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Biographical Information

John’s commitment to securing favorable outcomes for his clients is second to none.  John has obtained more than 100 verdicts and settlements over $1 million.  For two consecutive years, John secured the highest verdict in the State of Missouri.  John achieves tremendous results because he believes in the power of the civil justice system.  John maintains a Martindale-Hubbell AV® Rating from his peers, the highest ranking of integrity in the legal profession.

Admission Dates & Jurisdictions

State of Missouri 1986

State of Illinois 1987

U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Missouri 1987

U.S. District Court, Southern District of Illinois 1988

State of Arkansas 1992

U.S. District Court, Western District of Missouri 2007

Education

John graduated magna cum laude from Saint Louis University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting in 1983. He graduated from Saint Louis University School of Law in 1986.

Honors & Awards

Best Lawyers in America® St. Louis Product Liability Lawyer of the Year 2015

American Society of Legal Advocates top 100 Litigation Lawyers in Missouri 2015

Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis President’s Distinguished Service Award 2013

American Society of Legal Advocates Top 100 Litigation Lawyers in Missouri 2013

Association of Trial Attorneys Top 100 Lawyers 2011

Best Lawyers in America® St. Louis Personal Injury Lawyer of the Year 2011

Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers Top 10 Attorneys in 2009, 2013 and 2014

The American Trial Lawyers Association Top 100 2009

St. Louis Bar Foundation Spirit of Justice Award – Inaugural Year 2009

Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers Top 100 St. Louis since 2007

Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers Top 50 St. Louis since 2006

Best Lawyers in America® Personal Injury since 2005

Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers since 2005

Professional Associations

Inducted into The Inner Circle of Advocates, 2014 (100 Top Plaintiff Attorneys in the U.S.)

National Association of Distinguished Counsel, Founding Member, 2014

Global Directory of Who’s Who, 2014

Litigation Counsel of Americ,a 2014

Inducted into the American College of Trial Lawyers, 2011

Million Dollar Advocates Forum

The Fellows of the American Bar Foundation since 2008

American Board of Trial Advocates since 2001

Arkansas State Bar Association since 1992

The Association of Trial Lawyers of America since 1990

Missouri Association of Trial Lawyers (Member since 1990, Board of Governors, 1991- present)

St. Louis County Bar Association since 1990

St. Clair County Bar Association since 1990

Lawyers Association of St. Louis since 1990

National Institute of Trial Advocacy Advocates Association since 1989

Illinois State Bar Association since 1987

Bar Association of the Metropolitan St. Louis since 1987

The Missouri Bar since 1986

Martindale-Hubbell Rating:  A V

Verdicts & Settlements

Dorman v Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc., Product Liability, $105,000,000.00
Maldonado v Gateway Hotel Holdings, LLC, Personal Injury, $42,000,000.00
Adams v MHTC / IL Valley Paving Co et al, Auto Accident, $13,500,000.00
Dodson v Dr. Ferrara / Mercy Clinic, Medical Malpractice, $10,800,000.00
Plaintiff v Defendant Switchgear Manufacturer, Product Liability, $10,000,000.00
Walsh v Mid-South Transport, Inc., et al, Truck Accident, $10,000,000.00
Plaintiff v Defendant Pharmaceutical Company, Product Liability, $9,500,000.00
Brown v The Laclede Gas Co. Inc., Personal Injury, $8,000,000.00
Lebrun v Mine Safety Appliances, et al., Product Liability, $6,515,000.00

Speaking Engagements

Voir Dire – Factual Scenario, 11/06/15, Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys CLE (MATA)

Closing Arguments, 06/06/14, AIEG 2014 Trucking Seminar

Trial Masters Series, Closing Arguments, 05/30/14, Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis Bench & Bar (BAMSL)

From Main Street to Wall Street, Marketing through Referrals, 05/01/14, American Bar Association Firm Marketing Conference (ABA)

Lessons of 1,000 Trials: Everything You Always Wanted to Know about Presenting a Winning Case at Trial, 04/26/13, The Missouri Bar

Insider’s Guide to Personal Injury Litigation, 2010, Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis (BAMSL)

Truck Accident Litigation from Start to Finish, 2010, National Business Institute, Inc. (NBI)

