Butler, Samantha

John Butler is a member of our Risk Management practice group, as well as that group's Aviation and Commercial Transportation Teams. His practice concentrates in aviation litigation, insurance coverage, products liability, and commercial transportation, which includes trucking and personal property transport litigation.

John graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1986, with a Bachelor's of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering, after which he served almost eight years in the U. S. Navy as a helicopter pilot and fixed wing flight instructor. During his active duty tour, he was awarded an Air Medal and Navy Commendation Medal for his participation in Operation Desert Storm.

Following law school, he joined the Navy Reserve and continued serving in the military as a helicopter pilot and officer-in-charge of a helicopter detachment. He has flown over 2,800 hours in Naval and general aviation aircraft, and holds an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) rating, single engine and multi-engine certificates, instrument rating, as well as a helicopter rating.

John continues to fly fixed wing aircraft for business and pleasure. He has handled litigation dealing with general aviation crashes, major airline accidents, and military aviation accidents throughout the country. He has participated in the actual investigation phase of aircraft accidents by examining wreckage, and interviewing experts as to the probable cause of the accident. He has also handled litigation in a variety of torts, involving maritime dredging operations, medical malpractice, poultry cutting machinery, personal property relocation, oil refineries and elevators.