Overview
Jordan Connors is a trusted litigator with a nationwide practice serving clients in high-stakes matters in both state and federal court. Connors has successfully represented plaintiffs and defendants in a wide variety of commercial cases, including cases that involve environmental disasters, class actions, patent infringement, trusts and estates, securities fraud, and false advertising. Connors has achieved success for his clients – who range from industry leaders to small businesses and individuals – against some of the largest companies and organizations in the world, from big banks, to big tech, to big wireless, to the United States Government.
Significant Litigation
Connors is frequently called on to litigate some of the nation’s most cutting-edge cases.
For example, Connors served as counsel to the largest political subdivisions in the largest state in the nation—including the University of California system, the California State University System, and the County of Los Angeles—in a landmark suit against the “Big 4” wireless carriers, Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile for fraudulently over-billing the government. Connors’ clients secured record settlements valued at $175 million. Read more about the case on Law Street Media and Law360 (subscription required).
In the nationally followed environmental matter, In re Flint Water Crisis Litigation, Connors represents a class of tens of thousands of Flint residents impacted by the Flint water crisis. Connors has served as a leader on the case from drafting the initial complaint to coordinating and overseeing the strategic planning and efforts among the nine law firms litigating the case on behalf of the class. Connors’s team recently secured preliminary approval of a $641 million settlement with multiple government defendants. Connors continues to pursue claims against the remaining defendants on behalf of certain residents in the City of Flint harmed by the water crisis.
Connors also secured a $16.5 million settlement one month before trial (net settlement of $11.7 million) in a securities fraud class action arising from alleged misrepresentations by a biotechnology executive in a conference call with investors.
Recognition and Background
Law & Politics Magazine, published by Thomson Reuters, has named Mr. Connors a “Rising Star” every year since 2013, an honor bestowed on 2.5 percent of attorneys in the state of Washington for “demonstrated excellence in the practice of law.”
Connors is an active member of the Federal Bar Association for the Western District of Washington where he represents the Seattle Community Police Commission in its effort to provide community input on reforms for the Seattle Police Department.
Before joining Susman Godfrey Connors served as Law Clerk to The Honorable Vaughn R. Walker, Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
Notable Representations
- Genus Lifesciences, Inc. v. Lannett Company, Inc. (N.D. Cal.). Lead trial counsel for Genus Lifesciences, Inc. in a Lanham Act false advertising lawsuit against Lannett Corporation, Inc. involving Lannett’s alleged false advertising of its C-Topical product (cocaine hydrochloride 4% solution).
- Flint Water Crisis Litigation (E.D. Mich.). Representing a class of tens of thousands of plaintiffs in complex litigation stemming from the contamination of the Flint, Michigan water distribution system with highly corrosive water following the 2014 switch to a new water supply. On behalf of a certified class of Flint residents, Connors has led many of the key depositions in the multiple cases, obtaining critical information about the truth of who and what caused the water crisis. He has also led efforts to shape the legal strategy for challenging the conduct of private engineering firms and government officials and continues to seek out compensation for the injuries resulting from lead poisoning, property damage, and other harm resulting from the highly corrosive water. Settlements to date are valued at $641 million. The case remains ongoing against remaining defendants.
- North Carolina PFAS Litigation (E.D.N.C.). Representing plaintiffs in a proposed class action lawsuit against DuPont and Chemours. The case seeks relief on behalf of thousands of North Carolinians who have been harmed by decades of discharges by DuPont and Chemours of GenX and other toxic PFAS chemicals by DuPont and Chemours into the water supply in the Cape Fear River basin. Click here or here for coverage on this news (subscription required).
- Whidbey Island/OLF Coupevlle Naval Airflight Operations (Fed. Cl.). Representing a class of residents of Whidbey Island, Washington pursuing a class action filed against the United States government in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims based on the U.S. Navy’s substantial increase in EA18-G Growler flight operations from a small airstrip on the island and the impact on residents’ properties.
- State of California, et al., On The Go Wireless, LLC, v. CELLCO Partnership, et al (CA Superior Ct.). Represented some of California’s largest political subdivisions—including the University of California system, the California State University System, and the County of Los Angeles, to name a few—in this groundbreaking suit against the “Big 4” wireless carriers, Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile. The team recently secured settlements totaling $175 million.
- Clark v. AdvanceMe, Inc., (C.D. Cal.). Secured a $23.4 million settlement (set settlement of $19 million) on behalf of businesses in a class action alleging they had been injured by financial arrangements in violation of California usury laws.
- McGuire v. Dendreon (W.D. Wash.). Secured a $16.5 million settlement one month before trial (net settlement of $11.7 million) in a securities fraud class action arising from alleged misrepresentations by a biotechnology executive in a conference call with investors.
Honors & Distinctions
Honors and Awards
- Rising Star, Washington Super Lawyers (2013 – Present, Thomson Reuters)
- Whitney North Seymour Medal for Columbia Law student who shows greatest promise of becoming a distinguished trial advocate (2007)
- Senior Editor, Columbia Law Review (2007-2008)
- Harlan Fiske Stone Moot Court Finalist (2008)
- Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar (2005-2006, 2006-2007, 2007-2008)
- Ann C. Seminara Award in Public Policy (2003)
Clerkships
- Honorable Vaughn R. Walker, Chief Judge, United States District Court for the Northern District of California, 2008-2009
Education
Education
- Stanford University (B.A., Public Policy, 2003)
- Columbia Law School (J.D., 2008)
Admissions
Admissions
Bar Admissions
- Washington
Court Admissions
- Federal Bar Association for the Western District of Washington
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
- U.S. Court of Appeals Federal Circuit
Publications
- “Treating Like Subdecisions Alike: The Scope of Stare Decisis as Applied to Judicial Methodology,” 108Colum. L. Rev. 681 (2008)
- “Of All the Arms, of All the Men, of All the Teams That Play,” Seattle Times, July 24, 2009
Leadership & Professional Memberships
Associations
- Federal Bar Association for the Western District of Washington
