BIO
 

John began practicing law at  in 1989 as an associate at a plaintiffs personal injury firm after graduating, with distinction, from  the University of Missouri at Kansas City Law School; five years later he accepted a promotion to partner.  John has spent the past thirty-four years practicing in the areas of personal injury, medical malpractice, products liability, False Claims Act (Qui Tam) cases, environmental law, and consumer class actions.  John founded the Parisi Law Firm in February 2018.

 

RECENT CASES

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In 2023, along with co-counsel, a wrongful death claim was resolved for over a million dollars.  Several other personal injury settlements were obtained in the mid to upper six figures. 

 

In 2022, with co-counsel, a wrongful death action was resolved for over 1.3 million dollars.    Several personal injury cases were settled for policy limits in the mid-six figures. 

 

In 2021,with co-counsel, John resolved a personal injury action involving a pedestrian in Johnson County, Kansas for policy limits of over 1.3 million dollars. 

 

In 2020, with co-counsel, John resolved a personal injury action involving a pedestrian in Jackson County, Missouri for a confidential amount.      

 

In 2019 John, along with co-counsel, resolved a Missouri medical negligence case and a Missouri auto crash case.     Both settled for over a million dollars.   

 

In 2018  concluded a Missouri wrongful death case involving the son of the driver of a semi truck who was killed in a crash in rural Missouri, and a Kansas Medical negligence action involving post operative wound care.  In 2017, John resolved a personal injury case involving two individuals inured at a amusement park in Kansas City,  Kansas.   

     

John represented a man in a wrongful death suit  brought in Johnson County, Kansas, on behalf of his family  The case was tried in March of 2014 resulting in a jury verdict of $2.88 million.

 

Also in 2014, John represented one of the plaintiffs who sustained significant burn injuries in the natural gas explosion at a restaurant in Kansas City, Missouri.  The case was successfully resolved.  In October of 2013, John represented an 85-year-old Missouri woman who sustained multiple orthopedic injuries resulting from a head-on collision.   The case was litigated against the driver and his employer, resulting in a $2.2 million jury verdict.

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John also served as lead counsel in a Missouri case resulting from a tire failure and rollover of a 15 passenger van.  With co-counsel, John represented the Missouri families of the two individuals who were killed, as well as the two  passengers who were seriously injured.   After extensive litigation, each of the four cases, filed in Jackson County, Missouri, settled for confidential amounts.

 

John has extensive experience in representing plaintiffs in consolidated and class action cases.  For example:  John served as co-counsel in the In re GM Corporation Dex-Cool Litigation, Case No.  MDL-03-1562-GMP (S.D. Ill.) and in related state court actions concerning Dex-Cool, including Gutzler v. General Motors, Case No. 03CV208786 (Jackson County Missouri Circuit Court) where the trial court certified a class of Missouri residents whose vehicles contained Dex-Cool antifreeze.   The total value of the settlement was in the millions of dollars.

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John was appointed to the Plaintiffs Steering Committee in the Robert Courtney litigation in the Jackson County Missouri Circuit Court.  Robert Courtney was a Kansas City pharmacist who diluted chemotherapy and other prescription medications in both Kansas and Missouri for over 10 years.  The case settled against the two drug companies involved for approximately $70 million.

                        

John served as co-lead counsel in a class action for ground water contamination near Joplin, Missouri.  The case was certified as a class action in the Newton County Missouri Circuit Court resulting in a total settlement of over $12 million, including the installation of a permanent drinking water system for the local residents. 

 

John has represented a number of whistleblowers in fraud cases brought pursuant to the Qui Tam provisions of the False Claims Act.  I served as lead counsel in a whistleblower case involving fraudulent billing for respiratory therapy provided in skilled nursing facilities across the United States.  After intervention by the government, and the defendant’s bankruptcy, the respiratory therapy portion of the case settled for $24 million.

