John L.
Hayob
John joined the firm as a law clerk while still in law school. As a law student, John was impressed by the scope of the firm’s litigation practice. John says that he was struck by the practical approach of the attorneys, “their ability to cut to the heart of a dispute and deal with it in a direct and straightforward way,” an approach that John stresses holds true for our attorneys today. John regularly participates in seminars and presentations involving insurance related issues before professional and industry groups. John has served on the boards of not-for-profit organizations in civic and educational work in the Kansas City area. He is also very active in his church.
Education
B.A., English, Rockhurst College
J.D., University of Missouri-Kansas City
Mediation Certification, University of Missouri- Columbia School of Law
Honors & Awards
Selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© in the area of Insurance Law (2013-2023)
AM BEST Client Recommended Attorneys (2021)
Selected for inclusion in Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers (2008-2021)
Bar Admissions & Professional Associations
U.S. Court of Appeals – Eighth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals – Tenth Circuit
U.S. District Court – District of Kansas
U.S. District Court – Eastern District of Missouri
U.S. District Court – Western District of Missouri
American Bar Association (Member, Tort and Insurance Practice Sections)
Defense Research Institute
Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association
Missouri Organization of Defense Lawyers
The Missouri Bar
Seminars & Publications
“The Self-Insured Retention.” Declarations – a publication of the Excess/Surplus Lines Claims Association
Multiple presentations and publications presented by the Missouri Bar, the Kansas City Metropolitan Association, and other professional associations.
Representative Cases
Holway v. Negro Leagues Baseball Museum – John represented the Museum in a case involving the alleged loss of certain historical items relating to the Negro Leagues that a baseball historian claimed he loaned to the Museum. The case was tried before a jury, resulting in a verdict in favor of the Museum that was affirmed on appeal by the U.S. Court of Appeals – Eighth Circuit.
Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine v. Royal Insurance Company – John represented the defendant insurer in litigation involving questions of coverage for environmental claims under the property damage and personal injury provisions of a commercial general liability policy. The trial court granted the insurer defendant’s summary judgment, finding no coverage. The U.S. Court of Appeals – Eighth Circuit reversed the Court’s ruling and remanded the case on the issue of duty to defend. Summary judgment was again granted to the firm’s client on the issue of indemnity by the trial court after remand, which was affirmed by the Eighth Circuit on a second appeal.
Kansas City Power & Light v. Forney Corporation – John represented one of several defendants in complex litigation arising out of a boiler explosion at the Hawthorne Power Plant owned by Kansas City Power & Light, which involved property damage claims totaling hundreds of millions of dollars. The client’s claims were resolved by way of a confidential settlement.
