Representative Experience
- Trials and courtroom experience since 1982.
- Defends claims of harassment, retaliation and discrimination on the basis of age, race, religion, sex, disability, national origin, whistleblower, violation of public policy, negligent hiring and retention, FMLA violations, and other wrongful discharge issues including breach of contract, denial of benefits and just cause issues. Appears before agencies including the EEOC, OCRC, DOL and OSHA.
- Counsels businesses of all sizes regarding avoidance of employment claims, preparation of employee handbooks, compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Title VII, ADEA, the Fair Labor Standards Act, Family and Medical Leave Act, Fair Credit Reporting Act, Ohio’s fair employment practices laws, and other federal and state statutes governing employment.
- Defends directors and officers against claims of personal liability for business conduct.
- Litigates commercial disputes involving, for example, minority shareholder disputes, misappropriation of trade secrets, unfair competition, breach of contract, breach of warranty, breach of fiduciary duty, breach of the duty of loyalty, tortious interference with business relationships and negligence.
- Handles matters before the U.S. Federal Insurance Deposit Corporation and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development defending allegations of predatory and discriminatory lending practices by banking institutions and violations of the Federal Fair Housing Act, Ohio Fair Housing Act, Truth in Lending Act and Equal Credit Opportunity Act.
- Analyzes insurance coverage and litigates declaratory judgment actions in coverage disputes. Particular emphasis in claims arising from sexual molestation and other intentional assaults.
- Former law clerk to a federal judge in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio.