 | 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:
- John successfully defended Atlantic Richfield Company in the longest jury trial in Rhode Island history, the landmark litigation brought by the attorney general against the former manufacturers of lead pigment used in paint. John’s client was the only defendant found not responsible by the jury. On appeal, John successfully defended the verdict as well.
- John represents the Governor, the Treasurer and the Employers’ Retirement System in constitutional challenges brought by various labor unions to changes made to the state’s general pension statute.
- In one of the most high-profile and notorious criminal investigations in recent Rhode Island history, “Plunder Dome,” John successfully defended the former Mayor of Providence’s Chief of Staff on federal bribery, corruption and conspiracy charges, obtaining a not guilty verdict on all counts.
- In a case of first impression, John successfully defended the former Rhode Island Senate President on ethics charges. The Rhode Island Supreme Court ruled that the Rhode Island Constitution's speech in debate clause barred the Ethics Commission from charging a legislator for how he or she participated in the legislative process and voted on legislation.
- In two federal court trials (one in Rhode Island and one in Massachusetts), John defended a gaming facility on charges of "honest services" mail and wire fraud and conspiracy.
- John defended a national utility company on federal charges of violation of environmental laws relating to the storage of liquid mercury and mercury sealed regulators.
- In a case of first impression, John convinced the Rhode Island Supreme Court that the so-called "pollution exclusion" does not bar coverage for policy holders unless the policy holder intended to cause pollution and environmental damage to its property.
- John successfully defended a municipality on wrongful death claims brought against it by the widow and children of a police officer who was killed by a fellow police officer in a SWAT team hostage-taking exercise. He was able to obtain summary judgment against the municipality’s insurance carrier, which had denied coverage for the claim, and also defended the municipality on the underlying merits case.
- John has obtained several multi-million dollar judgments for an international finance company against various borrowers and guarantors in the areas of hotel and entertainment financing, resort financing, mobile home financing, manufactured home financing, and equipment financing, and has defended numerous claims alleging lender liability, breach of good faith and fair dealing, and breach of consumer protection laws.
- John successfully defended the mayor of the Town of North Providence in an ethics investigation concerning the alleged awarding of no-bid town construction contracts to a business associate. After investigation by the Ethics Commission, John filed a motion to dismiss, and following hearing, the Ethics Commission determined that there was no probable cause to conclude that a violation of the Code of Ethics occurred.
- In a case of first impression, John defended a Chinese pharmaceutical company in a multi-jurisdictional criminal case, “Operation Raw Deal”, which focused on charges that the Chinese pharmaceutical company had engaged in a variety of criminal actions, including the illegal importation and distribution of human growth hormone. The Chinese pharmaceutical company was named in the Major League Baseball investigative Mitchell Report as the alleged supplier of hGH products that had been used improperly by a variety of present and former Major League Baseball players.
- John successfully defended a well-known plaintiffs’ personal injury lawyer and his firm, who advertise nationally, against charges of unauthorized practice of law and ethics violations and obtained a favorable ruling from the Rhode Island Supreme Court that the law firm could register to do business in the State of Rhode Island and provide services to clients there.
- John defended a major chemical company at trial and on appeal on claims that an herbicide that it manufactured cause cancer. In the course of the representation, the Rhode Island Supreme Court adopted the Daubert standard for the admission of expert and scientific evidence in Rhode Island courts.
- John has defended a number of clients in class action and multi-district litigation, including claims of securities violations, ERISA violations, lender liability, defective products, defective pharmaceuticals, and medical devices.
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:
- Selected by his peers for inclusion in the 2006-2012 editions of The Best Lawyers in America® in the fields of Commercial Litigation, Personal Injury, Appellate Law, Mass Tort Litigation, Product Liability Litigation, Bet-the-Company Litigation and White Collar Criminal Defense.
- Chambers USA America’s Leading Business Lawyers (Star Performer status).
- Lawdragon 500 (recognized as one of 500 leading lawyers in America and one of top 500 trial lawyers in America).
- Ralph P. Semonoff Award (Rhode Island Bar Association’s highest award for civility, professionalism and outstanding advocacy).
- Recipient, 2003 Award of Merit for outstanding service to the legal profession and to the Rhode Island Bar Association.
- Recipient, 2008 Equal Justice Award, Rhode Island Legal Services.
- Exceptional Performance Citation received from Defense Research Institute, 2004.
- Recipient, Boston College Law School 75th Anniversary Alumni Award, 2006.
- Named, Rhode Island Super Lawyer, 2007 - 2011, an honor that recognizes him as a leader in the legal community.
- Named “Commercial Litigation Lawyer of the Year – USA 2011” by Finance Monthly Magazine
- Named “Appellate Lawyer of the Year 2012” by Best Lawyers.
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 Affiliations and Memberships
- President, Rhode Island Bar Association – July 1997 - June 1998.
- President, New England Bar Association – October 2002 - October 2003.
- President, Defense Counsel of Rhode Island – June 2003 – June 2004.
- President, Rhode Island Bar Foundation – June 2005 – June 2011.
- Fellow, Rhode Island Bar Foundation.
- Fellow, American Bar Foundation.
- Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America.
- Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers.
- Fellow, International Academy of Trial Lawyers.
- Fellow, International Society of Barristers (State Chair).
- Fellow, National Conference of Bar Presidents.
- Member, American Board of Trial Advocates.
- Founding Member and Former Regent, National College for DUI Defense.
- Member, Sports Lawyers Association.
- Member, Justinian Society.
- Member, St. Thomas More Society.
- Member, Dartmouth College Lawyers’ Association.
- Member, Defense Research Institute (DRI).
- Member, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL).
- Member, Federal Bar Association.
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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