Lawyers / Professionals

 
Jonathan P. Harmon       
Partner
One James Center
901 East Cary Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219-4030
T: 804.775.4712
F: 804.698.2073
jharmon@mcguirewoods.com
 

Mr. Harmon is a national trial lawyer who focuses on making complex and/or high exposure cases easy for juries to understand. He has won verdicts in some of the most difficult and dangerous venues in the country. He has tried jury trials on behalf of Fortune 500 companies and other clients in federal and/or state courts in South Carolina, Texas, Missouri, West Virginia, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Illinois, Georgia, New Jersey, Virginia, Ohio, Maryland, Maine, Kansas and Tennessee. He has successfully represented clients in the majority of states in the country.


Representative Matters
  • LEGAL DISCLAIMER: THE RESULTS OF ALL CLIENT MATTERS DEPEND ON A VARIETY OF FACTORS UNIQUE TO EACH MATTER. PAST SUCCESSES DO NOT PREDICT OR GUARANTEE FUTURE SUCCESSES.
  • International Paper Co. v. Kennedy Specialty Lumber, et. al (E.D. Marshall Tex) - Represented International Paper in a complex commercial fraud and conspiracy jury trial after principal defendant was acquitted. Defendants counter claimed and demanded $140 million shortly before trial. More than 20,000 exhibits were introduced during the trial. The jury returned a $1 million verdict (the exact amount requested in closing) in favor of International Paper and rejected defendants' counter claim.
  • Thomas v. Atlantic Richfield, DuPont, et al. (Milwaukee, Wisconsin Cir. Ct.) - Represented DuPont in a five-week jury trial in which the plaintiff and his guardian ad litem alleged that the plaintiff suffered permanent brain damage as a result of childhood lead poisoning. The case was the first in the country to go to trial under a recently created "risk contribution" theory of liability. The trial received national attention and was closely followed by the plaintiff and defense bars. The jury returned a complete defense verdict.
  • Alsobrook, et al. vs. UPS Ground Freight (USDC Memphis, Tn.) - Represented UPS in a four-plaintiff hostile environment, race and retaliation jury trial brought under Title VII and Section 1981. Plaintiffs alleged a hostile environment, including a noose, two death threats, a gun, various instances of patently offensive graffiti and racial epithets by coworkers and supervisors. Plaintiffs sought damages in excess of $10 million. After a two-week trial the jury returned a complete defense verdict.
  • Willie Homer Stephens, Guardian Ad Litem for Lillian Colvin, v. CSX Transportation (Hampton County Circuit Court, South Carolina) - Represented CSX in this three week jury trial. The plaintiff alleged that CSX's negligence in operating one of its trains and in failing to clear vegetation at a crossing in Hampton County, South Carolina resulted in an accident that caused brain damage to a minor. During closing arguments plaintiff's counsel requested actual and punitive damages in excess of $40,000,000.00. The 12-person jury returned a unanimous defense verdict in favor of CSX.
  • Musburger Ltd. V. Meier (Cook County Cir. Ct.) - Retained approximately 45 days before trial to represent a prominent entertainment lawyer in a commercial jury trial with a Chicago radio personality. Defendant brought a $15 million counterclaim against our client for malpractice and breach of fiduciary duty. The jury returned a verdict in favor of our client.
  • Hicks, et al. v. International Paper Company (E.D. Tex) - Retained by International Paper Company approximately 60 days before a jury trial to represent it in an environmental tort case under the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) and the Clean Water Act. Case settled favorably after jury selection.
  • Nevamar v. Charleswater (D. Md.) - Represented Nevamar, in this patent infringement case. Client asked Mr. Harmon to try the case approximately 100 days before trial. Plaintiff calculated damages of approximately $100 million. Case settled favorably shortly before trial.

Practices & Industries
Honors
  • Named One of the "Best Lawyers in America," Woodward/White, Inc., 2009-2012
  • Named One of "America's Leading Lawyers," Chambers USA, 2008-2011
  • Named a Virginia "Super Lawyer," 2007-2011
  • Named One of Virginia's "Legal Elite," Virginia Business, 2005,2006, 2010, 2011
  • Named in "Top 40 Under 40," Richmond Times-Dispatch, 2004
  • MCCA Outstanding Outside Counsel, Platinum Circle, 2001

Professional Affiliations
  • Virginia Bar Association
  • American Bar Association
  • Defense Research Institute
  • National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel (NARTC)
 

EDUCATION

University of Texas School of Law, Austin, Texas, J.D., 1995

  • Honors: Order of Barristers
  • Honors: Best Advocate Class of 1995 Neimann Cup Award

U.S. Military Academy, West Point, New York, B.S., 1987

 
 

ADMITTED

U.S. Supreme Court

Virginia

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia

U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia

U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas

U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas

U.S. District Court for Colorado

U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin