John C. McCarron

Partner / Co-Chair, Food & Ag Group

For more than three decades, John McCarron has focused his practice on assisting clients with complex business disputes.

John has successfully tried numerous cases in state and federal court, in arbitrations, and in administrative hearings. John is known for his practical and cost-effective approach to litigation and his aptitude for providing innovative solutions for sophisticated issues. One of John’s unique strengths is his ability to guide clients through the ever-changing legal and regulatory issues facing business owners in California.

John’s litigation practice is primarily focused on crop damage, food labeling, product liability, tort defense, and business litigation. He also has extensive experience defending class actions involving employment issues, tort claims, unfair competition claims, and false advertising. As a partner in the firm’s food and agriculture practice group, John regularly represents farmers, processors, food retailers, and trade associations that are part of California’s enormous food and agriculture industry. He has a thorough understanding of the myriad of issues facing California’s food and agriculture companies, and clients turn to him for efficient, effective results.

Professional, Community And Pro Bono Involvement

  • Western Plant Health Association
  • Sacramento County Bar Association, Civil Litigation Law Section
  • California Lawyers Association, Litigation Section
  • Alaska Bar Association

Honors & Rankings

  • AV Preeminent® Rating by Martindale-Hubbell®
  • Sacramento Magazine, Top Lawyer, Food & Agriculture Law, Business Litigation, General Litigation, Class Action/Mass Torts, Nonprofit Organizations, 2015-2021, 2023
  • Clerkship, Justice James Singleton, Alaska Court of Appeals, 1987-1988

Representative Crop Damage Experience

  • Representing more than a dozen pistachio growers in product liability claims against several agriculture chemical companies involving millions of dollars in crop damage.
  • Representing a pistachio processor in product liability claims against an agriculture chemical manufacturer.
  • Representing pistachio grower and processor in product liability claims regarding crop damage issues.
  • Represented multiple wine grape growers in resolving claims collectively worth several million resulting from a large herbicide drift event; cases settled in mediation.
  • Represented an organic blueberry grower in two herbicide drift events; one went to trial and resulted in a seven figure verdict, and one settled in mediation.
  • Represented an avocado grower in an accidental herbicide application claim that settled at mediation.

Representative Business Litigation Experience

  • Represented a pistachio grower and processor in a complex business dispute involving millions of dollars that settled after three mediations and a lengthy arbitration hearing.
  • Defended a local utility company against claims of negligence and breach of contract; obtained defense verdict for trial that was upheld on appeal.
  • Defended a fertilizer manufacturer against product liability claims relating to damage to almond trees; case settled after 10 days of trial.
  • Co-Counsel representing a coalition of egg farmers involving legal and regulatory issues pertaining to statutes imposing size dimensions on egg laying hen enclosures.
  • Served as Co-Counsel in successfully defending a national food company against Proposition 65 and unfair competition claims.
  • Defended a natural gas company against claims by former employees alleging breach of contract; obtained defense verdict at trial that was upheld on appeal.
  • Defended a partnership in a dispute with former employee involving claims of breach of contract, fraud and business torts; obtained defense verdict against the partnership, and obtained a substantial verdict on behalf of the partnership.
  • Served as Co-Counsel in representing the State of Alaska in gas royalty litigation against three major oil companies that resulted in a favorable settlement for the State.
  • Represented the State of Alaska in a corporate income tax case against a multi-national oil company that resulted in a favorable settlement for the State.

Representative Class Action Experience

  • Representing regional grocery store chain in mass tort litigation in California regarding product liability claims regarding over-the-counter medication.
  • Defended a large food processing company in class arbitration asserting violations of unfair competition laws and business torts; prevailed in an arbitration as to claims by one class and defeated class certification of another class.
  • Defended an egg producer in a class action involving allegations of false advertising. After extensive discovery, settled the case favorably prior to certification of a class.

Legal Alerts

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Publications

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On any given Saturday, John can be found on the sidelines of a soccer match or at the pool supporting his children’s sporting events.

Professional, Community And Pro Bono Involvement

  • Western Plant Health Association
  • Sacramento County Bar Association, Civil Litigation Law Section
  • California Lawyers Association, Litigation Section
  • Alaska Bar Association

Honors & Rankings

  • AV Preeminent® Rating by Martindale-Hubbell®
  • Sacramento Magazine, Top Lawyer, Food & Agriculture Law, Business Litigation, General Litigation, Class Action/Mass Torts, Nonprofit Organizations, 2015-2021, 2023
  • Clerkship, Justice James Singleton, Alaska Court of Appeals, 1987-1988