John Coleman

Experience

Tried multiple willful death OSHA cases in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Chicago, Illinois, Toledo, Ohio and Montgomery and Huntsville, Alabama

Tried and argued in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit a leading OSHA decision concerning the construction of OSHA 11(c) (whistleblowing) in a win for employers, multiple disability discrimination (leading accommodation and direct threat cases)

Defending various employers successfully in cases defining "direct threat," "disability," and "reasonable accommodation" in the Eleventh Circuit.

Defended numerous employers in administrative decisions including successful R and C cases under the National Labor Relations Act (including one hybrid case in which the NLRB found ULPs but declined to set aside an election voting down the union).

Received a favorable decision setting aside OSHA "willful" citations involving asbestos at a nuclear plant.

Received a favorable decision in a confined spaces case obtaining a disposition after hearing that reduced numerous repeat violations and $128,000 in fines to less than $8,000.

Arbitration decisions include labor decisions rejecting individual discharge grievances and one contract interpretation decision allowing the installation of a production line without seniority bidding for positions.

Tried over 100 cases in employment matters.

Obtained summary judgment in over four dozen cases in employment matters.

Practice Areas

OSHA

Employment Litigation

Manufacturing

Labor & Employment

Restaurant Services

Whistleblowing, Retaliation, & Compliance

Non-Compete & Trade Secrets

Class Action

Labor Relations

Career

A former chair and current member of the firm's Labor & Employment Practice Group, John's trial experience includes the successful defense as lead counsel of banking, utility, automotive, manufacturing and food service industry employers in over 100 bench and jury trials.

His traditional labor law practice includes elections and representation proceedings, unfair labor practice proceedings and LMRA lawsuits, OSHA (citation defense and whistleblowing defense), and disability discrimination defense litigation. John also has experience in noncompete litigation, rulemaking proceedings (including ADA and FMLA rules), and collective bargaining.

Professional Memberships

Funds graduate education scholarship at Jacksonville State University and law school minority scholarship at Birmingham School of Law

Teaches at Cumberland and the Birmingham School of Law

Active in St. Francis Xavier Parish

Campfire, served as Secretary on Board of Directors

Personal

Funds graduate education scholarship at Jacksonville State University and law school minority scholarship at Birmingham School of Law

Teaches at Cumberland and the Birmingham School of Law

Active in St. Francis Xavier Parish

Campfire, served as Secretary on Board of Directors

Education

Awards