John B. Thorsness

In Memory of John Thorsness

It is with great sadness and heavy hearts that we announce the recent passing of John Thorsness, a partner in our Anchorage office for almost twenty years. John was an accomplished litigator, trusted partner and a dear friend. John leaves a void in our hearts and in our office. We will miss him always.

Mr. Thorsness was a lifelong Alaskan. Before attending law school, he was a commercial fisherman, a “hired hand,” and a congressional staffer. He was admitted to the Alaska Bar Association in 1982. He joined the firm in June 2004 and focuses his practice on the defense of product liability, personal injury, and wrongful death litigation. Mr. Thorsness has tried cases in the state courts of Alaska and in the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska. He has also argued appeals before the Alaska Supreme Court, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

Recreational interests
Licensed Pilot
Land and Seaplane Ratings
Whitewater Boating
Alpine Mountaineering

Education

• University of Oregon School of Law,Eugene,Oregon
  • J.D. -1982
• University of Washington
  • B.A. -1978
  • Major:History

Bar Admission

• Alaska,1982
• U.S. Federal Courts,1983
• U.S. District Court District of Alaska
• U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit

Published Works

• Contributing Editor (Alaska), Products Liability Defenses: A State-by-State Compendium,Defense Research Institute,2004
• Contributing Editor (Alaska), Product Liability Desk Reference, A Fifty-State Compendium,Morton F. Daller, Editor-in-Chief, Aspen Publishers,2001-Present

Representative Cases

• Kava v. American Honda Motor Co., Inc.,48 P.3d 1170, Prod.Liab.Rep. (CCH) P 16,394,2002,Alaska
• Moore v. Hartley Motors, Inc.,36 P.3d 628,2001,Alaska

Professional Associations

• Anchorage Bar Association,Board of Directors,1991 to 1994
• Anchorage Bar Association,President,1987 to 1988
• Alaska Bar Association,Board of Governors,1991 to 1994
• Alaska Bar Association,Vice President,1993 to 1994
• Defense Counsel of Alaska,State Representative,1997 to 1998
• Defense Research Institute,Product Liability Committee
• International Association of Defense Counsel,State Membership Representative

Current Employment Position

• Partner