John T. Schriver

Representative Matters

• An appeal in the 2nd District Appellate Court of Illinois on behalf of a physician; the Court affirmed the dismissal of plaintiff’s lawsuit against the client, which had falsely alleged childhood sexual abuse during their psychiatrist-patient relationship from over 25 years ago. 

• Represented a condo owner and her husband, as well as himself and Duane Morris, against a litigious neighboring condo owner who sued his fellow neighbors, their attorneys and the condo association’s attorney. The trial court dismissed the amended complaint and refused to allow the filing on yet another amended complaint, finding the claims frivolous and harassing. The appellate court affirmed the decision and the award of over $1,000,000 in sanctions against the plantiff and his attorney. Spiegel v. Hall, reported at 2020 IL App (1st) 19084-U.

• Obtained an injunction on behalf of Travelport, LP precluding American Airlines from terminating its contracts with Orbitz.com and reinstating Orbitz's ability to display and ticket American Airlines flights. Decision affirmed on appeal.

• Obtained jury verdict for fraud and punitive damages in favor of client, a young dentist who was induced to buy a retiring dentist’s practice based on inflated financials due to up-coding of procedures.

• Represented CEO accused of taking trade secrets to start a competing business. Successfully defeated TRO petition and motion for preliminary injunction, resulting in favorable settlement for client. ValuePart v. ITR

• Represented executive/manager against claims for violation of the Illinois Wage Payment Act. At the conclusion of the trial, won a motion for directed findings, and settled favorably thereafter. Moore v. Suburban Financial Management Corp.

• Represented plaintiffs suing trustee of their grandfather's trust for mismanagement of trust assets and an accounting. Won an order for accounting and summary judgment that surcharged the trustee for full amount of the trust corpus plus interest. Stearns v. Cutler

• Handled defense of case involving breach of contract allegations made against major league pitcher for the Chicago Cubs in relation to certain autograph and card show. After trial, obtained finding that client had lived up to all obligations under the contract. Based on other issues, the court entered a judgment for the plaintiff that was less than the defendants' settlement offer. Just Ducky v. Prior and Upper Class Collectibles

• Handled numerous cases for professional engineers and contractors relating to construction matters and mechanics liens, bodily injuries, wrongful death, alleged violations of the Illinois Scaffolding Act and various OSHA-related issues.

• Successfully represented homeowners group in a class action suit against the developer for shoddy construction and damages resulting from hurricane.

• Represented various parties in employment-related disputes over executive compensation, stock rights, severance payments, covenants not to compete, and alleged theft of trade secrets.

• Obtained one of the largest plaintiff awards entered in Kenosha County, Wisconsin (as of that time) for a CEO client who was deprived of his phantom stock rights under a benefit plan. Bench trial resulted in award of $4.5 million.

• Represented largest bar code manufacturer in the U.S. in patent infringement case. Won summary judgment against allegations that a staple gun for affixing bar codes to lumber was developed through "infringement by the equivalents."

• Represented holder of lottery ticket in action against the Illinois Lottery Board and store where the ticket was purchased. Obtained jury verdict for $13 million in damages.

• Successfully represented majority shareholders in dispute over obligations of majority shareholders of closely held company under Illinois Shareholders Oppression Statute. This landmark decision has been repeatedly cited. Jahn v. Kinderman

• Represented freight forwarding company in dispute with disloyal executive over compensation claims. Obtained a judgment, affirmed by the Illinois appellate court, that the executive forfeited all claims to compensation during the period of his proven disloyalty. Another landmark case in Illinois. ABC Transport v. Aeronautics

• Represented owner/operator of the barge that allegedly caused "The Great Chicago Flood." After numerous hearing and an appeal decided by the U.S. Supreme Court in favor of the owner/operator that maritime law applied to the huge damage claims, the disputes were resolved for far less than the insurance coverage.

Admissions

• Florida
• Illinois
• Supreme Court of the United States
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
• U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
• U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
• U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida

Education

• Georgetown University Law Center, J.D., 1971

Experience

• Duane Morris LLP
  - Partner, 2001-present
  
• McDermott, Will & Emery, Chicago, Illinois
  - Partner, 1970-2001
• United States Air Force Reserve
  - Sergeant, Honorable Discharge, 1975

Professional Activities

• American Bar Association
  - Section of Litigation
• Illinois State Bar Association
• The Florida Bar

Honors and Awards

• Listed in Illinois Super Lawyers, 2005, 2008-2021

• Listed in Super Lawyers, Corporate Counsel Edition, 2010
• AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell®

Selected Speaking Engagements

• Panelist, "Compensation Based on Criteria Other Than the Billable Hour—Is It Feasible?" Ark Group Conference: Alternative Fee Arrangements - Where Do We Stand Today? Chicago, Illinois, June 15, 2010