John K. Baker

Member

Bar Admissions: Arkansas
Language(s): English

Education

Little Rock Catholic High School for Boys, May 1990
B.A., Saint Louis University, May 1994
J.D., University of Arkansas, December 1996

Professional Experience

Successfully tried and appealed a variety of business suits before Arkansas state and federal trial courts and Arkansas appellate courts and Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis, Missouri.  Obtained precedent-setting federal court injunction against U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (Pathfinder v. Thompson, 177 F.Supp. 2d 895 (E.D. Ark. 2001). Obtained favorable first impression ruling in appeal of Freedom of Information Act case (Kristen Inv. Props., LLC v. Faulkner County Waterworks, 32 S.W.3d 60 (Ark. Ct. App. 2000)).  Served as Court-appointed Special Circuit Court Judge for Arkansas’ Sixth Judicial District (Pulaski and Perry Counties), and named in Chambers and Partners USA: Leading Business Lawyers (Litigation: General Commercial). Named in 2008 Best Lawyers in America.  Arkansas Democrat-Gazette High Profile Feature.

Trial and/or Appellate cases include:  First Union Nat’l Bank v. Benham, 423 F.3d 855 (8th Cir. 2005); Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. v. RLI Ins. Co., 292 F.3d 583 (8th Cir. 2002); First Fin. Bank v. Mazzio’s Corp., 2001 U.S. App. LEXIS 3407 (8th Cir. 2001); Land v. Baptist Med. Ctr., 164 F.3d 423 (8th Cir. 1999); Franklin v. Zain, 152 F.3d 783 (8th Cir. 1998); Weiss v. Am. Honda Fin. Corp., 200 , S.W.3d 381 (Ark. 2004); DaimlerChrysler Servs. N. Am. v. Weiss, 200 S.W.3d 405 (2004); Slusser v. Monsanto Company, Inc., 198 S.W.3d 106 (Ark. 2004); Doe v. Ark. Dep’t of Human Servs., 182 S.W.3d 107 (Ark. 2004); Comm. to Establish Sherwood Fire Dep’t. v. Hillman, 109 S.W.3d 641 (Ark. 2003); In re Estate of Owens, 2004 Ark. App. LEXIS 602 (Ark. Ct. App. 2004); Ark. Mech. Servs. v. Jarrett, 2004 Ark. App. LEXIS 97 (Ark. Ct. App. 2004); Superior Fed. Bank v. Mackey, 129 S.W.3d 324 (Ark. Ct. App. 2003); Dev. & Constr. Mgmt. v. City of N. Little Rock, 119 S.W.3d 77 (Ark. Ct. App. 2003); Matthews v. Spencer, 2001 Ark. App. LEXIS 669 (Ark. Ct. App. 2001). Class action cases include:  Mittry v. BancorpSouth Bank, 200 S.W.3d 869 (Ark. 2005) (successfully defeated class certification sought by municipal bondholders); Winkler v. Superior Financial Corp., 4:01-CV-00851 SWW (E.D. Ark.) (successfully defeated class certification sought by home buyers); Richardson v. Chase Manhattan Bank, U.S.A., CV-03-4648, Pulaski County Circuit Court (successfully obtained nominal settlement for national credit card company); 4900 Kavanaugh, LLC v. Primedia, Inc., 4-05-cv-1635 JLH (E.D. Ark.) (successfully defended to voluntary dismissal nationwide class sought by property owner).

Other Activities

American, Arkansas, and Pulaski County Bar Associations, Member; William R. Overton Inn of Court, Member; St. Thomas More Legal Society of Arkansas, Inc., Member and Treasurer; Tree Streets, Inc. (non-profit urban forestry organization, www.treestreets.org), Co-founder, Board Member, and Past President; Camp Aldersgate, Inc. (non-profit camp serving disabled children and senior adults, www.campaldersgate.net), Past Board Member and President; Camp Aldersgate Foundation, Inc., Board Member and Secretary; Quapaw Quarter Association, Inc. (non-profit historic preservation organization, www.quapaw.com) Member, Past Board Chairman; United States Supreme Court Historical Society, Member; Arkansas Supreme Court Historical Society, Member; First place winner and "Outstanding Oralist" award recipient in University of Arkansas' 1996 Moot Court prize competition arguments before Associate U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Chief Judge Richard Arnold, Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, Judge Morris Arnold, Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals.