John P. Rahoy

Principal
Bank of America Plaza
800 Market Street
Suite 1100
St. Louis, MO 63101-2501
314-242-5336
314-242-5536

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John is an experienced trial lawyer with a successful record defending clients in difficult jurisdictions.

John has tried more than 70 jury trials to verdict, including many in the Circuit Court of the City of St. Louis, one of the most challenging plaintiff venues in the nation. He focuses his practice on issues involving  retail, premises, mass transit and professional liability matters. He has represented retail clients such as J.C. Penney, T. J. Maxx, Marshalls and other major national retailers. John also has represented State Farm Automobile Insurance Company and Bi-State Development Agency, the region’s mass transit authority.

With extensive experience in the areas of hospitality, false imprisonment, criminal/ negligent conduct of municipalities and employees, slander, libel, and race discrimination matters, John handles a variety of legal issues for clients in the retail industry. John also has had repeated success with cases involving product liability, construction and transportation matters and frequently represents real estate agents and real estate companies in professional liability disputes.

John has been recognized by his peers for inclusion in  The Best Lawyers in America and is a former director of the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel.

Recent Successful Jury Trials 
  • Obtained summary judgment in a professional liability real estate agent matter on behalf of agent and broker based on the failure to disclose an opinion of a next door neighbor as to the source water. The court held that the opinion of a neighbor regarding the source of water does not have to be disclosed by an agent and/or broker.
  • Recently tried a case for a major retailer where liability was admitted and all of the treaters related the treatment and care to the incident. Plaintiff sought several million dollars including a $2-million life care plan. After deliberation, the jury returned a verdict 80 percent less than that sought by the attorneys in closing argument and well below the last settlement demand.
  • Redman vs. Bi-State Development Agency (2018) – Secured defense verdict in case involving plaintiff who sustained substantial injuries to his knee requiring 15 surgical procedures resulting from a fall that he claimed occurred in a large gap between the end of the platform at a train station and the train. The plaintiff sought $10 million.
  • Miller v. Wal-Mart (2017) – Plaintiff asserted that a broken piece of concrete in the cart corral portion of the store caused him to trip and fall requiring surgical intervention. The case was one of liability as the condition had existed for several weeks. The verdict came in at exactly the settlement value and offer extended before trial.
Community Activities

Lindbergh School District Committee Member – 2010 Budget Committee
Lindbergh School District Committee Member – Prop R Committee 2006, 2009
Former Eureka, Mo.,  Board of Alderman
Former Crestwood, Mo., Public Works Board Member

More About John

Education

  • University of Missouri School of Law (J.D., 1993)
  • William Jewell College (B.S., 1990)

Bar Admissions

  • Missouri
  • Illinois
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri
  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois

Recent Achievements

  • Best Lawyers - Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants (2024)
  • Best Lawyers - Insurance Law, The Best Lawyers in America (2021-2024)
  • Best Lawyers - Litigation - Insurance Law, The Best Lawyers in America (2021-2024)
  • Best Lawyers - Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants, The Best Lawyers in America (2018-2024)
  • Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent

Professional Affiliations

  • ALFA International
  • Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel, Former Board of Directors, Admissions Committee, Sponsorship Committee Vice Chair, Social Media and Website Committee Vice Chair, Membership Development Committee Vice Chair, Ladder Down Vice Chair, By-Laws & Resolution Committee
  • Missouri Organization of Defense Lawyers
  • Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis

Speaking

  • Presenter, "Social Hour: Using Social Media Technology to Your Advantage," Brown & James Insurance Law & General Defense Symposium, January 2024
  • Presenter, "Be the T-Rex: How to Attack Reptile From Inception," ALFA International Hospitality & Retail Regional Seminar, June 2022
  • Presenter, "The Hospitality and Retail New Frontier: Robotics, Driverless Vehicles and Virtual/Augmented Reality," ALFA International Hospitality & Retail Practice Group Seminar, August 2019
  • Presenter, "What's the Count? Case Law Update," Brown & James Kansas City Client Seminar, April 2019
  • Presenter, “Cyber Hacking and Its Impacts on Corporations,” Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel, Amelia Island (March 2015)
  • Presenter, “The Art of Examining Experts,” ALFA International (August 2014)
  • Presenter, “Preparation of the State by State Compendium,” ALFA Hospitality and Retail Group on the issue of the use of social media at trial (August 2014)