Special Training: Case Western Reserve University, Thomas Backus School of Law: Trial Advocacy (1978) Kent State University: Traffic Accident Analysis (1979) Case Western Reserve University, School of Medicine: Anatomy & Physiology for Attorneys (1980) National Judicial College, National College of Advocacy, Advanced Trial Advocacy in Medical Malpractice and Damages (1982)
Current Employment Position(s): Managing Partner
Areas of Practice: Civil Trial and Appellate Advocacy Medical Malpractice: Clinical, Surgical, Laboratory and Medical Device Matters Product Liability:Aviation, Aquatic, Recreational and Highway Design Cases Pharmaceutical Products Liability and Securities litigation and Investment Advisor Malpractice
Litigation Percentage: 100% of Practice Devoted to Litigation
Certification/Specialties: AV Rated, Martindale-Hubbell Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer, The Florida Bar, Recertified through 2017 Civil Trial Advocate, National Board of Trial Advocacy, Recertified through 2017 (recognized by the Ohio Supreme Court) Advocate, National College of Trial Advocacy, 1992 Associate-in-Law, American College of Legal Medicine, 1992 Senior Counsel, The College of Master Advocates and Barristers, 2003 Diplomat National College of Trial Advocates (2006)
Bar Admissions: Ohio, 1978 U.S. District Court Northern District of Ohio, 1979 U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit, 1983 U.S. Supreme Court, 1986 Florida, 1989 U.S. District Court Southern District of Ohio, 1990 U.S. Court of Appeals 11th Circuit, 1993 U.S. District Court Middle District of Florida, 2000 U.S. District Court Northern District of Florida, 2002 U.S. District Court Southern District of Florida, 2002
Bar Associations: Akron Bar Association President - Elect (2014), Chairman, Judicial Evaluation Committee (2000-2002); Board of Trustees (1994-1997) and Treasurer (1995-1997); Chairman, Disaster Response Committee (1989-1990); Chairperson, Judicial Evaluation Committee, (2000-2001); Chairperson, Lawyer's Assistance Committee (2006-2007); Chairperson, Common Pleas Court and Appellate Court Committee (2009-2010) Ohio State Bar Member, Negligence Law Committee (1979); Council of Delegates (1993-1995) and (2006-2008); Fellow, Ohio State Bar Foundation (2004) Florida Bar Association
Education: University of Akron School of Law, Akron, Ohio, 1978 Juris Doctor The University of Akron, Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences, 1974 Bachelor of Arts
Published Works: Filing a Wrongful Death Action Without a Personal Representative ? Beware?, Ohio Trial, Summer, 2005 "A Review of the Status of Attorney-Client Contingency Fee Agreements", Ohio Trial, February, 1997 "For the Practitioner: Joint & Several Liability Post-Am. Sub. H.B. 350", Ohio Trial, November, 1996 "Florida Statutes of Limitations: A Handy Reference", Akron Legal News, November, 1996
Representative Cases: Colvin v. Abbey's Restaurant, Inc., 85 Ohio St.3d 535, 709 N.E.2d 1156 (1999) Williams v. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., 964 F.Supp. 257 (N.D., Ohio 1997) Hack v. Gillespie, 74 Ohio St.3d 362, 658 N.E.2d 1046 (1996) Fiorentino v. Lightning Rod Mutual Insurance Company, 114 Ohio App.3d 188 (1996) Dellenbach v. Robinson, 70 Ohio St.3d 1219, 640 N.E.2d 840 (1994) Cabe v. Lunich, 70 Ohio St.3d 598, 640 N.E.2d 159 (1994) Sabo v. MICO Ins. Co., 70 Ohio St.3d 492, 639 N.E.2d 448 (1994) Brown v. Allstate Ins. Co., 81 Ohio App.3d 87, 610 N.E.2d 478 (1991) Stevens v. Pusey & Jones, 43 Ohio St.3d 63, 538 N.E.2d 409 (1989) Pickett v. Ohio Farmers Ins. Co., Ohio St. 3d 1201, 781 N.E.2d 217 (1998) Gieger v. UNUM Life Ins. Co. of America, 213 F.Supp.2d 813 (2002) Miraglia v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 770 So.2d 1255 (2000) Kovats v. Rutgers, The State University, 822 F.2d 1303 (1987) Schaefer v. Musil (2014) 2014-Ohio-1504, C.A. 27109 Haught v. U.S. Fid. and Guar (2011) 2-11-Ohio-4994, C.A. 25489 Vikoz Enters., LLC v. Wizards of Plastic Recycling, Inc. (2011) 2011-Ohio-4486, C.A. 25759 Loudin v. Radiology and Imaging Servs. (2011) 948 N.E.2d 944, 128 Ohio St.3d 555, 2011-Ohio-1817 Petsch v. Hampton Inn (2011) 2011-Ohio-838, OHCA8 95039 Ward v. Summa Health System (2010) 920 N.E.2d 421, 184 Ohio App.3d 254, 2009-Ohio-4859 (Ohio App. 9 Dist. 2009) Duncan v. Hopkins (2008) 2008-Ohio-3772, C. A. No. 24065 William A. Randolph, Inc. v. Gator Construction, Inc. (2007) 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 57340, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio 2:06-cv-950 Mogus v. Scottsdale Insurance, Co. (2004) 2004-Ohio-5177, C.A. 03CA0074 , 04CA0002, 04-LW-4395 (9th) Hottensmith v. Corvo (2003) 2003-Ohio-6974, 2002P0064, 03-LW-5428 (11th) Reese v. Hartford Fire Insurance, Co. (2003) 2003-Ohio-4269, C.A. 21455, 03-LW-3222 (9th) Thorley v. Am. States Preferred (2003) 787 N.E.2d 638, 98 Ohio St.3d 493, 2003-Ohio-2148 Pickett v. Ohio Farmers Insurance, Co. (2002) 781 N.E.2d 217, 98 Ohio St.3d 1201, 2002-Ohio-7026
