Current Employment Position(s)

Partner

Lawyer Overview

John Goetz has a primary practice in products liability, mass tort defense, and complex business disputes. He specializes in aviation litigation defense and is a licensed pilot. John heads Jones Day's airlines and aviation working group, comprised of more than 40 individuals located worldwide. He has experience in cases involving various aircraft types, including single-engine and multi-engine private planes and commercial jets. John is familiar with the NTSB investigative process and with FAA administrative actions.

John leads the Firm's team in representing a leading aircraft component part manufacturer in general aviation cases filed across the U.S. John headed the Firm's trial team in successfully defending the manufacturer against claims of punitive damages in a two-month jury trial involving the crash of a former Missouri governor's plane. He also led the Firm's defense of the manufacturer during the USAir Flight 427 multidistrict litigation and trial, and he headed a multi-office team in representing the manufacturer in post-verdict proceedings in the SilkAir Flight 185 state court litigation.

In 2007, John was recognized by the Legal 500 as a leading U.S. lawyer in the category of aerospace/aviation defense. He is active in aviation trade groups such as IATA, ISASI, AOPA, and regional business aircraft associations. John chairs the Aeronautical and Space Law Section of the Pennsylvania Bar Association and is a member of the ABA Air and Space Law Forum.

In the wider realm of products liability, John defends a diverse array of U.S. manufacturers. He also represents companies headquartered outside the U.S. who are subject to product liability suits in U.S. courts. He counsels international companies on potential liability issues associated with the introduction of products in U.S. markets and assists manufacturers in drafting appropriate warnings and safety literature.

John also has extensive experience in complex commercial litigation and class action defense. He successfully defended a major automobile retailer in a series of class action cases alleging violation of state consumer protection statutes. John has experience in other types of commercial litigation as well, including breach of contract and warranty, post-closing adjustment disputes, and D&O litigation.

John has published and spoken on a variety of topics relating to litigation strategy, aviation litigation, operation of business jets, pharmaceutical product liability litigation, and evidence. He is a member of the American, Pennsylvania, and Allegheny County Bar Associations and served as a Senior Hearing Committee officer for the Pennsylvania Supreme Court Disciplinary Board.

John is a leader in the community. He is president of the board of directors of Catholic Charities for the Diocese of Pittsburgh. He also serves on the board of directors of the Boy Scouts of America (Greater Pittsburgh Council) and on the board of directors for the Pittsburgh Mercy Foundation. John recently received a "Fast Trackers" award presented to outstanding professionals in the Pittsburgh community under the age of 45.

Areas of Practice

• Product Liability & Tort Litigation
• Trial Practice
• Class Action Litigation
• Consumer Fraud & Warranty Litigation
• Pharmaceuticals
• Airlines & Aviation

Representative Cases

• Bee v. Parker Hannifin Corp., (LA Cty. Superior Court); In re Air Crash Disaster Near Palembang, Indonesia on December 19, 1997, (W.D. Wash.; N.D. Ohio)
• Beres v. Diocese of Erie, (Erie Cty., Pa. Ct. Common Pleas)
• Brewer et al. v. Dodson Aviation, et al., CA No. CV4-2189Z (United States District Court for the Western District of Washington)
• Carnahan v. Parker Hannifin Corp., (Jackson Cty., Mo. Circuit Court)
• CBS Corp. v. Ryder, 736 A.2d 677 (Pa. Super. Ct.)
• Daramola v. Westinghouse Elec. Corp., 877 F. Supp. 1418 (W.D. Pa.)
• Federal Ins. Co. v. Defond Mfg. Co., (Am. Arbitration Association)
• Gateway Development Co. v. Ryder Systems Inc., (Erie Cty., NY Ct. Common Pleas)
• Hamley v. Parker Hannifin Corp., (W.D. Pa.)
• Haskell Williamson, et al. v. United Auto Group, et al., (Tulas Cty., Okla)
• Hazleton Fuel Management Co. v. UGI Corp., (M.D. Pa.)
• In re: Swissair Flight 111, (W.D. Pa.)
• International Union of Operating Engineers Local 132, Health and Welfare Fund v. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, et al. (S.D. W.Va.)
• Junitha Bee, et al. v. Kavlico Corp., et al., No. BC 202587 (Cal. Super. Ct. L.A. County)
• Lori James v. United Auto Group, et al., (Shelby Cty., Tenn. Chancery Ct.)
• Margaret Zielinski v. United Auto Group, et al., (Hudson Cty., NJ)
• Maria Ortiz, et al v. Parker Hannifin Corp., et al., No. C-479-03B (93rd Judicial District, Texas)
• Oas Partnership v. School District of the City of Erie, (W.D. Pa.)
• Paciello v. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., (Phil. Cty., Pa. Common Pleas Ct.)
• Phillips v. Pa. Glass Sand Corp., 665 A.2d 1167 (Pa. 1995)
• Potomac Edison Co., et al. v. Harris Corp., et al., (W.D. Pa.)
• Sandy Bussard, et al. v. Temple Inland, Inc. (W.D. Pa., Kane Cty, Pa. Court of Common Pleas)
• Shaver v. Corry Hiebert Corp., 936 F. Supp. 313 (W.D. Pa.)
• Stitt v. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., (W.D. Pa.)
• Travelers Insurance Company v. Zurn Industries, Inc., No. 98-110E (W.D. Pa.)
• U.S. Airways, Inc. v. Parker Hannifin Corp., (W.D. Pa.)
• Weishorn v. Miles Inc., (Alleg. Cty., Pa. Common Pleas Ct.)
• AHERF Creditors Committee Litigation, (W.D. Pa. Bankr.)
• American Sterilizer Company Product Liability Cases
• Parker Hannifin Vacuum Pump Cases
• Philadelphia Silicosis Litigation, (Phil. Cty., Pa. Common Pleas Ct.)
• Redevelopment Authority of Allegheny County , (2008)
• West Virginia Litigation

