John E. Bucheit

overview

John Bucheit is a seasoned litigator with extensive experience handling complex commercial disputes and employment-related matters throughout the country. He has represented a wide range of clients in their most complex and high-stakes litigation, earning him a reputation for being a creative and innovative problem solver.

John is well-known for handling unique issues of first impression and is praised for his ability to craft effective and innovative solutions for his clients. In one case, for example, he helped a client obtain following a three-month bench trial and appeal a victory that commentators called a “landmark” decision. As trial counsel in another matter, John helped secure a jury verdict for his client that was described as “the first of its kind.” John has a proven track record representing an international insurance company in coverage issues involving sexual abuse claims, environmental contamination and asbestos-related bodily injury claims, as well as representing clients in online marketing litigation, EEOC enforcement actions, high-stakes partnership disputes, and consumer class actions.

experience

Currently representing an international insurance company with respect to coverage issues involving thousands of sexual abuse claims asserted against several policyholders, with cases pending in state and federal courts in California, Delaware, Illinois, Michigan, New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Texas and Louisiana.
Currently representing same insurance company in multiple coverage litigations regarding underlying claims alleging environmental contamination and asbestos-related bodily injury.
Trial counsel for Fortune 150 client in on-line marketing litigation in the U.S. District Court of Maryland, obtaining jury verdict in client’s favor following a two-week jury trial Brand Systems, Inc. v. Kraft Foods, Inc., 972 F.Supp.2d 748 (D. Md. 2013), aff’d, 777 F.3d 712 (4th Cir. 2015). Legal commentators described the trial as “the first of its kind.”
Obtained summary judgment and award of attorneys’ fees against EEOC on behalf of minority-owned janitorial services and management consulting companies in EEOC enforcement action alleging national origin discrimination on behalf of class of current and former employees. EEOC v. RJB Properties, Inc., 847 F.Supp.2d 727 (N.D. Ill. 2012).
Trial counsel in New York state court class-action litigation pertaining to purported “non-products” coverage for asbestos-related exposure alleged to be in excess of $1 billion. Obtained declaratory judgment of no coverage in client’s favor following a three-month bench trial of no coverage in client’s favor following four-month bench trial and appeal. Continental Casualty Co. v. Employers Ins. Co. of Wausau et al., 871 N.Y.S.2d 48 (N.Y.A.D. 1 Dept. 2008). Opponents and the press described this as a “landmark” decision on the “non-products” issue.
Represented global law firm in an EEOC enforcement action alleging age-discrimination on behalf of purported class of 32 former partners. EEOC v. Sidley Austin LLP, 437 F.3d 695 (7th Cir. 2006).
Represented players’ association in labor arbitration over performance criteria used in salary arbitrations, obtaining in client’s favor arbitration award based on argument of first impression. Represented same client in anti-trust suit against Canadian developmental league. See NHLPA v. Plymouth Whalers Hockey Club, et al., 325 F.3d 712 (6th Cir. 2003); 419 F.3d 462 (6th Cir. 2005).
Obtained summary judgment on behalf of national law firm based on argument of first impression. See Inductametals Corp. v. Arent Fox Kintner Plotkin & Kahn, PLLC, 2004 WL 783129 (N.D. Ill. Jan. 9, 2004).
Counsel for internet media delivery provider in defense of several consumer class-actions related to online-subscription service. See, e.g., Koresko v. RealNetworks, Inc., 291 F. Supp. 2d 1157 (E.D. Cal. 2003) (dismissing case pursuant to end-user license agreement forum selection clause). Successfully represented client in two similar cases filed in State of Washington.