John Goetz has more than 35 years of experience defending companies in complex business and tort litigation. He has defended companies such as CNX, Doncasters, Parker Hannifin, Penske Automotive, Pilatus Aircraft, Mitsubishi Aircraft, R.J. Reynolds, SMS group, Textron, U.S. Steel, Yamaha, and WESCO in courts across the United States, Canada, and Europe. John has litigated commercial disputes; defended clients in trade secret, product liability, and toxic tort actions; and represented clients in grand jury investigations. He obtained several injunctions against the United States government from enforcing provisions of the Affordable Care Act in a landmark case decided by the U.S. Supreme Court.
John is a recognized authority in aviation and transportation litigation and leads Jones Day's airlines and aviation industry initiative. A licensed pilot, John has defended airlines and aviation manufacturing companies in cases involving commercial and general aviation accidents worldwide. He was on trial teams in aviation litigation involving the crash of a former Missouri governor's plane and in USAir Flight 427. He led the team defending Parker Hannifin in SilkAir Flight 185, FlashAir Flight 604, and EgyptAir Flight 990. John also counsels clients in NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) investigations following aviation, rail, and other accidents.
John has taught deposition skills, negotiation skills, and aviation law at Duquesne University. He has published articles on litigation strategy, is a frequent speaker at aviation and other seminars, and has served as a hearing committee officer for the Pennsylvania Disciplinary Board. He is a former board president for Pittsburgh Mercy Health System, Catholic Charities of Pittsburgh, and its Free Health Care Center.
John is the administrative partner for Jones Day's Pittsburgh Office.
Experience
ACAS Developments: TSA, CBP and its Impact on Air Cargo Carriers, CNS Air Cargo Focus
Additional Publications
- June 2015
Railroad Accident Investigation, Litigation, and Regulation Update, Pennsylvania Bar Insitute - June 2015
Railroad Accident Investigation, Litigation, and Regulation Update, Pennsylvania Bar Institute - June 2015
Hot Topics in Aviation Law in Pennsylvania and the United States, Pennsylvania Bar Institute - September 2014
Aviation Litigation Update: Cutting-Edge Topics in International Aviation Litigation, ABA Air & Space Law Forum - July/August 2011
Recent Finance Regulation and Litigation Affecting Aircraft Finance and the Aviation Industry, Corporate LiveWire - Fall 2010
Historic Developments, Airlines and Aviation Alert - Summer 2009
On the Horizon for the Aviation Industry, Airlines and Aviation Alert - September 2008
Stiff Headwinds for the Aviation Industry, Jones Day Airlines and Aviation Alert - April 2008
Striking Down New York State's Passenger Bill of Rights, Jones Day Airlines and Aviation News Blast - March 2007
Flying Right with Charter Firms Requires Fact Check of Operator, Pittsburgh Business Times - 2004
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 - August 2000
What the Law Allows, Pharmaceutical Executive - May 2000
Weishorn v. Miles-Cutter: Pennsylvania Interprets Its Blood Shield Statute To Protect Commercial Suppliers of Blood Therapies, Mealy's Emerging Drugs & Devices - December 1999
Fraud-on-the-FDA Claims in Litigation, Pharmaceutical Executive - Spring 1998
Traps for the Unwary: Why Counsel Should Think Twice Before Joining Additional Parties in Civil Litigation, 36 Duquesne L. Rev. 521 - Winter 1992
Ethics or Procedure? A Discovery-Based Approach to Ex Parte Contacts with Former Employees of a Corporate Adversary, 68 Notre Dame L. Rev. 81
Additional Speaking Engagements
- October 2, 2024
AI and Law: Current Applications and Ethical Implications - September 18, 2024
What to Expect in Your Next Trade Secret Dispute: A Guide for In-House Counsel - April 18, 2024
Ethics Update: Emerging Issues Commonly Faced by In-House Counsel - January 25, 2024
Recent Developments in Artificial Intelligence and the Law - November 7, 2023
Recent Developments in Legal Ethics; Presentation to the West Virginia Defense Trial Counsel, In-House Counsel Subcommittee. - June 20, 2023
The Increasing Role of Technology and Artificial Intelligence in the MDL Space; MDL Judicial Summit - December 7, 2022
First Amendment Law and Developments in Legal Ethics - June 22, 2022
Attorney-Client Privilege in the United States and Globally - October 7, 2021
Protection of Trademarks and Intellectual Property in China - July 15, 2021
Jones Day Speaker Series, Drones: New Rules, New Opportunities - July 23, 2020
Developments in the Law of Religious Liberty - December 5, 2019
Women's Executive Leadership Program, Duquesne University - October 25, 2018
