Dennis E. Murray Sr.

After almost 60 years of practicing law, I can still keenly remember my first civil rights litigation. It was just after graduating from the University of Michigan Law School. I had known that I wanted a career in civil litigation. But with the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 we had the greatest of opportunities to utilize a fulsome statute for civil rights. I filed multiple lawsuits against GM subsidiaries and the UAW, for their use of statewide statutes that barred female access to the best of Ohio’s automobile jobs. It was a complete success and we still conduct discrimination litigation as we have for 60 years.

“It always seems impossible until you do it.” – Nelson Mandela

Inspiration in life:

My parents, my wife Peggy, our children and even our grandchildren have been inspirational during the decades of my practice. I remember learning the importance of law---and really of family---when, at a young age my father told me what he did as a lawyer. My father was one of the finest of lawyers, and I could see how much he was greatly defined by what he did in our profession.

When I’m not helping clients:

You can find me on the water, on a beach or just outdoors always thinking about the affairs related to our clients who are presently engaged together with us in litigation.

Biggest point of pride:

We seldom accept hourly fees and almost always are only paid when and if we win.

My advice for young professionals:

Start each day by tackling the most difficult tasks; try to take on the most challenging cases, giving 100%. Always remain loyal to those who have helped you on your way.

I like giving back because:

It is one more of the readily available pleasures in life.

Community Involvement

Since 1931, the firm Murray & Murray, and myself since 1963 have remained an integral, actively supporting part of Sandusky, Ohio community organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, Care and Share, Second Harvest Food Bank, the Sandusky State Theater, and the Sandusky Library.

Areas of Practice

• Plaintiffs' jury trial practice
• Civil Rights litigation: race, sex, handicap and age
• Stock/securities litigation
• Bad faith insurance company litigation
• Class actions
• Personal injury
• Wrongful death
• Complex litigation

Certification/Specialties

• Certified Public Accountant

Bar Admissions

• Michigan, 1963, inactive
• Ohio, 1964
• Florida, 1967, inactive
• U.S. District Court Northern District of Ohio, 1965
• U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit, 1966
• U.S. Supreme Court, 1971

Education

• The University of Michigan Law School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1963
  • J.D.
• College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, Massachusetts, 1961
  • B.S.

Honors & Awards

• Ohio Association of Justice, Lifetime Achievement Award
• Selected for inclusion in the Ohio Super Lawyers® list, 2013 – 2024
• Best Lawyers in America®, 2018 – present
  • Civil Rights Law
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Litigation - Insurance
• Best Lawyers in America®, "Lawyer of the Year"
  • Civil Rights Law, 2021
• Past Toledo Business Journal's Who's Who in Toledo Area Law

Professional Associations & Memberships

• Supreme Court of Ohio, prior bar examiner (1983 – 1988)
• Unauthorized Practice of Law, Supreme Court of Ohio, prior member of the Board of Commissioners
• Ohio State Bar Association, member
• Erie County Bar Association, member
• State Bar of Michigan (inactive status), member
• The Florida Bar (inactive status), member
• The Ohio Association for Justice, fka OATL, member
• American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, member
• Ohio Society of Certified Public Accountants, member

Additional Memberships

• Crew's Nest, member
• Dock of the Bay, member
• Plum Brook, member
• St. Peter Church, Huron, parishioner
• Theme park enthusiast

Representative Cases

• Johnson v. Midland Credit Management, Inc., Case No. 1:05-CV-1094 (N.D.Ohio, Dec. 12, 2013)
• Arlington Video, Inc. v. Fifth Third Bancorp, 515 Fed. Appx. 426 (6th Cir. 2013)
• Jones v. Sandusky County, Ohio, 541 Fed. Appx. 653 (6th Cir. 2013)
• Oatman v. InfoCision, Inc., et al., 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 106453 (N.D. Ohio 2013)
• Vassalle v. Midland Fundind, LLC, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 90278 (N.D. Ohio 2011)
• Franklin v. Midland Funding, LLC, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 89919 (N.D. Ohio 2011)
• Stammco LLC v. United Telephone Co. of Ohio, 125 Ohio St.3d 91 (Ohio 2010) http://www.ohiochannel.org/MediaLibrary/Media.aspx?fileId=138130
• Safeco Ins. Co. of Amer. v. White, 122 Ohio St.3d 562, 2009-Ohio-3718 (Ohio 2009)
• Midland Funding, L.L.C. v. Brent, 644 F. Supp.2d 961 (Northern District of Ohio 2009)
• Della Bovi v. Pacific Indemn. Co., 85 Ohio St.3d 343 (Ohio 1999)
• Cope v. Metro Life Ins. Co., 82 Ohio St.3d 426 (Ohio 1998)
• Weston v. Weston Paper & Meg. Co., 74 Ohio St.3d 377 (Ohio 1996)
• Roberts v. United States Fid. & Guar. Co., 75 Ohio St.3d 630 (Ohio 1996)
• McConocha v. Blue Cross & Blue Shield Mut. Of Ohio, 930 F. Supp 1182 (N.D.Ohio 1996)
• Zappo v. Homestead Insurance Company, 71 Ohio St.3d 552 (Ohio 1994)
• Borsick V. State Farm Fire & Cas. Co., 68 Ohio St.3d 1221 (Ohio 1994)
• Leber v. Smith, 70 Ohio St.3d 548 (Ohio 1994)
• Phung v. Waste Management, 71 Ohio St.3d 408 (Ohio 1994)
• Polikoff v. Adam, 67 Ohio St.3d 100 (Ohio 1993)
• Borsick v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co, 68 Ohio St.3d 81 (Ohio 1993)
• Motorist Mut. Ins. Co. v. Said, 63 Ohio St.3d 690 (Ohio 1992)
• Stepak v. Schey, 51 Ohio St.3d 8 (Ohio 1990)
• Dowling v. Narragansett Capital Corp., 735 F.Supp. 1105 (DRI 1990)
• State, ex. Rel. Ohio Co. v. Maschari, 51 Ohio St.3d 18 (Ohio 1990)
• Digital v. Analog Design Corp. v. North Supply Co., 44 Ohio St.3d 36 (Ohio 1989)
• Miller v. Wikel Mfg. Co., Inc., 46 Ohio St.3d 76 (Ohio 1989)
• Crosby v. Beam, 47 Ohio St.3d 105 (Ohio 1989)
• Carney v. McAfee, 35 Ohio St.3d 52 (Ohio 1988)
• Warner v. Waste Management, Inc., 36 Ohio St.3d 91 (Ohio 1988)
• Armstrong v. Marathon Oil Co., 32 Ohio St.3d 397 (Ohio 1987)
• Phung v. Waste Management, Inc., 23 Ohio St.3d 100 (Ohio 1986)
• Bolling v. Clevepak Corp., 484 N.E.2d 1367 (Ohio App. 6 Dist. 1984)
• Yeager v. Local Union 20, 6 Ohio St.3d 369 (Ohio 1983)
• Ruta v. Breckenridge-Remy Co., 69 Ohio St.2d 140 (Ohio 1982)