Biography
John O’Brien is plaintiff’s counsel to insurers and other businesses, and he focuses on two main practice areas: large loss property subrogation and business litigation. He is a member of the firm’s Insurance + Reinsurance Group.
Large Loss Property Subrogation
John oversees the investigation of large casualty losses for property insurers (as well as self-insured entities and high deductible policyholders) in claims arising from fires, explosions, water leaks, water intrusion, flooding, equipment failure, and weather-related damage including catastrophe ‘CAT’ losses, i.e., wind, rain, snow, and freeze events.
John handles litigation on behalf of property insurers against a range of defendants, such as service companies, architects, engineers, developers, general contractors, subcontractors, and product manufacturers. He frequently handles matters related to defects in household appliances, building systems, medical laboratory equipment, and industrial equipment. He has extensive experience litigating cases involving breach of contract, breach of express and implied warranties, products liability, construction defects, professional malpractice, and negligence, including violations of standards of care found in codes, standards and industry practices.
His subrogation recoveries for insurers have arisen from a wide range of subject matters including electrical systems (residential, commercial, and power transmission), electronics, sprinkler systems, fire alarm systems, roofing systems, domestic and industrial plumbing systems, HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) systems, and municipal water/sewer mains.
John’s subrogation work includes complex issues, such as metallurgical defects in fasteners, plastics formulation and molding, civil and geotechnical engineering deficiencies during site development work, and mechanical engineering design deficiencies in energy recovery ventilation systems.
Business Litigation
John is plaintiff’s counsel to corporations in business litigation. He has a record of obtaining results for clients. He successfully represented a retail clothing company for damage to inventory and interruption of business activity caused by an adjacent tenant. Similarly, John represented a large corporation in a claim against a landlord for violations of a commercial lease agreement. His business litigation experience also includes claims for conversion, breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, unfair and deceptive trade practices, breach of contract, and violations of the Uniform Commercial Code.