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):
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
- The University of Akron, Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences, 1974
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
- Summit County Trial Lawyers, 2000 - 2001
- Ohio Academy of Trial Lawyers, 1993 - 1997
- Ohio Academy of Trial Lawyers, 2001 - 2002
- Ohio Academy of Trial Lawyers, Negligence Section, 1994 - 1996
- 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
- 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
- The Roscoe Pound Institute
- Trial Lawyers for Public Justice
- Southern Poverty Legal Center
- Akron Bar Association, 2000 - 2002
- Chairman, Judicial Evaluation Committee
- Akron Bar Association, 1994 - 1997
- Akron Bar Association, 1995 - 1997
- 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
- Palm Beach County Bar Association
- Ohio State Bar Foundation
- 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
