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Biography
John Nefflen is a litigation partner at Thompson Burton with over 25 years of experience in business and liability litigation. He represents a diverse range of clients across various industries in state and federal courts, as well as in alternative dispute resolution (ADR) proceedings. John specializes in complex business litigation, real estate litigation, and employment, construction, and family law matters. In 2024, he was recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® for Commercial Litigation. He also brings valuable in-house experience, having served as litigation counsel for a national addiction treatment company based in Brentwood, Tennessee.
John is deeply involved in the Nashville community. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for The Store, the Alumni Board of Belmont University, and Friends of the Arts at Belmont University. Previously, he served as President of Safe Haven Family Shelter and as Programs Chair for the American Inns of Court at Belmont University College of Law.
Education
University of Tennessee College of Law, J.D. (1997)
Belmont University, B.A. in Philosophy (1994)
• Magna Cum Laude
Experience
John’s representative matters include:
- Representing a transgender employee in a discrimination lawsuit against Vanderbilt University;
- Representing homeowners in a claim against the Davidson County Metropolitan Government for violation of the downtown zoning regulations;
- Representing a homeowners’ association in claims against a developer for breach of the Tennessee Condominium Act and construction defects;
- Representing a top music executive in a breach of contract claim;
- Defending several individuals in defamation/SLAPP actions;
- Defending a national skilled nursing facility and a pain management company in Medicare/Medicaid fraud actions brought under the federal False Claims Act and the Tennessee Medicaid False Claims Act;
- Defending trustee in claims asserted by beneficiaries of a trust;
- Defending an auto repair company in claim for breach of a supply contract;
- Defending departing brokers and financial advisors in claims for breach of non-compete agreements, unfair competition and violation of trade secrets law;
- Representing national laboratory services provider in an action arising out of breach of a supply agreement;
- Defending bank in claims for breach of trustee’s fiduciary duties;
- Representing pedestrian who suffered catastrophic injuries when he was struck by a car;
- Defending robotics manufacturer against claims for defective design and installation of an automated welding system;
- Defending numerous Tennessee county governments and utilities under the Tennessee Governmental Tort Liability Act;
- Representing seller in claims for breach of a land purchase agreement, interference with business relationship and inducement to breach contract;
- Defending employer in products liability claim arising out of de-gloving/amputation injury;
- Representing large apartment complexes in an action against Metro Water for overcharges arising out of improper rate classification under the Metro Water billing scheme; and,
- Defending 14 Tennessee counties in Lane v. State of Tennessee against claims that county courthouses were inaccessible to individuals with mobility disabilities in violation of the ADA.