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January 20, 2021
Nelson Mullins Adds FinTech Pro From Polsinelli
John F. Kuppens
Partner
Meridian
1320 Main Street
17th Floor
Columbia, SC 29201
1320 Main Street
17th Floor
Columbia, SC 29201
john.kuppens@nelsonmullins.com
John Kuppens is a member of the firm's Consumer Product Safety, Risk Prevention & Regulatory Compliance Practice Group and its Consumer & Mechanical Products Litigation Group. He has experience in consumer product risk prevention and regulatory counseling, product liability litigation, and commercial litigation. He was 2017-2018 president of the 22,000-member DRI – The Voice of the...
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John Kuppens is a member of the firm's Consumer Product Safety, Risk Prevention & Regulatory Compliance Practice Group and its Consumer & Mechanical Products Litigation Group. He has experience in consumer product risk prevention and regulatory counseling, product liability litigation, and commercial litigation. He was 2017-2018 president of the 22,000-member DRI – The Voice of the Defense Bar, the leading organization of defense attorneys and in-house counsel.
Defense Bar, the leading organization of defense attorneys and in-house counsel.
Experience
Following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.
Experience
- Evaluates products to assess compliance with consumer product safety regulations, including products governed by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
- Evaluates corporate product safety risk management systems and counsels regarding regulatory compliance and liability prevention
- Counsels clients regarding product liability risk prevention issues, and evaluates product literature, warnings, labeling, and warranties
- Handles product liability litigation, and has experience with principles of accident reconstruction, metallurgy, design, biomechanics, manufacturing processes, and warnings
- Has defended product liability cases involving a wide range of products, including boilers, lawn and garden products, building products, food products, medical devices, electrical and gas-fired appliances, aerial lifts, and textile machinery
Education
- University of South Carolina School of Law, JD (1989)
- Clemson University, BS, Accounting (1986)
Admissions
- South Carolina
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina
Practice Areas
Following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.
Experience
- Evaluates products to assess compliance with consumer product safety regulations, including products governed by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
- Evaluates corporate product safety risk management systems and counsels regarding regulatory compliance and liability prevention
- Counsels clients regarding product liability risk prevention issues, and evaluates product literature, warnings, labeling, and warranties
- Handles product liability litigation, and has experience with principles of accident reconstruction, metallurgy, design, biomechanics, manufacturing processes, and warnings
- Has defended product liability cases involving a wide range of products, including boilers, lawn and garden products, building products, food products, medical devices, electrical and gas-fired appliances, aerial lifts, and textile machinery
Articles & Speeches
Recognitions
The bar rules of some states require that the standards for an attorney’s inclusion in certain public accolades or recognitions be provided. When such accolades or recognitions are listed, a hyperlink is provided that leads to a description of the respective selection methodology.
- Richard H. Krochock Award, DRI – The Voice of the Defense Bar (2020)
- Who's Who Legal: Product Liability Defence (2014–2020)
- Recognized in The Legal 500 United States for his practice in product liability and mass tort defense: pharmaceuticals and medical devices (2013)
- South Carolina Super Lawyers (2009–2020)
- The Best Lawyers in America® – Commercial Litigation, Product Liability Litigation - Defendants (2009–2021)
- The Best Lawyers in America® 2013 Columbia-SC Product Liability Litigation – Defendants "Lawyer of the Year" (2008–2020)
- AV® Preeminent™ and Distinguished™ peer review ratings from the Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings
Professional Activities
- Life Fellow, American Bar Foundation
- DRI - The Voice of the Defense Bar
- Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel
- International Association of Defense Counsel
- Faculty Member, Trial Academy (2007)
- South Carolina Defense Trial Attorneys’ Association
- South Carolina Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- Past Member, Legal Task Force, Sports & Fitness Industry Association
- International Consumer Product Health & Safety Organization
Leadership
- Secretary-Treasurer, Lawyers for Civil Justice (2020–2021)
- DRI - The Voice of the Defense Bar
- Immediate Past President (2018–2019)
- President (2017–2018)
- Past National Director
- Past Chair, Product Liability Committee
- Past Chair, Young Lawyers Committee
- Board of Directors, South Carolina Defense Trial Attorneys’ Association (2009–2014)
John Kuppens is a member of the firm's Consumer Product Safety, Risk Prevention & Regulatory Compliance Practice Group and its Consumer & Mechanical Products Litigation Group. He has experience in consumer product risk prevention and regulatory counseling, product liability litigation, and commercial litigation. He was 2017-2018 president of the 22,000-member DRI – The Voice of the... Defense Bar, the leading organization of defense attorneys and in-house counsel.
Experience
Following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.Experience
- Evaluates products to assess compliance with consumer product safety regulations, including products governed by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
- Evaluates corporate product safety risk management systems and counsels regarding regulatory compliance and liability prevention
- Counsels clients regarding product liability risk prevention issues, and evaluates product literature, warnings, labeling, and warranties
- Handles product liability litigation, and has experience with principles of accident reconstruction, metallurgy, design, biomechanics, manufacturing processes, and warnings
- Has defended product liability cases involving a wide range of products, including boilers, lawn and garden products, building products, food products, medical devices, electrical and gas-fired appliances, aerial lifts, and textile machinery
Education
- University of South Carolina School of Law, JD (1989)
- Clemson University, BS, Accounting (1986)
Admissions
- South Carolina
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina
Practice Areas
- Consumer Product Safety, Risk Prevention & Regulatory Compliance
- Products Liability - Consumer & Mechanical
- Commercial Litigation & Business Torts
- Premises Liability
- Aviation
- Dispute Resolution
- Toxic Torts
- False Advertising & Unfair Trade Practices
Industries
The bar rules of some states require that the standards for an attorney's inclusion in certain public accolades or recognitions be provided. When such accolades or recognitions are listed, a hyperlink is provided that leads to a description of the respective selection methodology.
- Richard H. Krochock Award, DRI – The Voice of the Defense Bar (2020)
- Who's Who Legal: Product Liability Defence (2014–2020)
- Recognized in The Legal 500 United States for his practice in product liability and mass tort defense: pharmaceuticals and medical devices (2013)
- South Carolina Super Lawyers (2009–2020)
- The Best Lawyers in America® – Commercial Litigation, Product Liability Litigation - Defendants (2009–2021)
- The Best Lawyers in America® 2013 Columbia-SC Product Liability Litigation – Defendants "Lawyer of the Year" (2008–2020)
- AV® Preeminent™ and Distinguished™ peer review ratings from the Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings
- Life Fellow, American Bar Foundation
- DRI - The Voice of the Defense Bar
- Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel
- International Association of Defense Counsel
- Faculty Member, Trial Academy (2007)
- South Carolina Defense Trial Attorneys’ Association
- South Carolina Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- Past Member, Legal Task Force, Sports & Fitness Industry Association
- International Consumer Product Health & Safety Organization
- Secretary-Treasurer, Lawyers for Civil Justice (2020–2021)
- DRI - The Voice of the Defense Bar
- Immediate Past President (2018–2019)
- President (2017–2018)
- Past National Director
- Past Chair, Product Liability Committee
- Past Chair, Young Lawyers Committee
- Board of Directors, South Carolina Defense Trial Attorneys’ Association (2009–2014)
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