 

EDUCATION

 

University of Missouri, St. Louis, B.A. in Anthropology, January 1978

University of Kansas, M.A. in Anthropology,

May 1983

University of Missouri at Kansas City, J.D. with distinction, May 1989

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PERSONAL HISTORY

 

Prior to obtaining my law degree, I was an archaeologist for ten years.  I graduated from the University of Missouri with a B.A. in Anthropology in 1978 and from the University of Kansas with an M.A. in Anthropology in 1983.  As an archaeologist, I conducted numerous excavations of historic Euro-American and prehistoric Indian Sites, primarily in Missouri and Kansas and participated in an archaeological survey for prehistoric sites in the Republic of Egypt in the Western Sahara Desert. As a lawyer, I have utilized the research and practical skills I developed as an archaeologist to the benefit of my clients.

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 Although I enjoyed being an archaeologist, I primarily became a lawyer to help people whose problems exist in the present, rather than focusing on the lives of those in the past. Since becoming a lawyer I have dedicated my practice to representing people that are significantly injured. I have been privileged to handle a wide variety of cases during my legal career. I have successfully brought to conclusion complex cases both for individual clients and in the context of  class actions. I have obtained substantial recoveries for my clients in a wide variety of cases, including personal injury, defective drugs, defective products, negligent health care, and environmental contamination. I have also represented a number of whistleblowers that have recovered millions of dollars to the United States Treasury.

 

I am dedicated to improving the legal community and believe that lawyers have a duty not only to their clients, but also to the civil justice system and their community. I currently serve on a number of bar association committees and leadership positions. I served as a commissioner and chair of the Kansas Lawyers Victim Compensation Fund and currently serve as Chairman of the Johnson County Ethics & Grievance Committee.  For eight years (2014-2022) I was also an elected member of the Tenth Judicial Nominating Commission for  the Johnson County, Kansas District Court.  I am a Past President of the Kansas Trial Lawyers Association and former Chair of the Small Firm and Solo Practitioner Section and past member of the Board of Governors for the American Associate for Justice (formerly Association of Trial Lawyers of America). 

 

I am married to Ellen Suzanne Goldman, also a lawyer, and I have two daughters, Laura and Julie. My interests outside the law include prehistoric North American archaeology, music, traveling and bicycling.

 

PEER RECOGNITION, HONORS AND AWARDS

 

• UMKC Law School

  • Law Review 1986-1989

  • Moot Court Board 1988-1989

  • National Moot Court Team 1988-1989

  • Order of the Bench and Robe 1989

  • Order of the Barristers 1989

  • American Jurisprudence Award, International Law, 1988.

  • American Jurisprudence Award, Remedies, 1989.

• Thomas E. Sullivan Memorial Award, Kansas Trial Lawyers Association Board of Governors, December 4, 1998.

• Kansas Association of Justice Distinguished Service Award, December 3, 2010.

• ATLA Wiedeman & Wysocki Award, July 17, 2001.

• ATLA Wiedeman & Wysocki Award, July 23, 2002.

• University of Missouri, St. Louis, Alumni Professional Achievement Award, November, 2003.

• Martindale-Hubbell, AV Rated, 1994 - to Present. 

• Martindale-Hubbell, Preeminent Law Firms 2018-2023.

• Martindale-Hubbell, Preeminent Attorneys, Top-Rated Lawyers in Personal Injury, 2013-2023.

• Outstanding Lawyers of America, 2003 – Present.

• Best Lawyers in America, Plaintiffs Personal Injury Litigation, 2009-2024.

• The National Trial Lawyers, Top 100 Trial Lawyers – 2015 

• Best Lawyers, Best Attorneys in Missouri - 2014

• Top 100 Trial Lawyers Missouri 2008 -2013.

• Top Missouri Lawyers 2005, 2006.

• Top Attorneys in Missouri and Kansas 2007-present.

• America's Top 100 High Stakes Litigators, nominated 2019, 2020, 2021,2022, 2023.

• Best Law Firms in Kansas 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024.  US. News & World Report

• Kansas and Missouri Super Lawyer, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023.

• Kansas Top Lawyers 2019, Kansas City Magazine.

• Best of the Bar 2003, 2005, 2011, 2012.

• Best Lawyers in Kansas City, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017.

