Dave Johnson, a
founding member and President of Thomson,
Rhodes & Cowie, P.C., is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers
and a Fellow of the Academy of Trial Lawyers of Allegheny County. Mr.
Johnson has been selected as a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer in litigation
(2005, 2006, 2007,2008,2009). He has served as lead counsel in over 110 jury trials
in both state and federal court throughout Pennsylvania and in several other
states.
Mr.
Johnson’s litigation and trial experience is diverse and extensive. Since
1979, Mr. Johnson has represented healthcare providers in medical
malpractice cases. He has tried many products liability and toxic tort
cases, including large consolidated trials. He has been involved in
drug-related litigation, and for many years was trial counsel for five major
asbestos manufacturers in federal and state courts in Pennsylvania, and
across the country. He has successfully represented defendants in class
action lawsuits and other complex litigation. On many occasions, Mr. Johnson
has responded to requests to become trial counsel shortly before the
beginning of a trial.
Mr.
Johnson’s practice has been on the cutting edge of employment litigation,
including sexual harassment, discrimination and wrongful discharge claims.
He regularly defends lawsuits focused upon hospital liability, contractual
and other business disputes, medical staff issues, claims involving officers
and directors, staff privilege cases and lawsuits directed at managed care
organizations. He has also represented a variety of non-medical
professionals, including, architects, contractors, lawyers and business
executives.
v
Has
represented health care providers in many high exposure medical malpractice
cases, frequently involving catastrophic injuries and large damage claims.
v
Defense
verdicts include a cerebral palsy lawsuit where plaintiffs demanded $10.8
million, and a cerebral palsy case with twins.
v
Successfully
represented defendants in the nation’s first jury verdict involving the
death of a healthcare worker from AIDS
v
Won a
substantial counterclaim verdict while successfully defending a seven-figure
breach of computer contract case.
v
Successfully
defended a large breach of contract claim in Arkansas on the basis that the
contract was in violation of the fraud and abuse laws so as to void the
agreement.
v
Upheld
exclusive contracts, maintained restrictive covenants, and defeated
anti-trust claims filed against various Pennsylvania hospitals.
v
Defended
numerous highly charged sexual harassment and employment discrimination
lawsuits.
v
Successfully
defended multiple class action lawsuits.
v
Prevailed in
complex commercial cases and in large industrial subrogation losses,
including a multi-million dollar Chilean mining claim
v
Settled a bad
faith claim by his clients against a life insurance company on the eve of
trial for a multiple of the policy limit.
In
addition to a busy litigation practice, Mr. Johnson counsels clients on
healthcare, employment and business-related issues. Believing in the
importance of preventing litigation, Mr. Johnson works closely with clients
to chart courses most likely to achieve business goals, while minimizing
risks
A graduate of Dickinson College and Duquesne University
School of Law, Mr. Johnson served as a law clerk for the Hon. Rabe F. Marsh
Jr. in the United States District Court for the Western District of
Pennsylvania. He has been appointed as a special master for both jury and
non-jury trials in Allegheny County and has presided as a mediator and
appointed arbitrator in federal court.
