John T. Coyne

JOHN T. COYNE graduated from The Johns Hopkins University in 1987, and from Rutgers Law School in 1991. He is admitted to the bars of the State of New Jersey, the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. From 1991 to 1992, he served as Law Clerk to The Honorable John M. Boyle, Presiding Judge, Superior Court of New Jersey, Chancery Division, General Equity Part.

Mr. Coyne concentrates his practice in complex commercial litigation.  He represents a major consumer products company in a variety of matters, including consumer class actions, product liability suits, discrimination and whistleblower claims by current and former employees and disputes with vendors, with a particular emphasis on supply agreements. He devotes a significant portion of his practice to counseling primary and excess insurers regarding their coverage obligations under many types of policies. He has handled a number of multi-million dollar declaratory judgment actions in state and federal court involving insurance contracts. He has extensive experience in defending claims seeking to impose extra-contractual liability on insurers for bad faith denial of coverage and failure to settle. Mr. Coyne's practice also involves a variety of other types of work. Since 2000, he has served as lead outside counsel to a New Jersey-based staffing company and provided representation and counseling on all types of employer-employee disputes. He has also defended numerous other employment discrimination actions, including an age discrimination suit filed by seventeen plaintiffs against a major corporation following a reduction in force. Additionally, Mr. Coyne has defended professional liability claims brought against insurance brokers and agents, attorneys and accountants. He also has represented manufacturers and distributors in a number of products liability and toxic tort suits filed by persons suffering catastrophic injuries. The products involved in the cases include over-the-counter medications, aircraft, industrial lift trucks, farm equipment, pesticides and various chemicals. Mr. Coyne also has defended statutory and common law claims arising from environmental contamination. He also has extensive experience in matters involving claims of unfair competition and violation by ex-employees of covenants not to compete. Mr. Coyne's practice also focuses on complex civil litigation arising from contractual disputes. In addition to his litigation practice, he has also assisted clients in negotiating contracts, preparing handbooks, conducting internal investigations, and providing crisis counseling.

He has tried multiple cases to conclusion and argued many cases before the New Jersey Supreme Court and Appellate Division. He has published numerous articles on a various topics and lectured at seminars presented by the New Jersey State Bar Association, the New Jersey Institute of Continuing Legal Education and other groups. He is a member of numerous bar associations and professional groups, including the Executive Committee of the New Jersey State Bar Association - Civil Trial Section.

  • Recognized in Chambers USA (2018-2023) in the area of Litigation: Insurance. A description of the standard or methodology on which the accolade is based can be found HERE.
  • Listed in Best Lawyers® (2006-2024), a Woodward/White, Inc. business and partners with U.S. News & World Report, in the area of Insurance Law.  A description of the standard or methodology on which the accolade is based can be found HERE (No aspect of the advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court).
  • Listed in Super Lawyers® (2005-2020, 2023), a Thomson Reuters business, in the areas of Insurance Coverage, Business Litigation, and Employment & Labor: Employer. A description of the standard or methodology on which the accolade is based can be found HERE (No aspect of the advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court).
  • In 2004, he was named to the New Jersey Law Journal’s “40 Under 40”, a list of the State’s top forty attorneys under the age of forty.  A description of the standard or methodology on which the accolade is based can be found HERE (No aspect of the advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court).

Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.

Liberty Mutual Fire Insurance Company v. National Continental Insurance Company,
2017 U.S.Dist.LEXIS 196841 (D.N.J. Nov. 30, 2017)

Peralta v. Joule Staffing Services, Inc., 
2013 WL 28085 (N.J. App. Div. January 3, 2013)

Ohio Casualty Ins. Co. v. Island Pool & Spa, Inc.,
418 N.J. Super 162 (App. Div. 2011)

Proformance Ins. Co. v. Metropolitan Property & Casualty Ins. Co.,
2010 N.J. Super. Unpub. LEXIS 918 (App. Div. Apr. 27, 2010)

American Hardware Mutual Ins. Co. v. Harley Davidson of Trenton, Inc.,
124 Fed.Appx. 107 (3d Cir. 2005)

Nutmeg Ins. Co. v. Iowa Mutual Ins. Co.,
2005 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 12834 (S.D.N.Y. 2005)

United States Liability Ins. Gp. v. Security Ins. Co.,
381 N.J.Super. 211 (App. Div. 2005)

White Consolidated Industries v. Lin,
372 N.J.Super. 480 (App. Div. 2004)

Re/Max of New Jersey, Inc. v. Wausau Ins. Co.,
162 N.J. 282 (2000)

Courvoisier v. Harley Davidson, Inc.,
162 N.J. 153 (1999)

DeHanes v. Rothman,
158 N.J. 90 (1999)

Farris v. County of Camden,
61 F.Supp. 2d 307 (D.N.J. 1999)

Miller v. McClure,
162 N.J. 575 (1999)

Vega v. Piedilato,
154 N.J. 496 (1998)

Princeton Ins. Co. v. Chunmuang,
151 N.J. 80 (1997)

Samco Rockaway 90 v. Lawyers Title Ins. Corp.,
1995 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 7380 (D.N.J. 1995)

JOHN T. COYNE graduated from The Johns Hopkins University in 1987, and from Rutgers Law School in 1991. He is admitted to the bars of the State of New Jersey, the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. From 1991 to 1992, he served as Law Clerk to The Honorable John M. Boyle, Presiding Judge, Superior Court of New Jersey, Chancery Division, General Equity Part.

