JOHN D. BALAGUER

John Balaguer has almost 40 years of experience defending complex tort cases and is one of the leading trial lawyers in the State of Delaware. John is frequently sought out by insurers as well as self insured institutions and individuals to handle matters involving intricate liability issues, catastrophic damages and cutting edge legal theories. He focuses his practice on healthcare litigation, particularly claims of medical negligence, as well as claims against non-medical professionals, product liability and premises liability matters. John also represents insurers in coverage disputes, including those alleging bad faith. 

John’s depth of experience allows him to provide his clients with early and accurate damage assessments, access to leading experts in the field and a proven track record of success before juries, trial judges and administrative tribunals. John’s courtroom reputation also serves to facilitate successful alternative dispute resolution when trial is not the best option. 

In addition to his extensive trial practice, John frequently appears in appellate matters before the Delaware Supreme Court. 

As a result of his thorough knowledge of the Delaware state and federal courts, John also is often asked to serve as local counsel in high stakes insurance coverage and commercial litigation in Delaware.

John was the Managing Partner of the Delaware office of a large, regional firm for more than 25 years and served on the firm's operations and executive committees.

• Healthcare
• Catastrophic/Excess Liability
• Insurance Coverage and Bad Faith
• Professional Liability
• Appellate

John is a Fellow in the elite American College of Trial Lawyers, widely considered to be the premier professional trial organization in America. He has also been recognized as a Delaware "Super Lawyer" in a survey of his peers by Super Lawyers and as a "Top Lawyer in the State" by Delaware Today Magazine. John has been selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America list in the practice area of Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants. John was also named by Lawdragon as one of its 500 Leading Litigators in America for 2023.

John served for 12 years in the Delaware National Guard, achieving the rank of Major. He has been a volunteer coach and judge for high school mock trial competitions in Delaware and Pennsylvania as well as a judge for the National High School Mock Trial competition. He serves on the Board of Trustees of the New Castle Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church (USA) and has served on the Board of Trustees of Trinity Presbyterian Church and as a member of the New Castle Presbytery’s Permanent Judicial Commission. For a week each summer, John does volunteer emergency home repair with the Appalachia Service Project.

• Delaware 
• New Jersey 
• Pennsylvania

Widener University School of Law, JD, with honors, 1985 

University of Delaware, BA, 1981  

American College of Trial Lawyers, Fellow (Delaware State Chair 2015-2016) 

American Board of Trial Advocates, Associate

Defense Counsel of Delaware 

Defense Research Institute 

Delaware State Bar Association 

Pennsylvania Bar Association

Successful defense on motion to dismiss of medical doctor accused of repeatedly offering fraudulent expert testimony. Dismissal affirmed by Delaware Supreme Court. 

Defense verdict after jury trial in favor of general surgeon accused of medical negligence in the death of a patient in connection with central line catheter removal 

Defense verdict after jury trial in favor of hospital accused of negligent emergency room care of asthma patient who suffered respiratory arrest and anoxic brain injury 

Defense verdict after jury trial in favor of primary care physician accused of mismanagement of anti-coagulant medication, whose patient suffered a fatal pulmonary embolism after trauma 

Defense verdict after jury trial in favor of Hospitalist accused of improper treatment of a throat abscess in patient who died following a respiratory arrest

Obtained summary judgment on behalf of primary care physician (affirmed by the Delaware Supreme Court) accused of failure to prevent his patient's suicide 

Successful defense at trial of Hospitalist in case alleging improper monitoring of adult patient with traecheostomy who suffered anoxic brain injury 

Hung jury after two week trial (resulting in favorable settlement) of medical negligence claim involving failure to diagnose spinal abscess resulting in paraplegia 

Successful defense at trial of medical negligence claim involving choking death in hospital of 35 year old patient on C-PAP 

Lead trial counsel in four week trial of nine-figure multi-excess carrier insurance coverage dispute involving exhaustion, trigger, and defense issues arising from thousands of underlying asbestos personal injury claims 

Defense of Medical Society of Delaware in first of its kind class action arising out of the alleged sexual molestation of hundreds of children by pediatrician Earl Bradley 

Defense of physicians and hospitals in cases filed on behalf of brain damaged infants, children and adults 

Favorable trial results in medical cases involving general, orthopedic, neurological, obstetrical and cardiac surgery, interventional cardiology/ radiology and emergency room care 

Defense verdicts in cases alleging delayed diagnosis of cancer, cardiac and neurologic disorders 

Defense of nursing homes and long term care facilities in suits involving death or serious injury of residents and in-state administrative investigations 

Product liability defense of auto, furniture and medical device manufacturers 

Defense of insurance agents, real estate agents and engineers accused of professional negligence Defense of School Districts, Universities and Churches in matters involving alleged assault and sexual abuse Defense of drivers, trucking companies and road construction contractors in multi-fatality auto accidents Defense of premises liability matters involving sports and playground equipment and security issues Defense of liability and workers compensation insurers in bad faith litigation