West Practice Categories

Alcoholic Beverages, Apparel, Asbestos, Bankruptcy Litigation, Business & Commercial Law, Chemicals & Cosmetics, Class Actions, Complex Litigation, Consumer Protection, Federal Appellate Practice, Federal Claims Court, Federal Trial Practice, Firearms, Food & Agricultural Products, International Trade Litigation, Litigation & Appeals, Machinery & Tools, Medical Products & Devices, Military & Veterans Appeals, Motor Vehicle Defects, Multidistrict Litigation, Patent Litigation, Pharmaceutical Products, Products Liability Law, Recreational Products, State Appellate Practice, State Trial Practice, Tax Litigation, Tobacco, US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, US Supreme Court, Warranties

Bar Admissions

• Pennsylvania

Education

• U of Notre Dame

Published Works

• Stiff Headwinds for the Aviation Industry Jones Day Airlines and Aviation News Blast, 2008
• NTSB Investigations: The Ins and Outs, Practice Perspectives: Product Liability & Tort Litigation, 2008
• Striking Down New York State's Passenger Bill of Rights, Jones Day Airlines and Aviation News Blast, 2008
• The Realities of Today--and Probably Tomorrow, Jones Day Airlines and Aviation News Blast, 2008
• The Americanization of Aviation Claims, Practice Perspectives: Product Liability & Tort Litigation, 2007
• Flying Right with Charter Firms Requires Fact Check of Operator, Pittsburgh Business Times, 2007
• Runway Safety and Airport Operations: Are You Responsible, The Public Record, 2006
• Learning "Plane" English Can Help Lawyers in Aviation Litigation, Pittsburgh Business Times, 2006
• Implementing the Montreal Accord: Practical Implications of the Aviation Liability Treaty, Airline Business Report White Paper 2004: Charting a Course to Meet Today's Market Challenges, 2004
• The Significance of Other Accidents in Aviation Trials, Aviation Litigation Quarterly, 2004
• Excluding NTSB Final Aircraft Accident Reports and FAA Airworthiness Directives at Trial, Air and Space Lawyer, 2003
• What the Law Allows, Pharmaceutical Executive, 2000
• Weishorn v. Miles-Cutter: Pennsylvania Interprets Its Blood Shield Statute To Protect Commercial Suppliers of Blood Therapies, Mealy's Emerging Drugs & Devices, 2000
• Fraud-on-the-FDA Claims in Litigation, Pharmaceutical Executive, 1999
• Traps for the Unwary: Why Counsel Should Think Twice Before Joining Additional Parties in Civil Litigation, 36 Duquesne L. Rev. 521, 1998
• Ethics or Procedure? A Discovery-Based Approach to Ex Parte Contacts with Former Employees of a Corporate Adversary, 68 Notre Dame L. Rev. 81, 1992

Address

500 Grant Street, Suite 4500
Pittsburgh, PA 15219-2514

Phones

1.412.394.7911 (Business Phone)

Faxes

1.412.394.7959 (Business Fax)

Emails

Contact Us (Business Email)

Websites

http://www.jonesday.com