John E. Tyrrell is one of the founding Members of Ricci Tyrrell Johnson & Grey and is the firm’s Managing Member.
Mr. Tyrrell’s practice is focused on three major areas. First, he has decades of experience in the representation of operators and managers of stadiums, arenas, entertainment and recreational facilities, including professional and collegiate sports teams; golf courses; ice rinks; gymnastics facilities; rowing associations; paintball facilities; and concert and entertainment venues. Mr. Tyrrell is trial counsel to such entities, and also provides risk management and liability prevention consultation to these clients. He has developed a particular expertise in prosecuting and defending contractual indemnity and insurance claims, both at trial and through declaratory judgment proceedings. Mr. Tyrrell has lectured at training sessions for the event staff of his clients. He has also authored information guides, ticket and pass disclaimers, prospective releases, patron signage and other communication devices used at facilities.
Second, Mr. Tyrrell is trial counsel to several global product manufacturers, defending products liability lawsuits throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey. He has been admitted Pro Hac Vice at his client’s request to defend litigation in other states as well. The products at issue have included skid-steer loaders; excavators; backhoes; construction vehicles including haulers, cranes and dump trucks; hand tools; bicycles; motorcycles; forklifts; hoists; benzene; automotive and other lifts; tire changers; chairs and other furniture; and toys and children’s products of various types. Mr. Tyrrell has litigated numerous catastrophic injury cases and tried dozens of cases in state and federal courts. He has successfully presented multiple Daubert and Frye challenges to opposing experts in products liability cases, resulting in dispositive defenses for his clients. The relationships Mr. Tyrrell has with product liability clients include acting as national trial and national monitoring counsel.
Mr. Tyrrell also represents his clients in commercial litigation and other business matters. He has handled cases involving vendor, dealer and franchise agreements, restrictive covenants and other forms of breach of contract claims. He successfully represented the operator of a multi-use stadium in a claim against the provider of a beverage line system resulting in the replacement and remediation of the entire system. He has secured defense verdicts in trials involving alleged commercial damages in the tens of millions of dollars. Mr. Tyrrell and his team also provide business consulting services on various concerns, including insurance coverage, product regulation and compliance, warranty language and interpretation and general drafting and enforcement of any contractual provision relating to liability and risk prevention.
Bar Admissions
- United States Third Circuit Court of Appeals
- Pennsylvania
- United States District Courts for the Eastern and Middle Districts of Pennsylvania
- New Jersey
- United States District Court for New Jersey
Affiliation
Mr. Tyrrell is a member of the Defense Research Institute (DRI), the Pennsylvania Defense Institute (PDI), the Philadelphia Association of Defense Counsel (PADC), the Product Liability Advisory Council (PLAC) and has been a frequent lecturer at events including those sponsored by the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), Pennsylvania Bar Institute (PBI) and other organizations.
Awards and Honors
Mr. Tyrrell has received an AV® Rating from Martindale-Hubbell®.
Education
Mr. Tyrrell graduated cum laude from Columbia University in 1986 and received his Juris Doctor from Villanova University in 1989.
Personal
Mr. Tyrrell played football at Columbia University. He resides in Voorhees, NJ with his wife Kathleen. The Tyrrells have two sons – Michael and Thomas. Mr. Tyrrell and the Firm are active supporters of Eagles Autism Foundation, Eagles Autism Challenge, and Eagles Charitable Foundation. Mr. Tyrrell provides pro bono services to multiple community organizations.