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John
Phillips

personal injury criminal defense family law

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John<br />
Phillips

top rated Attorney About John

Famed lawyer Robert Shapiro once called John, “the best lawyer in America.” John specializes in personal injury, wrongful death and civil rights cases. Some of his recent highlights include.

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Justice for Kalil McCoy: John obtained a record setting $495+ million dollar jury verdict for the family of a murdered teenager.

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Justice for Erin Joynt: John obtained a $2.6 million dollar verdict for an injured sunbather while Good Morning America cameras filmed and aired the trial.

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Justice for Jordan Davis: John oversaw the criminal and civil prosecution of the murder of Jordan Davis, a teen killed after loud music caused a verbal altercation. It also resulted in an Emmy award winning documentary.

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Justice for the kids: John successfully represented 131 children who were the victims of "the worst dentist in America" Howard S. Schneider, got him suspended and arrested.

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Justice for Omarosa Manigault Newman: John successfully represented Omarosa and others against President Trump and his Campaign, including dismissal of claims brought against her, invalidation of the Campaign's NDA and a 7-figure attorney fee award.

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Additionally, Phillips and his firm serve as lead criminal and civil litigation counsel for Joe Exotic, the star of the Netflix docuseries, “Tiger King.”

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John is originally from Mobile, Alabama, but made Jacksonville, Florida his home in 2001. He graduated from the University of Alabama, which is perennially one of the highest ranked public law schools in the southeast and was ranked 25th in the nation in a recent U.S. News Survey. He has obtained many million-dollar and multi-million-dollar verdicts and settlements on behalf of his clients, including one 2019 jury verdict of over $495 Million dollars, as well as changed the way that companies and governments operate. He has been consulted by government officials when they review important legislation. For instance, John was selected to help re-write Georgia’s citizen arrest statute after Ahmaud Arbery was shot and killed. Although he has represented celebrities and athletes, John’s time is mostly spent helping the injured get justice.

Almost a decade ago, John Phillips became one of the youngest lawyers to be Board Certified in Civil Trial Law by the Florida Bar. This allows him to be called an expert in civil trial law (personal injury, car accidents, civil rights). Board Certification requires years of advocacy at the highest level, additional peer review, substantial trial experience, hours of advanced seminars and a difficult full day exam. John will tell you, “Nothing worthwhile comes easy.”

Phillips can be seen in the Emmy award winning documentary, Armor of Light. He had a role in the film as the storyteller and lawyer for the family of Jordan Davis and was thanked from the stage by the film’s director Abigail Disney. He regularly seeks out opportunities to learn how to be a better lawyer, leader and father.

Phillips can frequently be seen on television news and has appeared in multiple documentaries and docudramas. Phillips was heavily featured in season two of the Netflix show, Tiger King, which follows his efforts to Free Joe Exotic. Joseph Maldonado-Passage is Phillips client.

In 2022, Phillips also obtained a record attorney’s fee against the Trump Campaign. Phillips represented Omarosa Manigault-Newman, who was sued for “disparaging” Donald Trump based on a non-disclosure agreement she signed. Phillips obtained a judgment holding the NDA’s terms invalid, award his firm attorney’s fees and on August 9, 2022, the Trump Campaign released everyone from the NDA’s terms. Phillips said, “I am not Republican. Or Democrat. I am reasonable. We take cases we believe in. This wasn’t political. It was protecting whistleblowers, political speech and the First Amendment.”

Phillips Attorney with Family

top rated Attorney Awards & Recognitions

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More about John’s awards are listed below but he is one of the most acclaimed attorneys in America. He is AV-Preeminent rated and has won many awards for both his actions in the courtroom and in the community, including being named one of the 29 most influential people in northeast Florida and the Face of Justice on the First Coast. He is licensed to practice law in Florida, New York, Texas, Georgia, Alabama, Illinois, Oklahoma and Washington DC, and before the United States Supreme Court. He does so with passion and compassion.

In 2015, John was selected to give a TEDx talk on race and equality. It was one of the first speeches that TEDx broadcast live on its YouTube channel and it stands as one of the most watched talks in the State of Florida. He has also spoken at Howard University, at the NAACP Annual Meeting, at PeaceJam in Ghana, at many high schools and colleges and regularly gives seminars to other lawyers.

John was nominated by Jacksonville’s Mayor and confirmed by the City Council to Jacksonville’s Human Rights Commission. In addition to having an audience with multiple Nobel Peace Prize Laureates, John was invited to attend the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland.

The vast majority of John’s time is spent in his offices, working up cases for his clients and telling stories of people who have been injured or lost loved ones. Trial work is his passion. Good Morning America even filmed and broadcast portions of one of his trials in 2014. However, much of the work he does is unseen by cameras and done with a wonderful hand-picked staff.

