John R. Meehan

Overview

John Meehan has wide-ranging experience in handling a broad range of civil litigation matters. Representing local and national clients in matters throughout California, John has advised clients for over 30 years on claims involving business disputes, personal injury, wrongful death, premises liability, employment, professional errors & omissions, real estate, and product liability. John has extensive experience in representing design professionals and contractors in construction claims. Skilled in mediation and arbitration, John has also served as a neutral arbitrator and has been appointed by the court to serve as a special master.

In addition to litigation services, John advises clients with respect to drafting documents such as engagement contracts, operating agreements, bylaws, and business formation. He also advises clients on a full range of risk management and pre-litigation dispute resolution strategies.

While more than willing to take a matter to trial when warranted, John often finds it makes economic or commercial sense to resolve a matter short of trial. His goal is to resolve a dispute in whatever manner is more advantageous to his client, and he remains vigilant to opportunities to achieve that goal.

John has handled matters in both Federal and California state courts and tried a number of matters to verdict. He also has extensive experience in mediating and arbitrating matters on behalf of clients and has acted as a neutral arbitrator.

Experience

• Represented general contractor in negotiating project-specific contracts
• Obtained summary judgment for owner's architect on design-build project
• Obtained dismissal of nightclub from claim brought by patrons alleging negligent distribution of alcohol resulting in motor vehicle accident
• Obtained dismissal of negligence claim against architect relating to approval of contractor's progress payment applications, and payment of architect's fees wrongfully withheld
• Obtained summary judgment for attorney on claim of legal malpractice relating to trust instrument and allegedly improper will
• Negotiated favorable settlement for structural engineer at mediation of multi-plaintiff claims for personal injury and wrongful death arising out of a catastrophic balcony collapse
• Obtained judgment at arbitration for building owner in dispute with restaurant lessee over various tenant improvement issues and breach of lease
• Represented startup foodservice business and handled formation of LLC
• Negotiated favorable settlement at mediation of claim against a mechanical engineer brought by international hotel concern for allegedly defective design of an HVAC system
• Represented landscape architect in negotiations to terminate contract and to withdraw from project
• Obtained dismissal of claim against architect on claim for negligence relating to faulty hydronic heating system in residential application
• Obtained dismissal of negligence claim against structural engineer before hearing on demurrer
• Tried six asbestos matters to verdict in California state court
• Negotiated a favorable settlement with summary judgment motion pending in multi-plaintiff wrongful death/personal injury claims relating to industrial fire at pharmaceutical facility