Mr. Coyne concentrates his practice in complex commercial litigation.  He represents a major consumer products company in a variety of matters, including consumer class actions, product liability suits, discrimination and whistleblower claims by current and former employees and disputes with vendors, with a particular emphasis on supply agreements. He devotes a significant portion of his practice to counseling primary and excess insurers regarding their coverage obligations under many types of policies. He has handled a number of multi-million dollar declaratory judgment actions in state and federal court involving insurance contracts. He has extensive experience in defending claims seeking to impose extra-contractual liability on insurers for bad faith denial of coverage and failure to settle. Mr. Coyne's practice also involves a variety of other types of work. Since 2000, he has served as lead outside counsel to a New Jersey-based staffing company and provided representation and counseling on all types of employer-employee disputes. He has also defended numerous other employment discrimination actions, including an age discrimination suit filed by seventeen plaintiffs against a major corporation following a reduction in force. Additionally, Mr. Coyne has defended professional liability claims brought against insurance brokers and agents, attorneys and accountants. He also has represented manufacturers and distributors in a number of products liability and toxic tort suits filed by persons suffering catastrophic injuries. The products involved in the cases include over-the-counter medications, aircraft, industrial lift trucks, farm equipment, pesticides and various chemicals. Mr. Coyne also has defended statutory and common law claims arising from environmental contamination. He also has extensive experience in matters involving claims of unfair competition and violation by ex-employees of covenants not to compete. Mr. Coyne's practice also focuses on complex civil litigation arising from contractual disputes. In addition to his litigation practice, he has also assisted clients in negotiating contracts, preparing handbooks, conducting internal investigations, and providing crisis counseling.

He has tried multiple cases to conclusion and argued many cases before the New Jersey Supreme Court and Appellate Division. He has published numerous articles on a various topics and lectured at seminars presented by the New Jersey State Bar Association, the New Jersey Institute of Continuing Legal Education and other groups. He is a member of numerous bar associations and professional groups, including the Executive Committee of the New Jersey State Bar Association - Civil Trial Section.

  • Recognized in Chambers USA (2018-2023) in the area of Litigation: Insurance. A description of the standard or methodology on which the accolade is based can be found HERE.
  • Listed in Best Lawyers® (2006-2024), a Woodward/White, Inc. business and partners with U.S. News & World Report, in the area of Insurance Law.  A description of the standard or methodology on which the accolade is based can be found HERE (No aspect of the advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court).
  • Listed in Super Lawyers® (2005-2020, 2023), a Thomson Reuters business, in the areas of Insurance Coverage, Business Litigation, and Employment & Labor: Employer. A description of the standard or methodology on which the accolade is based can be found HERE (No aspect of the advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court).
  • In 2004, he was named to the New Jersey Law Journal’s “40 Under 40”, a list of the State’s top forty attorneys under the age of forty.  A description of the standard or methodology on which the accolade is based can be found HERE (No aspect of the advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court).

Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.

Liberty Mutual Fire Insurance Company v. National Continental Insurance Company,
2017 U.S.Dist.LEXIS 196841 (D.N.J. Nov. 30, 2017)

Peralta v. Joule Staffing Services, Inc., 
2013 WL 28085 (N.J. App. Div. January 3, 2013)

Ohio Casualty Ins. Co. v. Island Pool & Spa, Inc.,
418 N.J. Super 162 (App. Div. 2011)

Proformance Ins. Co. v. Metropolitan Property & Casualty Ins. Co.,
2010 N.J. Super. Unpub. LEXIS 918 (App. Div. Apr. 27, 2010)

American Hardware Mutual Ins. Co. v. Harley Davidson of Trenton, Inc.,
124 Fed.Appx. 107 (3d Cir. 2005)

Nutmeg Ins. Co. v. Iowa Mutual Ins. Co.,
2005 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 12834 (S.D.N.Y. 2005)

United States Liability Ins. Gp. v. Security Ins. Co.,
381 N.J.Super. 211 (App. Div. 2005)

White Consolidated Industries v. Lin,
372 N.J.Super. 480 (App. Div. 2004)

Re/Max of New Jersey, Inc. v. Wausau Ins. Co.,
162 N.J. 282 (2000)

Courvoisier v. Harley Davidson, Inc.,
162 N.J. 153 (1999)

DeHanes v. Rothman,
158 N.J. 90 (1999)

Farris v. County of Camden,
61 F.Supp. 2d 307 (D.N.J. 1999)

Miller v. McClure,
162 N.J. 575 (1999)

Vega v. Piedilato,
154 N.J. 496 (1998)

Princeton Ins. Co. v. Chunmuang,
151 N.J. 80 (1997)

Samco Rockaway 90 v. Lawyers Title Ins. Corp.,
1995 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 7380 (D.N.J. 1995)

Education

Johns Hopkins University (B.A. 1987)
Rutgers U. School of Law - Newark (J.D. 1991)

Admissions

State of New Jersey