John Q. Lewis

John Lewis is a Partner in the Cleveland office, representing companies from wide-ranging industries in high stakes litigation in state and federal courts throughout the United States. He leads trial teams in product liability lawsuits involving FDA-regulated pharmaceuticals and medical devices, in commercial disputes concerning supply agreements and corporate transactions, in employment litigation related to non-compete and trade secret matters, and in professional liability and ethics-related claims. These cases often implicate complex scientific, technical, and financial issues, and John is commonly called upon to cross-examine opposing expert witnesses. John’s exemplary record includes jury trial defense verdicts, pretrial wins in federal and state trial courts, and victories in appellate courts throughout the country, including the United States Supreme Court.

John also dedicates a significant amount of time to community and pro bono causes. John is immediate past chair of the Cleveland Metro Bar Association’s Litigation Section, and served as chair of the Young Lawyers Section and on the Board of Trustees. John also serves on the boards of the Legal Aid Society and the nonprofit Cleveland Baseball Federation. In addition, John has successfully represented numerous indigent clients, including tenants in wrongful eviction disputes and wrongfully-imprisoned capital defendants in post-conviction proceedings. Most recently, John walked a capital habeas client off Ohio’s death row and obtained a complete bar of reprosecution through federal court proceedings in a case that has captured regional and national media attention throughout the past several years.

At home, John willingly acts as family mediator, handling any disputes that may arise between his loving and protective six-year-old son and bubbly three-year-old daughter. He is proud counselor to his twenty-something daughter, who recently graduated from Miami University. John and his wife, an accomplished attorney, reside with their two young children in Lake County, Ohio.

Publications

“BPA, Phthalates, and the Law” (March 2010)
“The Delaware Court of Chancery Offers New Arbitration Procedures for Confidential, Efficient Resolution of Significant Business Disputes” (February 2010)
“The Reverse “Read and Heed” Causation Presumption: A Presumption that Should be Given Little Heed,” Practice Perspectives: Product Liability & Tort Litigation (Summer 2008)
“Direct-to-Consumer Advertising and the Learned Intermediary Doctrine: Trends and Safe Harbors for Pharmaceutical Manufacturers,” Practice Perspectives: Product Liability & Tort Litigation (Summer 2007)

Speaking Engagements

“Northern District of Ohio Federal Court Training,” chair and speaker, Cleveland, OH (December 2010)
“Enforcing Employment Agreements (Non-Compete, Non-Solicitation, Non-Disclosure Agreements) - Getting the Most Out of What You Bargained For,” Cleveland, OH (December 2010)
“Fundamentals of Medical Device Regulations and Litigation,” internal client presentation,
Cleveland, OH (November 2010)
“Ohio Malpractice Law Update,” Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, Cleveland, OH (April 2010)
“Defending Executive Depositions,” Cleveland, OH (December 2009)
“Trial by Fire - The Winning Strategy for Medical Device Product Liability Litigation,” Cleveland, OH (April 2009)
“Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Litigation - Trends,” Cleveland, OH (August 2007)
“Discovery Issues in Product Liability Litigation,” internal client presentation, Cleveland, OH (July 2007)
Instructor, National Institute Trial Advocacy (NITA) Deposition Workshop, Atlanta, GA (June 2007)
“Ohio Product Liability Law,” internal client presentation, Cleveland, OH (June 2007)
“Taking and Defending Effective Depositions (Lorman Education),” Independence, OH (April 2007)
“Instructor, National Institute Trial Advocacy (NITA) Advanced Motions Program,” Denver, CO (March 2007)
Brady Symposium, Case Western Law School, Cleveland, OH (January 2007)
“Ethics and Advocacy in the Courtroom,” Ohio State Bar Association, Cleveland, OH (December 2006)
“Tactics for Use of Technology at Trial,” Cleveland Bar Association Litigation Institute, Cleveland, OH (November 2006)
“Effective Use of Courtroom Technology,” Cleveland, OH (June 2006)
“Cleveland Bar Association Appellate Courts Committee: One Lawyer’s Perspective on Arguing Before the Sixth Circuit (En Banc) and the United States Supreme Court,” Cleveland, OH (May 2006)

Civic & Professional Involvement

Cleveland Baseball Federation
     Board Member
Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association
     Judicial Selection Committee
Judge John M. Manos Inn of Court
Defense Research Institute
Legal Aid Society
     Board Member
Ohio State Bar Association

Awards & Professional Recognition

Legal 500 (2010, recognized as “thorough and dependable”)
Ohio Super Lawyers Rising Star® (2005-2011; featured 2005)

Full Bio