Recent Speeches
Defining and Delivering Greater Client Value: An ACC Value Challenge Event, presented overview of Association of Corporate Counsel Value Challenge program and best practices in client services to in-house legal departments (May 2010). If you would like a copy of the PowerPoint slides, email sjhankel (a) nyemaster.com.
John T. Clendenin is a shareholder in our
Litigation Department. His practice is concentrated in the areas of life and disability insurance, annuities, product liability and toxic exposure, appellate practice, and business and commercial litigation.
John is a member of the Association of Life Insurance Counsel, Defense Research Institute, and the Iowa Defense Counsel Association. He has also served on Drake University Law School’s Board of Counselors.
John received his B.A. from the University of Illinois and his J.D. with honors from Drake University.
Significant Cases
Depositors Ins. Co. v. Gen. Elec. Co., 506 F.3d 1092 (8th Cir. 2007). Represented General Electric Company as trial and appellate counsel in product liability fire case involving design and manufacturing defect claims. Successfully obtained summary judgment on all counts in United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa. Following oral appellate submission, successfully defended grant of summary judgment in United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.
National Litigation and Coordinating Counsel; John regularly appears throughout the United States as lead counsel in various life insurance litigation involving the following companies:
Aviva Life and Annuity Company, Des Moines, Iowa
Indianapolis Life Insurance Company
Aviva Life and Annuity Company of New York
Aviva USA Corporation, Des Moines, Iowa
Aviva Investors, Des Moines, Iowa
Client References
Erik H. Askelsen, Vice President & Senior Counsel - Litigation, Aviva Life & Annunity Company, 611 Fifth Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa 50309, 515-241-3160
Ann Cosimano, General Counsel, ARAG Group, Inc., (515) 237-0288
Publications
Effective Management of Life, Health and Disability Litigation, Federation Forum, Federation of Iowa Insurers (2006).
Community Involvement
Drake University Law School Board of Counselors, 1999-2006