John M. Avondet

John learned to try civil cases alongside his mentor and friend, Mike Gaffney. John represents plaintiffs in a wide variety of matters ranging from medical malpractice claims against careless healthcare providers to businesses seeking compensation for harms done to their operations. John seeks to be professional, aggressive and innovative in finding solutions for his clients. This is no better represented than the case of Phillips v. Eastern Idaho Health Services, Inc. (EIRMC). The Phillips decision from the Idaho Supreme Court provided clarity and answers questions that had plagued judges and parties in medical malpractice cases for years. The legal principles articulated by the Court in Phillips help injured parties more effectively seek justice and accountability from careless healthcare providers. Never willing to let insurance companies get the better of ordinary people, John proactively works up his clients’ cases to require insurance companies to be reasonable in dealing with his clients. To John, the jury trial is one of the most important aspects of American society and that those citizens who serve as jurors perform a noble service second only to military service. He works diligently to ensure that his clients are ready and willing to go to trial without fear or doubt in the judicial process. John joined the Idaho Trial Lawyers Association in 2011 and has been an Advocate level member of that association for many years. He actively participates on its board of directors and participates in its committees. He is committed to preserving the rights of Idaho citizens to trial by jury. In 2019, John was appointed to serve on the Idaho Supreme Court’s Civil Rules Advisory Committee. John has numerous appearances before the Idaho Supreme Court and has several published opinions that have developed Idaho’s law, including the Phillips decision.