John V. McCoy

John V. McCoy

Principal Martindale-Hubbell Rating

N19 W24200 Riverwood Dr.
Suite 125
Waukesha, WI 53188

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John is a nationally known trial lawyer. John's practice primarily involves fire and explosion and products liability cases. In practice since 1984, he has defended more than 500 of these cases. He provides 24/7/365 response to catastrophic claims and lawsuits.  His knowledge of the relevant experts, rules and regulations and complex litigation has proven invaluable to achieving best outcomes for his clients over the years. In addition, John is the managing partner of McCoy Leavitt Laskey LLC and of the firm's Milwaukee, WI office.

John is AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell, its highest rating.  He is listed in The Best Lawyers in America and in 2016 was selected as the Products Liability Defense Lawyer of the Year for Milwaukee.  Since 2005 to the present he has been selected as a Wisconsin Super Lawyer in Products Liability Defense.  In 2008 the Wisconsin Law Journal selected him as one of 25 Leaders in the Law.  In 2004 he was honored by the National Law Journal as obtaining one of The Top Ten Defense Verdicts in the United States for a case he tried in Pennsylvania.  John is the author of several legal columns that deal with fires and explosions and products liability.

John serves as National Trial Counsel for several companies and insurance carriers for their catastrophic fire and explosion cases.  He has served as Chair of the DRI Fire & Casualty Committee and as a member of the Attorney Advisory Committee of the IAAI.  He is past president and a founding member of the Propane Gas Defense Association.  He has served as lead trial counsel in 38 states and counting.

John graduated from Drake University Law School in 1984 where he was selected to the Order of Barristers. He recently served on the Law School Board of Advisors from 2009-2015.  He graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh in 1980 and was selected as Outstanding Senior, Graduation Speaker and Distinguished Military Graduate.  He served as an Army Captain in the JAGC from 1984-1988 earning the Meritorious Service medal and was airborne.

Education

  • University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, BS, 1980
  • Drake Law School, 1984

Bar Admissions

  • Iowa,1984
  • Wisconsin, 1988
  • Eastern and Western District of Wisconsin, 1988

Representative Cases

California Quintuple Burn Injury Residential Explosion
California Single Fatality Residential Explosion
Colorado Triple Fatality
Colorado 15 Burn Injury Fire
Connecticut Single Burn Injury Industrial Tank Explosion
Georgia Triple Fatality Residential Fire
Indiana Single Fatality/Four Burn Injury Residential Explosion
Iowa Single Burn Injury Trailer Explosion
Kansas Double Burn Injury Residential Fire
Massachusetts $1.5M Residential Explosion
Michigan Double Fatality Residential Fire
Minnesota Single Fatality/Twelve Home Explosion
Missouri Single Burn Injury Residential Explosion
Nevada Single Fatality Gas Grill Explosion
New Jersey Triple Burn Injury Victim Industrial Explosion
New York Double Fatality/Quintuple Burn Injury Hotel Fire
New York Single Burn Injury Utility Explosion
New York $1.5M Commercial Fire/Potential Arson
North Carolina Double Fatality/Single Burn Injury Commercial Fire
North Dakota Single Burn Injury Pipeline Explosion
Oregon Single Burn Injury
Pennsylvania Single Fatality Residential Explosion
South Dakota Double Fatality/Single Burn Injury Explosion
Tennessee Double PTSD Injury Fuel Terminal Explosion
Tennessee Mass Toxic Torn Explosion, 7,000+ Claims
Texas Bulk Plant 15 deaths 300 injuries AN explosion
Washington Single Burn Injury Residential Explosion
Wisconsin Triple Fatality/70 Injuries Largest Litigated Forest Fire in WI History
Wisconsin $64M Industrial Fire
Wisconsin Triple Burn Injury Industrial Dust Explosion
Wisconsin Single Fatality/Double Burn Injury Residential Explosion
Wyoming Single Burn Injury Explosion

Presentations

  • Defending and Managing Claims Involving Arson and Fraud, 2012 ACI Fire & Casualty Claims
  • Defending Catastrophic Fire Loss Cases from Flammable Gases, 2011 Wildland Fire Conference
  • Don't Let Your Case go Up in Smoke; 2011 National HPBA Expo
  • Legal Analysis of a Catastrophic Propane Gas Explosion Case, 2005 DRI Fire Conference
  • Author-Legal Brief for LPGas Magazine, 2005-present
  • Catastrophe Litigation in the Pipeline Industry: A Case Study: The Brenham Texas Explosion, 1996 International Pipeline Litigation Seminar, London

Professional Affiliations

  • Natural Gas Claims & Litigation Association
  • Defense Research Institute
  • Propane Gas Defense Association
  • International Association of Arson Investigators
  • Council on Litigation Management

Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Reviews

Martindale Hubble AV Rating

Overall Peer Rating

In Litigation,Insurance and Products Liability

5.0 out of 5.0

Legal Knowledge

5.0

Analytical Capabilities

5.0

Judgment

5.0

Communication Ability

5.0

Legal Experience

5.0

  • Meets very high criteria of general ethical standards