John M. Alton

In 2024 John Alton is one of two full time mediators recognized among the top 50 Columbus lawyers in Ohio Super Lawyers magazine.

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

1977-1994: John represented defendants; private mediations did not exist. John settled without a mediator 1,000+ cases involving various types of tortious conduct or business litigation matters, legal malpractice, employment, insurance coverage disputes, etc. 

1994-2016: John Alton represented plaintiffs and continued to settle nearly every litigated matter without a private mediator. 

2008 - present: John was first retained as a private mediator in 2008 and began the transition to solely ADR in 2017.

John 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 Alton 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 has spoken on "ADR" at the request of several trial lawyer professional 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 (or arbitration) itself and post mediation (or arbitration) 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 does not charge for expenses such as parking, hotels, food, mileage, etc. for Ohio-venued mediations. However, if John Alton 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.