Partner
John Coletti
Vice President of the Inner Circle of Advocates — an invitation-only group of the 100 best trial lawyers in America.
- Largest recovery
- $58 Million
- Super Lawyers
- #1 in Oregon, 2026
- Admitted
- Oregon & Washington
Most cases settle, but each of our cases is prepared as if it’s going to trial. The insurance companies know it and so do the defense lawyers defending them. That’s why we get such great results for our clients.
Meet John Coletti
John Coletti is a highly accomplished trial lawyer who represents individuals and families in catastrophic injury, medical malpractice, wrongful death, product liability and complex civil litigation. Over the course of his career, he has secured numerous multimillion-dollar jury verdicts and settlements for clients whose lives were changed by negligence, medical malpractice, dangerous products and corporate misconduct.
John is a member and Vice President of The Inner Circle of Advocates. Founded in 1972, The Inner Circle of Advocates is an invitation-only group of 100 of the best trial lawyers in America who are selected for their character, experience and success in the courtroom. The Inner Circle of Advocates was described by The Washington Post as, “A select group of 100 of the nation’s most celebrated trial lawyers” and is recognized as one of the most exclusive groups of attorneys in the nation. Although spread across the country, members work collectively to share experience, skills and knowledge in pursuit of justice.
He is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and a member of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, the American Board of Trial Advocates and the International Society of Barristers. He also belongs to the American Association for Justice, the Attorney Information Exchange Group, the Oregon Trial Lawyers Association and the Washington State Association for Justice.
In addition to his courtroom practice, John has served as an adjunct professor of Advanced Trial Advocacy at Lewis & Clark Law School, helping prepare the next generation of lawyers to advocate effectively and ethically for their clients.
His record
A strong track record of success
Each case reflects John’s commitment to uncovering the truth, holding wrongdoers accountable, and helping clients rebuild their lives.
$58M
Confidential settlement for burns and wrongful death.
$49M
Verdict and judgment against PacifiCorp for several survivors of the 2020 Labor Day Fires and the devastation suffered by the utility’s reckless inaction.
- $48M
- Confidential settlement for severe injuries caused in a trucking collision.
- $20.3M
- Verdict for the death of a 43-year-old mother and wife who was hit by an impaired driver while waiting for the bus.
- $13.9M
- Verdict against a garbage truck company that traumatically amputated a man’s leg while he was crossing in a crosswalk.
- $13.8M
- Confidential settlement for a young woman with catastrophic injuries from being hit by a delivery van.
- $13.5M
- Confidential settlement for wrongful death.
- $12.3M
- Verdict against the manufacturer of a defective lathe which caused the death of a young man.
- $10M
- Against the nation’s largest for-profit medical provider for prisons and jails, for the estate of a 26-year-old incarcerated woman who was denied medical assistance while suffering from opiate withdrawal, resulting in her death.
- $9.8M
- Confidential settlement for severe injuries caused in an automobile collision.
- $7M
- Verdict for the death of a young man while working on high-energy transmission lines.
- $5.4M
- Verdict against the manufacturer of a defective pain medication pump, which destroyed the cartilage in a man’s shoulder.
- $3M
- Verdict for the death of a man killed by a defective road grader.
- $1.7M
- Verdict for a 49-year-old who suffered lumbar strain and shoulder injury while working aboard a railcar that experienced a severe jolt as a result of defective brakes.
Results depend on the specific facts of each case. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Recognition
Recognized by the people who watch him work
Best Lawyers
“Lawyer of the Year,” multiple times
- Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs
- Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs
- Admiralty and Maritime Law
John is also listed as one of the Best Lawyers in America.
Super Lawyers
Ranked #1 in Oregon, 2025 and 2026
- John Coletti was ranked #1 on the Oregon Super Lawyers Top 10 list in 2025 and 2026, and #2 in 2024.
- John Coletti has been named to the Oregon Super Lawyers Top 10 list in 2011, 2012 and 2013, and every year from 2018 through 2026.
- John Coletti has been named to the Oregon Super Lawyers Top 50 list every year from 2008 through 2026.
He has also repeatedly ranked in the Top 10 of Portland’s Best Lawyers by Portland Monthly magazine.
Oregon Trial Lawyers Association
Distinguished Trial Lawyer of the Year
John has been awarded OTLA’s Distinguished Trial Lawyer of the Year and the association’s President’s Award — both voted by fellow Oregon trial lawyers.
Leadership in the trial bar
One hundred lawyers. John is its Vice President.
“A select group of 100 of the nation’s most celebrated trial lawyers.”
The Washington Post, on the Inner Circle
The Inner Circle of Advocates
Founded in 1972, the Inner Circle of Advocates is an invitation-only group of 100 of the best trial lawyers in America, who are selected for their character, experience and success in the courtroom. It is recognized as one of the most exclusive groups of attorneys in the nation. Although spread across the country, members work collectively to share experience, skills and knowledge in pursuit of justice.
- 100
- Members nationwide, capped by charter
- 1972
- Founded
- VP
- John’s current office in the organization
Education and admissions
Trained in the Northwest
- Undergraduate
- University of Washington, 1991Bachelor’s degree in English.
- Law school
- Willamette University College of Law, 1994Associate editor of the Willamette Law Review.
- Licensed
- Oregon and Washington.
Service to the profession and community
How he gives back
John has long been active in the community, and still grants wishes himself rather than only serving on a board.
Make-A-Wish
A former board member of the Make-A-Wish Organization, John continues to serve as a volunteer wish granter, helping create meaningful experiences for children and families facing serious and life-threatening challenges.
Teaching trial advocacy
As an adjunct professor at Lewis & Clark Law School, John has taught Advanced Trial Advocacy — the same course Jane Paulson has taught — preparing new lawyers to try cases ethically and well.
Outside the courtroom
Family, rivers, mountains, and multiple Ironman finish lines
Outside of his law practice, John enjoys spending time with his family. In his free time he fishes, skis, and has completed multiple Ironman triathlons and marathons.
- Family
- Fishing
- Skiing
- Ironman & marathons
From here
John grew up in Hillsboro, Oregon, and has built his entire practice in the state.
Work with John
Tell us what happened. We will tell you what we see.
Free, confidential, and no obligation to hire the firm.
No surprises
What happens after you reach out
Most people have never called a lawyer before. Here is the whole thing, so none of it is a surprise.
Nobody will pressure you to sign anything on the first call.
Step 1 · Today
You tell us what happened
Ten or fifteen minutes, in your own words. Bring nothing — no records, no report, no notes.
Step 2 · Same call
We tell you what we think
Whether there may be a case, what deadline you are up against, and what it would take. If we are not the right firm, we say who might be.
Step 3 · If you want us to
We gather the evidence
We request the records and reports at our expense, and the insurance company starts dealing with us instead of you.
Step 4 · Always
You stay in control
We recommend; you decide. Accepting an offer or asking a jury instead is your call, every time.