Classes/Seminars Taught: "Civil Case Selection, Investigation and Preparation", Akron Bar Association, 2002 "Personal Injury: Preparation of the Personal Injury Case in the 21st Century", Akron Bar Association, Civil Trial Practice Institute, 2000 "Handling the Basic Personal Injury Case", Akron Bar Association and The University of Akron, School of Law, 1986 "Proving Causation in Medical Negligence and Product Liability Cases", Akron Bar Association and The University of Akron, School of Law, 1989 "Traffic Accident Analysis & Highway Design Cases", Akron Bar Association and The University of Akron, School of Law, 1990 "Punitive Damages with Ohio Emphasis", Akron Bar Association and The University of Akron, School of Law, 1992 "Litigation Issues for the 21st Century", Akron Bar Association and The University of Akron, School of Law, 1999 "New Developments in Medical Negligence & Product Liability Cases", Ohio State Bar Association, 1990 Regional Seminar "Civil RICO: Trial Practice", Ohio Academy of Trial Lawyers, 1990 36th Annual Convention "Preserving the Evidence on Damages in Pre-Suit Investigations", Ohio Academy of Trial Lawyers, 1993 "HB53: Tort Reform Seminar - Joint and Several Liability", Ohio Academy of Trial Lawyers, 1996 "HB50: Tort Reform Seminar - Tax Ramification of Punitive Damages" , Ohio Academy of Trial Lawyers, 1996 "Bad Faith Cases Against Insurance Carriers", Ohio Continuing Legal Education Institute, 1986 "Documentation", Summit County Chapter of Medical Assistance, 2000 "Legal Implications of Your Practice: Documentation of the Record", Summit County Chapter of Medical Assistance, 2000 Guest Lecturer, "Product Liability: Investigation & Preparation Leading to Trial and Appeal of a Product Liability Case: ATV and Ultralights", The University of Akron, School of Law, 1999 - 2000 Guest Lecturer, "Product Liability: Investigation & Preparation Leading to Trial and Appeal of a Product Liability Case: ATV and Ultralights", The University of Akron, School of Law, 1994 - 1996 Guest Lecturer, "Product Liability: Investigation & Preparation Leading to Trial and Appeal of a Product Liability Case: ATV and Ultralights", The University of Akron, School of Law, 1992 "The Role of Experts in Trial Practice", The University of Akron, School of Law, 2002 "Direct Examination in the Case-in-Chief", The University of Akron, School of Law, 2003 Guest Lecturer, "Advanced Nursing Practice: Issues in Legislation & Litigation for the Advanced Nurse Practitioner", The University of Akron, Center for Nursing, 1995 - 1996 "Ohio Uninsured/Underinsured Motorists Coverage Issues", Professional Education Systems, Inc./Ohio Division, 1990 "Damages in Ohio from the Plaintiff's Perspective", Professional Education Systems, Inc./Ohio Division, 1991 "Disaster Response Committees: The Team Approach to Community Action by Local Bar Associations Involving Mass Torts", Great Lakes Organization of Bar Executives, 1991 "HB 350: Tort Reform Seminar - Joint & Several Liability", 1996 Tort Reform Seminar - "Tax Ramifications of Punitive Damages", 1996
Professional Associations and Memberships: University of Akron School of Law Alumni Association, 1997 - 1998 President Summit County Trial Lawyers, 2000 - 2001 President Ohio Academy of Trial Lawyers, 1993 - 1997 Board of Trustees Ohio Academy of Trial Lawyers, 2001 - 2002 Board of Trustees Ohio Academy of Trial Lawyers, Negligence Section, 1994 - 1996 Chair Association of Trial Lawyers of America Legislative Key Person Committee Association of Trial Lawyers of America ATLA/PAC Task Force & Quality of Life Committee Association of Trial Lawyers of America Quality of Life Committee Association of Trial Lawyers of America Membership Committee Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Product Liabilty, Toxic, Environmental & Pharmaceutical Torts Section Association of Trial Lawyers of America Accutane-Birth Defects Litigation Subgroup Association of Trial Lawyers of America Birth Trauma Litigation Subgroup Cleveland Academy of Trial Attorneys Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers Palm Beach County Trial Lawyers Association Western Trial Lawyers Association Civil Justice Foundation Charter Member The Roscoe Pound Institute Sustaining Member Trial Lawyers for Public Justice Sustaining Member Southern Poverty Legal Center Sustaining Member Akron Bar Association, 2000 - 2002 Chairman, Judicial Evaluation Committee Akron Bar Association, 1994 - 1997 Board of Trustees Akron Bar Association, 1995 - 1997 Treasurer Akron Bar Association, 1989 - 1990 Chairman, Disaster Response Committee American Bar Association Cuyahoga County Bar Association Florida Bar Association Lee County Bar Association Ohio State Bar, 1979 Member, Negligence Law Committee Ohio State Bar, 1993 - 1995 Council of Delegates Palm Beach County Bar Association Ohio State Bar Foundation Fellow Public Investor Attorneys Bar Association Academy of Catastrophic Injury Attorneys Million dollar advocates forum Leading Lawyer's in America
Honors: Ohio's Top Lawyers for 2004 Ohio Super Lawyers List Recognition of 2004-2014 Martindale Hubbell (AV) Member, Preeminent Law Firm Volunteer Legal Services Project (Volunteer Award Recipient 2005)
Birth Information: May 22, 1951, Akron, Ohio, United States of America
