Jon brings significant experience in trial and appellate litigation in the areas of professional liability defense and coverage, employment law and business counseling.  A significant portion of Jon's practice is devoted to professional indemnity and Executive & Officer defense work for national and international insurance companies.    He has defended attorneys, accountants, architects, engineers, real estate brokers, title insurance companies and corporate officers and directors in liability actions.  Jon has handled numerous medical malpractice claims, including defense of ob-gyn, emergency room, radiology and neurology cases.  Additionally, Jon has significant experience in the areas of employment law and business counseling.  He has served as outside counsel to a federal thrift institution and numerous national trade associations.

Recent successful cases handled by Jon include the following:

• The first case in the 4th Circuit to find insurance coverage for a property owner under a CGL policy based on the defective work of a sub-contractor.
• Obtained a defense verdict in a two-week trial defending a psychiatrist against malpractice claims arising out of the suicide of a 34-year old male patient.  The issues involved technical applications of psychopharmacologic principles as well as treatment decisions made in a managed health care environment.
• Served as lead counsel winning summary judgment on behalf of former directors and attorneys of a failed federally-insured savings institution against claims by the FDIC totaling in excess of $15 million.  The case involved numerous cutting edge issues with respect to attorneys liability, director liability, statute of limitations analysis, application of FIRREA and bank regulator duties.  This case received national attention as the most successful effort to date in restraining the expansive interpretation by the FRIC/RTC of its powers under federal law.  Jon also served as lead counsel for all appellees in the successful defense of the appeal of this case in the Fourth Circuit.
• Represented insurance client in a series of related, complex coverage disputes involving multiple defalcations and embezzlement by an insured title company.
• Served as special counsel in representing an association in the development and negotiation of a major real estate planned unit development project in downtown Washington, D.C., involving assembly of numerous parcels of land, administrative bodies with regard to zoning and environmental issues as well as the development of a unique transfer of development rights program to facilitate highest and best use of site.

Jon has been a member of the Permanent Panel of Arbitrators with the American Arbitration Association since 1989.  Prior to joining Sands Anderson, Jon was the founding partner with the law firm of Schraub, Howell & Company, Chtd. Jon was recognized as "Lawyer of the Year" for Legal Malpractice representation in Washington, D.C. in the 2011 Edition of the Best Lawyers in America.

Publications

Author, "View from the Trenches: Defense Counsel's Perspective," Today's Lawyer, August 2000

Author, "Can an Attorney Serve Two Masters?  The Relationship Among Insurer, Insured and Defense Counsel," VBA New Journal, September 1998

Co-Author, "Putting Teeth Into Your Management Training Program," HR Focus, May 1998