John M. Alton

In 2025 John Alton is one of only two full time mediators among the top 50 Columbus lawyers in Ohio Super Lawyers.

John's civil litigation background is almost equally divided between defense lawyer, plaintiff lawyer and private mediator.

From 1977-2017 John Alton represented defendants and plaintiffs in various types of litigation matters including personal injury, wrongful death, medical negligence, product liability, legal malpractice, employment, insurance coverage disputes, etc. 

Since 2017 John has been almost exclusively a private mediator.

John Alton has been retained as a mediator throughout Ohio and contiguous states by scores of defense and plaintiff lawyers, insurance companies, hospitals, long term care facilities, political subdivisions, product and medical device product manufacturers and numerous other individuals and business entities.

Types of cases John has mediated include business / commercial litigation, personal injury and wrongful death, medical negligence, product liability, trucking / transportation, human trafficking, construction accidents, medical device product liability, 1983 actions, political subdivision liability, legal malpractice, nursing home and long term care negligence, workplace injury, negligent security, intentional tort, hospitality, asbestos injury, premises liability, employment, eminent domain, insurance coverage, school law, First Amendment and defamation.

Since 2015 John Alton has spoken on ADR at professional meetings of several trial lawyer organizations.

Duke University, Cum Laude with Distinction in Psychology (B.A., 1974)

Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law (J.D., 1977)

Ohio Super Lawyers (2021-present, Alternative Dispute Resolution and Top 50 Columbus Lawyers) 

National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals (www.NADN.org: 2020-present)

Ohio Supreme Court Committee on Alternative Dispute Resolution (1996-1998)

American College of Trial Lawyers (2000-present); Ohio's State Committee (2009-2023) and State Chair (2017-2019)

American Board of Trial Advocates (1996-present); Ohio Chapter's Michael F. Colley Award Recipient (2023), President (2022) and Membership Chair (2023-present)

National Board of Trial Advocacy (Certified in Civil Trial Advocacy, 1997-2010)

International Association of Defense Counsel (1985-1994)

Columbus Bar Association (1977-present); Professional Ethics Committee (1997-1999)

Ohio Super Lawyers (2004-2020, Plaintiff Medical Malpractice)

Martindale Hubbell Bar Register of Preeminent Attorneys (1992-2020, Defense and Plaintiff Medical Malpractice)

Best Lawyers (2008-present); Professional Malpractice Lawyer of the Year (2020)

John Alton's hourly rate is $400 for all aspects of preparation, the mediation itself and post mediation involvement for review of additional written materials, phone conferences, email exchanges, correspondence and/or mediator proposals or written decisions post arbitration hearings.

John's hourly rate is $250 for travel to and from mediation venues outside of Central Ohio.

John Alton does not charge for expenses such as parking, hotels, food, mileage, etc. for Ohio-venued mediations. However, if John advances the expense to reserve mediation meeting rooms at hotels or other venues, those costs will be included on mediation invoices. 

If it is necessary for to travel by air to mediate outside of Ohio, costs incurred for air travel, hotels and other mediation related expenses will be included on mediation invoices.