Education
Juris Doctorate
University of Oklahoma College of Law, 1974
Bachelors of Arts
Oklahoma State University, 1971
Admissions
Oklahoma
John Wiggins
Partner
JOHN WIGGINS was born in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, and attended Oklahoma State University where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts, with honors in 1971. He then attended the University of Oklahoma College of Law where he received multiple American Jurisprudence awards. He has been awarded membership in the honor societies of Phi Kappa Phi, Pi Sigma Alpha, and Phi Delta Phi. He received his Juris Doctor, with honors in 1974, and was admitted to the Oklahoma bar that year.
Mr. Wiggins has tried numerous cases, including complex litigation, class actions, and bad faith actions for the plaintiff and defense. He is triple board certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy (Civil), the American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys (medical malpractice defense), and the American College of Board Certified Attorneys. He is admitted to practice before every state and federal court in Oklahoma, the United States Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, the United States Tax Court, and the United States Supreme Court. Mr. Wiggins is a member of the Oklahoma Bar Association and a Fellow in the Oklahoma Bar Foundation. For many years, he has been a Fellow in the International Academy of Trial Lawyers and the American College of Trial Lawyers. He has also long been a member of the Oklahoma Association of Defense Counsel, the International Association of Insurance Counsel, and the American Board of Trial Advocates. In addition to those memberships, Mr. Wiggins has received appointments as Trial Advisor for the Oklahoma State Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision, the Governor’s Select Committee on Tort Reform and the Health Care Indemnity Fund Task Force.
Among his achievements, Mr. Wiggins was recognized in 2009 as Best Lawyers “Lawyer of the Year.” In 2001, he was awarded “Attorney of the Year” by the Oklahoma Court Reporters Association. In 2015, Mr. Wiggins received the Excellence in Service Award from OU Physicians. In 2016, he received membership in America’s Top 100 Attorneys and was given a Lifetime Achievement Award. Mr. Wiggins has been listed as one of “The Best Lawyers in America” each year from 1993, selected by his peers to the Oklahoma Super Lawyers list each year from 2006, and has been ranked as one of the “Top Fifty Lawyers in Oklahoma.” In 2017, he was inducted into the Marquis Who’s Who. Mr. Wiggins has authored various publications on topics including trial tactics, medical malpractice, personal injury law, and insurance defense. Additionally, he is a frequent speaker to legal and medical groups on topics related to trial practice and medical malpractice.
Mr. Wiggins resides in Edmond with his wife, Susan.
Jennings v. Badgett, M.D. 2010 OK 7, 230 P.3d 861. As a matter of first impression, the Oklahoma Supreme Court held that the element of duty in a medical-malpractice action requires a physician-patient relationship. Summary Judgment in favor of defendant was upheld.
Quarles v. Panchal, M.D.; 2011 OK 13, 250 P.3d 320. The Oklahoma Supreme Court held that general verdict forms were neither defective on their face nor were they so confusing or misleading that they prevented the jury from rendering a verdict that was consistent with the instructions and evidence. Defense verdict upheld.
Trinity Baptist Church v. Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Services; 2014 OK 106, 341 P.3d 75. As a matter of first impression, the Oklahoma Supreme Court held that an independent adjuster hired by an insurer owes no duty of care to the insured, abrogating Brown v. State Farm and Casualty Company.
Knowles v. Bryant; 2012 OK CIV APP 64. The Court of Civil Appeals held that 1) failure to re-file action within two years precluded action against defendant, 2) claims against defendants not named in the previous action were barred by the statute of limitations, 3) second amended petition was insufficient to preserve claims pursuant to statute permitting new action after reversal or failure otherwise than on merit, and 4) court clerk did not have authority to change case number on petition.
Wiggins has received numerous defense verdict in medical malpractice actions during his career in various counties throughout the state including; Pontotoc County; Tulsa County case; Grady County; Cleveland County; Oklahoma County; Pittsburgh County. These cases involve all types of medical negligence allegations from cardiac, surgical, obstetrical, emergency care, neurology, and surgical. Wiggins has also successfully tried numerous product liability cases as lead counsel.
In addition to his impressive litigation record as a defense lawyer, Mr. Wiggins was awarded one of the largest class action verdicts in the state of Oklahoma where he represented over 70 class members in bad faith litigation against their insurance company. After a protracted class action trial in Grady County, the jury returned a $13,000,000 plaintiff’s verdict and class verdicts on class II punitive damages for over 70 class members. A confidential settlement was reached post-verdict for class members.
Mr. Wiggins has also participated in closed arbitration hearings before NBA Commissioner David Stern. The case involved alleged inappropriate behavior during player trade call.
