John F. Nevares, Attorney at Law
Education and Professional Credentials
John F. Nevares, born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on July 12, 1955, graduated Cum Laude from Boston College in 1977. He then pursued his Juris Doctor degree at Interamerican University, graduating in 1980. His passion for maritime law led him to Tulane University, where he earned his Master of Laws in Admiralty in 1981.
Mr. Nevares was admitted to the Puerto Rico bar in 1980, marking the beginning of his legal career. His professional credentials expanded when he was admitted to the bars of Louisiana, the United States Supreme Court, the United States Court of Appeals for the First and Fifth Circuits, and the United States District Courts for the Eastern and Middle Districts of Louisiana and Puerto Rico.
He also became a member in the Maritime Law Association of the United States and the Comité Maritime International. Fluent in both English and Spanish, Mr. Nevares is equipped to serve a diverse client base.
His educational background and professional credentials speak to his dedication to the field of law. His diverse legal education and extensive bar admissions demonstrate his commitment to his profession and ability to serve a wide range of clients.
Present Engagements
John F. Nevares currently represents plaintiffs in the Parkinson's Litigation MDL No. 3004 in the United States District Court, Southern District of Illinois. These plaintiffs were exposed to a chemical known as Paraquat, which led to the development of Parkinson's Disease. This multidistrict litigation is the most recent of a series of noteworthy, complex litigations that Mr. Nevares has been a part of.
From September 2013 through the present, Mr. Nevares has also represented investors who filed arbitration claims against UBS Securities, Santander Securities, Oriental Securities, and Popular Securities. Through years of handling these cases, Mr. Nevares has developed a strategic approach and deep understanding of securities law.
In 2009, Mr. Nevares filed a lawsuit on behalf of 4,000 neighbors of a gasoline tank farm that exploded while MV Cape Bruni was offloading gasoline to the tank farm. This case, in which 21 gasoline tanks exploded, was settled the day before trial on January 31, 2016, after an arduous, high stakes negotiation process.
From 2001 through 2011, Mr. Nevares served as Counsel for Exxon Mobile Corporation, handling numerous environmental cases.
In 1995, Mr. Nevares began his involvement in class action and MDL cases, a commitment that continues today. He has been involved in significant litigations such as the In re: Dupont Fire Litigation MDL-721; the PR Cabotage Litigation MDL–1960, where he was liaison counsel for the Plaintiff’s Steering Committee (PSC); the Navistar Diesel Engine Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2223; the Synthroid MDL Litigation; the Vitamins MDL Litigation; the Cooper Tire MDL Litigation; the Guidant MDL Litigation; the Viagra MDL Litigation; the Ortho Evra Litigation; the ReNu MDL Litigation; the Avandia MDL Litigation; the Medtronic MDL Litigation; the In Re: iPhone/iPad Application Consumer Privacy Litigation; the Toyota Motor Corp. MDL Litigation; and the DePuy Orthopedics MDL Litigation.
In 1994, Mr. Nevares was trial counsel for the Department of Justice in the grounding of T/B Morris Berman off the North Coast of San Juan which spilled one million gallons of bunker “C” oil. After two appeals to the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, the case settled for $25 million.
Past Endeavors and Noteworthy Litigations
Early Career
In 1988, Mr. Nevares was trial counsel in the grounding of the M/V Regina, an Italian built ferry which carried passengers and automobiles, that grounded off of Mona Island, between the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. Mr. Nevares broke the limitation of liability and Federal Judge Laffitte ordered the removal of the vessel at a cost of approximately $12 million.
In 1987, ex-Supreme Court Justice Lino Saldaña invited Mr. Nevares to work at his law firm. During his time there, Mr. Nevares handled Civil Rights cases involving police brutality, alleged sexual harassment by public officials, political discrimination cases, and prisoners’ civil rights actions.
Mr. Nevares started his practice in New Orleans, Louisiana at the law firm Phelps Dunbar where he worked under the direction of John Sims on a number of different cases. Thereafter, Mr. George Frilot from Lemle & Kelleher made him an offer to work in that firm.
LETICIA ACEVEDO-CRESPO, ATTORNEY AT LAW
Bar Admissions
Experience
Admitted to Puerto Rico Bar (January 1997)
Admitted to U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico (October 2001)
Admitted to U.S. Court of Appeals for the first Circuit (March 2002)
Admitted to U.S. Supreme Court (May 2002)
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Attend hearings. Assist in preparation for trial. Assist in preparation of direct, re-direct and rebuttal examinations. Prepare witnesses. Review transcript of depositions to find key testimony in preparation for trial. Identify documents to be used during trial. Attend trials with lead attorney.
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Work with Class Action, Multi-District Litigation, Complex Litigation and Civil Rights in Federal and State Court. Work with Pro Bono cases referred by the Puerto Rico Bar Association