 | John A. Tarantino
Adler Pollock & Sheehan
One Citizens Plaza
Suite 800
Providence, RI 02903
401-274-7200 (firm)
401-351-4607 (fax)
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EDITORIAL REVIEW
He won the only “not guilty” verdict in the
ground-breaking Rhode Island lead paint case
while continuing his leadership of his state’s bar.
—2008 Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America
While Mattel and other companies face heavy lead-paint problems, Tarantino has already shielded Atlantic Richfield from similar complaints.
— Lawdragon,
January 2008
The trial star showcased his appellate
talents this year defending the Senate’s redistricting plan before the state Supremes.
— Lawdragon,
October 2006
John Tarantino scored the first win for lead paint companies in litigation over alleged poisoning of children.
He is a member of the prestigious International Academy of Trial Lawyers.
— Lawdragon,
October 2005
Submit your evaluation of this attorney. Contact Lawdragon about the information in this review.
John A. Tarantino
President, Partner/ Shareholder
Adler Pollock & Sheehan P.C.
John A. Tarantino is a shareholder in the Litigation Group. He served as chairman of the firm's Executive Committee and as
President of Adler Pollock & Sheehan P.C. He has been counsel in a number of precedent-setting cases in both the United
States Supreme Court and numerous federal and circuit courts of appeal involving complex issues of constitutional law,
antitrust, intellectual property, product liability, toxic tort and employment law. He has successfully represented
international manufacturers, major chemical companies, railroads, intellectual property owners, e-commerce businesses,
entrepreneurs, and leading real estate developers in sophisticated litigation matters. Mr. Tarantino has defended
individuals and corporations in state and federal criminal trials, including bribery, wire fraud, honest services and other
statutory and common law offenses. He lectures frequently on trial techniques and is a leading author of legal books and
articles on product liability, discovery, evidence, procedure, medical-legal issues, legal ethics and trial strategy.
AREAS OF PRACTICE:
Alternative Dispute Resolution
Appellate Practice
Commercial Litigation
Insurance
Litigation
Products Liability
Toxic Tort Litigation
White Collar Crime
REPRESENTATIVE CASES:
- Successfully defended Atlantic Richfield Company in the landmark litigation brought by the Attorney General against the
former manufacturers of lead pigment used in paint. In the longest jury trial in the history of Rhode Island, Mr.
Tarantino’s client was the only defendant found not responsible. Mr. Tarantino also successfully defended the verdict on
appeal.
- Won the precedent-setting case Textron v. Aetna where the Rhode Island Supreme Court ruled that the pollution
exclusion clause is ambiguous affording coverage for Rhode Island policyholders who do not intentionally or recklessly
pollute the properties of others.
- Successfully represented the Governor of the State of Rhode Island in the State Employees Unions dispute with
respect to his efforts to shut down state services to alleviate budget constraints as well as in several employment
termination matters in the federal courts.
- Successfully defended the Speaker of the House of Representatives in various matters in the state and federal courts
concerning issues of political questions, constitutional law, and state educational funding.
- Successfully defended the Senate in Voting Rights Act cases, redistricting litigation and constitutional matters.
- Successfully defended the Chief of Staff of the Mayor of Providence and obtained an acquittal on federal bribery
charges.
- Won the precedent-setting case U.S. v. Textron, establishing that a taxpayer’s “tax accrued work papers” are
protected by the work product doctrine and may not be subpoenaed by the IRS.
BAR ADMISSIONS:
Rhode Island
Massachusetts
U.S. District Court District of Rhode Island
U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts
U. S. District Court, District of Connecticut
U.S. District Court, District of Arizona
U.S. Court of Appeals, First Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
U.S. Supreme Court
BIRTH DATE: 1955, Providence, Rhode Island
HONORS/AWARDS:
- Martindale Hubbell Law Directory, AV® Rating,
- Best Lawyers in America®, Commercial Litigation, Personal Injury, Appellate Law, Mass Tort Litigation, Product
Liability Litigation, Bet the Company Litigation and White-Collar Criminal Defense 2001 – present
- Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
- Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America, “Champion of Justice,” 2006
- Chambers USA Directory of Business Lawyers named Mr. Tarantino as one of the state’s premier litigation lawyers.
