Attorney Profiles

John P. Gonzales 
King of Prussia, Pennsylvania
Shareholder
phone (610) 354-8264
fax (610) 354-8299
email jpgonzales@mdwcg.com

John is a shareholder in the King of Prussia office of Marshall, Dennehey, Warner, Coleman & Goggin. Mr. Gonzales practices in the areas of civil rights, municipal liability, school claims, and employment law.

John has represented police officers and public officials in state and federal court in all aspects of civil rights litigation including claims involving use of force, wrongful arrest and land use. In addition, John has represented both public and private employers in wrongful discharge, employment discrimination and defamation claims from the administrative proceeding through trial. John has tried dozens of cases in state and federal courts as well as argued cases before the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.

In addition to his trial work, John has presented numerous seminars to police departments, law firms and government agencies in the areas of police practices, civil rights issues and municipal liability. He has consulted with police departments concerning the development of policies and procedures and provided advice and guidance to employers concerning employment-related matters.

John received his J.D. from Temple University School of Law, where he was a member of the Moot Court Honor Society, and graduated from the University of Scranton with a B.A. degree in history and philosophy and an M.A. degree in history. He is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania and the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Middle Districts of Pennsylvania and the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.

Significant Representative Matters

  • Defense verdict for local police department in case involving false arrest and malicious prosecution arising out of the misidentification of a suspect in a police lineup.

  • Defense verdict for county employer in case involving Title VII Sex Discrimination in the termination of a county court reporter.

  • Defense verdict for county employer in case involving allegations of sexual harassment and hostile work environment at a county prison.

  • Defense verdict for local police department in case involving allegations of false arrest and excessive force arising out of the arrest of a suspect who allegedly assaulted a police officer during a traffic incident.

  • Successful defense of a local police department in the district court and then on appeal to the Third Circuit in case involving allegations of excessive force in the death of a suspect who was alleged to have died while in custody from compression asphyxia.

  • Successful defense of a local municipality in the district court and then on appeal to the Third Circuit in case involving a land use civil rights claim that a developer's substantive due process rights were violated in the context of zoning and land use decisions by a Board of Supervisors.

  • Defense verdict for county employer in case involving claims of first amendment retaliation by a former deputy chief probation officer.

  • Defense verdict for local police officers accused of wrongfully arresting a husband in a domestic dispute.

  • Defense verdict for township detective accused of racial discrimination and conspiracy by an African American police officer in a failure to hire case.
  • Year Joined Organization:
    1994
    Areas of Practice:
    Employment
    Civil Rights
    Municipal Liability
    Bar Admissions:
    Pennsylvania, 1994
    U.S. District Court Eastern District of Pennsylvania, 1994
    U.S. District Court Middle District of Pennsylvania, 2000
    U.S. Court of Appeals 3rd Circuit, 2006
    Education:
    Temple University School of Law, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1993
    J.D.
    Honors: Temple Moot Court Honor Society
    Honors: First Place, Best Brief, Polsky Moot Court Competition, 1991


    University of Scranton, 1989
    B.A.
    Major:  History / Philosophy


    University of Scranton, 1989
    M.A.
    Major:  History


    Published Works:
    Co-author, Third Circuit Takes Pennsylvania Beyond 402(A), Defense Digest, Winter, 1994


    Co-author, Employment Discrimination Claims: Arbitration Under Collective Bargaining Clauses, Defense Digest, Vol. 2, No. 6, 1996


    Co-author, Sex-Based Shift Assignments: Employers May Use Common Sense, Defense Digest, Vol. 2, No. 7, 1996


    Pennsylvania's Emergence Code: An Additional Level of Protection for Municipalities and Their Employees Performing Emergency Services, Defense Digest, Apr. Vol. 6, No. 2, 2000


    Classes/Seminars Taught:
    Police Liability Seminar, Delaware Valley Insurance Trust, November 2007


    Law Enforcement Seminar - Use of Force Issues, Dauphin County, 2006


    Train the Trainers Program, Municipal Police Officer Education and Training Commission, November 2005


    Use of Force in Pennsylvania, Lorman Education Services, CLE, February 4, 2005


    Use of Force in Pennsylvania, Lorman Education Services, CLE, February 6, 2004


    Tort Claims Act, Delaware Valley Insurance Trust, March 2004


    Civil Rights Liability, Delaware Valley Insurance Trust, March 2004


    Honors and Awards:
    AV Peer Review Rating by LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell


    Professional Associations and Memberships:
    Montgomery County Bar Association


    Pennsylvania Bar Association


    FirmSite® by FindLaw, a Thomson Reuters business.

    ATTORNEY ADVERTISING pursuant to New York RPC 7.1Disclaimer | Site Map

    Please read the following disclaimer:

    Thank you for your interest in our firm. The information contained on this Website contains statements, videos and other content about the type and quality of services offered by Marshall, Dennehey, Warner, Coleman & Goggin, as well as past results and testimonials about the firm. This information has not been reviewed nor approved by the Florida Bar.

    Please acknowledge that you have read the above disclaimer by clicking on one of the two links below.

    YES I have read and understand the above statements. I am interested in learning more about Marshall, Dennehey, Warner, Coleman & Goggin. NO I do not want to view the information.