John Schiltz
Partner
Seattle Office Phone: (206) 505-3845 Email Download vCard Print Bio to PDF
Education
  • University of Montana, B.A., 2007
  • University of Virginia School of Law, J.D., 2013
Judicial Clerkship
  • Law Clerk to the Honorable David M. Ebel, United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
John Schiltz
Partner

John Schiltz is a dynamic advocate with significant experience litigating high-stakes commercial cases for both plaintiffs and defendants. Schiltz tries cases nationwide in state and federal courts and arbitrations across a broad spectrum of practice areas including breach of contract, patent litigation, trade secrets litigation, antitrust litigation, class actions, product liability, and other complex commercial disputes. Schiltz is sought after by clients and colleagues alike who know him to be a reliable and effective litigator. In 2019 and 2020 he was recognized as a Rising Star by Washington Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters) – an honor awarded to the top 2.5% of lawyers in Washington.

Facing Off Against Industry Titans

Schiltz served as trial counsel to Green Mountain Glass where a federal jury entered a verdict in Green Mountain’s favor for $50.3 million in its patent infringement lawsuit against Ardagh Glass Inc.  Schiltz presented Green Mountain’s infringement expert at trial, in addition to cross-examining key defense witnesses. The jury found Ardagh willfully infringed Green Mountain’s patent. This verdict ranks among the National Law Journal’s “Top 100 Verdicts of 2017” – it was ranked #34 overall and the 4th highest IP verdict of 2017. Read more about the case here.

Schiltz represented a class of animation employees in an antitrust lawsuit against several large animation companies, including Pixar, DreamWorks, Disney, Sony, and Lucasfilm.  Plaintiffs alleged they were subject to wage suppression as a result of “no poaching” agreements by their employers.  Schiltz’s work on the Animation Workers matter helped secure Susman Godfrey’s recognition as Law360’s “Class Action Group of the Year” in 2017.

Significant Wins for Industry Leaders

Schiltz counts the world’s largest retailer, Walmart, as a repeat client, having scored several litigation wins for the multinational corporation.  In nearly all of the matters Schiltz takes on for Walmart, his strategic thinking, legal prowess, and gifted writing skills lead him to success.  In 2018 and 2019, Schiltz briefed and argued numerous dispositive motions on behalf of the company, and in all nearly of them, the court ruled in his favor.

Since 2017, Schiltz has defended Expedia, Inc. in claims initiated by TravelPass Group, LLC for alleged breach of contract and trade secret misappropriation in federal court in the District of Utah and in private arbitration.

A Foundation for Success

Schiltz joined Susman Godfrey after serving as a law clerk to the Honorable David M. Ebel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. He graduated Order of the Coif from the University of Virginia School of Law, where he was a member of the Virginia Law Review and the Supreme Court Litigation Clinic. Prior to law school, Schiltz taught high school mathematics as a Teach for America corps member.

Notable Representations
Intellectual Property
  • Green Mountain Glass v. Ardagh (District of Delaware) Schiltz represented Green Mountain Glass LLC in a patent infringement matter that spanned three years. In 2017, a federal jury in Wilmington, Delaware awarded Green Mountain Glass more than $50.3 million in its lawsuit against Ardagh Glass, Inc. The jury found Ardagh, formerly known as Saint-Gobain Containers, willfully infringed Green Mountain’s patent No. 5,718,737 for technology that allows glass manufacturers to use recycled glass of mixed colors. Click here for more on the case or click here to read Law360’s feature on the case in their “How They Won It” series.
  • TravelPass v. Expedia (District of Utah and AAA Arbitration) Schiltz is counsel for Expedia in this breach of contract and trade secret misappropriation case. After plaintiff filed suit in Utah, Schiltz and the team successfully achieved a complete stay of that litigation and moved the claims to a AAA arbitration.
  • ZiiLabs v. Apple and Samsung (Eastern District of Texas) Schiltz represented ZiiLabs, a subsidiary of the Singapore-based media company Creative Technologies, Ltd.  Ziilabs brought claims for patent infringement of its patents related to graphics processing technology developed originally by 3DLabs.  The case settled on the eve of trial after Apple had taken a license.
Product Liability
  • Nolan Reasnor v. Walmart Stores, Inc. et al, (District Court for Payne County, State of Oklahoma) Schiltz defended Walmart in this action alleging that Walmart sold to plaintiff an allegedly defective gasoline container manufactured by now-defunct Blitz USA, Inc.  Schiltz took key depositions and obtained critical testimony that led to Walmart obtaining summary judgment on all claims. Schiltz drafted and argued Walmart’s motion for summary judgment in July 2019. The motion was granted from the bench following Schiltz’s impactful oral argument, and Walmart was awarded summary judgment on all claims.
  • Boldman v. Walmart Stores, Inc et al (District of New Jersey, United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit) Schiltz was an integral team member of a group of lawyers from Susman Godfrey who defended Walmart in a product liability suit alleging that Walmart sold to plaintiffs an allegedly defective gasoline container manufactured by now-defunct Blitz USA, Inc.  Schiltz drafted Walmart’s motion for summary judgment on all alleged claims, which was granted without argument in Fall 2017. Schiltz then represented Walmart on appeal in the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, which affirmed summary judgment in Walmart’s favor in September 2018.
  • Mark Hicks v. Blitz USA et al. (District of Arizona) Schiltz defended Walmart in this action alleging that Walmart sold to the plaintiff an allegedly defective gasoline container manufactured by now-defunct Blitz USA, Inc.  Schiltz drafted the successful motion to remove the case from Arizona state court to the United States District Court for the District of Arizona. The case was removed at which point Schiltz drafted the motion to dismiss all claims against Walmart for failure to state a claim on which relief could be granted against Walmart. Schiltz’s motion was granted without argument in Spring 2018, and all claims against Walmart were dismissed with prejudice.
  • Grubbs v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (District of South Carolina) Schiltz represents Walmart Stores, Inc. along with a team from Susman Godfrey in this product liability action alleging that Walmart sold to plaintiff an allegedly defective gasoline container manufactured by now-defunct Blitz USA, Inc.
Antitrust
  • In re: Pre-Filled Propane Tank Antitrust Litigation (US District Court for the District of Missouri, Western Division) Schiltz represents direct purchase plaintiffs in their antitrust lawsuit alleging that the two largest distributors of propane exchange tanks, AmeriGas and Ferrellgas, conspired to reduce the amount of propane they would put in their tanks from 17 to 15 pounds, while keeping prices stable, effectively raising the prices charged by 13% per pound.  Read more about the case here.
  • In re Animation Workers (Northern District of California) Schiltz represented a class of animation employees in a consolidated class action antitrust lawsuit against a number of large animation companies, including Pixar, DreamWorks, Disney, Sony, and Lucasfilms.  Plaintiffs alleged they were subject to wage suppression as a result of “no poaching” agreements by their employers.
Honors and Distinctions

Recognized as a Rising Star in 2019 and 2020 by Washington Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters) – an honor awarded to the top 2.5% of lawyers in Washington

Order of the Coif

University of Virginia Supreme Court Litigation Clinic

Editorial Board, Virginia Law Review

Professional Associations and Memberships
  • King County Bar Association
  • Federal Bar Association
  • American Bar Association
  • State Bar of Washington
  • State Bar of Colorado
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
  • Unites States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit