Academy Member Inducted 2021

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John M. Alton, Mediator, Gahanna, Ohio.

John M. Alton

John M. Alton & Co., LPA
81 Mill Street
Suite 300
Gahanna, OH 43230
Tel: (614) 439-6526
Fax: 614-221-6788
Website: www.johnalton.com
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Recognized to Ohio Chapter for Mediation Other ADR Services: ADR Training/CME, Early Neutral Evaluation, Med-Arb
Video Conferencing
Available
  • Practice Commenced2008
  • # of MEDS (as of 28/3/24)450
  • # of ARBS (as of 28/3/24) 
Current Practice
Online / In-Person
  • CHARLESTON-HUNTINGTON
  • CINCINNATI
  • CLEVELAND-AKRON-CANTON
  • COLUMBUS
  • DAYTON
  • LIMA-VAN WERT
  • TOLEDO
  • YOUNGSTOWN

Biographical

In 2020 John Alton was nominated for membership in NADN by the only two Central Ohio lawyers who were members of NADN. Alton's experience since 1977 is almost equally divided between civil litigation defense lawyer, plaintiff lawyer and private mediator or arbitrator.

From 1985-1994 John Alton was Trial Department Chair of 25+ attorneys at Lane Alton. Without a mediator, Alton settled 1,500+ cases and tried 40+ cases mostly defending claims for serious injury and wrongful death. Those civil litigation matters included medical negligence, product liability, significant vehicular collisions, unsafe premises, political subdivision culpability, construction accidents and other allegedly tortious conduct; and (2) legal malpractice, insurance coverage disputes and business litigation. 

Between 1994-2019 John Alton represented plaintiffs in the same types of civil litigation. Alton continued to settle cases without a mediator, utilized a mediator in less than 15 cases and tried 25+ cases representing plaintiffs.

Since 2008 John Alton has frequently served as a private mediator throughout Ohio with lawyers and party decision makers in more than 25 states. Alton has been approved and retained as a mediator by scores of defense and plaintiff lawyers, insurance companies, hospitals, long term care facilities, political subdivisions, product and medical device product manufacturers and numerous other individuals and entities.

John Alton has also been retained to serve as a private Arbitrator in various types of legal disputes.

Alton is one of two Ohio lawyers to have served as both State Chair (2017-2019) in Ohio of the American College of Trial Lawyers (ACTL) and President (2022) of the Ohio Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA). ACTL was founded in 1950 and ABOTA in 1958.


Since 1993 John has received Martindale-Hubbell's highest rating of AV Preeminent in legal ability and ethical standards.

Types of cases John Alton mediates include medical negligence, product liability, trucking / transportation, human trafficking, construction accidents, medical device product liability, 1983 actions, political subdivision liability, legal malpractice, nursing home and long term care negligence, workplace injury, negligent security, intentional tort, asbestos injury, hospitality, premises liability, serious personal injury, wrongful death, commercial litigation, employment, eminent domain, insurance coverage, school law, CSPA, First Amendment and defamation.

Since 2015 John Alton has spoken on "ALERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION" at professional meetings and conventions of several Ohio and national trial lawyer organizations.


Case Experience

  • Automotive
  • Business Dissolution
  • Civil Rights
  • Commercial/Business
  • Construction
  • Consumer Fraud
  • Contract Disputes
  • Discrimination
  • Education
  • Elder Abuse
  • Eminent Domain
  • Employment
  • Franchise
  • Health Care
  • Insurance
  • Legal Malpractice
  • Lemon Law
  • Libel & Slander
  • Local Govt./Municipalities
  • Medical Devices
  • Medical Malpractice
  • Nursing Homes
  • Personal Injury
  • Pharmaceuticals
  • Police
  • Premises Liability
  • Product Liability
  • Professional Fees
  • Professional Liability
  • Professional Malpractice
  • Professional Negligence
  • Property Damage
  • Railroad & Trucking
  • Sexual Harassment
  • Torts
  • Transportation
  • Wrongful Death

Education

Duke University, Cum Laude with Distinction in Psychology (B.A., 1974)

Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law (J.D., 1977)


Memberships & Affiliations

Ohio Super Lawyers (2021-present, Alternative Dispute Resolution and Top 50 Columbus Lawyers) 

National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals (www.NADN.org: 2020-present)

Ohio Supreme Court Committee on Alternative Dispute Resolution (1996-1998)

American College of Trial Lawyers (2000-present); Ohio's State Committee (2009-2023) and State Chair (2017-2019)

American Board of Trial Advocates (1996-present); Ohio Chapter's Michael F. Colley Award Recipient (2023), President (2022) and Membership Chair (2023-present)

National Board of Trial Advocacy (Certified in Civil Trial Advocacy, 1997-2010)

International Association of Defense Counsel (1985-1994)

Columbus Bar Association (1977-present); Professional Ethics Committee (1997-1999)

Ohio Super Lawyers (2004-2020, Plaintiff Medical Malpractice)

Martindale Hubbell Bar Register of Preeminent Attorneys (1992-2020, Defense and Plaintiff Medical Malpractice)

Best Lawyers (2008-present); Professional Malpractice Lawyer of the Year (2020)


Rates Information

John Alton's hourly rate is $400 for all aspects of preparation, the mediation (or arbitration) itself and post mediation (or arbitration) involvement for review of additional written materials, phone conferences, email exchanges, correspondence and/or mediator proposals or written decisions post arbitration hearings.

John's hourly rate is $250 for travel to and from mediation venues outside of Central Ohio.

John does not charge for expenses such as parking, hotels, food, mileage, etc. for Ohio-venued mediations. However, if John Alton advances the expense to reserve mediation meeting rooms at hotels or other venues, those costs will be included on mediation invoices. 

If it is necessary for to travel by air to mediate outside of Ohio, costs incurred for air travel, hotels and other mediation related expenses will be included on mediation invoices. 

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