John A. Tarantino

Practice Details

• Firm Information
  Position

  Shareholder

  Firm Name

  Adler Pollock & Sheehan P.C.
• Representative Cases & Transactions
  Cases

  Representative Matters: John successfully defended Atlantic Richfield Company in the longest jury trial in Rhode Isl
  history, the l
  mark litigation brought by the Attorney General against the former manufacturers of lead pigment used in paint. John's client was the only defendant found not responsible by the jury. On appeal, John successfully defended the verdict as well.
  John successfully represented the Governor, the Treasurer
  the Employers' Retirement System in constitutional challenges brought by various labor unions
  retiree associations to changes made to the state's general pension statute.
  In one of the most high-profile
  notorious criminal investigations in recent Rhode Isl
  history, Plunder Dome, John successfully defended the former Mayor of Providence's Chief of Staff on federal bribery, corruption
  conspiracy charges, obtaining a not guilty verdict on all counts.
  In a case of first impression, John successfully defended the former Rhode Isl
  Senate President on ethics charges. The Rhode Isl
  Supreme Court ruled that the Rhode Isl
  Constitution's speech in debate clause barred the Ethics Commission from charging a legislator for how he or she participated in the legislative process
  voted on legislation.
  In two federal court trials (one in Rhode Isl
  
  one in Massachusetts), John defended a gaming facility on charges of honest services mail
  wire fraud
  conspiracy.
  John defended a national utility company on federal charges of violation of environmental laws relating to the storage of liquid mercury
  mercury sealed regulators.
  In a case of first impression, John convinced the Rhode Isl
  Supreme Court that the so-called pollution exclusion does not bar coverage for policy holders unless the policy holder intended to cause pollution
  environmental damage to its property.
  John successfully defended a municipality on wrongful death claims brought against it by the widow
  children of a police officer who was killed by a fellow police officer in a SWAT team hostage-taking exercise. He was able to obtain summary judgment against the municipality's insurance carrier, which had denied coverage for the claim,
  also defended the municipality on the underlying merits case.
  John has obtained several multi-million dollar judgments for an international finance company against various borrowers
  guarantors in the areas of hotel
  entertainment financing, resort financing, mobile home financing, manufactured home financing,
  equipment financing,
  has defended numerous claims alleging lender liability, breach of good faith
  fair dealing,
  breach of consumer protection laws.
  John successfully defended the Mayor of the Town of North Providence in an ethics investigation concerning the alleged awarding of no-bid town construction contracts to a business associate. After investigation by the Ethics Commission, John filed a motion to dismiss,
  following hearing, the Ethics Commission determined that there was no probable cause to conclude that a violation of the Code of Ethics occurred.
  In a case of first impression, John defended a Chinese pharmaceutical company in a multi-jurisdictional criminal case, Operation Raw Deal, which focused on charges that the Chinese pharmaceutical company had engaged in a variety of criminal actions, including the illegal importation
  distribution of human growth hormone. The Chinese pharmaceutical company was named in the Major League Baseball investigative Mitchell Report as the alleged supplier of hGH products that allegedly had been used improperly by a variety of present
  former Major League Baseball players.
  John successfully defended a well-known plaintiffs' personal injury lawyer
  his firm, who advertise nationally, against charges of unauthorized practice of law
  ethics violations
  obtained a favorable ruling from the Rhode Isl
  Supreme Court that the law firm could register to do business in the State of Rhode Isl
  
  provide services to clients there.
  John defended a major chemical company at trial
  on appeal on claims that an herbicide that it manufactured caused cancer. In the course of the representation, the Rhode Isl
  Supreme Court adopted the Daubert st
  ard for the admission of expert
  scientific evidence in Rhode Isl
  courts.
  John has defended a number of clients in class action
  multi-district litigation, including claims of securities violations, ERISA violations, lender liability, defective products, defective pharmaceuticals,
  medical devices.
  John defended a major health care insurer on antitrust charges brought by an out of state hospital claiming the insurer violated antitrust laws by keeping the hospital from purchasing a Rhode Isl
  hospital
  establishing a network here.
  John obtained a defense arbitration award in favor of a major real estate developer in a multi-million dollar claim of fraud, misrepresentation
  deceit brought by a business associate
  partner.
  John is defending an international defense contractor on claims brought by a Saudi National claiming a commission on the sale of weapons.
  John is defending a major regional real estate developer in both state
  federal courts on claims by tenants
  former tenants for alleged violations of state
  federal statutes
  claimed exposures to toxic substances.
  John is defending a major toy company in a federal court law suit brought by an alleged inventor involving claims alleging misappropriation of trade secrets.
  John advised the Rhode Isl
  Lottery on various federal, state
  constitutional issues relating to sports gaming in Rhode Isl
  .
  Case Studies: AP&S Guides Paris-Based Multinational Through Complex Acquisition
  AP&S Defends State of Rhode Isl
  in High-Stakes Pension Litigation
  AP&S Successfully Defends Client in Longest Jury Trial in Rhode Isl
  History
  on Appeal in L
  mark Lead Pigment Public Nuisance Case