No different than most kids, I dreamt of being a hero as a child—and there was no bigger hero in my life than my father. He often told us stories about the people who were relying on him to resolve their tragedies; I always knew that was the kind of person I wanted to be. After earning my law degree from the University of Dayton in 1991, I joined the firm and began helping those who had been harmed with no place to go for justice.

“That the universe is a communion of subjects rather than a collection of objects is the central commitment of the Ecozoic. Existence itself is derived from and sustained by this intimacy of each being with every other being of the universe.” Brian Swimme and Thomas Berry, The Universe Story

The people who inspire me:

• Those who work with emotionally and physically challenged children. They are true heroes.

My advice for young professionals:

• Get involved with your community and the people in it as soon as possible.

I like giving back because:

• It reminds me that I have opportunities that are not always available to others. It enables me to open doors for people that can lead to them reaching their full potential.

On the weekends you can find me:

• At the family farm. I want to step away from technology, clear my mind, and get my hands dirty. Working with the Earth my grandparents farmed, we are growing trees and recovering prairie for future generations. We also grow vegetables, and we are enjoying the best of organic, local sourcing.

Community Involvement

• Erie County Board of Health, board member
• James H. McBride Arboretum, board member

Areas of Practice

• Plaintiffs' trial practice
• Personal injury
• Wrongful death actions
• Mediation
• Medical malpractice
• Railroad law
• Trucking litigation
• Admiralty and maritime law
• Business and insurance litigation

Certification/Specialties

• Board Certified Civil Trial Advocate, National Board of Trial Advocacy, 2000 – present

Bar Admissions

• Ohio, 1991
• U.S. District Court Northern District of Ohio, 1992
• U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit, 1992
• U.S. Court of Federal Claims

Education

• University of Dayton School of Law, Dayton, Ohio, 1991
  • J.D.
• Xavier University, Cincinnati, Ohio, 1987
  • B.A.

Classes/Seminars Taught

• Constitutional Law and Civil Rights, guest lecturer

Honors & Awards

• Lawyers of the Year - Personal Injury 2025
• Best Lawyers in America®, Litigation-Insurance, Personal Injury Litigation-Plaintiffs, 2018 – present
• Best Lawyers Lawyer of the Year, Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs 2020 - 2021
• Board Certified Civil Trial Attorney, 2000 – present
• Selected for inclusion in the Ohio Super Lawyers® list, 2004 – 2024
• National Association of Distinguished Counsel Nation's Top One Percent, 2015
• Toledo Business Journal's Who's Who in Toledo Area Law, 2014 – 2020

Professional Associations & Memberships

• National College of Advocacy, 2000 – present, Advocate of Trial Advocacy
• National Board of Trial Advocates, 2000 – present, member
• Erie County Bar Association, member
• Ohio State Bar Association, member
• American Association for Justice, member
• Ohio Association for Justice, member
• Cleveland Academy of Trial Lawyers, member

Additional Memberships

• Dock of the Bay Marina, managing partner
• Erie County Board of Health, board member
• James H. McBride Arboretum, board member
• Erie & Ottawa Counties Mental Health and Recovery Board, 2013-18
• Erie County Public Defenders Board, appointed by the Erie County Commissioners, past president; board member, 1993 – 1999
• Sandusky Central Catholic School Board, member 2007 – present; president, 2010 – 2012
• Sandusky State Theater Board, 2007 – 2010
• Volunteer Center Board, past president, 1994 – 2000

Representative Cases

• Erie Capital, LLC v. Barber, 2021-Ohio-2258, 2021 Ohio App. LEXIS 2207, 2021 WL 2710413
• Grove v. Rodriguez, 2008-Ohio-2210, 2008 Ohio App. LEXIS 1908, 2008 WL 1990832
• Leal v. McClain, 2007-Ohio-1043, 2007 Ohio App. LEXIS 974
• Clark v. Forney, 129 Ohio App. 3d 844, 719 N.E.2d 106, 1998 Ohio App. LEXIS 4555
• Gysegem v. Ohio State Univ. Wexner Med. Ctr., 2021-Ohio-4496, 2021 Ohio App. LEXIS 4406, 2021 WL 6063362
• Gallagher v. Firelands Reg'l Med. Ctr., 2017-Ohio-483, 75 N.E.3d 1293, 2017 Ohio App. LEXIS 482, 2017 WL 541527
• Schmelzer v. Lesar, 2004-Ohio-2435, 2004 Ohio App. LEXIS 2172
• Kerger v. Dentsply Int'l, Inc., 2011-Ohio-84, 2011 Ohio App. LEXIS 79, 2011 WL 208300
• Cox v. Lippus, 2021 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 212047, 2021 AMC 500, 2021 WL 5103803
• Sullivan v. Bay Point Resort Operations LLC, 433 F. Supp. 3d 1072, 2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 3362, 2019 AMC 16, 2019 WL 134382
• In re Steinle, 835 F. Supp. 2d 437, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 142545, 2011 WL 6153122
• New Riegel Local Sch. Dist. Bd. of Educ. v. Buehrer Grp. Architecture & Eng'g, Inc., 157 Ohio St. 3d 164, 2019-Ohio-2851, 133 N.E.3d 482, 2019 Ohio LEXIS 1446, 2019 WL 3209991
• Yuhasz v. Brush Wellman, Inc., 341 F.3d 559, 2003 U.S. App. LEXIS 17036, 2003 FED App. 0297P (6th Cir.), 57 Fed. R. Serv. 3d (Callaghan) 342, 20 I.E.R. Cas. (BNA) 585
• Wilson v. Mesenburg Bros., 1999 Ohio App. LEXIS 413, 1999 WL 63670
• Tipton v. PJ's Pancake & Steak House, 1998 Ohio App. LEXIS 1258, 1998 WL 160054
• Oatman v. InfoCision, Inc., et al., 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 106453 (N.D. Ohio 2013)
• Cooney v. Nationwide Mut. Ins. Co., 2011-Ohio-105 (8th Dist. Court of Appeals 2011)
• Swaisgood v. Puder, 118 Ohio St.3d 445, 2008-Ohio-3177 (Ohio Supreme Court 2008)
• Swaisgood v. Puder, 2007-Ohio-307 (6th App. Dist. 2007)
• Borda v. Sandusky Limited, 166 Ohio App.3d 318, 2006-Ohio-2112 (6th App. Dist. 2006)
• Below v. Dollar General Corporation, 163 Ohio App.3d 694, 2005-Ohio-4752 (3rd App. Dist. 2005)
• Karr v. Borchardt, 88 Ohio St.3d 577 (Ohio Supreme Court 2000)