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John R. (Jack) Trigg

Counsel Emeritus

P. 303.244.1860 | F. 303.244.1879
"Impressive expertise in the defense of large-scale product liability cases."
——Client comment to Chambers USA

Biography

Jack Trigg is known for a long career of high-stakes product liability defense nationwide. Throughout his career, he has served as trial counsel to companies including Ford, Motor Coach Industries, and Volvo. Jack has represented Ford in two certified class action jury trials in California, one lasting four months and the other spanning 10 months. 

Jack's national litigation practice focuses on complex business litigation, product liability, and class actions. He represents major corporate defendants as national trial counsel and has tried cases to juries in many state and federal courts during his career. He also focuses on risk-management and design and analysis of document retention and control programs. Additionally, Jack handles large and frequent claims arising out of alleged recurrent design, manufacturing defects, or recall problems. 

Active in numerous bar organizations, Jack is past president of Lawyers for Civil Justice and past president and chairman of the board of the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel. He is a former member of the board of directors of the Defense Research Institute. He is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. In 2001 he was awarded the Outstanding Alumnus Award by the University of Denver College of Law. In 2003 he received the first Lifetime Achievement award from the Denver Business Journal's Best of the Bar. Jack is consistently included in lawyer ranking directories such as Chambers USA, The Best Lawyers in America, and Colorado Super Lawyers.

Cases

Publications & Speaking Engagements

  • "A Sensitive Accusation: Malingering in brain injury cases easy to claim, difficult to prove," Law Week Colorado, (January 21, 2019).
  • Presenter, "Protecting Your Company in Global Product Litigation Concerning Foreign Imports: What Happens When the Attorney General Gets Involved?," Product Liability Advisory Council Spring Conference, (April 9, 2008).
  • Presenter, "Overview and Psychology of a Personal Injury Damage Case," Trial Masters Program at Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel Winter meeting, (March 2007).
  • Presenter, "Unfair Competition Laws and Attorney General Investigations," Product Liability Advisory Council, (April 2005).
  • Presenter, "Privileges and Protections Under Assault," Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel's Corporate Counsel Symposium, (September 10, 2004).
  • Presenter, "Truth v. Perception - Personal Litigation Experience: Media Influence on Litigation," Trial Attorneys of America, (June 2004).
  • Presenter, "Product and Drug Liability in the European Economic Community," Joint International Conference, Barcelona, Spain, FDCC/IADC/DRI, (May 10, 2004).
  • Presenter, "Litigation Theories of the Future," Defense Research Institute, (2004).
  • Presenter, "Powerpoint in the Courtroom," Faculty of Federal Advocates, (September 20, 2002).
  • Presenter, "Locating the Line Between Police Power and Regulatory Power: Judicial Authority to Issue Mandatory Recall Injunctions," Emerging Issues in Motor Vehicle Product Liability Litigation Conference, (March 21, 2002).
  • Presenter, "Erosion of Confidentiality Protective Orders and Its Impact on Corporations and Litigation," Joint presentation by the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel and the Lawyers for Civil Justice at the FDCC, (2002).
  • Presenter, "Perils and Pitfalls of California's Unfair Competition Law Bus. and Prof. Code § 17200," International Association of Defense Counsel midyear meeting, (February 2001).
  • Presenter, "Chairman; Opening Remarks," Lawyers for Civil Justice 2000 New York Conference and Meeting, (November 9, 2000).
  • Presenter, "Ethics and Risks in Litigation," The Federation of Insurance and Corporate Counsel Conference, (1998).
  • Presenter, "Common Discovery Tactics Used by Plaintiff's Attorneys and Methods to Combat Them," The Defense Research Institute Conference, (1998).
  • Presenter, "Crime Fraud," Defense Research Institute, (October 11, 1996).
  • Presenter, "Litigation Management: Whose Responsibility?," Federation of Insurance and Corporate Counsel Litigation Management College, (June 24, 1996).
  • Presenter, "The Lawyer's Role is to Produce a Winner," American Bar Association Conference, (1995).
  • Presenter, "Handling Comparative Fault in Enhanced Injury Cases," National Conference on Products Liability Law, (March 26, 1993).
  • Presenter, "Ethical Considerations in Defending International Clients," Federation of Insurance and Corporate Counsel, (February 24, 1993).
  • Presenter, "Product Liability in Colorado in 1988: A Look at the Statutes and Case Law," Hall & Evans Litigation Seminar, (1988).

Press

Legal Memberships, Activities, and Honors

American College of Trial Lawyers
    Fellow
Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel
    Past President and Chairman of the Board
The International Who's Who of Product Liability Defense Lawyers,
    1997-2011, 2014, 2016-2017, 2019
The International Who's Who of Business Lawyers: Commercial Litigation,
    2013-2014, 2016
The International Who's Who of Life Sciences Lawyers, 2011-2014, 2016-2017
Chambers USA
   Product Liability - National, 2005-2020
The Best Lawyers in America
    Commercial Litigation, 2008-2024
    Product Liability Litigation, 2008-2024
The Legal 500 United States
    Litigation: Product Liability and Mass Tort Defense, 2007-2013, 2015
Colorado Super Lawyers
    Class Action/Mass Torts, 2006-2024
    Top 100, 2012-2014, 2016-2017
    Top 50, 2010-2011
Law Week Colorado
    "People's Choice" Best Overall Litigator, 2010
Denver Business Journal
    Lifetime Achievement Award
    Who's Who in Law
University of Denver Sturm College of Law
    Outstanding Alumni Award, 2001
Euromoney's Expert Guides - Litigation and Product Liability
Martindale-Hubbell AV® Peer Review Rated
Association of Defense Trial Attorneys
Trial Attorneys of America
Colorado Bar Association
Colorado Defense Lawyers Association
    Secretary
University of Denver 
    Strategic Issues Panel on Legislative Accountability, 2015
Denver Bar Association
Defense Research Institute
    Former Member, Board of Directors
    Joint Project on Professionalism of the DRI/IADC/ADTA/FDCC
Lawyers for Civil Justice
    Past President
    Former Member, Board of Directors
United States District Court for the District of Colorado
    Committee on Conduct
Product Liability Advisory Council

Community Memberships, Activities, and Honors

Colorado Prevention Center
    Chairman of the Board
Cherry Hills Country Club
    President

Teaching Positions

Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel
    Litigation Management College

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