Jonathon D. Friedmann

Overview

A founding partner of Rudolph Friedmann and chairman of the firm’s litigation practice, Jon litigates countless matters in state and federal courts throughout the United States. A vigorous advocate, Jon pursues and protects the interests of his clients in a wide range of matters including: business litigation, complex construction, real estate, land use, class action, wrongful death, bankruptcy and employment. A zealous advocate, Jon has spent thousands of hours in the courtroom securing victories for his clients in complex, high stakes, bet-the-company cases.

Throughout his four decades as a trial lawyer, Jon has tried hundreds of cases and is known for taking on difficult issues, including matters of first impression, while securing remarkable victories in court. A persuasive and effective trial lawyer, Jon balances tenacity, strategic thinking and strong advocacy skills and common sense. Jon has been described by others as a bulldog with a suit on: he never backs down from a challenge. Clients appreciate Jon’s wealth of experience, his innovative approach, his aggressive litigation strategies and his persistent determination to win. Clients appreciate Jon’s compassion throughout the litigation process. He takes the time to listen to client concerns, answers their questions and keeps them informed of the litigation strategies and progress at all times.

When not in the courtroom, Jon helps business clients build a strong foundation for their organizations. Jon proactively guides clients to take actions that will minimize their risk of litigation.

Over the course of his practice Jon has successfully:

• Successfully defended a developer in a zoning appeal brought in the Superior Court by abutters who sought to have the developer’s four-story, six-unit building torn down; the Court completely vindicated the developer including finding that the neighboring plaintiffs who brought the appeal lacked standing to do so (Sylvester, et al. v. Zoning Board of Appeal, et al.)(Suffolk Civil, 2184CV00436)(2024)
• Obtained a $6.5 million settlement on behalf of 450 current and former employees in Swiderski, et al. v. Allied Waste Services of Massachusetts, LLC (Middlesex Sup. Ct. Civil Action No. 2011-04279); the case was the largest employment settlement in Massachusetts in 2015.
• Won a $17.5 million judgment in Rental Associates, Inc. v. Arizona Reinsurance Group, at the time the largest judgment ever awarded in the Springfield Division of U.S. District Court;
• Negotiated the resolution of a claim on behalf of 28 misclassified employees in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Texas;
• Obtained a $4 million judgment in a wrongful death action involving the death of an infant due to injuries allegedly inflicted by her nanny in Sameer Sabir v. Aisling Brady McCarthy;
• Negotiated the successful resolution of a wrongful death claim on behalf of the estate of a deceased individual in a slip and fall case;
• Won a $265,000 judgment in Farbman v. Welcome, a first of its kind award of damages for exacerbation and acceleration of cancer as a result of the stress caused by an automobile accident;
• Settled a wrongful death suit on behalf of the parents of a quadriplegic child for more than $800,000, which money will be used to create a charitable foundation benefiting the disabled;
• Settled a case arising out of a child’s school-day injuries made worse by a slow emergency response time for $185,000;
• Represented Ingaldsby Farm in Boxford against an angry neighbor, allowing the family-run farm and farm stand to remain open and in business;
• Resolved a dispute on behalf of homeowners whose home and property were damaged when their heating system was improperly repaired, by negotiating a payment of $350,000 to the homeowners and $140,000 in environmental remediation;
• Won at trial and had upheld on appeal a $600,000 judgment on behalf of a successor trustee in Middlesex Probate and Family Court against a former trustee that had absconded with trust funds;
• Represented a defendant bus company in a first-of-its-kind suit brought by the Department of Justice under the Clean Air Act in US District Court, resulting in a settlement for far less than the $37 million in fines the DoJ was seeking;
• Won a $300,000 settlement on behalf of a commercial tenant sued by their landlord. When the landlord sued the tenant for vacating the property prior to termination of the lease, Jon counterclaimed based on the illegality of that lease, leading to a quick and favorable settlement.
• Defended a Client in an arbitration proceeding, wherein the Client corporation was accused of improperly terminating an employee, failing to pay commissions owed, failing to make a grant of 5% equity in the corporation, and committing Wage and Hour law violations. The arbitrator ruled in the Client’s favor on all claims and awarded the Client money on its counterclaim for overpayment. The arbitrator’s award was successfully defended in the Superior Court when the former employee, still seeking the claimed 5% equity, sought to have it set aside after the Client corporation was sold for $500 million.
• Defended the purchaser of a “man camp” in an arbitration of claims brought by the seller. The arbitrator’s award granted the Client purchaser $1.1 million in its claims arising out of defects in construction, an amount far in excess of the original claims brought by the seller.

