John is a nationally recognized trial lawyer who has been responsible for obtaining many of the largest verdicts in Upstate New York. He is a leader in the law-a trial lawyer, educator and speaker -and brings competency and professionalism to every case.
A football standout as an undergraduate at Syracuse University, John was signed to the NFL's Cleveland Browns after completing his degree. Instead, he chose to dedicate himself to the law. John gained prominence as a top trial lawyer by winning large and complex cases throughout the country. In 1983, he founded a Syracuse-based law firm dedicated to representing the seriously injured, and practiced trial law in the areas of medical malpractice, product liability, workplace accidents, automobile accidents, mass torts and aviation matters.
Top 100 Trial Lawters, the National Trial LawyersNY State Super LawyersBest Law Firms 2018Fellow Litigation Counsel of AmercaAmerican College of Trial LawyersInternational Academy of Trial LawyersThe Best Lawyers in America
In 2006, John was selected by Governor George Pataki to serve as a New York State Court of Claims Justice, and he was then Acting Supreme Court Justice in Onondaga County for six years. In those roles, he presided over an extensive trial calendar that covered a wide array of substantive and procedural aspects of state law and wrote many significant decisions.
In 2013, after a distinguished career on the bench, John decided to return to the practice of law to help victims of catastrophic injury, and established Cherundolo Law Firm, PLLC. In his years of practice, John has had many settlements and verdicts for clients well in excess of a million dollars, with some approaching and/or well into the tens of millions.
An active member of the legal community, John speaks regularly at New York State Academy conferences and local bar association seminars about advanced skill development and strategy in trial practice.
He is also an Adjunct Professor at the Syracuse University College of Law, where he teaches Advanced Torts and Civil Actions: Procedures and Pre-Trial Discovery.
Bar Admissions
New York State Bar Association
Education
Temple University, Master of Laws (LL.M.), Trial Advocacy, 2011
Syracuse University College of Law, J.D., cum laude, 1973
Syracuse University Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, M.A., 1972
Syracuse University College of Arts and Sciences, B.A. 1970
Court Admissions
All courts of the State of New York
U.S. District Court, Northern District of New York
Memberships/Associations
New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers (founding member, former president)
Elite Lawyers of America (platinum member)
International Academy of Trial Lawyers (fellow-limited to 500 best trial lawyers in the United States)
American Board of Trial Advocates (fellow)
American College of Trial Lawyers (fellow)
New York State Trial Lawyers Association (former president; former dean of New York Trial Lawyers Institute)
Litigation Counsel of America (fellow)
Million Dollar Advocates Forum, Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum (fellow)
American Trial Lawyers Association (former state delegate)
American Association for Justice (member)
Alliance of Consumer Rights (former chair of steering committee)
Trial Lawyers for Public Justice (former state coordinator)
Speaking & Publications
Listed in "Who's Who in American Law"
Top-Rated Attorney, Super Lawyers
Consistently named in "The Best Lawyers in America" for nearly two decades
