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John F. Kuppens
Partner
Meridian
1320 Main Street
17th Floor
Columbia, SC 29201
1320 Main Street
17th Floor
Columbia, SC 29201
101 Constitution Avenue, NW
Suite 900
Washington, D.C., 20001
Suite 900
Washington, D.C., 20001
john.kuppens@nelsonmullins.com
John serves as Co-Chair of the firm’s Consumer & Mechanical Product Liability Industry Group and has over 30 years’ experience representing clients in product liability and commercial litigation in state and federal courts across the country, including as national and regional counsel. He also counsels clients on CPSC, FTC, and FDA regulatory matters and on risk...
John serves as Co-Chair of the firm’s Consumer & Mechanical Product Liability Industry Group and has over 30 years’ experience representing clients in product liability and commercial litigation in state and federal courts across the country, including as national and regional counsel. He also counsels clients on CPSC, FTC, and FDA regulatory matters and on risk prevention issues.
He is a current officer of Lawyers for Civil Justice and was 2017–2018 president of DRI, the leading organization of defense attorneys and in-house counsel.
prevention issues.
He is a current officer of Lawyers for Civil Justice and was 2017–2018 president of DRI, the leading organization of defense attorneys and in-house counsel.
Experience
The following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.
Experience
- Has defended product liability cases involving a wide range of products, including automobiles, heavy trucks, boilers, lawn and garden products, building products, food products, medical devices, electrical and gas–fired appliances, aerial lifts, and textile machinery
- Has evaluated products to assess compliance with consumer product safety regulations, including products governed by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Federal Trade Commission, and Food & Drug Administration
- Has evaluated corporate product safety risk management systems and has counseled regarding regulatory compliance and liability prevention
- Has counseled clients regarding product liability risk prevention issues and has evaluated product literature, warnings, labeling, and warranties
Education
- University of South Carolina School of Law, JD (1989)
- Seton Hall University School of Law, Graduate Certificate, Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Law and Compliance (2021)
- Clemson University, BS, Accounting (1986)
Admissions
- South Carolina
- District of Columbia
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina
Practice Areas
Industries
The following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.
Experience
- Has defended product liability cases involving a wide range of products, including automobiles, heavy trucks, boilers, lawn and garden products, building products, food products, medical devices, electrical and gas–fired appliances, aerial lifts, and textile machinery
- Has evaluated products to assess compliance with consumer product safety regulations, including products governed by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Federal Trade Commission, and Food & Drug Administration
- Has evaluated corporate product safety risk management systems and has counseled regarding regulatory compliance and liability prevention
- Has counseled clients regarding product liability risk prevention issues and has evaluated product literature, warnings, labeling, and warranties
Media
Insights
| CPSC Product Recalls and Effect of Social Media, Practical Guidance®, Co-Author (July 2023) |
| Formulating CPSC-Compliant Responses to Consumer Complaints Raised on Social Media Checklist, Practical Guidance®, Co-Author (July 2023) |
| Product Liability Law Education for Product Safety Professionals, 2023 Product Safety and Recall Directory, Author (Jan. 9, 2023) |
| CPSC Finding Ways to Take Enforcement Action & Protect Consumers Amid COVID-19, Recall Index (pages 16-17), Co-Author (Aug. 28, 2020) |
| Managing Component Safety Through the Supply Chain, 2020 ADK Product Safety Recall Directory, Author (January 2020) |
Events / Speaking Engagements
| Nelson Mullins Attorneys Lead Course Offering Insight into Fundamentals of Consumer Product Safety Management (March 29, 2022) |
| Congress' oversight function and response to the COVID crisis, Lawyers for Civil Justice Virtual Membership Meeting, Speaker (May 7, 2020) |
| Lawyers for Civil Justice Membership Meeting, Chair and Moderator (December 4-6, 2019) |
| How Clients Select (and Why They Keep Using) Outside Counsel: Guidance for Law Firms, Moderator (Sept. 5, 2019) |
| Strategic Considerations Regarding CPSC Reporting Requirements – The View from the Regulated Side, Speaker (July 11, 2019) |
News
Alerts
| Concerns for Manufacturers During COVID-19 Pandemic, Additional Nelson Mullins Alerts, Co-Author (April 2, 2020) |
Recognitions
The bar rules of some states require that the standards for an attorney's inclusion in certain public accolades or recognitions be provided. When such accolades or recognitions are listed, a hyperlink is provided that leads to a description of the respective selection methodology.
