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John Rouse

John T. Rouse

Partner

Areas Of Focus
Commercial LitigationLitigationProducts Liability

John Rouse’s litigation experience, coupled with his background in technology consulting, allows him to translate technical details and dense facts into relatable terms to help clients evaluate strategy, negotiate with opposing counsel, and present cases to a jury when needed.

John represents companies across sectors, including consumer financial services, commercial aviation, aviation manufacturing and health services. He guides national and global companies through the complex legal risks that come with operating in highly regulated industries. Whether in the courtroom or at the mediation table, he drills down to the core issues at stake, presenting strong defenses while making complicated cases clear and accessible.

Companies turn to John’s regional state and federal litigation experience to navigate cases across the South. He is skilled at managing the legal and reputational exposure that follows high-profile injury and product liability cases. He defends aviation carriers and manufacturers, along with their insurers, against claims ranging from minor injuries to major accidents. When financial services companies face actions over negligent servicing and wrongful foreclosure claims, John quickly coordinates with in-house legal teams to resolve actions quickly and efficiently. Health care administrators and professionals working in government facilities also rely on his counsel when professional negligence claims arise. 

John has a reputation of dual tracking litigation, keeping an eye on strategy and defenses for trial while exploring opportunities for resolution. He brings a long track record of efficiently resolving claims.

John grew up in Grenada, Mississippi, 100 miles south of Memphis, Tennessee. He has practiced in both states for more than two decades. He’s added other states’ licenses over the years to meet clients’ growing needs as they expand across the South. He’s often called on to litigate cases in state and federal courts in Arkansas, Kentucky, Georgia and Texas. He also regularly appears before state and federal trial and appellate courts across these six states.

Experience

Aviation and manufacturing

  • Defended an aircraft service company against wrongful death claims stemming from private plane crash.
  • Obtained dismissal of pilot negligence claims filed against a regional airline in federal court.
  • Defended a heavy equipment manufacturer against multiple products liability claims in Tennessee state court.
  • Defended airport services company in airfield accident.
  • Secured dismissal of product defect and wrongful death claims filed against an aircraft manufacturer in federal court.
  • Resolved negligence claims brought against national air carrier in Tennessee state court.
  • Defended an aircraft parts distributor in federal court lawsuit.
  • Served as counsel for an aircraft engine manufacturer in an appeal before the Mississippi Supreme Court of personal jurisdiction post-Ford.
  • Served as counsel for a large aircraft engine manufacturer on wrongful death claims.
  • Defended a national airline in cases surrounding wrongful death and claims of negligence and misrepresentation under the Montreal Convention involving international travel.

Health care and corrections

  • Successfully defended nurse in medical malpractice case involving Mississippi state prison.
  • Obtained dismissal of prison management company against multiple federal lawsuits and federal government investigations in Georgia federal court.

Financial services

  • Represented national mortgage servicer in multiple cases involving foreclosure, property tax and title issues.
  • Represented lender in multiple cases surrounding Kentucky insurance statutes and regulations.
  • Counseled mortgage servicers in Tennessee on an array of loan servicing issues.
  • Defended national mortgage servicer against claims involving notices under the National Flood Insurance Act.

Insights

Recognition

  • AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
  • Product Liability Litigation – Defendants (2021–2025), The Best Lawyers in America
  • Mid-South Super Lawyers List, Rising Stars List (2012, 2013, 2014), Super Lawyers
  • Joey Phillips Memorial Award, Mississippi College School of Law (2004)

Education

  • Mississippi College School of Law, J.D., 2004
  • University of Mississippi, M.B.A., Management Information Systems, 2001
  • Delta State University, B.B.A., Computer Information Systems, 1999

Credentials

  • Mississippi
  • Tennessee
  • Texas
  • Arkansas
  • Georgia
  • Kentucky
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Mississippi
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Mississippi
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Tennessee
  • U.S. District Court, Middle District of Tennessee
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Tennessee
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court, Middle District of Georgia
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Georgia
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Georgia
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Kentucky
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Kentucky
  • Mississippi Supreme Court
  • Supreme Court of Tennessee
  • Texas Supreme Court
  • Supreme Court of Georgia
  • Supreme Court of Kentucky
  • U.S. Court of Federal Claims

Memberships and Affiliations

Professional

  • Mississippi Bar Association – Professionalism Committee Chair (2024-2025, 2025-2026), Technology Committee (2010–2014), Leadership Forum (2014)
  • Mississippi Board of Bar Admissions – Character and Fitness Committee, Vice-Chairman (2017–2025), Chair (2025-present)
  • Capital Area Bar Association, Board of Directors, Director Post 1 (2023-2025), Law Related Education Committee (2015–present)
  • Madison County Bar Association
  • Mississippi Defense Lawyers Association – Young Lawyer’s Subcommittee Chair (2007), Website (2013)
  • American Bar Association, Commercial and Business Litigation Committee (2013–present), Consumer Financial Services Committee (2017–present)
  • Federal Bar Association
  • Fifth Circuit Bar Association
  • S. Court of Federal Claims Bar Association
  • Tennessee Bar Association
  • Memphis Bar Association
  • Nashville Bar Association
  • Defense Research Institute, Aviation Law Committee, Publications Chair
  • State Bar of Georgia, Aviation Law Committee
  • Charles Clark American Inn of Court – Pupil (2016–2018), Barrister (2024-2026)
  • National Institute of Trial Advocacy (NITA) Trial Academy – Graduate

Civic

  • Mississippi College School of Law – Appellate Advocacy Adjunct Professor (2008–2015), Legal Writing III Adjunct Professor (2015–2018)

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