John Ong

John W. Ong is a creative problem solver, practicing out of our Charlotte office. Practicing law for over 25 years and handling cases throughout the State of North Carolina since 1998, John serves as Vice- Chair of our Construction Law Group and serves on the Cranfill Sumner COVID-19 Response Team.

Clients call upon John to conduct investigations, to determine cost-effective resolution strategies and, when necessary, to aggressively represent their interests in court. Tenacious in the cross-examination of experts, John is also a skilled in Alternative Dispute Resolution, including Mediation, Collaborative Law and Arbitration and enjoys working with his clients to select strategies most in keeping with their needs.

John concentrates his practice in areas related to Construction Accidents and Construction Defects in addition to cases involving Product Liability, Professional Malpractice, Trucking & Transportation, General Liability, and Wrongful Death.  He has successfully represented individuals, corporations, and entities in a variety of matters, both at the trial and appellate stages of litigation throughout North Carolina. He has frequently been asked to become involved in cases involving interesting questions of medical causation including mild traumatic brain injuries, strokes, suicide, and vision disturbances, etc.

In addition to his practice of law, John is Certified by the North Carolina Dispute Resolution Commission to conduct Superior Court Mediations and is trained in Collaborative Law. More information about John’s Mediation & Conflict Resolution practice can be found here.

Representative Matters

Cases or matters referenced do not represent the lawyer’s entire record. Each case is unique and must be evaluated on its own merits. The outcome of a particular case cannot be predicated upon a lawyer’s or a law firm’s past results.

• As lead counsel, obtained Summary Judgment on behalf of a manufacturer in a significant multi-party federal court case in which it had been alleged that the plaintiff had contracted his life threatening illness as a proximate cause of exposure to several products including one alleged to have been manufactured by our client.
• As lead counsel in a multi-million dollar construction defect case pending in the NC Business Court, obtained Summary Judgment in favor of a subcontractor who had supplied and delivered materials to the project and alleged had overstressed the subject trusses that were later found to have failures.
• As lead counsel, obtained a defense verdict for a table saw manufacturer in a notable federal court case regarding table saw design including whether flesh detection technology and blade guarding with independently removable components were reasonably necessary and whether they would have reduced or eliminated the severe laceration sustained by plaintiff.
• As lead counsel for a physical therapist in a professional malpractice action in state court involving alleged personal injury, obtained a directed verdict in favor of the physical therapist at close of plaintiff’s case.
• As lead counsel, achieved a defense award in a binding arbitration in favor of a Development Manager in a multi-party binding arbitration involving alleged soil settlement affecting numerous residential lots in a subdivision.
• As lead counsel obtained a defense verdict for a homeowner in claim of premises liability suit filed by delivery person.
• As lead counsel, represented a sprinkler inspection firm in a significant, multi-party case involving extensive water damage and was selected by other parties to engage in direct negotiations on behalf of all defendants in order to reach a full resolution of the action with multiple plaintiffs.
• As lead counsel, represented driver in a wrongful death case involving a good Samaritan in which there were allegations of impairment.
• As lead counsel, represented a client in a multi-party action arising out of an explosion allegedly caused by batteries resulting in catastrophic personal injuries, extensive property damage and business losses.
• As lead counsel, represented a developer in state court proceedings involving allegations of systemic construction and structural defects throughout a residential subdivision.
• As lead counsel, represented a general contractor in state court proceedings involving multiple catastrophic injuries arising out of scaffolding collapse.
• As lead counsel, represented local area authority in state court action arising out of the murder of a care home resident.
• As lead counsel represented operator of motor vehicle in state court action in which blindness was contended to have been caused by head trauma
• As lead counsel, represented an insurance carrier in a UIM binding  arbitration arising out of a multiple fatality accident involving Assisted Living Community residents

Articles, Presentations, and Publications

“Horse Trading? – Facing Fear in Personal Injury Mediation” (July 2020)

“Why Collaborative Law for These Times of Change?”  North Carolina Civil Collaborative Law Association (June 2020)

“A Mediator’s Perspective on Zoom Mediation” (June 2020)

“Zooming More Powerfully” (2020)

“Brackets in Mediation: A Primer…” (June 2015)

“Dance Your Own Dance” (May 2015)

“Mediation- How Much Agreement Do You Really Need?” (May 2015)

“Any Extra Invitations to Mediation?” (April 2015)

“CRASH!” What to Do After a Construction Site Accident

“Recognizing the Big Business of Small Business,” Construction and Contract Law Workshop, Institute of Minority Economic Development (October 2013)

Construction Contractor Forum for minority and small-to-medium sized General Contractors, Charlotte, NC (September 30, 2013)

“Negotiation Strategies 2.0 – CLM,” Claims Litigation Management Alliance (July 2013)

“Ladders on the Edge,” DRI Today (April 2013)

John has enjoyed providing seminars to both clients and attorneys.  Some of his presentations have included:

“Dance your Own Dance – Negotiation Skills and Techniques”

“Construction Law Highlights for Adjusters”

“Building Your Civil Trial Skills”

“Litigation 104- Trial Practice”

“Managing Ethical Issues in Your Day-to-Day Practice”

“Punitive Damages and Bad Faith”

“Head Injury Issues for Adjusters”

“Expert Witnesses for Adjusters”

“Chiropractic Issues for Adjusters”

“Truck Accident Litigation From Start to Finish”