John Michael Phillips (born February 4, 1975) is an American lawyer and a legal commentator.Erin Jensen. "Don Lewis' family lawyer says ad during Carole Baskin's 'DWTS' debut sparked 'legitimate tips'", USA Today, September 2020. He is licensed to practice law in Florida, New York, Georgia, Alabama, Texas, Oklahoma, Illinois and Washington, DC. Phillips has been lead counsel in numerous nationally reported cases. He represented U.S. Congresswoman Lucy McBath and Ron Davis after the Murder of Jordan Davis in Jacksonville, Florida.Joy Anne Reid. "For Jordan Davis’ parents, a bond with Trayvon’s family, and prayers for a different trial outcome" The Grio, July 2013. He prevailed as lead counsel for Omarosa Manigault Newman in litigation filed against her by Donald TrumpMatt Soergel. "Jacksonville attorney in middle of Trump-Omarosa feud", Florida Times Union, August 2018. As a result, the Campaign was assessed Phillips’s legal fees and costs, totaling over $1.3 Million and agreed to invalidate all of the Campaign's NDAs.Josh Gerstein. "Trump campaign is ordered to pay $1.3 million for Omarosa legal fees", Politico, April 2022. He was also lead counsel for Joseph Maldonado-Passage, also known as Joe Exotic, from the Netflix show Tiger King.Carianne Luter "John Phillips is representing ‘Tiger King’ star Joe Exotic", WJXT, March 2021. Phillips appears in four episodes of season two of Tiger King.
Early life and education
Phillips was born in Mobile, Alabama. He completed a BA (Political science and Criminal justice, 1997) at the University of Alabama and JD (2000) at the University of Alabama School of Law.Marilyn Young. "Lawyer snapshot: John Phillips", Jacksonville Daily Record, March 2014. He moved to Jacksonville, Florida in 2001.
Career
Phillips started his career as a civil litigation defense attorney, defending companies like Coca-Cola, Hertz, and State Farm from injury claims. After nearly a decade of defense work, he worked alongside John Morgan and represented victims of traumatic injuries. In 2011, he founded his own law office.
Phillips successfully defended the copyright of his client who had created a photograph of prosecutor Angela Corey and George Zimmerman attempted to sell a rendition as a painting.Jeff Weiner. "Attorney: George Zimmerman stole photographer's work to make painting", Orlando Sentinel, January 2014. Another notable case includes Gregory Hill v. Ft. Pierce Police Department, where a man was shot by police through his closed garage door. A controversial $4 jury verdict resulted.Eliott C. McLaughlin. "'Black lives don't matter,' lawyer says after jury awards $4 in police killing, "CNN," June 2018.
In 2012, Phillips was hired by Ron Davis and U.S. Congresswoman Lucy McBath after the shooting of Jordan Davis by Michael Dunn.Larry Hannan. "Michael Dunn/Jordan Davis trial problematic at every step", Florida Times-Union, January 2014.
Tiger King Litigation
Phillips was hired in July 2020 to represent the daughters of Don Lewis and his former assistant Anne McQueen. The Lewis daughters sought information from Carole Baskin and others about the disappearance of Don Lewis and the lawsuit was amended concerning defamation toward McQueen. It was pending in 2021.Christopher Spata. "Family of Tiger King’s Don Lewis files lawsuit against Carole Baskin and others", Tampa Bay Times, August 2020. Phillips and his firm were later contacted and retained by Joe Exotic.Lee Brown. "‘Tiger King’ Joe Exotic hires new legal team to file for fresh trial", New York Post, March 2021.
Donald Trump vs. Omarosa Manigault Newman
On August 18, 2018, it was announced that Phillips and his firm were representing Omarosa Manigault Newman in both arbitration and litigation arising out of her employment with Donald Trump.Matt Soergel. "Jacksonville Attorney John Phillips Representing Omarosa", Florida Times-Union, August 2018.Kent Justice. "Jacksonville attorney in middle of Trump-Omarosa feud", WJCT, August 2018.
