Lawyer Bio : John Parker Sweeney

Class Actions and Mass Torts often involve “bet the company” risks. John Parker Sweeney’s more than 30 years experience defending major Class Actions and Mass Torts involving Product Liability, Consumer Protection, Environmental, and Toxic Tort cases allows him to tailor an appropriate litigation response for any company to meet those types of high stakes risks. He regularly serves as national counsel, creating and supervising comprehensive defense strategies in Class Actions and Mass Tort cases across the country. Because of the critical advantage provided by his familiarity with state and federal courts in the Mid-Atlantic Region, his regional Class Action and Mass Tort practice is unsurpassed.

 

John’s effectivenss and national prominence as a defense lawyer for business in Class Actions and Mass Torts was recognized by his peers when he was elected as an officer of DRI—The Voice of the Defense Bar. John will serve as President of the 22,000 member association of defense lawyers in 2014-2015.

 

A nationally-recognized "Expert on Experts," John relies on his relationships with internationally renowned technical, scientific, and medical experts, as well as his thorough understanding of the rules and procedures governing expert testimony in both Daubert and Frye jurisdictions to protect his clients from scientifically unfounded claims and unqualified plaintiffs' experts. His success at securing precedent-setting decisions excluding junk science from the courtroom in "sick building" claims typifies his effectiveness.

 

John has had many years of experience in Government Investigation work beginning with his six years at the U.S. Securities Exchange Commission. Since then, in addition to responding to SEC investigations, he has been involved in investigations and other compliance actions involving a number of federal and state law enforcement agencies. He is particularly experienced in handling Consumer Product Safety reporting, recalls and corrective actions before the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, and in advising clients on compliance with the far-reaching new requirements of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 and the Consumer Product Safety Information Database.

 

John handles Environmental Regulatory Compliance and Enforcement for commercial and multi-family residential property owners/managers as well as for industrial properties, including petroleum terminals, sand and gravel operations and other heavy industries involving federal or state regulatory agencies, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Adminsitration and state environmental agencies. 

 

John provides effective Mass Tort Risk Management and Cost Recovery counseling based on his three decades of complex litigation experience. He advises clients on how to avoid or mitigate the risks of Product Liability and Environmental claims. He regularly investigates and helps companies to secure Insurance Coverage and Contractual Indemnification to offset the costs of litigation.

 

John is rated AV—Preeminent, a testament to the fact that John’s peers rank him at the highest level of professional excellence.

 

John has been elected a member by his peers in this prestigous international defense trial bar representing corporations around the world.

 

John has been elected a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America, a trial honorary society representing less than one half of one percent of all American lawyers.

 

John has been elected a Fellow of the American Bar Asociation’s American Bar Foundation. The Fellows have demonstrated outstanding achievements and dedication to the welfare of their communities and to the highest principles of the legal profession and are limited to no more than one third of one percent of the lawyers licensed to practice.

 

John has also been ranked by his peers among Baltimore and Washington D.C.’s Best Lawyers in Mass Tort Litigation & Product Liability Litigation in 2011-2012 in the Washington Post. John’s Product Liability practice was by ranked Tier 1 in Baltimore by Best Lawyers and US News & World Report 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 Best Law Firms Rankings.

 

John was recognized as a Maryland Super Lawyer in Class Action/Mass Torts in 2007-2011. 

 

 

Occupational Mass Torts 

 

Consumer Products 

 

 

 

 Representative Experience (full bio in pdf format)