Admiralty and Maritime Law Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs
JH 
John Hillsman
Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2003 
Firm
McGuinn, Hillsman & Palefsky
2 Best Lawyers awards
Awarded Practice Areas
Biography
Since being admitted to the California Bar in 1976, John Hillsman has tried more than 100 maritime personal injury cases to verdict or judgment and has represented seamen, fishermen, divers, pile drivers, dredgermen, marine construction workers, tugboat hands, and cruise ship passengers in state and federal courts all over the country, from Seattle to San Diego and Honolulu to Fort Lauderdale. He has appeared at every level of decision, all the way up to the U.S. Supreme Court, published several topical maritime law review articles, and has helped shape evolving maritime tort law.
Firm
McGuinn, Hillsman & Palefsky
2 Best Lawyers awards
Overview
- University of California Berkeley, B.A., graduated 1972
- California, The State Bar of California
- American College of Trial Lawyers - Fellow
- American Board of Trial Advocates - Associates
- American Association for Justice - Admiralty Associate
- Maritime Law Association - Proctor
- University of San Francisco Maritime Law Journal - Board of Advisors
- California, The State Bar of California
- American College of Trial Lawyers - Fellow
- American Board of Trial Advocates - Associates
- American Association for Justice - Admiralty Associate
- Maritime Law Association - Proctor
- University of San Francisco Maritime Law Journal - Board of Advisors
- University of California Berkeley, B.A., graduated 1972
Client Testimonials
Awards & Focus
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
- Admiralty and Maritime Law, San Francisco (2025)
- Admiralty and Maritime Law, San Francisco (2023)
- Admiralty and Maritime Law, San Francisco (2019)
- Admiralty and Maritime Law, San Francisco (2016)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
- Admiralty and Maritime Law
- Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs
News & Media
Case History
Cases
- Stewart v. Dutra Construction Co., 543 U.S. 481 (2005)
Stewart v. Dutra Construction Co. is the historic Supreme Court decision which effectively confirmed seaman status for "brown water seaman" such as dredgermen, barge hands, and marine construction workers. Mr. Hillsman authored the successful Supreme Court Amicus Brief which the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners filed in support of the injured dredgerman in that case.
- Exxon Shipping Co. v. Baker, 554 U.S. ___, 128 S. Ct. 2605 (2008)
The Supreme Court''''s lodestar decision in Exxon Shipping Co. v. Baker confirmed the availability of punitive damages under general maritime law and represented the penultimate chapter in the 20 year battle between Exxon and the Alaska fishing industry over the Exxon Valdez oil spill. Mr. Hillsman authored the successful Supreme Court Amicus Brief which the National Fisheries Institute filed in support of the injured fishermen.
- Southwest Marine, Inc. v. Gizoni, 502 U.S. 81, 91 (1991)
Southwest Marine, Inc. v. Gizoni is the ground breaking Supreme Court decision which clarified the "zone of uncertainty" which haunts the overlap between the Jones Act and the Longshore Act and helped maritime workers who are injured in that zone avail themselves of the benefits of both statutes. Mr. Hillsman authored the successful Supreme Court Amicus Brief which the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners filed on behalf of the injured shipyard worker in that case.
- Atlantic Sounding Co., Inc. v. Townsend, ___U.S.___, 129 S. Ct. 2561 (2009)
Atlantic Sounding Co., Inc. v. Townsend was the landmark case in which the Supreme Court confirmed that seaman could sue for punitive damages in cases involving the willful failure to pay maintenance and cure. It reversed a long line of lower court law adverse to seamen. Mr. Hillsman authored the successful Amicus Brief which the Sailors Union of the Pacific submited on behalf of the injured seaman in that case.
- Tameny v. Atlantic Richfield Co., Inc., 27 Cal.3d. 167 (1980)
Tameny v. Atlantic Richfield Co., Inc. is the historic California Supreme Court decision which confirmed the common law claim for wrongful termination of employment -- and one of the first rulings in the country to do so. Mr. Hillsman argued the case to the Court on behalf of the California Trial Lawyers Association and authored the successful Amicus Brief which that Association submitted on behalf of the terminated employee.
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