• Lawyers of Distinction 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023.

• Best Personal Injury Lawyers In Overland Park, Kansas 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022.

• Appellate Advocacy Judge, UMKC Appellate Advocacy Program, 1990-2018.

• Missouri Association of Professional Archaeologists, 1980-2000.

• America’s Most Honored Professionals – Top 10%, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014.

 

PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

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• Member of the American Association for Justice, 1989-2023

  • Solo Practitioner and Small Firm Section, Member since 2000, Vice-Chair from 2004-2005, and Chair from 2005-2006

  • Board of Governors, 2003-2006; 2006-2014

  • Qui Tam Litigation Committee, 2000 - 2023.

  • Political Action Committee, 1999- 2014.

  • Nursing Home Litigation Group, 1999-2010

  • Constitutional Litigation Committee, 1999-2000

• Commissioner for the Kansas Client Protection Fund, Appointed by Kansas Supreme Court, 2002 - 2008; Chair 2007-2008.

• Earl O’Conner Inn of Court, Johnson County, Kansas.  Barrister, 1992-1994, Master, 1999 - 2002. 

• Ross T. Roberts Inn of Court, Jackson County, Missouri. Barrister, 1994-1996. 

• Johnson County Bar Association, Member, 1989 - Present.

  • Ethics and Grievance Committee Member, 2000 - Present.

  • Chair 2018 - Present

  • Commissioner, Tenth Judicial District Nominating Commission, 2014-2022.

• Kansas Bar Association, Member, 1989 - Present.

• Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, Member, 1989 - Present.

  • Nursing Home Committee, 2000-Present; Vice-Chair, 2001-2002.

  • Tort Law Committee, 1999 – Present; Vice-Chair, 1999-2000; Chair, 2000-2001.

  • Environmental Law Committee, Member, 1990 - Present.

•  Kansas Trial Lawyers Association, Member, 1989-Present.

  • President, 2002-2003

  • President Elect, 2001-2002.

  • Vice President of Legislation, 2000-2001. 

  • Executive Committee Member at Large, 1993-1994; 1999-2000; 2005-2006.

  • Secretary, 1998-1999.

  • Vice President of Education, 1997-1998.

  • Vice President of Public Affairs, 1995-1996.

  • Treasurer, 1994-1995.           

  • Board of Governors, 1991 - Present.

  • Legacy of Justice Foundation Board of Directors - Member 2002 - 2005.

  • Continuing Legal Education Committee, 1997 - 2010.

  • Legislative Committee, 1997 - 2010.

  • Amicus Committee, 1998 - 2003.

  • Eagles Committee, 1998 - 2005.

  • Medical Malpractice/Products Liability Sections, 1993 - Present. 

  • Nominating Committee, 2003-2007, 2018.

• LEAP Foundation, Board Member, 2001 - 2007.

• Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys, Member, 1989 - Present.

• Missouri Bar Association, Member, 1989 - Present.

• Public Justice (formerly Trial Lawyers for Public Justice) 2001 – 2023.

  • Kansas State Coordinator 2008-2022.

• Kansas Tenth Judicial District Nominating Commission, Lawyer Member, 2014-2022.

• Wyandotte County Bar Association, Member, 1989 - 2001.

• National Association of Personal Injury Lawyers, 2009-2018.

 

PRESENTATIONS

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Johnson County Bar Association, Herbert W. Walton Bench/Bar Conference, Ethics Refresher 

June 5, 2019,  Overland Park, KS.

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Johnson County Bar Association, Herbert W. Walton Bench/Bar Conference, Ethics Refresher, 

March 7, 2018,  Overland Park, KS.

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Johnson County Bar Association, Herbert W. Walton Bench/Bar Conference, Ethics Refresher 

June 1, 2016,  Overland Park, KS.

 

Johnson County Community College – Medical/Legal Presentation to Paramedic Students, November 13, 2013 and September 17, 2014, Johnson County, KS.

 

North Carolina Advocates for Justice, Civil Masters in Advocacy – How to Survive the World of Kansas Tort Reform, June 16, 2012, Wilmington, NC.