Phillips defeated Trump and his Campaign's efforts to enforce a nondisclosure agreement against Newman, the former White House aide and a star on “The Apprentice” who wrote a tell-all book about serving in his administration.Maggie Haberman. "Trump Loses Case to Enforce Omarosa Manigault Newman’s N.D.A.", The New York Times, September 2021. In the decision by the American Arbitration Association dated September 24, 2021, the Arbitrator granted Respondent’s Summary Judgment Motion declaring the Agreement invalid under New York contract law.Colin Kalmbacher. "‘It’s Over’: Omarosa’s Attorney Celebrates as Trump NDA Ruled Unenforceable, Paving the Way for More Secrets to Be Spilled", Law & Crime, September 2021.
Howard S. Schneider pediatric abuse cases
Phillips handled the case of Jacksonville pediatric dentist Howard S. Schneider. Howard Schneider was initially charged in a scheme to defraud Medicaid, but also had to answer to allegations of abuse and performing unnecessary dentistry on children. Parents were told the treatment involved one tooth yet he extracted several.First Coast News. "Embattled former dentist judged incompetent to stand trial in Medicaid fraud case, February 2017. Phillips made several televised interviews about it on shows such as Nancy Grace,Nancy Grace. "Disturbing video: Dentist torturing young patient?", HLN, May 2015. Nightline,Harry Phillips. "Dentist Accused of Harming Child Patients While Making Millions of Dollars", ABC News, September 2016. Crime Watch Daily,Ana Garcia. "Pediatric Dentist Accused of Mistreating Young Patients", Crime Watch Daily, January 2016. and others.
Record verdict on behalf of Kalil McCoy
On January 15, 2019, Phillips and his firm received a jury verdict of $495,123,680.00, the largest known jury verdict in northeast Florida and one of the largest awards for wrongful death in the country. Kalil McCoy, of Jacksonville, Florida, was shot in the head by Frederick Lee Wade, 19, while they rode in a car with four other friends, after an argument about opening a window. McCoy’s friends would dumped her body in a wooded area and lied about what happened.Stephen Sorace. "Murder victim's family awarded nearly $500M in wrongful death case", "Fox News," January 2019.
Estate of Christopher “YNW Juvy” Thomas, Jr. versus Jamell "YNW Melly" Demons
Christopher Thomas Jr., and Anthony Williams were shot and killed Oct. 26, 2018, in South Florida according to the Miramar Police Department. The men were last seen leaving in a car with Jamell Demons, aka YNW Melly, and Cortlen Henry, aka YNW Bortlen.Dacia Johnson. "Florida rapper YNW Melly murder charges: The full story", "TC Palm" March 2019. Miramar police said an investigation concluded that Demons shot and killed Williams and Thomas. Phillips filed a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of the family of Christopher Thomas, Jr., on Oct. 30 2020.Shawn Setaro. "YNW Melly Sued For Millions By Families of Murdered YNW Members", "The Complex" November 2020. As a result of accepting this case, Phillips states he has been the victim of death threats and harassment.
Political life and civic career
In 2015, Phillips was nominated by the Mayor of Jacksonville to the City's Human Rights Commission.City of Jacksonville WebsiteDavid Bauerlein. "Mayor's review of Human Rights Commission member finds he can act fairly in that role", Florida Times-Union, July 2016. On November 14, 2017, he resigned from the Commission in order to relieve any perceived conflict before filing multiple civil rights lawsuits against the City of Jacksonville.Anne Schindler. "Jacksonville police brutality case settled four years after video captured handcuffed woman's beating", First Coast News, July 2020.Stacey Readout. "Eureka Gardens children get free school supplies" , WJXT, August 2016.
Personal life In June 2020 Phillips was residing in Jacksonville, Florida. He has three sons. He is the owner of the Folio Weekly, a news publication over 40 year-old.Nick Jones. "Prominent Jacksonville attorney buys Folio Weekly", WJXT, June 2020.Katie Garwood. "Lawyer John Phillips buys Folio Weekly", Jacksonville Daily Record, June 2020.
References
External links John Phillips Law Office Web Site John Phillips Personal Web Site Folio Weekly Web Site