John McElhaney has vast trial experience defending major companies against litigation, antitrust, and class action lawsuits, including two major airlines involved in airplane crashes and a major electronics firm in a lengthy jury trial of a federal antitrust suit. He has had a substantial impact at the appellate level as well, establishing precedents in cases involving tortuous interference, Texas usury rules, medical malpractice liability, admissibility of flight data recorder evidence in air crash cases, the rights of landlords to terminate shopping center leases, and the rights of universities to manage student demonstrations.
Mr McElhaney has helped to educate hundreds of law students as a textbook writer and through his work at Southern Methodist University. He has been listed in the Best Lawyers in America and has served as Chair of the Legal Ethics Committee of the American College of Trial Lawyers.
Education
- J.D., Southern Methodist University School of Law, 1958
Managing Editor, Southwestern Law Journal - B.B.A., Southern Methodist University, 1956
Bar Admissions
Representative Experience
- Defended major electronics firm in lengthy jury trial of a Federal antitrust suit.
- Tried two major airline crash cases.
- Handled state or federal appeals establishing new precedent in cases involving (a) tortuous interference with business opportunity, (b) Texas usury rules, (c) medical malpractice liability, (d) admissibility of flight data recorder evidence in air crash cases, (e) landlord’s rights to terminate a shopping center lease, and (f) the rights of a university to manage a student demonstration.
- Defended university’s decision not to grant tenure to faculty members in a jury trial.
- Served as Chair of the Legal Ethics Committee of the American College of Trial Lawyers in drafting position of the College regarding a lawyer’s duties of confidentiality.
- Law Instructor at Southern Methodist University School of Law having taught liability, Texas civil procedure and aviation law Author of law review articles on Texas civil procedure and aviation litigation and lecturer on evidence and procedure topics at various continuing legal education institutes Contributing author, Business and Commercial Litigation in Federal Courts (West Group and ABA 1998) Defended major electronics firm in a jury trial of a Federal antitrust suit.
Professional History
- Of Counsel, Locke Lord Bissell & Liddell LLP
Professional Affiliations & Achievements
- American Bar Association
- Member
- Past Chairman, Rules and Procedure Committee, Tort and Insurance Practice Section
- Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation
- Member, State Bar of Texas
- Member, Dallas Bar Association
- Member, American College of Trial Lawyers,
- Fellow, Chairman of Ethics Committee
- Southern Methodist University Law Alumni Association
- Dallas Association of Defense Counsel (a group of trial lawyers whose primary practice is defense of businesses and insurance companies)
- American Board of Trial Advocates
- Member
- Past President, Dallas Chapter
- Listed, Best Lawyers of America
- Listed, Who’s Who in America
- Named, "Texas Super Lawyer", Texas Monthly Magazine
Community Leadership
- 2007 Distinguished Alumnus, SMU School of Law
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Practice Areas
Board Certifications
- Civil Trial Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization
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