- S.C. Supreme Court Pro Bono Honor Roll (2020)
- Richard H. Krochock Award, DRI – The Voice of the Defense Bar (2020)
- Who's Who Legal: Product Liability Defence (2014–2023)
- The Legal 500 United States for his practice in product liability and mass tort defense: pharmaceuticals and medical devices (2013), Dispute resolution: Product liability, mass tort, and class action — defense: Consumer Products (Including Tobacco) (2022)
- South Carolina Super Lawyers (2009–2020)
- The Best Lawyers in America®, Commercial Litigation (2009–2025), Product Liability Litigation – Defendants (2009–2025)
- Lawyer of the Year in Columbia, S.C. for Product Liability Litigation – Defendants (2013)
- AV® Preeminent™ and Distinguished™ peer review ratings from the Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings
- Thomson Reuters, Stand-Out Lawyer (2025)
Professional Activities
- Life Fellow, American Bar Foundation
- DRI – The Voice of the Defense Bar
- Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel
- International Association of Defense Counsel
- Faculty Member, Trial Academy (2007)
- South Carolina Defense Trial Attorneys’ Association
- South Carolina Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- Past Member, Legal Task Force, Sports & Fitness Industry Association
- International Consumer Product Health & Safety Organization
Community
- Board of Directors, Columbia City Ballet (2022–present)
Leadership
- Vice President, Lawyers for Civil Justice (2021–2022)
- DRI – The Voice of the Defense Bar
- Immediate Past President (2018–2019)
- President (2017–2018)
- Past National Director
- Past Chair, Product Liability Committee
- Past Chair, Young Lawyers Committee
- Board of Directors, South Carolina Defense Trial Attorneys’ Association (2009–2014)
John serves as Co-Chair of the firm’s Consumer & Mechanical Product Liability Industry Group and has over 30 years’ experience representing clients in product liability and commercial litigation in state and federal courts across the country, including as national and regional counsel. He also counsels clients on CPSC, FTC, and FDA regulatory matters and on risk... prevention issues.
He is a current officer of Lawyers for Civil Justice and was 2017–2018 president of DRI, the leading organization of defense attorneys and in-house counsel.
Experience
The following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.Experience
- Has defended product liability cases involving a wide range of products, including automobiles, heavy trucks, boilers, lawn and garden products, building products, food products, medical devices, electrical and gas–fired appliances, aerial lifts, and textile machinery
- Has evaluated products to assess compliance with consumer product safety regulations, including products governed by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Federal Trade Commission, and Food & Drug Administration
- Has evaluated corporate product safety risk management systems and has counseled regarding regulatory compliance and liability prevention
- Has counseled clients regarding product liability risk prevention issues and has evaluated product literature, warnings, labeling, and warranties
Education
- University of South Carolina School of Law, JD (1989)
- Seton Hall University School of Law, Graduate Certificate, Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Law and Compliance (2021)
- Clemson University, BS, Accounting (1986)
Admissions
- South Carolina
- District of Columbia
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina
Practice Areas
- FDA Regulatory Compliance & Litigation
- Consumer Product Safety, Risk Prevention & Regulatory Compliance
- Products Liability - Consumer & Mechanical
- Commercial Litigation & Business Torts
- Premises Liability
- Dispute Resolution Solutions
- Toxic Torts/Asbestos
- False Advertising & Unfair Trade Practices
Industries
Insights
Events /
Speaking Engagements
Speaking Engagements
| Nelson Mullins Attorneys Lead Course Offering Insight into Fundamentals of Consumer Product Safety Management (March 29, 2022) |
| Congress' oversight function and response to the COVID crisis, Lawyers for Civil Justice Virtual Membership Meeting, Speaker (May 7, 2020) |
| Lawyers for Civil Justice Membership Meeting, Chair and Moderator (December 4-6, 2019) |
| How Clients Select (and Why They Keep Using) Outside Counsel: Guidance for Law Firms, Moderator (Sept. 5, 2019) |
| Strategic Considerations Regarding CPSC Reporting Requirements – The View from the Regulated Side, Speaker (July 11, 2019) |
News
Alerts
The bar rules of some states require that the standards for an attorney's inclusion in certain public accolades or recognitions be provided. When such accolades or recognitions are listed, a hyperlink is provided that leads to a description of the respective selection methodology.
- S.C. Supreme Court Pro Bono Honor Roll (2020)
- Richard H. Krochock Award, DRI – The Voice of the Defense Bar (2020)
- Who's Who Legal: Product Liability Defence (2014–2023)
- The Legal 500 United States for his practice in product liability and mass tort defense: pharmaceuticals and medical devices (2013), Dispute resolution: Product liability, mass tort, and class action — defense: Consumer Products (Including Tobacco) (2022)
- South Carolina Super Lawyers (2009–2020)
- The Best Lawyers in America®, Commercial Litigation (2009–2025), Product Liability Litigation – Defendants (2009–2025)
- Lawyer of the Year in Columbia, S.C. for Product Liability Litigation – Defendants (2013)
- AV® Preeminent™ and Distinguished™ peer review ratings from the Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings
- Thomson Reuters, Stand-Out Lawyer (2025)
- Life Fellow, American Bar Foundation
- DRI – The Voice of the Defense Bar
- Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel
- International Association of Defense Counsel
- Faculty Member, Trial Academy (2007)
- South Carolina Defense Trial Attorneys’ Association
- South Carolina Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- Past Member, Legal Task Force, Sports & Fitness Industry Association
- International Consumer Product Health & Safety Organization
- Board of Directors, Columbia City Ballet (2022–present)
- Vice President, Lawyers for Civil Justice (2021–2022)
- DRI – The Voice of the Defense Bar
- Immediate Past President (2018–2019)
- President (2017–2018)
- Past National Director
- Past Chair, Product Liability Committee
- Past Chair, Young Lawyers Committee
- Board of Directors, South Carolina Defense Trial Attorneys’ Association (2009–2014)
Highlights from the Firm’s Insights
Gold Dome Report - Legislative Day 39
April 2, 2025
Gold Dome Report - Legislative Day 38
March 31, 2025
Old North State Report – March 28, 2025
March 28, 2025