John M. Hawkins

Jack Hawkins began his legal career as a Staff Attorney to the Hon. Rowland W. Barnes in Fulton County Superior Court and gained invaluable insight as to what it takes to present a case.  Jack is now a seasoned civil litigator with over 25 years of experience, having tried and arbitrated dozens of cases. His practice currently spans product liability, premises liability, construction, general liability, and commercial litigation, representing product manufacturers, business owners, and builders in trial and appellate courts and arbitration tribunals nationwide.

Jack is a registered Neutral with the Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution and mediates civil cases. Jack has also arbitrated numerous commercial disputes. He also serves clients in a number of roles, from litigation counsel, to national counsel for a flammable waterproofing product manufacturer, to serving as a de facto general counsel for smaller companies.  Jack has a strong track record of securing favorable verdicts in trial.

• Served as arbitrator in numerous commercial disputes.
• Motion to dismiss class allegations against client warranty corporation granted in New York state court action.  Affirmed on appeal.
• Defense verdict (after 15 minutes of jury deliberation) in trial for automobile dealership client in a case alleging violation of warranties and Magnusson-Moss Warranty Act.
• Defense verdict for clients (hospital and nurse) in malpractice case alleging improper discharge instructions following shoulder surgery.
• Directed verdict for client automobile dealership in case alleging malicious prosecution; upheld on appeal.
• Defense verdict in case where client driver was driving 18 miles over the speed limit and Plaintiff’s counsel sought $54M from the jury.
• Obtained summary judgment for client horse owner under the Georgia Equine Immunity Act in case where quadriplegic plaintiff claimed horse from which he fell was not properly trained; upheld on appeal.
• Obtained summary judgment for client builder in fire case alleging subcontractor painter caused fire that burned two houses.
• Secured summary judgment for a motorist client who avoided a collision with a bull that had wandered onto the roadway, veered into oncoming traffic, and was subsequently sued by a truck driver involved in the resulting accident.
• Obtained summary judgment for client property management company in case involving claims arising from shooting at apartment complex.
• Represents numerous product manufacturers in claims from alleged product defects.
• Obtained summary judgment for client gas can manufacturer in personal injury case where plaintiff alleged $4 million in past medical expenses and extensive future medical expenses; upheld on appeal.
• National trial counsel for company that manufactures flammable waterproofing products.
• All personal injury claims dismissed by court prior to trial against client insurance company in a case alleging personal injury relating to mold exposure. Subsequent summary judgment on all claims against client was upheld on appeal.
• Jury verdict of one-fifth damages sought by plaintiffs in wrongful death case against client product manufacturer.
• Extensive experience successfully representing clients before appellate courts.
• Substantial experience successfully arbitrating actions filed by homeowners against client builders alleging defective construction and confirming arbitration awards in trial and appellate courts.
• Tried case to a favorable result for client apartment complex who was in default and had no liability defense.

The Best Lawyers in America®, Personal Injury Litigation: Defendants, 2023-2025

Super Lawyers®, Georgia Rising Stars List, Business/Corporate, 2006