Education & Career of John Downey as a Dispute Settler

Partner - Rome McGuigan, P.C. - 2009 - 2019

Judicial Branch- Connecticut · April 2001-April 2009
Judge
Presided over thousands of jury trials, court trials, and hearings, domestic, civil, and criminal; pre-tried and heard motions in all cases.

Rome, McGuigan, and Sabanosh, P.C. · 1992-2001
Partner
Trial attorney- defended medical and legal malpractice cases and prosecuted and defended personal injury and commercial and banking law cases, environmental law, and worker compensation cases. AV-rated civil trial attorney by Martindale Hubbel.

Union Carbide Chemicals and Plastics Company · 1989-1992
Litigation Counsel and FDA Counsel
Managed litigation throughout the U.S. in areas of products liability and environmental matters. Selected, managed, and supervised outside counsel and coordinated internal discovery. Advised the company and its subsidiaries on food and drug matters. Reviewed material safety data sheets for regulatory compliance and coordinated and participated in the in-house safety and regulatory compliance program.

Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc · 1985-1989
Counsel
Managed litigation, including the selection and supervision of outside counsel, coordinated internal discovery, and advised corporate officers about matters involving the company's pharmaceutical products and medical devices and its subsidiaries, including Roxanne Labs and BI Animal Health. Responsibilities also included environmental and employment lawsuits and assistance on new product and technology acquisitions, as well as advising on FDA, FTC, and safety concerns, reviewing of real estate and contracts.

Regnier, Taylor, Curran and Langenbach · 1978-1984
Associate
Defended clients insured for automobile, homeowner, and medical and legal malpractice claims for various insurance carriers. (The St. Paul Fire and Marine Insurance Co., Pioneer, GEICO, USAA, the Hartford) A smaller portion of the practice involved worker compensation, real estate law, and contract law.

EDUCATION

  • The University of South Carolina • 1977- Juris Doctor
  • The University of South Carolina * 1975-Masters in International Studies
  • The University of Connecticut • 1972- Bachelor of Liberal Arts

Articles and Organizations

Bar Admissions:

  • South Carolina, Connecticut (1978) and U.S. District Court, District of Connecticut (1979).

Author:

  • Commentary to the Code of Evidence, Connecticut Rules of Court, Thomson Publishing (2000-2022)
  • Connecticut Trial Lawyers Guide to Evidence in State and Federal Court, West Publishing Co. (1983-1999)
  • Saving and Recovering Money for Your Company Through the Second Injury Fund, The Corporate Bar News, Fall 1992
  • The Practical Effects of Tort Reform on Medical Malpractice, Non-Profit Organization immunity & Dram Shop, Conn. Bar Journal, 10/88
  • A Proposal for Legislating Employee Drug Testing, with Heike S. Martin, Conn. Law Tribune, 3/30/87
  • Termination of Life Support: A Proposal for a Model Act, with Antoinette Grenier, Conn. Law Tribune, 6/10/85
  • Master’s Thesis, The Panama Canal Controversy, University of South Carolina 1975

Creator and Panelist:

  • Alternative Dispute Resolution 101, ADR Basics for Beginners”, Fairfield County Bar 2017- panelist
  • View from the Bench: Mediation, Ethics, Skills and Practical Considerations for Counsel, Connecticut Defense Lawyers Assoc., 2012
  • Drafting and Implementing Modern ADR Clauses, CBA, 2011
  • Toxic Tort and Environmental Updates, American Law Firm Assoc., 1991
  • Connecticut Evidence, Procuring, Preserving and Presenting It, Professional Educational Systems, 1988
  • Connecticut Evidence, Professional Educational Systems, 1989

Memberships, Boards, and Commissions:

  • Planning Commission, Redding, CT 1988-1997
  • Justice of the Peace-1992-1994
  • University of Connecticut, Board of Trustees. 1995-2001
  • Chemical Manufacturer’s Assoc., Toxic Tort Committee 1988-1992
  • Pharmaceutical Manufacturer’s Assoc., 1985-1988
  • Member: Hartford County and Connecticut Bar Association (Member: Executive Committee, Civil Justice Section, 1985-1988 and Continuing Legal Education Committee), 1987-1991
  • South Carolina Bar Association
  • Zeta Psi, Phi Delta Phi
  • ESL Instructor Hispanic Center, Danbury, CT 2007
  • Vice President, Director, and Board Member of the Food Bank of Lower Fairfield County, 2013 to 2019

Judicial:

  • Appointed Superior Court
    Judge April 11, 2001-April 10, 2009

ADR Training and Memberships:

  • AAA Case Finances (2019)
  • AAA Arbitrator Performance and Demeanor (2018)
  • AAA Sexual Harassment for AAA Panelists (2018)
  • AAA Motion Practice (2017)
  • AAA Best Practices Franchise Arbitration (2017)
  • AAA Keeping it Real - Arbitrator Handling Witness Credibility (2017)
  • Advanced Training in Health Care Mediation, AAA, October 2015
  • Arbitration Fundamentals and Best Practices for New AAA Arbitrators - January 2010
  • American Arbitration Association Neutral - August 2009
  • Special Master and Mediator, Federal District Court, Connecticut - August 2009
  • Effective Mediator Practice - March 2009, ABA
  • Advance Arbitrator Training II - April 2009, ADR Center, New Britain, CT