Supreme Court Justice J. Michael Eakin Tearfully Apologizes, Defends Reputation in Porn Email Hearing,' Allentown Morning Call, December 21, 2015
'Eakin, 'Bruno' and the State of Judicial Discipline in PA,' The Legal Intelligencer, December 18, 2015
'JCB Faces Challenges in Proving Violations by Eakin,' The Legal Intelligencer, December 11, 2015
'Litigants May Test High Court After Turnover,' Pennsylvania Law Weekly, November 17, 2015
'Dems' PA High Court Sweep Could Shake Up Enviro, Tort Law,' Law360, November 4, 2015
'Report: Supreme Court Should Defer to JCB on Eakin Emails,' The Legal Intelligencer, November 3, 2015
'Zimmer Ruling Continues Pa. Justices' Pro-Plaintiff Trend,' Law360, October 28, 2015
'Lawyers Say Discipline, Not Removal, Likely for Eakin,' Pennsylvania Law Weekly, October 20, 2015
'Rekindled Email Scandal Tests State Supreme Court, Again,' The Legal Intelligencer, October 6, 2015
'Saylor's Comments Raise More Questions Over AG Kane's Fate,' The Legal Intelligencer, September 30, 2015
'Fee Sanctions Must Be Filed Soon After Final Order,' Pennsylvania Law Weekly, September 28, 2015
'Rule Changes Clear Up Legal Gray Area in Post-Trial Motions,' Legal Intelligencer, July 14, 2015
'Raising Pa. Supreme Court Output Easier Said Than Done?,' Pennsylvania Law Weekly, March 31, 2015
'Police Owe No Duty to Unknown Passengers in Fleeing Car,' The Legal Intelligencer, January 5, 2015
'Pennsylvania Cases To Watch In 2015,' Law360, January 2, 2015
