John H. Kane

(he/him/his)

Partner

  • Overview

    Biography

    John Kane is a trial lawyer whose practice is primarily focused in the areas of fire and explosion, complex commercial litigation, large loss property subrogation, and product liability. He is a member of the firm’s Insurance + Reinsurance Group and Litigation Section.

    Fire and Explosion

    John is chair of the firm's Fire and Explosion Team. With 25 years of experience, and more than 1,000 fire and explosion cases from around the United States under his belt, John has developed a reputation as one of the country’s foremost fire litigators. He has been involved in some of the largest fire scenes around the country due to his critical understanding of fire origin and cause investigations. John has developed close working relationships with some of the nation’s top fire forensic experts and government authorities. He literally helped “write the book” that sets the standards for fire and explosion investigations and analysis – NFPA 921 Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations, and he currently serves on the National Fire Protection Association’s 921 Technical Committee. He is also a member of the National Association of Fire Investigators and International Association of Arson Investigators.

    Complex Commercial Litigation

    John has successfully litigated multimillion-dollar cases for large, publicly held corporations in federal and state courts throughout the country. He has experience representing clients in a wide-range of high-stakes litigation, including class actions, contract claims, business torts, unfair trade practices, trade secrets, and other business disputes. He partners with businesses, helping them to protect their interests in disputes arising from a large spectrum of  commercial relationships. John often handles claims of fraud and requests for exemplary damages and fees. He consults with clients at the outset of every new case in an effort to understand their unique business objectives, and works to formulate and implement innovative, practical, and cost-effective strategies for achieving clients' goals.

    Large Loss Property Subrogation

    John is chair of the firm's Subrogation Group. On behalf of many of the world’s largest insurers and reinsurers, he pursues responsible parties to recover money for his clients. He assists his insurance clients from the outset of a claim, including investigating the circumstances and cause of each incident in order to maximize recovery effectively and efficiently. John has successfully litigated and resolved large loss property subrogation claims throughout the country, such as helping a carrier pursue a $60 million claim against a utility company responsible for a high voltage electrical fire.

    Product Liability

    John's product liability practice primarily involves fire and explosion cases. He has served as the National Coordinating Counsel for various manufacturers, including a smoke alarm manufacturer, for whom he successfully defended numerous wrongful death cases throughout the United States. John defends manufacturers, distributors, and retailers in wrongful death, personal injury, property damage, and product liability suits. He also has successfully defended manufacturers in consumer product class action cases.

    John has tried numerous matters to verdict. In addition to his trial experience, he has extensive experience in alternative dispute resolution and serves as both a mediator and arbitrator in a variety of disputes.

    He has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America© in the area of Insurance Law since 2006 and selected to the Connecticut Super Lawyers list for 2010, and from 2013 to 2020.

  • Experience
    • Experience

      Experience

      • Successfully represented a Fortune 10 company that had a chemical explosion at one of its facilities in California, resulting in a fatality as well as property damage in excess of $100 million.

      • Representation of a Fortune 5 company in an action filed in federal court in California sounding in contract and business torts. The plaintiff claimed damages exceeding $110 million. Robinson & Cole successfully transferred the matter to Connecticut federal court and obtained a dismissal on jurisdictional grounds. On appeal, the Second Circuit reversed and reinstated the action. Thereafter, the matter was settled for a nominal amount. 

      • Obtained a favorable settlement for the owner of a Rhode Island wire mill facility and its insurance carrier in pursuing a $60-million claim against a utility company resulting from a high voltage electrical fire.

      • Selected as a Preferred Provider for Litigation & Investigations and Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) – Product & Nuclear for GE, responsible for handling complex commercial litigation matters in excess of $2 million, as well as various EHS matters.

      • Currently defending a manufacturer in a nationwide class action consumer products case.

      • Successfully represented an owner and insurer of a power plant in Texas that had an explosion, resulting in property damage in excess of $30 million.

      • Served as national counsel for a large manufacturer of food service equipment in various fire cases throughout the country.

      • Defending a Fortune 10 company in an alleged theft of trade secrets case where the plaintiff is alleging damages of $750 million.

      • Obtained a multi-million dollar settlement in a case arising out of a yacht fire in Anguilla. 

      • Served as national counsel for a smoke alarm manufacturer in numerous wrongful death cases throughout the country.

      • Obtained a multimillion-dollar settlement for a real estate owner against a contractor who caused a fire resulting in over $50 million in damages.

      • Representing an owner and insurer of real property in New York City in which a fire caused three buildings to collapse resulting in property damage in excess of $18 million and personal injuries.

