John A. Sopuch III

Mr. Sopuch is admitted to practice in the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, the United States District Court for the U.S. Virgin Islands and the United States Courts of Appeals for the 3rd, 5th and 7th Circuits. John A. Sopuch III has represented a wide variety of clients in major commercial litigation matters, both on the plaintiff's side as well as the defense side. Most recently, in 2008, Mr. Sopuch was lead counsel in a two-week trial in probate court in Hawaii where he represented a trustee of a multi-million dollar trust in a case that included claims seeking in excess of $40 million for, among other things, fraud and breach of fiduciary duty. After the case was tried and during deliberations, the matter was concluded with a favorable settlement. Mr. Sopuch has experience in litigating in the Hospitality, Healthcare, and other fields, dealing specifically with management contracts, vendor rebate cases, cases involving alleged kickback schemes and premium and coverage issues. In 2007, Mr. Sopuch represented the widow and estate of a decedent who had been the victim of alleged medical malpractice. Just days before trial in Hawaii state court, various defendants paid well over seven figures to resolve the matter, making it one of the largest medical malpractice settlements in the State of Hawaii for that year. Also in 2007, Mr. Sopuch represented various other clients in settlements, arbitrations and mediations that collectively had at issue more than $50 million. In 2006, Mr. Sopuch represented a major Chicago law partnership in an arbitration against one of its equity partners. At the conclusion of the arbitration, the panel found in favor of Mr. Sopuch’s client and awarded the former equity partner nothing. Also, in 2006, Mr. Sopuch represented a major Hawaii developer in a matter involving a landfill on Kauai. Before any depositions were taken, Mr. Sopuch negotiated a seven figure settlement on behalf of his client. Finally, in 2006, Mr. Sopuch represented a well-known Hawaii distributor against its former president and was successful in obtaining an arbitration award in the company’s favor that enforced the non-compete provision in the former president’s employment agreement. In 2004, Mr. Sopuch was lead counsel for Plaintiffs in the matter of Basic Capital Management, Inc., et al. v. Dynex Commercial, Inc., et al., which resulted in a more than $30-million jury verdict on behalf of his clients. That unanimous verdict ranked as the 55th highest in the country in 2004. In 2003, Mr. Sopuch successfully defended his clients, NYSE Traded Real Estate Investment Trusts, in a multi-week jury trial in federal court in Dallas involving a $118-million transaction concerning numerous apartment complexes located throughout the Midwest. Mr. Sopuch and his trial team successfully defended more than $30 million in claims brought against their clients and recovered more than $2 million on their claims. In 2002, Mr. Sopuch successfully represented Miami Cigar & Company in a jury trial against U.S. Tobacco and several of its affiliates and officers in state court in Miami. That verdict, the 56th highest in the United States for 2002, exceeded $41 million. In addition to these recent jury trials, Mr. Sopuch has twice been appointed as Special Assistant Attorney General by the Governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands to represent the Virgin Islands Bureau of Internal Revenue in tax litigation. In that role, Mr. Sopuch was able to secure a multi-million dollar settlement on behalf of the Bureau in 1999. Mr. Sopuch holds Martindale-Hubbell's highest possible professional rating (AV) for both his skill and integrity. In 2004, Mr. Sopuch was selected as one of Texas' Super Lawyers by Texas Lawyer Magazine. Mr. Sopuch is recognized by Best Lawyers in America in the practice area of Mass Tort Litigation/Class Action-Defendants and Mass Tort Litigation/Class Action-Plaintiffs.

Mr. Sopuch is admitted to practice in the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, the United States District Court for the U.S. Virgin Islands and the United States Courts of Appeals for the 3rd, 5th and 7th Circuits. John A. Sopuch III has represented a wide variety of clients in major commercial litigation matters, both on the plaintiff's side as well as the defense side. Most recently, in 2008, Mr. Sopuch was lead counsel in a two-week trial in probate court in Hawaii where he represented a trustee of a multi-million dollar trust in a case that included claims seeking in excess of $40 million for, among other things, fraud and breach of fiduciary duty. After the case was tried and during deliberations, the matter was concluded with a favorable settlement. Mr. Sopuch has experience in litigating in the Hospitality, Healthcare, and other fields, dealing specifically with management contracts, vendor rebate cases, cases involving alleged kickback schemes and premium and coverage issues. In 2007, Mr. Sopuch represented the widow and estate of a decedent who had been the victim of alleged medical malpractice. Just days before trial in Hawaii state court, various defendants paid well over seven figures to resolve the matter, making it one of the largest medical malpractice settlements in the State of Hawaii for that year. Also in 2007, Mr. Sopuch represented various other clients in settlements, arbitrations and mediations that collectively had at issue more than $50 million. In 2006, Mr. Sopuch represented a major Chicago law partnership in an arbitration against one of its equity partners. At the conclusion of the arbitration, the panel found in favor of Mr. Sopuch’s client and awarded the former equity partner nothing. Also, in 2006, Mr. Sopuch represented a major Hawaii developer in a matter involving a landfill on Kauai. Before any depositions were taken, Mr. Sopuch negotiated a seven figure settlement on behalf of his client. Finally, in 2006, Mr. Sopuch represented a well-known Hawaii distributor against its former president and was successful in obtaining an arbitration award in the company’s favor that enforced the non-compete provision in the former president’s employment agreement. In 2004, Mr. Sopuch was lead counsel for Plaintiffs in the matter of Basic Capital Management, Inc., et al. v. Dynex Commercial, Inc., et al., which resulted in a more than $30-million jury verdict on behalf of his clients. That unanimous verdict ranked as the 55th highest in the country in 2004. In 2003, Mr. Sopuch successfully defended his clients, NYSE Traded Real Estate Investment Trusts, in a multi-week jury trial in federal court in Dallas involving a $118-million transaction concerning numerous apartment complexes located throughout the Midwest. Mr. Sopuch and his trial team successfully defended more than $30 million in claims brought against their clients and recovered more than $2 million on their claims. In 2002, Mr. Sopuch successfully represented Miami Cigar & Company in a jury trial against U.S. Tobacco and several of its affiliates and officers in state court in Miami. That verdict, the 56th highest in the United States for 2002, exceeded $41 million. In addition to these recent jury trials, Mr. Sopuch has twice been appointed as Special Assistant Attorney General by the Governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands to represent the Virgin Islands Bureau of Internal Revenue in tax litigation. In that role, Mr. Sopuch was able to secure a multi-million dollar settlement on behalf of the Bureau in 1999. Mr. Sopuch holds Martindale-Hubbell's highest possible professional rating (AV) for both his skill and integrity. In 2004, Mr. Sopuch was selected as one of Texas' Super Lawyers by Texas Lawyer Magazine. Mr. Sopuch is recognized by Best Lawyers in America in the practice area of Mass Tort Litigation/Class Action-Defendants and Mass Tort Litigation/Class Action-Plaintiffs.