Attorney Profiles

John began private practice in Scottsbluff, Nebraska where he became partner in the firm of Simmons, Olsen, Ediger, Selzer & Ballew. P.C. In 1991, John moved back to Lincoln and became associated with Baylor, Evnen, Curtiss, Grimit & Witt in Lincoln. In 1995, John and M.J. Bruckner formed The Bruckner/Ballew Law Firm, P.C. before he and Vic Covalt decided to form this firm.
Over the past thirty years, John has concentrated his trial practice in the areas of personal injury and complex or high asset divorce cases. He is one of only ten lawyers in Nebraska admitted to the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and is the only lawyer in Nebraska who is both a Fellow in the American Academy and Board Certified as a Family Law Trial Specialist by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. He has been listed in The Best Lawyers In America since 2001. In 2007, he was recognized by SuperLawyers.com as one of the top lawyers in Nebraska.
John coached two championship high school mock trial teams while in Scottsbluff. He also received the first Robert M. Spire Pro Bono Award given by the Nebraska Bar Association in 1986 for his efforts in representing low-income clients. He has chaired both the Family Law and Bankruptcy Sections of the Nebraska Bar Association and has been a frequent speaker at continuing education seminars on bankruptcy and divorce topics. In recent years he has spoken to the Nebraska County and District Court Judges Associations, the Nebraska Trial Lawyers Association and regularly speaks at the Annual Institute on the Survey of Nebraska law concerning recent legislative and case law developments in family law. On three occasions his work with state senators has resulted in significant changes in Nebraska law concerning divorce and bankruptcy.
John has appeared before the Nebraska Supreme Court and Nebraska Court of Appeals more than 30 times in connection with appeals in the areas of divorce and family law, products liability, property taxation and personal injury.

Areas of Practice

• 90% Family Law - Trial and Appellate Practice
• 10% Personal Injury

Litigation Percentage

• 100% of Practice Devoted to Litigation

Certification/Specialties

• Family Law Trial Lawyer, National Board of Trial Advocacy, 1996
• Fellow, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, 1991

Bar Admissions

• Nebraska, 1979
• U.S. District Court District of Nebraska, 1979
• U.S. Federal Court, 1979

Education

• University of Nebraska College of Law, Lincoln, Nebraska, 1978
  J.D.
  
  
• University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska, 1975
  Bachelor of Science
  Honors: With Honors
  Honors: With Distinction
  Major: Business Administration
  
  

Published Works

• Avoiding Malpractice and Ethical Complaints in Divorce, Nebraska Lawyer-The Nebraska Bar Association, September, 2005

Representative Cases

• Reed v. Reed, 275 Neb. 418, 747 NW2d 18 (Supreme Court of Nebraska 2008)
• Camp v. Camp, 14 Neb. App. 473, 709 NW2d 696 (Neb. Ct. of Appeals 2006)
• Kay v. Ludwig, 12 Neb. App.868, 686 NW 2d 619 (Neb. Ct. of Appeals. 2004)
• Peter v. Peter, 262 Neb. 1017, 637 NW2d 865 (Supreme Court of Nebraska 2002)
• Day v. Heller, 10 Neb. App. 886, 639, NW 2d 158 (Neb. Ct. of Appeals 2002)
• Day v. Heller, 264 Neb. 934, 653 NW 2d 475 (Supreme Court of Nebraska 2002)
• Kellner v. Kellner, 8 Neb. App. 316, 593 NW2d 1 (Neb. Ct. of Appeals 1999)
• Winslow v. Hammer, 247 Neb. 418, 527 NW2d 631 (Supreme Court of Nebraska 1995)
• Ainsle v. Ainsle, 4 Neb. App. 70, 538 NW2d 175 (Neb. Ct. of Appeals 1995)
• Marez v. Marez, 27 Neb. 615, 350 NW2d 531 (Supreme Court of Nebraska 1984)
• Nerud v. Haybuster Mfg, Inc., 215 Neb. 604, 340 NW2d 369 (Supreme Court of Nebraska 1983)

Classes/Seminars Taught

• Annual Institute on the Survey of Nebraska Law, 2006 - Present
• Advanced Issues in Divorce, Ballew/Slowiaczek Law Firms, 2004 - 2005
• Economic Issues in Family Law, Nebr. State Bar Association, 1995

Honors and Awards

• Best Lawyers in America, 2001 - Present
• Recipient, Robert M. Spire Pro Bono Award, 1985

Professional Associations and Memberships

• American Bar Association
  Member
  
  
• Nebraska State Bar Association
  Member
  
  
• Lincoln Bar Association
  Member
  
  
• Nebraska State Bar Association, Family Law Section, 1987 - 1990
  Chairman
  
  
• Gering State Champion Mock Trial Teams, 1988 - 1990
  Coach
  
  

Past Employment Positions

• Bruckner/Ballew Law Firm, Partner, 1995 - 1999
• Baylor Evnen Curtiss Grimit and Witt, Associate, 1991 - 1995

Fraternities/Sororities

• Phi Gamma Delta
• Phi Delta Phi

Birth Information

• December 1, 1952, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America