John C. Cavett, Jr.

      Degrees Earned

• Doctor of Jurisprudence (JD) – University of Tennessee, December 1981 
• Bachelor of Arts (Economics) - Sewanee, May 1977 

Accomplishments

• Co-Founder of Cavett & Abbott, PLLC, established in 1995
• Former partner Jahn, Jahn and Cavett
• Lecturer real estate and criminal law
• Death penalty Qualified

Bar Association Memberships 

• Chattanooga Bar Association  

Court Admissions

• Tennessee Supreme Court
• United States Supreme Court
• Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals
• U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Tennessee
• All Tennessee State Courts

Boards / Committee Memberships

• Tennessee Ethics Panel Member 2002-2008
• Past President Chattanooga Trial Lawyers Association
• Former reporter for Tennessee Bar Association for real estate legislation 

Significant Cases

Defended Frank Casteel - the "Signal Mountain Murders".

Counsel or co-council in 7 death penalty cases.

Lead counsel in first federal death penalty case in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

State v. Aultman, Criminal Court for Hamilton County, Tennessee - judgement of acquittal in first degree murder prosecution.

Lost Mountain v. Smith 2006 WL 3740791, Tenn. App. 2006 - changed the law in Tennessee reagrding foreclosure deficiencies.

Wager v. Life Care Centers of America, No. E2006-01054-COA-R3-CV, Tenn. App. 2006 - obtained $500,000 judgement for plaintiff in breach of contract case.

Beard v. Herb Adcox Chevrolet Company - Defense of a 15 million dollar class action lawsuit.

• Initial Consultation: Initial Consults $250.00
• Typical Retainer Fee: $3,500 - $5,000 litigation retainer 
• Fixed-Priced Services and Fees: We are typically retained on an hourly basis.
• Hourly Rate Fees: $250 per hour

What influences led you to your primary area of practice and what life experience made you to be a better attorney?

I went to public schools in Hamilton County. I have had a number of non-law related jobs which instilled in me a great respect for the lives of working people who I enjoy representing.

I am particularly interested in defending those accused of crimes. I see the work of the criminal defense attorney being primarily that of protecting the constitutional rights enjoyed by every citizen.

I have a background as a title attorney and upon becoming a litigator in 1982, I brought that experience to bear in numerous real estate cases I have tried through the years.

Describe your law firm.

Cavett & Abbott, PLLC was established to serve our clients who need litigation attorneys in the areas of real estate, construction and criminal defense. We are unique in that we have always maintained our emphasis on litigation and have limited our practice to these core areas. We do not handle transactional work, corporate formation or other non-litigation cases. With our emphasis on litigation in specific areas of practice, we are better able to serve our clients who need trial attorneys with substantial experience in these areas of the law.