Aviation Hot Topics: Litigation, Regulatory, and Legislative Developments Facing the Aviation Industry, West LegalEdcenter - April 4, 2017
Zubik v. Burwell: The Role of Amicus Briefs in the Supreme Court, West Virginia School of Law - March 12-13, 2017
NTSB Investigations, FAA Enforcement Proceedings, and Aviation Litigation in the United States - December 7, 2016
Legal Issues and Litigation: Unmanned Aircraft Systems / Drones, American Bar Association Webinar - June 29, 2016
American Bar Association Webinar: "Legal Issues and Litigation Relating to the Use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems/Drones" - May 10, 2016
Drones: New Uses and Unique Legal Issues for Unmanned Aircraft Systems - April 6, 2016
April 25, 2016
Pennsylvania Bar Institute Event – Transportation Law Update - April 11, 2016
Zubik v. Burwell: A landmark Supreme Court case involving the religious liberty rights of religious organizations under the Affordable Care Act, University of Pittsburgh School of Law - February 26, 2016
Drones: New Uses and Unique Legal Issues for Unmanned Aircraft Systems - October 9, 2015
International Aviation and The Trans-Pacific Partnership: Trans-Pacific Aviation Law & Policy Conference - September 19, 2014
Cutting Edge Topics in International Aviation Litigation, ABA Air & Space Law Forum - July 15, 2014
2014 Speaker Series: Affordable Care Act Update: The Employer Mandate - May 16, 2014
Mock Class Certification Hearing, In re Electronic Books Antitrust Litigation; ABA Young Lawyers Division Annual Meeting - October 31, 2013
Legal Malpractice Risks in Aviation Accident Litigation, International Air & Transportation Safety Bar Association - December 7, 2012
Admissibility of NTSB Factual Reports and Board Reports of Investigation, 2012 International Air & Transportation Safety Bar Association Conference - October 25, 2012
ABA Air and Space Law Forum: Key Issues Relating to Admissibility of NTSB Accident Reports in Civil Litigation - September 20, 2012
2012 Speaker Series
Making the Most of the Relationship Between In-House and Outside Counsel - June 7, 2012
Jones Day Chicago 2012 MCLE University - June 7, 2012
Product Recalls: Lessons Learned, Jones Day University - February 5-7, 2012
Jones Day sponsors IATA Legal Symposium with partner John Goetz speaking on implications of social media for airlines - January 13-16, 2012
Effective Strategies to Defend U.S. Business and Tort Litigation - September 30, 2011
Risk Management for ATC Service Providers in the New Environment - October 26, 2010
Air Crash Litigation: Key Issues in the Years Ahead, ABA Air & Space Law Forum - June 3, 2010
Key Legal Considerations for the Next Generation Air Transport System - February 28-March 2, 2010
Aircraft Accident Issues, Plenary Session, IATA Legal Symposium 2010 - June 24, 2009
Liability Apportionment Between Pilot Error, Maintenance, and Mechanical Defects, ACI Aviation Litigation Conference - February 10, 2009
Aircraft Accident Issues: Is Criminalization Threatening Safety?, IATA 2009 Legal Symposium - February 12, 2008
From Warsaw to Montreal: Creative Litigation of Airline Accidents, IATA 2008 Legal Symposium - May 23-24, 2007
The Changing Legal Climate Surrounding Ownership Structuring, Use, and Operation of Corporate Jets - May 18, 2007
Aviation and the Environment: The New Frontier, BABC Transatlantic Business Conference - February 14, 2007
The Americanization of Aviation Claims, IATA Legal Symposium 2007 - February 13, 2007
Global Environmental Initiatives - Where We Are Today, Where We Are Going Tomorrow, IATA Legal Symposium 2007 - June 6, 2006
The Changing Legal Climate Surrounding Ownership Structuring, Use And Operation Of Corporate Jets
"He is wonderfully knowledgeable and really respects the importance of the issue for our company. He is responsive and thoughtful in his approach."Chambers USA
- University of Notre Dame (J.D. cum laude 1986; Editor-in-Chief, Law Review; B.B.A. magna cum laude 1983)
- Pennsylvania and U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Third and Ninth Circuits
Chambers USA: Pennsylvania General Commercial Litigation (2024) and Recognized Practitioner (transportation: aviation litigation) (2019)
The Legal 500: Hall of Fame (transport: aviation and air travel: litigation and regulation) (2024, 2023) and Leading Individual (2022, annually)
The Best Lawyers in America (commercial litigation, mass tort litigation/class actions — defendants, product liability litigation — defendants) (2024, annually)
Who's Who Legal: Transport (2024, annually)
Board of Trustees, Franciscan University of Steubenville
Kline Law School Advisory Board, Duquesne University
- Law Clerk to the Honorable Ruggero J. Aldisert, former chief judge of the United States Court of Appeals, Third Circuit (1986 and 1987 terms)