John S. Collins

John is a partner in the Vorys Houston office and a member of the litigation group.   He represents clients in a wide range of civil litigation matters, including commercial disputes, personal injury, employment discrimination and retaliation, insurance coverage and risk-shifting obligations, and appellate law.  In commercial cases, John has prosecuted and defended claims of breach of contract, trade secret misappropriation, non-compete violations, breach of fiduciary duty, and fraud.  In personal injury cases, John has defended companies and individuals against claims of wrongful death, traumatic brain injury, products liability, medical malpractice, and toxic tort.   John also maintains an active appellate practice and has successfully represented clients in state and federal appellate courts.

Career highlights include:

Commercial Litigation

• Obtained summary judgment on behalf of a global manufacturing company on breach-of-contract claims relating to a distribution agreement and prevailed in subsequent appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
• Filed mechanics liens on construction projects in West Texas to secure seven-figure payment from a bitcoin mining company that went into bankruptcy.
• Represented a businessman in a complex first-party insurance dispute and presented oral argument on multiple dispositive motions; case resulted in a seven-figure settlement for the client.
• Served as a member of the trial team in a construction case arising from renovations to a regional airport that resulted in a jury verdict in favor of the client.

Personal Injury

• Won a matter of first impression for emergency responders in Texas.  At the trial court, John obtained complete dismissal of personal injury claims asserted against a private emergency medical provider and its medic, which included a life care plan in excess of $4 million.  John then presented oral argument to the Houston Court of Appeals, which affirmed the dismissal, and defeated a petition for review at the Texas Supreme Court. 
• Obtained dismissal of constitutional claims asserted against a governmental entity and prevailed in subsequent appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
• Obtained dismissal of personal injury claims asserted against a private emergency medical provider and a paramedic and prevailed in subsequent appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. 
• Obtained dismissal of claims of breach of contract and violations of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act against a health care provider and prevailed in subsequent appeal to the Houston Court of Appeals.
• Served as a member of the trial team in a traumatic brain injury case that resulted in a complete defense verdict.

Employment Litigation

• Obtained affirmance by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit of summary judgment on behalf of a governmental entity in a sex discrimination case
• Obtained complete dismissal of claims of wrongful termination and constitutional claims asserted against a governmental entity and prevailed in subsequent appeal to the Beaumont Court of Appeals
• Served as a member of the trial team in a workers compensation retaliation case that resulted in a complete defense verdict
• Represented employers before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the National Labor Relations Board, the Texas Workforce Commission, the Texas Department of Insurance, the New Mexico Human Rights Bureau and the New Mexico Workers Compensation Administration

John received his J.D. cum laude from Baylor Law School, where he was a member of the Baylor Law Review and the Baylor Barrister Society.  He received his B.A. summa cum laude from Texas A&M University.

Honors & Recognitions

The Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch, Commercial Litigation, 2022-2025

Professional & Community Activities

Texas Association of Defense Counsel, Member

International Association of Defense Counsel, Member

Texas Young Lawyer’s Association Foundation, Fellow