John is married to his best friend, Angela, and is the father of three boys, Bennett, Weston and Johnathan. He has dived the great barrier reef, run with the bulls and loves to travel. However, he is happiest with his children in tow, attending Jacksonville Jaguar games and spending time with family and friends.

About John Highlights

Sworn into<br /> Alabama, Florida &</br> Georgia Bars

Sworn into
Alabama, Florida &
Georgia Bars

Obtained Justice<br /> for Jordan Davis

Obtained Justice
for Jordan Davis

Justice for Erin<br /> Joynt

Justice for Erin
Joynt

Obtains Record<br /> $495+ Million<br /> Dollar Verdict

Obtains Record
$495+ Million
Dollar Verdict

Clerked for the
Honorable
James C. Wood

Clerked for the<br /> Honorable<br /> James C. Wood

Became partners in a
prestigious insurance
defense firm

Became partners in a<br /> prestigious insurance<br /> defense firm

TED Talk Reached
Over 250,000 Views

TED Talk Reached<br /> Over 250,000 Views

Justice for the
victims of "the worst
dentist in America"

Justice for the<br /> victims of "the worst<br /> dentist in America"

Licensed in NY,
DC & TX

Licensed in NY,<br /> DC & TX

JOHN PHILLIPS Education

John Phillips grew up hearing stories about his grandfather and great grandfather who were lawyers in Mississippi. His mother would tell him tales of them making a difference without concern for profit… people paid what they could, when they could.

With them in mind, John always sought to help others. After high school, John was named a Bedsole Scholar, attending the University of Alabama on full scholarship, where he studied political science and criminal justice.

He clerked in Washington, DC for Congressman Sonny Callahan during a summer in college, trying to learn as much as he could about government and law. He was on pace to graduate in three and a half years at Alabama, but could not start law school until the fall. So, John stayed and was selected to teach his very own section of Criminal Justice 101 at age 22. He also volunteered at an alternative school, working with kids who were born to dire circumstances.

John obtained a Juris Doctorate (Law Degree) from Alabama, the 28th ranked law school in the nation. In law school, he was Senior Editor of the Law & Psychology Law Review, involved with the Student Government Association and undertook many other activities. Again, John was on pace to finish in less than the three years usually reserved for law school. However, finishing early would not properly prepare John for the Bar exam. He used the time to get more involved and actually bartended at an establishment, Boo Radleys, named after the key character in Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird.”

Attorney Career Development

After graduation from law school, John accepted a judicial clerkship in Mobile before moving to Jacksonville, Florida. He attended trials and hearings every day and coordinated the efforts of the Honorable James C. Wood (now retired).

Upon moving to Florida, John M. Phillips spent 8 years as a trial lawyer for businesses such as State Farm, Coca-Cola, Hertz, JM Family / Southeast Toyota, USF&G, Anderson Columbia, GEICO, Cambridge and a host of other large companies. He became a named member of the firm of Dore, Lanier & Phillips at age 32 and left Dore & Phillips at age 35, moving on to represent injured individuals, working at one of the largest personal injury firms in the world, Morgan & Morgan.

Feeling unfulfilled, John established his own Florida trial law office in 2011. He has won awards for his work in and out of the courtroom, regularly appears on national television as a legal expert, has achieved a multi-million dollar verdict while Good Morning America’s cameras rolled and is regularly seen volunteering and donating his time and money in our community.

John Phillips Bar Admissions

2014 United States Supreme Court

map of USA and bar admissions
Federal District Courts

2001

Middle District of Florida

U.S. District Court

2009

Northern District of Florida

U.S. District Court

2014

U.S. District Court

Southern District of Florida

2009

U.S. District Court

Middle District of Alabama

2014

U.S. District Court

Northern District of Georgia

2019

U.S. District Court

District of Columbia

2020

U.S. District Court

Southern District of New York

2021

U.S. District Court

Western District of Oklahoma

John Phillips Awards and Accolades

Just during the last few years, John and his office have been selected as:
John Phillips
“Best Lawyer,” by readers of the Folio Weekly
“Righteous Crusader,” by readers of the Folio Weekly
“One of 29 Most Influential People in Jacksonville,” by Folio Weekly
“Attorney of the Month (with Photo on the Cover),” by Attorney at Law Magazine
“#1 Lawyer,” by readers of Void Magazine
“Face of Justice in the 904,” by 904 Magazine
“Top Lawyer,” by 904 Magazine
“Company with Heart,” by 904 Magazine
“Best Lawyer,” by Jacksonville Magazine
Legal Elite, Florida Trend Magazine
“Who’s Who in Law,” by Ponte Vedra Recorder
AV – Preeminent (the highest rating obtainable), by peers according to Martindale- Hubbell,
10 / 10, by Avvo
Top 100 Trial Lawyer, by the National Trial Lawyers Association
Top 40 Under 40, by the American Society of Legal Advocates
SuperLawyer, by Florida Super Lawyers
Litigator Award, Trial Lawyers Board of Regents

