Schottenstein Zox & Dunn
John P. Gilligan
"All great
trial lawyers have
the skill to persuade
and the judgment
to choose the
right battles."
Education
- B.A., Dartmouth College, 1971, magna cum laude, Rufus Choate Scholar
- J.D., University of California Boalt Hall School of Law, 1977
Bar and Court Admissions
- Ohio, 1981
- California, 1977
- U.S. District Court - N.D. California, 1977
- U.S. District Court - S.D. Ohio, 1981
Honors and Awards
- American College of Trial Lawyers, Fellow
- Martindale-Hubbell AV® Peer Review Rated
- Chambers USA America's Leading Lawyers for Business, Litigation, 2007-2010
- The Best Lawyers in America, Commercial Litigation, 2006-2010
- Ohio Super Lawyers, 2004-2010; Top 100 Ohio, Top 50 Columbus, 2010
- Super Lawyers, Corporate Counsel Edition®, 2008-2010
Columbus
Arena District250 West Street Columbus, OH 43215 614.462.2221 Fax: 614.222.3438 jgilligan@szd.com
Practice Areas
EXPERIENCE
John Johnson, et al. v. Big Lots, Inc. Client(s): Big Lots, Inc. Date: May 2008 moreConstruction Claim Client(s): General Contractor Date: April 2009 more
Employment Dispute Client(s): Mara Enterprises, Inc. Date: 2009 more
Government Contract Client(s): Lottery Vendor Date: 2008 more
False Advertising Claims Client(s): Manufacturer Date: 2006 more
Jury Trial, 14 Days Client(s): California Distributor Date: April 2002 more
Board of County Commissioners, Fairfield County, Ohio v. Hessler, et al. Client(s): Board of County Commissioners, Fairfield County, Ohio Date: June 2008 more
State ex rel. Choices for South-Western City Schools v. Anthony, et al. Client(s): South-Western City School District Date: October 2005 more
Election Systems & Software, Inc. v. J. Kenneth Blackwell Client(s): Election Systems and Software, Inc. Date: November 2005 more
Elastizell Systems, Inc. v. CNA Insurance Companies Client(s): Elastizell Systems, Inc. Date: 2004 more
Avis E. Buchanan et al. v. Consolidated Stores Corp. et al. Client(s): K-B Toys and Big Lots, Inc. (formerly known as Consolidated Stores Corp.) Date: July 2003 more
Cities of Dublin, et al. v. State of Ohio Client(s): City of Dublin Date: 2002 more
Death Penalty Case Date: May 2002 more
Kent, et al. v. Huntington National Bank Client(s): Huntington National Bank Date: 2001 more
Universal Contracting Corporation v. Preserving Affordable Housing, Inc. and PAH, Ltd. Client(s): General Contractors, Subcontractors Date: July 2000 more
- Arena District
250 West Street - Columbus, OH 43215
- 614.462.2221
- Fax: 614.222.3438
- jgilligan@szd.com
John Gilligan concentrates his practice in resolving complex business disputes by negotiation or trial. With 32 years of experience, John has tried more than 70 cases to decision, the majority by jury verdict, in state and federal court, the Ohio Court of Claims and before arbitration panels. He has been inducted as a Fellow in the American college of trial lawyers and is included in the Best Lawyers in America and Chambers USA, America’s leading Lawyers for business.
His recent trials have spanned a variety of business disputes: successfully defending a manufacturer on false advertising claims, successfully defeating a collective action claim for wage and hour violations against a national retailer, defending the successful bidder for the Ohio Lottery gaming contract and winning more than $10 Million on a claim for a general contractor in the construction of a large production facility, as well as defeating the owner’s considerably larger counterclaim. In addition, John won summary judgment for his corporate client, affirmed unanimously on appeal, dismissing the former company president’s claims for unlawful termination based on promissory estoppel and his status as a minority shareholder. And, he defeated a federal constitutional challenge to a minimum age requirement to be mayor of an Ohio municipality.