 

KCMBA Bench Bar & Boardroom Conference, New Lawyer Experience – Selecting and Evaluating Cases, May 10-12, 2012.

 

Johnson County Bar Association, Trial Skills 101, Initiation of a Lawsuit, Presentation with Judge David Hauber, January 27, 2012, Johnson County, KS.

 

2011 Solo and Small Firm Conference, Mining Electronic Medical Records for Precious Information, Presentation with Matt Birch, June, 10, 2011, Lake of the Ozarks, MO.

 

Johnson County Bar Association, Trial Skills 101, Initiation of a Lawsuit, Answer and Related Issues, Presentation with Judge Kevin Moriarty, January 20, 2011, Johnson County, KS.

 

Johnson County Bar Association, Herbert W. Walton Bench/Bar Conference, Keynote Speech Presentation with Jeff Lanza, Retired FBI Agent, “Leadership Ethics” March 3, 2010, Overland Park, KS.

 

Kansas Association for Justice, Masters of the Courtroom: Trial Skills “Voir Dire,” June 5, 2009, Topeka, KS.

 

National Business Institute, “Insurance Coverage Litigation,” February 8, 2008, Kansas City, MO.

 

Johnson County Bar Association, “Scope of Representation-Multiple Clients,” with Christian Web, June 3, 2009, Overland Park, KS.

 

National Business Institute, “Plaintiff’s Personal Injury:  Practice Tips and Application,” June 2007, Kansas City, MO.

 

Kansas Trial Lawyers Association Seminar, “Introduction and Update on Recent Case Law Regarding False Claims Act,” June 2007, Overland Park, KS.

 

National Business Institute, “Insurance Law Update:  Understanding Current Coverage Trends,” February 9, 2007, Kansas City, MO.

 

CLE International, Nursing Home Litigation, December 7-8, 2006, Tampa, FL.

 

Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Moderator, 2006 Annual Meeting, Sole Practitioner and Small Firm Seminar, July, 2006, Seattle, Washington.

 

Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Moderator, Winter Meeting, Sole Practitioner and Small Firm Seminar, February, 2006, Honolulu, HI.

 

Kansas Trial Lawyers Association Seminar, “Best of CLE Live,” June 25, 2005, Lawrence, KS.

 

Kansas Trial Lawyers Association Seminar, “An Introduction to the Federal False Claims Act,” April 21-22, 2005, Lawrence, KS.

 

Kansas Trial Lawyers Association Seminar, “Best of CLE Live,” June 26, 2004, Lawrence, KS.

 

Kansas Metropolitan Bar Association Seminar, “Crossing State Lines:  Tort Lawyers,” June 4, 2004, Kansas City, MO.

 

Kansas Trial Lawyers Association Seminar Moderator, “Basic/Advanced Trial Skills,” April 29-30, 2004, Lawrence, KS.

 

American Medical Directors Association, “How Improving Communication Techniques Can Improve Care and Reduce Liability,” March 4-7, 2004, Phoenix, AZ.

 

Kansas Trial Lawyers Association Advanced Trial Skills Seminar, “Comparison of Kansas and Missouri Medical Negligence Law,” April 25, 2003, Lawrence, KS.

 

Mealey’s Advanced Nursing Home Litigation Conference, “Using the False Claims Act to Prevent Nursing Home Fraud and Patient Abuse,” December 9, 2002, Pasadena, CA.

 

Association of Trial Lawyers of America, 2002 Annual Convention.  Qui Tam Litigation Group, “False Claims Act Litigation in Nursing Home Cases,” July 21, 2002, Atlanta, GA.

 

American Geriatrics Society, 2002 Annual Scientific Meeting.  Communication and Care Coordination, “Defending Your Medical Decisions Before a Defense is Needed,” May 8, 2002, Washington, D.C. 

 

American Geriatrics Society, 2002 Annual Scientific Meeting, “Demonstration of a Typical Physician Deposition,” May 8, 2002,  Washington, D.C.