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JOHN PHILLIPS Unique
Victories

Our settlement and verdict pages
have many of our accolades, but John
has a few unique accolades where he
obtained something more valuable
than money
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Several hundred people were falsely labeled by Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles and local tax collectors as sexual offenders and sexual predators. John and his clients sued and compelled the DHSMV to completely change their computer system to add safety measures to prevent this from happening again.
Duval County jail inmates were allowed to refuse service of process in civil cases. John and his team changed that policy such that inmates are now compelled to accept service.
A serial bully caused torment and injury to one of John’s clients. We pushed for an injunction and the judge banned the bully from the entire Duval County School system. Although this decision was overturned on appeal, the appellate court directed the state legislature to change the law and by the time the decision came down, the attacker was already living out of state and the School System implemented a anti-bullying hotline.
George Zimmerman planned to sell artwork he substantially copied from one of John’s clients. John stepped in and worked with the Associated Press to shut down Zimmerman and stop his dissemination of the artwork.
Recording artist Katy Perry claimed copyright and trademark to “Left Shark” after Super Bowl 50. A young artist made 3D figurines of dancing sharks and was rebuked by Katy’s lawyers. We assisted him in preserving his rights in a confidential settlement. The sharks can be purchased here.
John and his team have helped solved crimes that police were too busy to solve and helped keep pressure on prosecutors to do the right thing.

And many more.

Justice isn’t always defined by the dollar.

2015
TEDx Talk

This talk was performed live before an audience of 400, simulcast to an audience of several thousand and has been viewed over 300,000 times.

top rated Attorney Life Stories

2014
First National TV
Appearance

A mother's head and back were run over by a Daytona Beach patrol truck while she was sun bathing with her children and husband nearby...

First National TV<br /> Appearance
2016
Florida Lawyer John Phillips
Media Highlight Reel

John has presented a TEDx talk on equality and justice, contributed to media on well over 500 occasions, won many awards for legal...

Florida Lawyer John Phillips</br> Media Highlight Reel

JOHN PHILLIPS Verdicts &
Settlements

These are a sample of our firm's verdicts and settlements. We are proud to help you, our friends, get the justice they deserve.

2016$1.000.000

In 2016, we resolved a case for over $1 Million Dollars in just 51 days. A 2-year-old was run over and killed by someone pulling out of the family’s driveway. He kept on going, either not realizing it or trying to evade the situation. We assisted putting the evidence together and achieved prompt justice for this grieving family.

2015 - 2016$1.000.000

In 2015-2016, we achieved a $1 Million Dollar settlement against a strip club where our client Brandon Green was shot and killed by a fellow customer. We also sat by the family of the victim at the criminal trial and assisted the State by giving them the location of crucial evidence such that the killer was convicted.

2015

John was contacted by a few mothers of children who had been mistreated by their pediatric dentist. Working with these parents, the dentists office was shot down, his licenses to practice were revoked, he faces criminal charges and John reached an unprecedented settlement of 104 dental malpractice cases at once, which is confidential. He still represents 27 additional children. There is more about this case

2014$2.600.000

John received a verdict in the amount of $2.6 Million dollars against Volusia County, one of the largest personal injury verdicts ever handed down against Volusia County and one of the largest in the state that year. It was featured on Good Morning America and reported on daily. Volusia County appealed $600k of the verdict and John has filed a declaratory judgment action against the County’s insurance carrier.

2014

John confidentially resolved a medical malpractice case in which he represented a brain injured boxer who contended that she was injured as a result of her training staff and medical team failing to diagnose, treat and prevent her from fighting due to a head injury.

2013

John filed an action and vigorously defended a declaratory judgment action against Progressive Insurance and its insured Michael Dunn over the shooting death of Jordan Davis. John received a policy limits settlement on a large automobile policy as a result of favorable rulings and advocacy.

20121.100.000

John received a verdict in the gross amount of $1.1 Million dollars against Coca-Cola in Alachua County, one of the 50 largest verdicts in the State that year and one of the largest ever soft tissue verdicts in Alachua County.

2012

John tried another case in Gainesville and ultimately recovered about triple what State Farm’s last offer was. It’s about keeping the carriers honest. We don’t just try the big cases.

2011

John tried a case against Baptist Hospital in Jacksonville. The case ultimately mistried in jury selection, after several jurors revealed that they could not be fair in a slip and fall case. It was John’s efforts in jury selection that lead to the jurors being struck one-by-one and the case ultimately living to be settled later on despite a panel of poisoned jurors.

2011

John tried a declaratory judgment action against Essex Insurance, who challenged coverage in the incident. John not only won at the trial level, but successfully argued the appeal which he won.

20101.000.000

John tried a case in which State Farm conducted extreme discovery against a client’s physicians. The case resulted in a verdict almost at $1 Million dollars and a judgment over $1 Million dollars.

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