John DeStefano | Attorney

Mr. DeStefano takes special pride in helping to protect consumers against fraud and the corruption of honest enterprise.

Years of Experience

Practice Areas

Appellate Advocacy

Class Action

Commercial Litigation

Consumer Protection

Insurance Law

Bar Admissions

Arizona

Court Admissions

United States Supreme Court
Third Circuit Court of Appeals
Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals
Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals
Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals
U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona
U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado
Supreme Court of Arizona

Clerkships

Hon. Neil V. Wake, U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona, 2008-2009
Hon. William C. Canby, Jr., U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, 2007-2008

Education

University of Arizona Law School, J.D.

Harvard University

Harvard University, B.A., Classics

Current Role

Partner, Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP
Practice focuses on consumer, insurance, and antitrust class actions as well as appellate representation

Experience

Snell & Wilmer LLP, 2009-2013
American Inns of Court Pegasus Scholar 2012, study of commercial, media, and privacy law with barristers and judges in the U.K.

Legal Activities

Adjunct Professor, Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, Arizona State University
Program Chair, Lorna Lockwood American Inn of Court
Former Treasurer and Member of the Board of Trustees, American Inns of Court
American Association for Justice

Recognition

500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers, Lawdragon, 2024-2025
Rising Star, Class Action/Mass Tort, Super Lawyers, 2015-2017
Top Pro Bono Attorneys in Arizona Award, Arizona Foundation for Legal Services & Education, 2013

Notable Cases

Gunn v. Continental Casualty Co.
Sieving v. Continental Casualty Co.
Cheslow v. Continental Casualty Co.
Brown v. Continental Casualty Co.
Lewis v. GEICO
In re Hyundai & Kia Fuel Economy Litigation
Jim Brown v. Electronic Arts Inc.

Publications

Co-author, Arizona and Colorado chapters of the ABA’s “A Practitioner’s Guide to Class Actions," 2d edition

Personal Insight

When John’s great-grandfather came from Italy to Boston, he lost his life savings to a man he met named Charles Ponzi. A century later, John takes special pride in protecting the public against broad-based frauds and swindles and the corruption of honest enterprise.

Related Cases

CASES IN THE NEWS

All Cases

Arizona Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UIM) Insurance

Hagens Berman filed a class-action lawsuit against multiple auto insurance companies claiming insurers must pay UIM benefits on a per-vehicle basis to Arizona drivers.

CNA Long-Term Care Insurance

The lawsuit claims CNA enticed would-be customers with empty promises of low insurance premiums that would not increase unless premiums increased for everyone of the same age and coverage plan.

Jim Brown Publicity Rights

Hagens Berman represents NFL legend Jim Brown in a publicity rights lawsuit alleging that Electronic Arts, Inc. unlawfully used his likeness in its videogames without his permission.

Hyundai / Kia Fuel Economy

Hagens Berman filed a class action against Hyundai Motor America after regulators announced the companies overstated the fuel economy for many vehicles they sold in the United States.