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    Global Problem Solving from Covington: Deal with Complex Problems Anywhere in the World

    • Apr 08, 2021

Daniel E. Johnson

Partner

Washington +1 202 662 5224

  • About
  • Representative Matters
  • Credentials
  • About

    Dan Johnson has more than 30 years of experience helping government contractors and other clients successfully resolve contract and employment disputes.

    Dan has extensive trial experience, resulting in bench and jury verdicts in favor of his clients. These include trial victories in multi-million dollar trade secret cases, complex business litigation arising from prime-sub relationships, and other business disputes.

    Dan also helps employers resolve a host of matters arising out of the employment relationship. These include employment agreements, covenants not to compete, employee discipline and terminations, and discrimination, whistleblower, retaliation, wage and wrongful termination claims.

    Dan is a contributing author to “The Comprehensive Guide to Lost Profits Damages for Experts and Attorneys” published by Business Valuation Resources, LLC.

    Areas of Expertise

  • Practices and Industries
  • Representative Matters
    • Summary judgment for life sciences company in False Claim Act retaliation lawsuit by former employee.
    • Complete jury verdict for defendant aerospace contractor in trade secrets case. Dan was the lead trial counsel for an aerospace contractor accused by a competitor of theft of trade secrets and other misdeeds. The plaintiff sought $30,000,000, but Dan convinced the jury to completely reject the claims.
    • Multi-million dollar judgment for defense contractor in trade secrets case. Dan was the lead trial counsel for a government contractor suing for theft of trade secrets and conspiracy by former employees and a competitor. After the trial, the court awarded Dan’s client over $5,000,000, and the verdict was affirmed on appeal.
    • Complete bench verdict for defendant government contractor in multi-million dollar prime-sub litigation. Dan led the Covington trial team representing a prime contractor accused of breach of a subcontract. After the trial, the court entered a judgment in favor of Covington’s client on all claims, which was affirmed on appeal.
    • Complete summary judgment for defense contractor client. Dan was lead counsel for a government prime contractor accused of fraud, misuse of trade secrets, and breach of a subcontract. Dan convinced the court to enter a summary judgment in favor of his client.
    • Successful resolution of $80,000,000 trade secret and fiduciary duty claims brought against defense contractor clients by competitor and former employer. Dan led the negotiations to a confidential settlement.

    • Complete verdict for government contractor in labor case. Dan was trial co-counsel for a government contractor accused of violating federal labor laws by refusing to hire certain workers. Dan helped convince the trial judge that the client had not violated the law.
    • Arbitration verdict for software developer. In this “bet the company” case, Dan was lead trial/arbitration counsel for a software development company defending against claims of breach of a software development subcontract for the New York City subway system. Dan obtained a complete defense verdict for his client.
    • Successful resolution of employment disputes. In various matters, Dan has been lead counsel for employers accused of employment discrimination and/or violation of other employment laws. Dan has negotiated favorable settlements for his clients, avoiding the expense and uncertainty of trial.

    Reported Cases Include:

    • Plainville Electrical Products Co. v. Bechtel Bettis, Inc., No. 3:06cv920 (SRU), 2009 WL 801639 (D. Conn. Mar. 26, 2009).
    • ManTech Int’l v. Analex Corp., 75 Va. Cir. 354 (Fairfax Co. Cir. Ct. Jul 18, 2008).
    • Advanced Marine Enterprises, Inc. v. PRC Inc., 256 Va. 106 (1998).
    • United Technologies Corp. v. Chromalloy Gas Turbine Corp., No. 95-444-RRM, 1998 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 13523 (D. Del. Aug. 14, 1998).
    • DynaLantic Corp. v. Department of Defense, 115 F.3d 1012 (D.C. Cir. 1997).
    • United States v. Laerdal Manuf. Corp., 853 F. Supp. 1219 (D. Or. 1994).
    • Monoflo Int'l, Inc. v. Sahm, 726 F. Supp. 121 (E.D. Va. 1989).

    Areas of Expertise

  • Credentials
    Education
    • University of Virginia School of Law, J.D., 1983
    • Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, B.S., 1980
        • magna cum laude
    Bar Admissions
    • District of Columbia
    • Virginia
    • U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
    • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
    • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
    • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
    • U.S. District Court, District of Columbia
    • U.S. District Court, District of Maryland
    • U.S. District Court, District of Colorado
    • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Virginia
    Accolades
    • Legal 500 US, Intellectual Property - Trade Secrets (2017)  
    • Washington Business Journal, Employment Litigation “Top Washington Lawyer” (2008)
    Memberships and Affiliations
    • The District of Columbia Bar, Litigation and Employment Sections

    Areas of Expertise

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