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Areas of Practice
Civil Litigation
Insurance Defense
Insurance Coverage
Education
Stetson College of Law
University of Florida
Admissions
Florida Bar
U.S. District Court
Southern
Districts
Middle
Districts
Northern Districts
Recognition
AV-rated by Mantindale-Hubble
Member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA)
Selection to Top Lawyers South Florida Legal Guide (2007-2010)
Defense Research Institute’s (DRI’s)
Exceptional Performance citation (2006-2007)
Member of the Litigation Council of America
Professional Membership and Activities
Florida Bar
Member
Broward County Bar Association
Member
American Bar Association
Member and Past-President
Florida Defense Lawyers Association
Member
DRI Member
American Board of Trial Advocates
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John H. Richards
John Richards has extensive trial experience with over 200 trials in all types of civil litigation involving bodily injury, professional liability, wrongful death, property damage, insurance coverage disputes, homeowners and condominium associations, contract and others. John handles on average ten (10) trials per year, throughout the State of Florida. John Richards has been licensed to practice law in the State of Florida since 1985.
John’s practice areas involve all types of civil litigation, including premises liability, professional liability, negligent security, product liability, motor vehicle litigation of all types, representation of homeowners and condominium associations, insurance coverage disputes, first-party litigation, bad faith matters and general commercial litigation. He has participated and continues to regularly participate in alternate dispute resolution, including mediation and arbitration; handling on average thirty-plus mediations a year over the past five (5) years.
After clerking at two of the pre-eminent civil defense firms during law school, his first employment as an attorney was at the law firm of Conrad Scherer & James in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Thereafter, he became a founding member and shareholder In the law firm of Cooney, Haliczer, Mattson, Lance Blackburn, Pettis & Richards, commencing in 1992. He remained at the law firm until its dissolution in December of 2009, joining Boyd Richards Parker & Colonnelli in January of 2010. While maintaining an active practice and trial schedule, he has continued to serve in legal and bar organizations, including previously serving as a board member and president of the Florida Defense Lawyers Association.
He presently serves as an officer of the Fort Lauderdale Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates and is scheduled to become president of that organization in 2013. He currently serves as a member of the Florida Supreme Court Civil Jury Instruction Committee.
Representative cases include:
• Obtained a defense verdict on causation in a motor vehicle case following a two-week trial in Palm Beach County, Florida. The insurer had significant potential extra-contractual exposure in a case of clear liability involving a plaintiff who underwent multiple surgical procedures;
• Obtained a defense verdict in a first-party boat-sinking case, as well as a judgment in favor of the insurer on a fraud counterclaim;
• Obtained a complete defense verdict following a two-week jury trial in a wrongful death matter brought against homeowners involving underage drinking at a keg party;
• Obtained a low-six-figure verdict in an admitted liability wrongful death case involving the tragic and unfortunate death of a 13-year-old in a motor vehicle accident;
• Obtained favorable verdict for a cooperative association in a case involving significant injuries to a plaintiff who fell due to the failure of a balcony railing. The jury’s verdict, even before apportionment for comparative negligence and third-party negligence, was less than the seven-figure settlement demand prior to trial;
• Obtained a favorable verdict for a homeowners association in a case where a worker fell due to the failure of a balcony railing;
• Obtained a defense verdict in favor of a homeowners association in a case involving claims of complex regional pain syndrome or reflex sympathetic dystrophy from an accident involving a fallen palm frond;
• Successfully defended a bicycle manufacturer in a lawsuit brought by a neurologist who was injured when the fork on the bicycle failed;
• Obtained a favorable verdict for a homeowner association sued for property damage due a claimed failure or negligent maintenance of a sea wall system;
• Obtained defense verdicts or favorable verdicts in multiple cases involving causation issues between spinal surgery and motor vehicle accidents;
• Obtained a verdict in a favorable wrongful death claim involving negligent design of forks on a garbage truck.
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Ft. Lauderdale 
