Biography
John is a Founding Partner of Kibler Fowler & Cave LLP. He specializes in complex business, intellectual property, media, entertainment, cannabis, privacy, reputation and brand protection litigation in federal and state courts, and arbitrations. John handles a variety of litigation matters including disputes involving copyright, trademark, idea theft, anti-SLAPP, right of publicity, Talent Agencies Act, management and agent commissions, and other disputes in music, film and television. John has achieved noteworthy results for a variety of significant clients. His cases and trial victories have been featured in The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Deadline, Forbes, Gizmodo and numerous other publications. John regularly advises clients on their disputes in the cryptocurrency, NFT and DeFi realms with an expansive practice toeing the line between Hollywood, Crypto, Cannabis and Business. He has represented individuals, businesses, artists, production companies, and major corporate entities as both plaintiffs and defendants.
John’s recent representative matters include:
- Securing a landmark $1.9 million jury verdict on behalf of his client, Los Angeles-based film producer Kevin Shulman, in a case involving producer credit. The case was the subject of an article in The Hollywood Reporter, which noted that the verdict was significant because producer credit-related disputes often arise in Hollywood, but are typically privately resolved or never litigated. The verdict establishes a valuation model for a denied producer credit that should inform how those credits are valued in future disputes.
- Successfully moving for summary judgment in a lawsuit in California Superior Court that alleged multiple causes of action, including recission, breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty and fraud relating to a cannabis business. After substantial discovery, including responding to 700 individual discovery requests, multiple motions to compel, and 18 depositions, John and his team won a complete victory on all causes of action against all 20 defendants, eliminating the need for a costly, month-long trial. The Firm also secured a $785,057.32 attorney fee and costs award in the case against the plaintiffs.
- Prevailing at arbitration over a sports agent commission dispute resulting in an award of the full commission to John’s client, and associated litigation costs.
- Securing a $750,000 bench trial verdict in a Los Angeles Superior Court trial over a film financing dispute. John represented an actor, writer, and producer against his former business partner in a single cross-claim for breach of implied contractual indemnity.
- Obtaining a dismissal without leave to amend on a combined 12(b)(1) and 12(b)(6) motion of a copyright infringement case (which involved predecessor lawsuits and two federal cases) against John’s client, the prestigious Berlin-based teaching hospital The Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin.
- Defending a biotech company in a lawsuit brought in federal court in California by a major ophthalmologic surgical equipment and dry eye care company related to alleged breaches of a licensing agreement for ophthalmologic solution.
- Representing a major optical displays manufacturer in a lawsuit against a customer relating to cancelled LED lighting orders.
John is a graduate of Vanderbilt University and earned his law degree from Loyola Law School in Los Angeles. While at Loyola, he served as the General Managing Editor of The Los Angeles Public Interest Law Journal, and as a member of Loyola Law School’s Scott Moot Court Honors Board (winning the Scott Moot Court competition, competing in the National Moot Court Competition, and serving as an Appellate Advocacy teaching assistant). Following Loyola, John practiced entertainment, media and general business litigation prior to co-founding Kibler Fowler & Cave.
