John P. Cunningham

Education

• Southern Illinois University (J.D., magna cum laude, 1986)
• Elmhurst College (B.S., magna cum laude, 1983)

Bar Admissions

• Illinois
• Missouri
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
• U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois
• U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri

Recent Achievements

• Best Lawyers - Litigation - Insurance, Product Liability Litigation - Defendants, Insurance Law, The Best Lawyers in America (2022-2024)
• Super Lawyers - Personal Injury General: Defense, Illinois Super Lawyers (2014-2018)
• IAAF Illinois Award for Recognition for dedication and service in CFI instruction
• American Jurisprudence Award for Excellence in Evidence
• American Jurisprudence Award for Excellence in Constitutional Law
• American Jurisprudence Award for Excellence in Equity/Injunctions
• Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent

Professional Affiliations

• American Bar Association
• Defense Research Institute
• Illinois State Bar Association
• International Association of Arson Investigators
• Missouri Organization of Defense Lawyers
• East St. Louis Bar Association
• St. Clair County Bar Association

Publications

• Illinois Alters Defense of Misrepresentation in the Application
• Employer's Liability Policy Does Not Cover Claim for Spoliation of Evidence in Illinois
• Duty to Act in Good Faith Both Before and After Suit is Filed in Illinois
• New Legislation in Illinois May Change the Way Innocent Co-Insured's Claims are Handled
• Notice Clause Near Death in Missouri
• Bad Faith Refusal to Settle - The Stakes Are Higher

Speaking

• "Civil Case Law Update," Civil Case Law Update, Insurance Issues and Ethics Seminar, United States Arbitration & Mediation (June 2018)
• "Case Law Update," Brown & James General Defense & Insurance Law Symposium (January 2017)
• "Case Law Update," Brown & James Law Symposium (January 2014)
• "Case Law Update," Brown & James Law Symposium (January 2013)
• Co-presenter with Julia Jackson of Illinois Casualty Company, at the Property Loss Research Bureau (PLRB) national seminar in Orlando, Florida on ”Alcohol-Related Injury Liability” and Explored Liability and Defense Issues in Dram Shop and Negligence Claims Involving Alcohol (April 2012).
• "Mold Litigation" seminar presented to attorneys and the insurance industry in Collinsville, Illinois (September 2002).
• "Courtroom Testimony" seminar presented for the International Association of Arson Investigators in Belleville, Illinois (March 2002).
• "Legal Issues in the Arson Defense" seminar presented to the National Society of Professional Insurance Investigators at the Advance Insurance Fraud Seminar in Lake Ozark, Missouri (April 2001).
• Presented seminar to Hartford Insurance Company in Indianapolis, Indiana on a variety of topics, including duty to defend, premises liability claims, uninsured motorist claims and dram shop claims. (January 2000).
• Author and Speaker: "Annual Symposium on Property Insurance Law" Brown & James, P.C., (1992 through 1999).
• "General Liability Coverage Issues in Illinois" seminar presented to Commercial Union Insurance Company in St. Louis, Missouri (December 1998).
• "First Party Claims Practices and Avoidance of Bad Faith Claims" seminar presented to State Farm Insurance Company in Bloomington, Illinois (April 1998).
• "Vexatious Delay and Refusal to Pay" seminar presented to the insurance industry in St. Louis, Missouri (January 1997).
• "Motive, Means and Opportunity" seminar presented to the insurance industry in St. Louis, Missouri (January 1997).