Attorneys

Biography

Government Contracts. John has represented numerous government contractors in proposal preparation, contract negotiations, bid protests, and contract claims at all levels of government, and has extensive experience practicing before the Maryland State Board of Contract Appeals. His familiarity with procurement law, combined with a broad knowledge of construction and other industries, gives him the ability to quickly understand and formulate solutions to the complex legal problems that confront government contractors. Representative matters include:

• Investigation and defense of suits under the Maryland False Health Claims Act;

• Representation of contractors providing services to the State of Maryland in connection with Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act, in initial procurement, negotiation of modifications, contract claims, and third-party litigation; and

• Pursuit of successful contract claims on behalf of the joint venture that built the final section of the Inter County Connector (MD200), securing additional compensation for differing site conditions and design changes caused by other government agencies, and defending against a State claim for liquidated damages.

In 2017, John gave a presentation on the Maryland False Claims Act to the Maryland Chapter of the Association of Corporate Counsel. He is a co-author of the article "Brief Guide to Maryland Procurement Law," Maryland Litigator (Feb. 2012).

Construction Litigation. John represents owners and contractors in contract negotiations and disputes, as well as construction defect claims. Representative contract disputes have included Miller Act claims, mechanic's lien actions, and delay claims. Representative defect claims have included high-rise fires, structural collapses, geotechnical failures, roof and building envelope issues, and condominium defect claims.

Environmental Litigation and Permitting. John's environmental practice consists of representing regulated entities and interested parties in permitting, criminal, civil, and administrative enforcement actions, involving coal mining, the Endangered Species Act, wetlands, riparian rights, oil pollution, Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, hazardous waste, CERCLA, agricultural runoff (CAFOs), and air pollution matters, among others. He regularly advises real estate buyers and sellers regarding Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessments and related matters. John's Superfund / CERCLA experience includes representing businesses that receive settlement demands to pay for hazardous waste cleanups at long-closed facilities throughout the United States, including the 68th Street Dump in Baltimore County, Maryland.

General Litigation. John also handles general litigation matters, with a concentration on real property rights, including eminent domain, title and boundary disputes, real estate transactions, and commercial landlord-tenant matters. John authored an amicus brief on behalf of the Maryland Building Industry Association in Select Portfolio Servicing, Inc. v. Saddlebrook West Utility Company, LLC, 455 Md. 313 (2017), in which the Maryland Court of Appeals affirmed the enforceability of deferred utility charges.

Before law school, John managed hazardous waste investigation and remediation projects for a multinational engineering and construction firm. He joined Kramon & Graham in 1997.

Recognition

Named in The Best Lawyers in America, Commercial Litigation, since 2021

Memberships

American Bar Association, Section of Environment, Energy, and Resource

Anne Arundel County Bar Association

Bar Association of Baltimore City

Maryland Bar Foundation, Fellow

Maryland State Bar Association, Section on Environmental Law; Committee on Law Reform

Events

Presenter, "Environmental Considerations in First Party Insurance Claims," First Party Claims Conference Annual Meeting, FPCC, 2019

Presenter, "The Maryland False Claims Act Today," Baltimore Chapter of the Association of Corporate Counsel, 2017

Publications

Co-author, "Brief Guide to Maryland Procurement Law," The Maryland Litigator, Maryland State Bar Association, 2012