John P. Buckley

John is a partner whose trial practice includes defending class action, product liability and mass tort suits, representing clients in general commercial disputes, and representing policyholders in insurance coverage litigation. He has tried 20 cases in State and Federal Courts, on issues including mass tort, fiduciary duty, undue influence, fraud, professional liability, minority shareholders’ rights, and a capital criminal case. He also has extensive appellate experience, involving over 60 appeals and 15 oral arguments in State and Federal Courts.

Some of John’s significant experience includes:

Selected Mass Torts and Class Actions

• National and Illinois Counsel for an ice cream manufacturer in consumer salmonella class action (1994 ice cream class action).
• Salmonella litigation (1984 and 1985 milk class actions and individual cases).
• Listeria litigation (1998 hot dog and cold cut cases).
• Natural rubber latex glove litigation (exam and surgical gloves).
• Underground storage tank litigation (groundwater contamination cases).
• Co-lead trial counsel in a 10,000 claimant mass action (PBC exposure claims).

Selected Insurance Coverage Litigation

• Lead trial counsel in a coverage case on behalf of a Fortune 500 policyholder involving numerous issues regarding coverage for thousands of underlying asbestos claims.
• Counsel to aerospace and defense corporation in coverage action arising from sale of commercial satellites.
• Lead policyholders’ coverage counsel in coverage litigation regarding underlying environmental claims involving PCB contamination.
• Coverage counsel in litigation over coverage for underlying toxic shock tampon claims.
• Coverage counsel in litigation involving environmental claims from pollution of Coal Gasification Plants.

Appellate Cases

• Nicor, Inc. v. Associated Elec. & Gas Ins. Svcs. Ltd., 223 Ill.2d 407, 860 N.E.2d 280, 307 Ill.Dec.626, (2006). In the Supreme Court of Illinois. Prepared Amicus Curiae Brief.
• Housing Authority Risk Retention Group (HARRG) v. Chicago Housing Authority (CHA), 378 F.3d596 (7th Cir. 2004). Briefed and Argued Case of First Impression regarding scope of “Absolute” Pollution Exclusion in Comprehensive General Liability policy.
• Taylor v. Quality Hyundai, 150 F.3d 689 (7th Cir. 1998). Successfully obtained dismissal of lender in trial court on Truth-In-Lending Act claim. Obtained landmark decision excepting assignees from liability under Federal Truth In Lending Act on Appeal before the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.
• People v. Pugh, 157 Ill. 2d 1, 623 N.E.2d 255 (1993). Obtained unanimous reversal of death sentence and significant Illinois decision regarding ineffective assistance of counsel. Successfully avoided death penalty at sentencing hearing on remand and obtained further reduction of sentence on appeal. People v. Pugh, 325 Ill. App. 3d 336, 758 N.E. 2d 319, (1st Dist. 2001) (Pugh II).