Attorney Bios

About John

John is known for his extensive trial experience in a wide variety of areas, having been twice recognized as a “Rising Star” by Alabama Super Lawyers Magazine (2010 and 2012). John has had the opportunity to try over twenty jury trials, try dozens of bench trials, and participate in several forms of alternative dispute resolution (mediation and arbitration), securing verdicts or resolutions favorable to the firm’s clients a majority of those times. Some of these opportunities included the following subject matters:

• Motor Vehicle Accidents

• Road Construction Defects

• General Construction Defects

• Worksite Accidents

• Premises Liability

• Product Liability

• Warranty Claims and Defects

• Dram Shop/Social-Host Liability

John is also often asked to represent the firm’s clients with questions that do not involve the courtroom. Some of these questions involve insurance coverage, construction contracts, the sale/purchase of real estate, broker-dealer liability, and corporate dispute resolution.

John has also contributed to the following reported appellate decisions:

• J.C. Duke & Associates v. West, 991 So.2d 194 (Ala. 2008)

• W.G. Yates & Sons, Inc. v. Burkhardt, 61 So.3d 1095 (Ala. Civ. App. 2010)

A native of Montgomery, Alabama, John is a graduate of Cumberland School of Law at Samford University, where he was a member of Cumberland’s National Trial Team. Prior to Law School, John attended Troy University where he received a degree in Political Science, minoring in History and Business Administration. At Troy, he served in the Student Government Senate and as a Justice on the Student Supreme Court. During and after college, John proudly worked for both of Alabama’s US Senators as both a summer intern and constituent case worker.

John joined the firm following an internship with the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals and a clerkship with Circuit Court Judge William H. McDermott, deceased, of Mobile. Since joining the firm, he is frequently asked to speak at seminars on litigation skills and trial techniques, most recently serving as a faculty member for the Alabama Defense Lawyer’s Association’s Trial Academy.

John is married to Margaret Sue Helmsing and a daughter (Margaret). John enjoys volunteering with his church, Government Street Presbyterian, where John serves as Deacon. John is a graduate of “Leadership Mobile, Class of 2009,” contributes to several civic organizations, and was recently appointed as a Board Member to the Mobile Metro Area YMCA.