George R. Hicks, Jr.
Counsel
George focuses his practice primarily on commercial litigation, particularly for clients operating in the consumer finance, commercial banking, and commercial business sectors. He has substantial experience resolving consumer and commercial litigation and complex commercial foreclosure matters for clients in federal and state courts throughout the country. A retired U.S. Navy Captain, George began his legal career as in-house counsel at FirstEnergy, where he was heavily involved with complex commercial litigation, real estate litigation, and electrical utility regulatory issues. He has published articles about nuclear power plant regulatory issues and power plant personal property tax litigation.
Education & Admissions
Education
- United States Naval Academy
(B.S., 1976)
- Cleveland State University College of Law
(J.D., 1987)
Admissions
- State of Ohio
- U.S. District Court, District of Arizona
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio
- U.S. District Court, Central District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court, Eastern & Western Districts of Wisconsin
- U.S. District Court, District of Colorado
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
- U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. Court of Claims
Experience
- Obtained defense jury verdict on behalf of a national bank regarding a multitude of consumer claims.
- Successfully resolved numerous Consumer Sales Practices Act cases on behalf of financial institutions.
- Successfully defended numerous Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and Fair Credit Reporting Act matters.
- Successfully represented a national bank regarding the arbitration of consumer disputes. Lisa Eagle v Fred Martin Motor Co. et al., 157 Ohio App. 3d 150, 2004-Ohio-829 (App. 9 Dist. 2004).
- Successfully represented a national bank regarding a complex multi-state commercial foreclosure.
- Successfully resolved numerous contract an general business cases.
- Successfully resolved several appropriation cases for new transmission lines.
- Lead counsel representing numerous Chinese based manufacturers regarding contract disputes with U.S. businesses.
- Successfully defended numerous premises liability matters for a major hotel chain, electric utilities, and industrial and commercial office space building owners/property managers.
- Successfully resolved several fossil fuel and nuclear power plant tax cases.
- Successfully defended numerous premises liability matters on behalf of an electric utility.
- Successfully resolved several electric line contact cases.
- Successfully defended several wrongful death cases on behalf of an electric utility.
- Successfully defended the construction and operation of a fossil fuel power plant engineered fly ash disposal facility.
- Successfully defended an electric utility in a fossil fuel power plant partition matter.
- Successfully defended electric utility regarding several so-called “acid rain” cases.
Publications & Presentations
Presentations
- “Financial Litigation Reform in the Age of Trump,” Ulmer, Financial Services & Securities Litigation Hot Topics (November 2017)
Involvement
Professional Affiliations
- American Bar Association
- Ohio State Bar Association
- Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association
- Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Foundation (Fellow, 2018)
Community Involvement
- Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association The 3Rs – Rights, Responsibilities, and Realities Program (High School Classroom Volunteer 2017-present)
- Diabetes Association of Greater Cleveland