John is also listed in Ohio Super Lawyers where he is designated as one of the Top 50 Lawyers in Columbus (joining just 8 other business litigators) and the Top 100 Lawyers in Ohio (joining just 23 other business litigators).
Experience
John Johnson, et al. v. Big Lots, Inc.Client(s): Big Lots, Inc.
Date: May 2008
Construction Claim
Client(s): General Contractor
Date: April 2009
Employment Dispute
Client(s): Mara Enterprises, Inc.
Date: 2009
Government Contract
Client(s): Lottery Vendor
Date: 2008
False Advertising Claims
Client(s): Manufacturer
Date: 2006
Jury Trial, 14 Days
Client(s): California Distributor
Date: April 2002
Board of County Commissioners, Fairfield County, Ohio v. Hessler, et al.
Client(s): Board of County Commissioners, Fairfield County, Ohio
Date: June 2008
State ex rel. Choices for South-Western City Schools v. Anthony, et al.
Client(s): South-Western City School District
Date: October 2005
Election Systems & Software, Inc. v. J. Kenneth Blackwell
Client(s): Election Systems and Software, Inc.
Date: November 2005
Elastizell Systems, Inc. v. CNA Insurance Companies
Client(s): Elastizell Systems, Inc.
Date: 2004
Avis E. Buchanan et al. v. Consolidated Stores Corp. et al.
Client(s): K-B Toys and Big Lots, Inc. (formerly known as Consolidated Stores Corp.)
Date: July 2003
Cities of Dublin, et al. v. State of Ohio
Client(s): City of Dublin
Date: 2002
Death Penalty Case
Date: May 2002
Kent, et al. v. Huntington National Bank
Client(s): Huntington National Bank
Date: 2001
Universal Contracting Corporation v. Preserving Affordable Housing, Inc. and PAH, Ltd.
Client(s): General Contractors, Subcontractors
Date: July 2000
Professional Associations
- American Bar Association, Section of Litigation, Committee of Corporate Counsel, Business Torts Committee
- Ohio State Bar Association, Government, Education and Construction Committee; Banking and Commercial Bankruptcy Committee
- Columbus Bar Association, Construction Law Committee
- Builder's Exchange Law Group
Speaking Engagements
- Educating the Juror: Practical Tips for Arming a Juror to Advocate on your Behalf - July 31, 2009
- Protecting Trade Secrets In The Digital Age - September 27, 2007
- Protecting Your Business's Business: Tips For Guarding Your Client's Ideas, Brands and Critical Business Assets - April 12, 2007
- Trade Secrets: Advanced Techniques For Protecting The Company's Jewels - February 16, 2007
- Evidentiary Issues With Electronic Evidence – Are You Going To Believe Me Or Your Own Eyes? - May 6, 2004
Community Leadership
- Children's Hunger Alliance (f/k/a Ohio Hunger Task Force), 2007 Founder’s Award; 2003 Advocate of the Year, former Chair of Board of Trustees
- Mt. Carmel College of Nursing, Chair Board of Trustees
- Legal Aid Society of Columbus, Board of Trustees
- State Counsel (Ohio), Obama for America, 2008
- Co-Chair of Ohio Promote the Vote, Ohio Democratic Party Voter Protection Effort, 2006, 2008
Prior Professional Experience
- Deputy Public Defender, Solano County and Contra Costa County, California, 1977-1980.
- Assistant Attorney General of Ohio, Antitrust Enforcement and Court of Claims Defense, 1980-1985. Represented numerous state agencies, including the Ohio Department of Transportation and the Ohio Department of Administrative Services in various contract and tort actions, including construction claims both at the administrative level and in court. Worked closely with State risk managers to resolve disputes and develop methods for claims resolution. When assigned to the antitrust section worked on enforcement of Valentine Act and federal antitrust laws in cases alleging price-fixing and illegal monopolization.