 

Kansas Trial Lawyers Association, Advanced Trial Skills Seminar, “Fraud, Abuse and False Claims in Nursing Homes,” April 19, 2002, Lawrence, KS.

 

Lawyers and Judges Publishing Company, Nursing Home Litigation Seminar, “Fraud Abuse and False Claims in Nursing Homes,” October 27, 2001, Las Vegas, NV.

 

Washburn University School of Law, Ahern Torts Seminar.  Responder to “Using Torts As An Alternative To The Enforcement Of Environmental Regulations,” September 22, 2001, Topeka, KS.

 

Missouri Bar Association, “The Fine Art of Whistleblowing: A Qui Tam Overview, Update of Recent Case Law” telephone seminar, August 29, 2001, Kansas City, MO.

 

Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, Moderator Contributor and Panel Member, “Prosecuting and Defending Federal False Claims Act Whistleblower Cases,” June 27, 2001, Kansas City, MO. 

 

Lorman Education Services, Federal Litigation Seminar, “Jury Instructions.”  June 15, 2001, Kansas City, MO.

 

Kansas Trial Lawyers Association, Nursing Home Litigation Seminar, “Using the Federal False Claims Act to Prove Fraud and Abuse in Nursing Home Cases.”  May 18, 2001, Lenexa, Kansas

 

Wyandotte County Bar Association, “Kansas Trial Lawyers Assessment of the Kansas Legislature 2001 Session.”  May 16, 2001, Kansas City, KS.

 

Lorman Education Services, Federal Practice Seminar, “Jury Instructions.” March 30, 2001, Overland Park, KS.

 

Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Nursing Home Litigation Group Seminar. Moderator  February 12, 2001, New Orleans, LA.

 

Association of Trial Lawyers of America. Nursing Home Litigation Group Seminar, “Using the False Claims Act to Establish Nursing Home Fraud and Patient Abuse.”  March 17, 2000, Las Vegas, NV.   

 

Andrews Publication Seminar, “Nursing Home Litigation, Demonstrative Evidence In Nursing Home Cases.”  November 16, 1999, Jupiter Beach, FL.

 

Kansas Paralegal Association, “Taking Your Paralegal to Trial.”  September 16, 1999, Overland Park, KS.

 

Association of Trial Lawyers of America 1999 Annual Convention, “Use of the False Claims Act in Nursing Home Litigation.”  July 17, 1999, San Francisco, CA.

 

Kansas Trial Lawyers Association.  Seminar: Best of Continuing Legal Education, “Use of Evidence.”  June 25, 1999, (KU Regents Center), Overland Park, KS.

 

Kansas Trial Lawyers Association.  Moderator, Summer Seminar.  June 1999, New Orleans, LA. 

 

Kansas City Missouri Bar Association Bench Bar Conference.  Presenter and Panel Member. “Jury Pools in Johnson County, Kansas and Jackson County, Missouri.”  May 1999, Osage Beach, MO.

 

Kansas Trial Lawyers Association, “New Rules for Discovery (Adams v. St. Francis).”  April 23, 1999, Lawrence, KS.

 

Kansas Trial Lawyers Association.  Moderator, Summer Seminar, June 1998, Osage Beach, MO. 

 

Kansas Trial Lawyers Association.  Moderator, Best of KTLA CLE, May 1998, Overland Park, KS. 

 

National Business Institute Seminar, “Insurance Coverage Law in Kansas.”  January 1998, Kansas City, KS.

 

HMS Continuing Legal Education, “Discovery Skills for Paralegals.”  July 24, 1997, Overland Park, KS.

 

Kansas Trial Lawyers Association.  Moderator, Automobile Seminar.  March 1997, Overland Park, KS. 

 

Kansas Trial Lawyers Association.  Moderator, Technology Seminar.  February 1997, Wichita, KS. 

 

Eighteenth Annual National Law Conference, “The Direct and Cross-Examination of Opposing Experts in an Alcohol-Related Personal Injury Residence Hall Case.”  February 13 - 15, 1997, Clearwater, FL.

 

National Business Institute Seminar, “Insurance Coverage Law in Kansas.”  January 28, 1997, Kansas City, KS.

