John R. (Jack) Trigg

Biography

Cases

• Won an "extraordinary remedy" from the Colorado Supreme Court for an insurance company to reverse a trial-court order implying a waiver of the attorney-client privilege. The unanimous opinion establishes that the mere "fact that privileged information might become relevant in a given lawsuit could not alone be enough to establish an implied waiver."
• Represented a major commercial insurer in nationwide concussion and traumatic brain injury class action litigation involving the National Collegiate Athletic Association, National Hockey League, and U.S. Soccer Federation.
• Defended a major motorcoach manufacturer in a multiple-fatality rollover crash litigation involving extensive document production.
• Successfully appealed to the Colorado Supreme Court a case WTO won at the trial court level, but which was reversed by the Colorado Court of Appeals. Following arguments, the Colorado Supreme Court's published opinion restored the complete victory for the insurer in this precedent-setting case of first impression and made it easier for commercial property insurers to understand and follow Colorado's statutory notice requirements.
• Defended Ford Motor Co. in a four-month certified class action trial involving $2 billion in consumer fraud claims. On the day set for closing arguments, the plaintiffs agreed to a no-cash, coupon-based settlement for the California class and classes in three other states with pending parallel actions.
• Represented footwear manufacturer Crocs in nationwide litigation involving allegations of defectively designed footwear and failure to warn with respect to alleged risks associated with wearing the shoes on escalators.
• Won a jury defense verdict in U.S.D.C. for the District of Colorado for an automobile manufacturer in a wrongful death crashworthiness case.
• Represented Ford Motor Co. in a 10-month, nationwide class action jury trial in California involving thick film ignition modules in 12 million vehicles. The trial ended in a hung jury.
• Defended Ford Motor Co. in a Missouri class action involving automobile transmissions.
• Won dismissal for Ford Motor Co. in an Alabama class action involving the Bronco II.
• Represented defendants in the Dupont Plaza Hotel fire that killed 97 people in Puerto Rico.
• Represented defendants in claims relating to the Beverly Hills Supper Club fire, which killed 168 people in Southgate, Kentucky.
• Defended Mobay Chemical Company (then a subsidiary of Bayer) against claims arising from the Sunshine Mine disaster. The catastrophic fire in the Idaho silver mine killed more than 90 miners. After a four-month trial, all claims against Mobay were dismissed.

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

• Chambers USA 2020: WTO Leads Nationwide, Colorado
• 27 WTO Lawyers Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America 2019
• WTO Leads Top 100 in Colorado Super Lawyers
• 26 WTO Lawyers ranked in the 24th Edition of The Best Lawyers in America
• Who's Who Legal Names Seven from WTO for Product Liability Defense
• Chambers USA 2017 recognizes Wheeler Trigg O'Donnell among the top litigation firms nationwide and in Colorado
• 42 WTO Lawyers Named to the 2017 Colorado Super Lawyers List
• 20 WTO Lawyers ranked in the 23rd Edition of The Best Lawyers in America®
• Chambers USA 2016 Ranks WTO Among Top Firms Nationwide and in Colorado
• 20 WTO Lawyers ranked in the 22nd Edition of The Best Lawyers in America®
• WTO Leads the Nation for Ranked Lawyers in Product Liability & Mass Torts Defense in Chambers USA 2015
• Legal 500 US Ranks Wheeler Trigg O'Donnell in Three Areas Nationwide
• University of Denver Magazine, "Practice-Ready DU Law Grads are Building Colorado's Legal Community," December 15, 2014.
• Best Lawyers® 2015 Ranks 20 WTO Attorneys
• Founding Partner Jack Trigg Celebrates 50 Years of Practice
• Legal 500 US Ranks WTO as One of Two Top Product Liability and Mass Tort Defense Firms in the Automotive Industry
• Legal 500 U.S. 2008 Calls WTO "Best Firm for Class Actions"
• WTO a Top 20 U.S. Product Liability Law Firm per Chambers USA
• Colorado Supreme Court Rules for Commercial Property Insurer
• Internationally Recognized Product Liability Lawyers
• Three WTO Lawyers Nominated for Best of the Bar; Trigg Wins Lifetime Achievement Award
• Trigg Wins Lifetime Achievement Award, Denv. Bus. J., Sept. 12-18, 2003
• Jack Trigg Selected as a "Master" by DU Alumni Association
• Trigg Named to Board of Tort Reform Group
• Trigg Named Outstanding Alumnus by DU College of Law
• John R. Trigg Elected President of Lawyers for Civil Justice

Legal Memberships, Activities, and Honors

Community Memberships, Activities, and Honors

Teaching Positions