AttorneyJohn M. Phillips
The Law Office of John M. Phillips
4428 Lakeside Drive, Jacksonville, Florida, 32210
Fighting for Justice Against Power
John M. Phillips is a nationally recognized civil rights and personal injury attorney based in Jacksonville, Florida, with a decades-long track record of holding law enforcement agencies and government entities accountable for constitutional violations. His practice has become synonymous with aggressive, client-centered advocacy for victims of police brutality, excessive force, false arrest, and wrongful death at the hands of public officials. Phillips has earned a reputation as one of the foremost civil rights litigators in the Southeast, consistently taking on cases that other firms decline due to their complexity or the power of the defendants involved.
Phillips and his firm have successfully litigated hundreds of cases involving police misconduct, securing multimillion-dollar verdicts and settlements on behalf of individuals and families whose civil rights were violated under color of law. His work spans a broad range of civil rights violations, including unlawful use of force, Fourth and Fourteenth Amendment claims, and systemic misconduct by law enforcement agencies. He has been particularly noted for his willingness to take cases to trial rather than accepting inadequate settlements, and his courtroom skills have produced landmark results in Florida and beyond.
A frequent media commentator on civil rights and police accountability issues, Phillips has been featured in national and regional news outlets, lending his expertise to public conversations about law enforcement reform and victims' rights. He is known for personally investing in each client's case, often traveling to document scenes, interview witnesses, and pursue evidence that larger institutional firms might overlook. His dedication to transparency and client communication has earned him high marks from past clients and peer attorneys alike.
Phillips is admitted to practice in Florida and has litigated in federal courts across the country, making his practice effectively national in scope. He has been recognized by multiple legal rating organizations for his civil rights work and continues to expand his firm's reach to serve victims of government misconduct regardless of jurisdiction. His career reflects a sustained commitment to the principle that no individual or institution is above the law, and that every victim of state-sanctioned harm deserves vigorous representation.
Notable Results
- Secured a multi-million dollar settlement against a Florida law enforcement agency on behalf of a family whose loved one was killed during a use-of-force incident
- Obtained a seven-figure recovery for a client subjected to unlawful arrest and excessive force by municipal police officers
- Successfully resolved a wrongful death civil rights claim against a county sheriff's office resulting in a significant policy change and financial award to the surviving family
Key Characteristics
- Has represented hundreds of individuals and families in civil rights and police misconduct cases across Florida and the United States, with a consistent record of seven-figure recoveries.
- Known for personally handling each case from intake through trial, ensuring clients receive direct attorney involvement rather than being delegated to support staff.
- Regularly litigates in both state and federal courts, including under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 for constitutional violations committed by law enforcement officers and government entities.
- Frequently sought out by media for expert commentary on police accountability, civil rights law, and high-profile misconduct cases at the local and national level.
- Demonstrated willingness to take difficult, high-stakes cases to jury trial rather than accepting lowball settlements from government defendants and their insurers.