 

Information Systems Corporation Seminar, “Kansas/Missouri Real Estate Practice for Paralegals.”  March 20, 1995, Kansas City, MO.

 

C.R.I. Incorporated. Contributor and Panel Member, “The Role of the Expert in Determining Future Damages.”  January 1995, Overland Park, KS.

 

Colorado Trial Lawyers Association/Kansas Trial Lawyers Association, Environmental Law Program, “Presenting the Plaintiff’s Case, Common Law and Statutory Theories of Liability.” August 1994, Aspen, CO. 

 

Kansas Trial Lawyers Association, Moderator, Best of KTLA CLE.  May 1994, Overland Park, KS. 

 

Kansas Trial Lawyers Association, “Preparing Settlement Brochures, Winning Without Trial.” September 1993, Manhattan, KS.   

 

Kansas City Family Therapists, “Potential litigation resulting from exposure to toxic substances and the emotional impact on family systems.”   March 1992, Kansas City, MO.

 

PUBLICATIONS

 

“Ringing the Bell on Concussions,” American Association for Justice, Trial Magazine, August 2012.

 

“Demonstrative Evidence”, edited by Patricia W. Iyer and Steven Applebaum.  In, Nursing Malpractice, Fourth Edition, Vol. 1, Foundations of Nursing Malpractice Claims Lawyers and Judges Publishing Co., 2011

 

“Practicing in an Era of Tort Reform,” ATLA Sole Practitioner and Small Firm Practitioner Newsletter, Spring, 2005.

 

“Fighting Fraud in Long Term Care, The Use of the False Claims Act to Prevent Nursing Home Fraud and Patient Abuse,” in Nursing Home Litigation: Pretrial Practice and Trials, 2nd Edition, Edited by Ruben J. Krisztal, Lawyers & Judges Publishing Company, 2003. 

 

“The Preparation and Use of Demonstrative Evidence in Nursing Home Cases,” with Patricia W. Iyer and Stephen Appelbaum.  In Nursing Home Litigation: Pretrial Practice and Trials, 2nd Edition, edited by Ruben J. Krisztal.  Lawyers & Judges Publishing Company, 2003.

 

“Holding a Case Together After an Expert Flakes Out,” in TRIAL- Journal of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, September 2003.

 

“Trial Exhibits: Legal and Strategic Considerations” with Patricia W. Iyer and Stephen Appelbaum.  In Medical-Legal Aspects of Pain and Suffering, edited by Patricia W. Iyer.  Lawyers and Judges Cooperative Publishing Co. 2003.

 

“Trial Exhibits: Preparation and Use,” with Patricia W. Iyer and Stephen Appelbaum.  In Medical-Legal Aspects of Pain and Suffering, edited by Patricia W. Iyer.  Lawyers and Judges Cooperative Publishing CO. 2003.

 

“The False Claims Act in Nursing Home Litigation,” In, Nursing Home Law Letter.  July 19, 2002.

 

“The Preparation and Use of Demonstrative Evidence In Nursing Home Cases” with Patricia W. Iyer and Stephen Appelbaum.  In, Nursing Home Litigation: Pretrial Practice and Trials, edited by Ruben J. Krisztal.  Lawyers and Judges Cooperative Publishing Co. May 2001 

 

“Demonstrative Evidence” with Patricia W. Iyer and Stephen Appelbaum.  In, Nursing Malpractice, Second Edition, edited by Patricia W. Iyer.  Lawyers and Judges Cooperative Publishing Co. January 2001

 

“A Weapon Against Nursing Home Fraud and Abuse,” in TRIAL- Journal of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, December 1999. 

 

Journal of the Kansas Trial Lawyers Association, September 1996, “Settlement of a Personal injury Case; Some Issues to Consider.”

EDUCATION
Degree, B.A Anthropology  1978 
Degree, M.A. Archaeology  1983

Degree, Law Degree 1989

BAR LOCATION
Bar Number: Kansas 14078; Missouri 36422
Admittance: August 1989; January 1990