John E. Flaherty | McCarter & English, LLP

A litigator in a wide range of technologies.

John E. Flaherty’s practice is focused on civil litigation in State and Federal courts. He is experienced in handling trade secret and patent infringement matters on behalf of plaintiffs and defendants. He regularly assists in Hatch-Waxman litigation on behalf of major pharmaceutical companies.

John represents defendants in all types of tort cases arising from product defects, medical devices and pharmaceutical products, chemical exposures and industrial processes and building products. He has represented defendants in single plaintiff and mass tort cases and employment discrimination and whistleblower cases.

John is a member of the Local Patent Rules Committee of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, as well as, the Lawyers Advisory Committee of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. He is a Master and past Director of the John C. Lifland American Inn of Court. John was for many years an editor of The Civil Trial Handbook, Volume 47 of the Thomson-West New Jersey Practice Series.

Represented defendant in patent infringement/trade secret action involving skin cream formulation.

Represented defendant, alleged infringer, in patent matter involving plumbing device.

Represented plaintiff/patentee in patent infringement action against industrial infringer of machine control patent.

Represented defendant in UV light disinfection case resulting in invalidity of asserted patent on method for use of UV to inactivate cryptosporidium parvum in drinking water.

Represented defendant in matter before the Court of Federal Claims alleging infringement of patent on method to solidify dredge materials.

Defended manufacturers of various consumer and industrial products including ladders, compressors, propane valves, press brakes, bottling machinery, garage door openers, and vehicle components against personal injury claims alleging product defect.

Defended a major asbestos insulation manufacturer against personal injury, medical monitoring, and wrongful death claims.

Defended a major chemical manufacturer against personal injury claims brought by plant neighbors and employees alleging personal injury and medical monitoring claims from exposure to dioxin.

Defended a medical device manufacturer and pharmaceutical companies against mass tort claims of immunologic, cardiovascular, and psychiatric injuries.

Defended a medical device manufacturer against systemic disease claims.

Defended a major manufacturer against claims of a birth defect in an employee's child from consumption of well water on defendant's premises allegedly contaminated with TCE.

Defended a vendor of garage door openers against a claim that defective design and installation resulted in severe injury to a homeowner.

Represented a county vocational school and city school district against employment discrimination and whistleblower claims.

Represented plaintiffs in various personal injury and wrongful death actions involving motor vehicle accidents, police shootings, rape/premises liability, and drowning.

Defended a manufacturer of cast aluminum wheels against a claim that a wheel collapsed and caused an accident.

Wrongful death of a minor in a traffic accident.

Severe injury to an innocent motorist in a police shooting.

Represented a rape victim in claim against landlord.