      • Obtained numerous favorable verdicts and settlements for insurers in pursuing claims arising out of fires caused by halogen lamps, including several high profile fires that received considerable publicity.

      • Represented various insurers in the ConEd steam explosion cases that caused tens of millions of dollars in damages.

      • Successfully represented a Fortune 5 company in the largest fire in New Hampshire in the past 40 years.

      • Handled a variety of matters involving building and fire code violations, including the successful defense of an HVAC contractor who installed an allegedly defective sprinkler system which caused $3 million in property damage.

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    • Professional Associations

      Professional Associations

      American Bar Association
      Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section, Property Insurance Committee
      Vice Chair of Litigation Section

      Connecticut Bar Association
      Insurance Law Section, Executive Committee
      Litigation Section

      Connecticut Defense Lawyers Association

      New York State Bar Association

      Defense Research Institute
      Insurance Section

      National Fire Protection Association
      Alternate on NFPA 921 Technical Committee

      National Association of Fire Investigators

      International Association of Arson Investigators

      National Association of Subrogation Professionals
    • Honors + Awards

      Honors + Awards

      Selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© in the area of Insurance Law since 2006.

      AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated in Martindale-Hubbell™ in the areas of Fire Loss; Complex and Multi-District Litigation; Construction Law; Fire Insurance Subrogation; Insurance Coverage; Property Insurance and Subrogation; Explosions; and Products Liability (Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings is a trademark. AV Preeminent is a certification mark of Reed Elsevier Properties, Inc.)

      Selected to the Connecticut Super Lawyers list in 2010 and from 2013 to 2020.

      Robinson+Cole Diversity and Inclusion Award Recipient, 2017

  • NEWS + PRESS
    • Publications

      Publications

      "CPSC Launches New Database on Product Safety," published in Connecticut Business & Industry Association News, co-authored with Jeffrey J. White (4/2011)
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    • News

      R+C in the News

      • October 18, 2018

        51 Robinson+Cole Lawyers Recognized by Super Lawyers®

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      • August 20, 2018

        52 Robinson+Cole Lawyers Listed in The Best Lawyers in America© 2019

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      • May 28, 2013

        Robinson+Cole Sponsors Crawford Annual Dinner

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      • May 4, 2011

        What Businesses Need to Know About the New Product Safety Database

      R+C News Releases

      • August 17, 2023

        78 Robinson+Cole Lawyers Listed in The Best Lawyers in America© 2024

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      • August 18, 2022

        74 Robinson+Cole Lawyers Listed in The Best Lawyers in America 2023

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      • August 19, 2021

        65 Robinson+Cole Lawyers Listed in The Best Lawyers in America© 2022

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      • October 15, 2020

        47 Robinson+Cole Lawyers Recognized in Super Lawyers®

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      • August 20, 2020

        61 Robinson+Cole Lawyers Listed in The Best Lawyers in America© 2021

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      • October 19, 2019

        52 Robinson+Cole Lawyers Recognized by Super Lawyers®

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      • August 15, 2019

        57 Robinson+Cole Lawyers Listed in The Best Lawyers in America© 2020

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      • October 17, 2017

        Robinson+Cole Lawyers Recognized by Super Lawyers®

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      • August 25, 2017

        Robinson+Cole Presents Annual Awards for Dedication and Outstanding Contributions

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      • August 15, 2017

        Fifty-Nine Robinson+Cole Lawyers Listed in The Best Lawyers in America© 2018

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      • October 18, 2016

        Robinson+Cole Lawyers Recognized by Super Lawyers®

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      • August 15, 2016

        Robinson+Cole Receives Top Listing in Connecticut Lawyer Count in The Best Lawyers in America® 2017

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      • October 19, 2015

        Robinson+Cole Lawyers Recognized by Super Lawyers®

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      • August 18, 2015

        Robinson+Cole Receives Top Listing in Connecticut Lawyer Count in The Best Lawyers in America® 2016

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      • October 17, 2014

        Robinson+Cole Lawyers Recognized by Super Lawyers

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      • August 19, 2014

        Robinson+Cole Receives Top Listing in Connecticut Lawyer Count in Best Lawyers National Peer Review Survey

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      • August 16, 2013

        Robinson & Cole Receives Top Listing in Connecticut Attorney Count in Best Lawyers National Peer Review Survey

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      • August 28, 2012

        Robinson & Cole Receives Top Listing in Connecticut Attorney Count in Best Lawyers National Peer Review Survey

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      • September 12, 2011

        Robinson & Cole Receives Top Listing in Connecticut Attorney Count in Best Lawyers National Peer Review Survey

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