“People think the world of John Tarantino, who also has the respect of judges and a great reputation with juries.” 2004,
2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
- Who’s Who Legal, USA-Commercial Litigation, 2006, 2007, 2008
- Rhode Island Lawyers Weekly, Lawyer of the Year, 2005
- Expert Guide to the U.S. Leading Litigation Lawyers, 2005
- Defense Research Institute “Exceptional Performance Citation,” 2004
- Lawyers Weekly USA, Lawyer of the Year, 2002
- Rhode Island Monthly, “The Best Lawyers in Rhode Island”
- Super Lawyers, 2007, 2008
- Corporate Counsel magazine, “one of the region’s most sought-after litigators”
- Rhode Island Bar Association: Ralph P. Semonoff Award for Civility, Professionalism and Outstanding Advocacy, 2006;
Merit Award for Outstanding Service to the Legal Profession, 2003; Dorothy Lohmann Community Service Award
- Federal Hill House Association Community Service Award
- Boston College Law School Alumni Award, 2006
EDUCATION:
- Boston College Law School, Boston, Massachusetts, 1981
Honors: Order of the Coif
- Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, 1976
- Kings College, University of London
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AND MEMBERSHIPS:
- International Academy of Trial Lawyers (Fellow)
- International Society of Barristers (Fellow, State Chair)
- American College of Trial Lawyers (Fellow, Member of Federal Rules of Evidence Committee and Rhode Island State
Committee)
- American Board of Trial Advocates
- National College of DUI Defense (Founding Member, former Board of Regents member)
- National College of Trial Advocacy (Former Faculty Member)
- National College of DUI Defense at Harvard Law School (Former Faculty Member)
- National College of Bar Presidents (Fellow)
- Master of Scientific Evidence Program, Atlanta, GA (Former Faculty Member)
- Rhode Island Bar Foundation (President) (2005- present)
- American Academy of Forensic Sciences (Associate Member)
- Justinian Society
- St. Thomas More Society
- Defense Research Institute (Member Toxic Tort and Environmental Law Committee; Commercial Litigation Committee)
- Defense Counsel of Rhode Island (President 2003-2004)
- Rhode Island Bar Association (President 1997-1998; past chair, Committees on Ethics & Professionalism and Public Relations)
- New England Bar Association (President 2002-2003)
- National Judicial College, Board of Visitors (Reno, Nevada)(2006 – present)
- First Circuit Court of Appeals’ CJA Advisory Panel (2007-present)
- United States Supreme Court Historical Society (State Chair)
- Boston College Law School (Board of Overseers) (2007 – present)
PUBLISHED WORKS:
Author of 11 texts and more than 200 articles.
LAWDRAGON EDITORIAL REVIEW:
John Tarantino scored the first win for lead paint companies in litigation over alleged poisoning of children.
This attorney is a member of the prestigious International Academy of Trial Lawyers.
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Biography
| Title: | Shareholder/Principal | | Firm: | Adler Pollock & Sheehan P.C. | | Law School: | Boston College | | Graduation: | 1981 | | | | Notable case(s), past or present (include date if possible): | | | | | Selected clients: | | | Areas of Expertise: | | | | | Bar Memberships: | | | | | Clerkships: | | | | | Honors: | | | | | | | Q&A
| Best moment of career: | | Hearing my son, Michael, tell his kindergarten teacher that he wanted to be a lawyer, like his Dad, so he could protect people. (By the way, it's 17 years later, and Michael hasn't changed his mind.) | | | | Worst moment of career: | | Listening to the jury return a guilty verdict against a client I knew was innocent | | | | Attorney you most admire: | | Atticus Finch | | | | Favorite activities (besides the Law): | | Fantasy baseball, collecting sports memorabilia, reading, writing articles, working out, attending Red Sox games and New England Patriots games | | | | Favorite Sports Team (if you have one), or Favorite Theater or Museum, etc: | | Boston Red Sox. I am a loyal member of Red Sox Nation. (NE Patriots are a close second.) | | | | If you weren’t a lawyer, what would you be?: | | | | | What do you read most often: | | | | | Notable law school classmates: | | | | | Why are you proud to be a lawyer?: | | | | |
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