Opening Statements 06/22/2010, The Simon Law Firm, P.C. Sixth Annual Seminar to Benefit Legal Services of Eastern Missouri

Tips for Handling Personal Injury Cases 2007, National Business Institute, Inc. (NBI)

Using Federal Regulations to Build a Punitive Damages Case 2007, National Business Institute, Inc. (NBI)

Making Discovery Work for You in a Products Liability Case, 6/20/2007, The Simon Law Firm, P.C. Third Annual Seminar to Benefit Legal Services of Eastern Missouri

Building a Strong Foundation for Your Case 12/14/2007, for National Business Institute, Inc. (NBI)

Expert Witness Seminar 10/24/2006, National Business Institute, Inc. (NBI)

What Are You Missing? 06/15/2005, The Simon Law Firm, P.C. Annual Seminar to Benefit Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, Inc.

Advanced Trial Advocacy in Missouri 1/19/2005, National Business Institute, Inc. (NBI)

Bad Faith Litigation in Missouri 10/21/1997 and 11/19/1998, National Business Institute, Inc. (NBI)

Current Developments in Products Liability in Missouri 6/11/1998, National Business Institute, Inc. (NBI)

Bad Faith Litigation 7/18/1996, National Business Institute, Inc. (NBI)

Publications

 An Overview of Punitive Damages in Business Tort Litigation in MissouriSimon, John and von Aschwege, Anne-Marie, Summer, 2007.  54 St. Louis Bar Journal No. 1, p.28, Co-Author, An Overview of Punitive Damages in Business Tort Litigation in Missouri, St. Louis Bar Journal, 2007.

 Intrastate Forum Non Conveniens in Missouri.  Rowley, C. and Simon, J. Journal of Missouri Bar, 1990. Co-Author, Intrastate Forum Non Conveniens in Missouri, Journal of the Missouri Bar, 1990.

Pharmaceutical Litigation:  The Plaintiff’s Overview.  Simon, John and Vieth, Erich, Spring, 2005.  51 St. Louis Bar Journal No. 4, p. 12, Co-Author, Pharmaceutical Litigation:  The Plaintiff’s Overview, St. Louis Bar Journal.

Plaintiff in Products Liability Case:  Overview.  Simon, John G. and Flynn, Francis J., Jr., Winter, 2002, 48 St. Louis Bar Journal No. 3, p. 4, Co-Author, Plaintiff in Products Liability Case:  Overview , St. Louis Bar Journal.

Theories of Liability in Accounting Malpractice Cases:  A Plaintiff’s Perspective.  Fitzsimmons, G. and Simon, J.  St. Louis Bar Journal, Summer, 1991, Co-Author, Theories of Liability in Accounting Malpractice Cases:  A Plaintiff’s Perspective, St. Louis Bar Journal.

Distinctive Aspects of Litigation Under the Federal Employer’s Liability Act:  An Overview.  Musgrave, J. Rowley, C. and Simon, J.  St. Louis Bar Journal, Fall, 1989, Co-Author, Distinctive Aspects of Litigation Under the Federal Employer’s Liability Act:  An Overview, St. Louis Bar Journal.

Attack Your Own Case Before Your Opponent Does.  Simon, John, Missouri Lawyers Weekly, July 20, 2009, p. 15, Author; Attack Your Own Case Before Your Opponent Does, Missouri Lawyers Weekly.

Service Activities

John has shared his experience with law students by serving as an adjunct professor in Trial Advocacy at Saint Louis University’s School of Law since 2000.  John lectures and publishes articles on a regular basis.  But his true professional devotion is bringing about positive change by forcing companies to make safer products.

In addition to his involvement in the legal community, John and The Simon Law Firm are also actively involved in several charitable causes in the St. Louis area.  The Simon Law Firm, P.C. founded Project XOXO, Inc. in 2010 in an effort to bring the St. Louis legal community together to raise money for the local homeless.  Project XOXO, Inc. holds an annual 5k and donates 100% of the registration fees to selected St. Louis charities that provide services to the homeless.  The firm also holds an Annual Seminar to Benefit Legal Services of Eastern Missouri with 100% of all registrations going to Legal Services.