Chapman, Popik & White

John G. Heller
Partner

PRACTICE AREAS
Business Litigation, Professional Liability, Civil Rights & Public Interest, Labor & Employment, Insurance, Product Liability

John Heller’s practice focuses on trials and appeals of commercial litigation, civil rights, professional liability, employment, and real estate matters. Mr. Heller is also a trained mediator, and as a adjunct to his trial practice, is retained by parties in litigation to mediate their disputes.

In over 20 years of practice, Mr. Heller has successfully represented individuals and businesses in jury trials and litigation involving claims of breach of contract, fraud, retaliation, professional negligence, bad faith, and products liability. He has obtained favorable judicial rulings and settlements for attorneys and other professionals sued for malicious prosecution and breach of fiduciary duty, or threatened with judicial sanctions. And he has served as lead counsel representing parties in international arbitration proceedings.

Mr. Heller lectures to attorneys and trade organizations on developments in civil procedure, anti-SLAPP jurisprudence, and insurance coverage. He has been a participant in the ABA Section of Litigation Legal Services Advocacy Training at Stanford Law School, providing trial skills training to public interest attorneys. He served as a member of the Host Committee for the ABA Litigation Section Convention in San Francisco. He is a member of the Association of Business Trial Lawyers, and has been named by Super Lawyers magazine as one of Northern California's top lawyers every year since 2005.

Mr. Heller collaborates with public interest organizations on cases involving constitutional issues, and has represented political refugees seeking asylum in immigration court. He graduated magna cum laude in political science from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1982, and from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law, in 1987.

Representative Cases

Lead counsel defending respondents in Hong Kong arbitration involving claims of fraud in sale of $60 million Chinese logistics company.
As lead trial counsel, obtained $1.1 million jury verdict and injunction for plaintiff in an action for defamation and retaliation under the Fair Labor Standards Act, including $500,000 in punitive damages.
Defended attorney against threatened sanctions for alleged e-discovery violations.
As lead appellate counsel, obtained affirmance of $1.5 million award in a civil rights action under 42 U.S.C. section 1983 based on retaliation against plaintiff for protected speech and petitioning activity.
As lead trial counsel, obtained defense verdict for employer in claims brought by former employee, including fraud.
Obtained dismissal of prominent law firm charged with malicious prosecution under statute prohibiting strategic litigation against public participation.
Obtained defense jury verdict, as lead trial counsel, for insurance company sued for unfair competition, breach of contract, and bad faith in San Francisco Superior Court. Successfully defended verdict on appeal. 2130 Leavenworth v. State Farm, Calif. Ct. of Appeal, 1st Dist., No. A109367.
Represents manufacturer of wood industry machinery in product defect litigation.
Lead appellate counsel in Title VII action alleging retaliation, discrimination, and hostile work environment. Anderson v. Reno (Ashcroft), 190 F.3d 930 (9th Cir. 1999).
Represents sellers in cases involving claims of misrepresentation in sale of commercial real estate.
Negotiated favorable settlement for a professional athlete whose photograph was appropriated without permission for use on the cover of a video game.

CONTACT
phone: (415) 352-3000
fax: (415) 352-3030
jheller@chapop.com

Recent Presentations
Speaker, "Justice and the Courts," PACE Program, Berkeley City College, October 2011.

Lecturer, "E-Discovery, A to Z," California State Bar Convention, September 2010.

Recent Publications
Co-author, "How to Anticipate (and Avoid) Mediation Impasse," American Bar Association, Commercial & Business Litigation Newsletter, Spring 2009

Contributing author, California Liability Insurance Practice: Claims and Litigation, Continuing Education of the Bar (2006 and 2007)