John Tarantino Alternative Dispute Resolution, appellate, criminal law and white collar defense, litigation, products liability and toxic tort law.: Adler Pollock & Sheehan, Providence Law Firm, Rhode Island Attorneys, Boston, Massachusetts, New Hampshire

Attorney Directory

One Citizens Plaza, 8th Floor
Providence RI 02903-1345
TEL: 401.274.7200
FAX: 401.751.0604

Practice Areas

Education

Dartmouth College (A.B., magna cum laude, 1976)
Boston College (J.D., magna cum laude, 1981)
Kings College, University of London

Bar & Court Admissions

Rhode Island
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
U.S. District Court, District of Rhode Island
U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts
U.S. District Court, District of Connecticut
U.S. Court of Appeals, First and Ninth Circuits
U.S. Supreme Court

John A. Tarantino
Shareholder, Providence
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Full Bio

A noted and highly awarded litigator who has successfully argued high-stakes, precedent-setting cases across the country, John Tarantino represents international manufacturers, major chemical companies, railroads, e-commerce businesses, entrepreneurs, sports coaches and managers, and leading real estate developers in sophisticated litigation matters involving complex issues of constitutional law, antitrust, intellectual property, product liability, toxic tort, white-collar crime, and employment law.

Passionate about his work and his profession, John lectures frequently on trial techniques and is a leading author of legal books and articles on product liability, discovery, evidence, procedure, medical-legal issues, legal ethics and trial strategy.

He has won significant trial victories for Atlantic Richfield Company, the Governor of Rhode Island, the Rhode Island Senate, and other entities and individuals in cases ranging from toxic torts to constitutional law to bribery and wire fraud.

Significant Matters

John successfully defended Atlantic Richfield Company in the longest jury trial in Rhode Island history, the landmark 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.
In one of the most high-profile and notorious criminal investigations in recent Rhode Island history, “Plunder Dome,” John successfully defended the former Mayor of Providence’s Chief of Staff on federal bribery, corruption and conspiracy charges, obtaining a not guilty verdict on all counts.
In a case of first impression, John successfully defended the former Rhode Island Senate President on ethics charges. The Rhode Island Supreme Court ruled that the Rhode Island Constitution's speech in debate clause barred the Ethics Commission from charging a legislator for how he or she participated in the legislative process and voted on legislation.
In two federal court trials (one in Rhode Island and one in Massachusetts), John defended a gaming facility on charges of "honest services" mail and wire fraud and conspiracy.
John defended a national utility company on federal charges of violation of environmental laws relating to the storage of liquid mercury and mercury sealed regulators.
In a case of first impression, John convinced the Rhode Island Supreme Court that the so-called "pollution exclusion" does not bar coverage for policy holders unless the policy holder intended to cause pollution and environmental damage to its property.

Honors & Distinctions

Selected by his peers for inclusion in the 2006-2010 editions of The Best Lawyers in America® in the fields of Commercial Litigation, Personal Injury, Appellate Law, Mass Tort Litigation, Product Liability Litigation, Bet-the-Company Litigation and White Collar Criminal Defense.
Chambers USA America’s Leading Business Lawyers (Star Performer status).
Lawdragon 500 (recognized as one of 500 leading lawyers in America and one of top 500 trial lawyers in America).
Ralph B. Semonoff Award (Rhode Island Bar Association’s highest award for civility, professionalism and outstanding advocacy).
Recipient, 2003 Award of Merit for outstanding service to the legal profession and to the Rhode Island Bar Association.
Recipient, 2008 Equal Justice Award, Rhode Island Legal Services.
Exceptional Performance Citation received from Defense Research Institute, 2004.
Recipient, Boston College Law School 75^th Anniversary Alumni Award, 2006.
Named, Rhode Island SuperLawyer, 2007, 2008 and 2009, an honor that recognizes him as a leader in the legal community.

Professional Affiliations

President, Rhode Island Bar Association – July 1997 - June 1998.
President, New England Bar Association – October 2002 - October 2003.
President, Defense Counsel of Rhode Island – June 2003 – June 2004.
President & Fellow, Rhode Island Bar Foundation – June 2005 to the present.
Fellow, American Bar Foundation
Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America.
Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers.
Fellow, International Academy of Trial Lawyers.
Fellow, International Society of Barristers (State Chair).
Fellow, National Conference of Bar Presidents
Member, American Board of Trial Advocates.
Member, Sports Lawyers Association.
Member, Justinian Society.
Member, St. Thomas More Society.

Community & Civic Activity

Poverello Center, Board of Directors.
Boston College Law School Board of Overseers.
National Judicial College Board of Visitors.
United States Supreme Court Historical Society, State Chair (2007-2008).
Boston College Law School, Alumni Association.
Dartmouth College, Alumni Association.
Providence Chamber of Commerce, Small Business Council.

News

Publications & Seminars

Author of 11 legal texts and more than 200 legal articles, columns and reviews.
Frequent lecturer on trial techniques.

Case Studies

State of Rhode Island v. Lead Industries Association, et al.

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