Experience

Jon’s representative cases and decisions include:

• Lassman v. DeVoe, United States Bankruptcy Court, District of Massachusetts (No. 18-01192) (2022)
• Robert A. Germinara, et al. v. People’s Comprehensive Mortgage, LLC, et al., Mass. App. Ct., 19-P-1805, November 3, 2020
• Ronen Adato v. 234 Beacon Street Condominium Trust, 94 Mass. App. Ct. 1118 (2019)
• LimoLiner, Inc. v. Dattco, Inc., No. 18-1800 (1st Cir. 2019), LimoLiner, Inc. v. Dattco, Inc., 839 F.3d 61 (1st Cir. 2016), LimoLiner, Inc. v. Dattco, Inc., 57 N.E.3d 969 (Mass. 2016), LimoLiner, Inc. v. Dattco, Inc. 809 F.3d 33 (1st Cir. 2015)
• MacKinnon, et al. v. Berluti et al. (AC-17-P-1525) (October 15, 2018)
• Sameer Sabir v. Aisling Brady McCarthy (2016)
• MacKinnon, et al. v. Berluti, et al. (2016)
• Swiderski, et al v. Allied Waste Services of Massachusetts, LLC (2015)
• Crush v. Mulligan (2015)
• Soule, et al. v. Mulligan, et al. (2015)
• Mulligan v. Araugo, et al. (2015)
• Getz v. Target Logistics (2013)
• Thompson v. National Seating and Mobility (2012)
• Unbroken LLC v. Target Logistics (2013)
• Goldstein v. Page, 78 Mass.App.Ct. 1113, 938 N.E.2d 906 (2010)
• Massachusetts Property Ins. Underwriting Ass’n v. Georgaklis, 77 Mass.App.Ct. 358 (2010)
• Coviello v. Richardson, 76 Mass. App. Ct. 603 (2010)
• United States of America v. Paul Revere Transportation, LLC (2009)
• Technology in Medicine, Inc. v. Gorman (2003)
• Singh v. 207 Main Street, LLC (2001)
• Lefell v. Longwood Texaco (2000)
• Treglia v. MacDonald, 430 Mass. 237 (1999)
• Jackson v. Renaissance Software (1999)
• Ann & Hope, Inc. v. Muratore, 42 Mass. App. Ct. 223 (1997)
• Papadopoulos v. New Englander Body, Inc., 1990 Mass. App. Ct. 72 (1990)
• L. Rudolph Electrical Co., Inc. v. Gibbs Oil Company, 16 Mass. App. Ct. 995 (1983)
• Coastal Airlines, Inc. v. C.A.B., 709 F.2d 119 (1983)

Accolades

• Best Lawyers in America, Commercial Litigation (2024); Litigation – Real Estate (2024); Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs (2023)
• Massachusetts Super Lawyer, Boston Magazine, 2004 – 2023 for commercial litigation; named to Super Lawyers Top 100 List for Massachusetts (2017 – 2023) and Top 100 List for New England (2019)
• AV Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
• 10 Largest Defense Verdicts of 2003 – Mass. Lawyers Weekly (Technology in Medicine, Inc. v. Gorman)
• 10 Largest Defense Verdicts of 2001 – Mass. Lawyers Weekly (Singh v. 207 Main Street, LLC)
• Most Important Opinions of 2000 – Mass. Lawyers Weekly (Lefell v. Longwood Texaco)

Associations & Memberships

• Massachusetts Bar Association
  
• American Association for Justice
  
• Boston Bar Association
  
• Commonwealth of Massachusetts Junior Chamber of Commerce
  Former Legal Counsel
• City of Boston Junior Chamber of Commerce
  Former Legal Counsel
• National Register of Who’s Who
  Life Member
• Inns of Courts of Massachusetts, 2002 – 2006
  Delegate
• The Trial Law Institute,
  Member, 2009 – Present
• Litigation Counsel of America
  Member, 2007 – Present
• Trained Mediator in Accordance with Mass General Laws Chapter 233 Section 23C
• Diversity Law Institute
  Member, 2009 – Present

Publications & Events

• Jon Friedmann Discusses Negotiation Skills for Civil Litigators at Social Law Library Webinar
• Computer Fraud and Abuse Act 
• Split Effects Ability to Wield Hammer vs. Ex-Employees – Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly, November 2013
• Author/Speaker: “Design and Drafting of Asset Protection Plan for Massachusetts Clients,” Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, May, 2011.
• Invited Speaker, Commercial Lease Analysis, Boston University Graduate School, 2008 – 2011