Education
1979 - Case Western Reserve University School of Law (J.D., with honors; Order of the Coif; Order of Barristers)
1974 – Oberlin College (B.A., with honors)
Professional & Civic Affiliations
Lorain County Bar Association
The Prodigal Father Productions, Inc.
Admissions
State of Ohio
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
U.S. Supreme Court
Recognition & Awards
Martindale-Hubbell AV rating
American Jurisprudence Award in Business Organization
Phi Delta Phi Award
Publications & Speaking Engagements
Publications
- "Getting Scientific and Expert Testimony into Evidence." 2005 & 2006.
- "An Overview of The Class Action Fairness Act of 2005." 2005.
- "Jurisdictional Questions and Answers After the Class Action Fairness Act of 2005." 2005.
- "Introduction to The Class Action Fairness Act of 2005." 2005.
- "Admissibility of Evidence and Expert Testimony in Ohio." 2004.
- "Advanced Trial Advocacy in Ohio." 2004.
- "Powerful Evidence in Ohio Civil Litigation." 2002.
- "Civil Practice in Ohio." 2001.
- "Trial Advocacy in Ohio; A Plaintiff's Perspective." 2000.
- "The Class Action Lawsuit in Ohio." 1999 & 2000.
- "Drug and Medical Device Class Actions." 1998.
- "Class Certification in Professional Negligence Cases." 1996
- "The Stigma Damages Rulings in DeSario v. Industrial Excess Landfill." 1996
- "Common Fund Awards in Statutory Fee Cases", 18 Class Action Reports 83. 1995.
Presentations and Seminars
- "The Mechanics of Researching and Writing Briefs." 2017.
- "Evidence—The Nuts & Bolts of Getting Stuff In and Keeping Stuff Out." 2010.
- "May It Please the Court: Oral Argument Techniques That Get Results." 2009 & 2012.
- "How to Present Your Case at Trial." 2008.
- "Getting Scientific and Expert Testimony into Evidence." 2005, 2006, & 2007.
- "How to Get Evidence and Expert Testimony Admitted into Court." Cleveland, OH. 2006.
- "How to Get Your Expert Testimony Admitted into Evidence in Ohio." Cleveland, OH. 2005.
- "Practicing Under The Class Action Fairness Act of 2005." HalfMoon Seminars, Cleveland, OH. 2005.
- "A Critical Update on The Class Action Fairness Act in Ohio." National Business Institute, Cleveland, OH. 2005.
- "Admissibility of Evidence and Expert Testimony in Ohio." National Business Institute, Cleveland, OH. 2004.
- "Advanced Trial Advocacy in Ohio." National Business Institute, Cleveland, OH. 2004
- "In Vitro Fertilization and Probate Issues." Lorain County Bar Association, Oberlin, OH. 2002.
- "Getting Things In, and Keeping Stuff Out: Almost Everything You Need To Know About Evidence." Lorain County Bar Association, Elyria, OH. 2002.
- "The Economic Principles Underlying Class Litigation." Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH. 2002.
- "Powerful Evidence in Ohio Civil Litigation." National Business Institute, Cleveland, OH. 2002.
- "Summary Judgments: When, Why, and Why Not." Lorain County Bar Association, Elyria, OH. 2001.
- "Summary Judgments: What They Are." Lorain County Bar Association, Elyria, OH. 2001.
- "Defeating the Complaint, and Not Having to Answer." Lorain County Bar Association, Elyria, OH. 2001.
- "Preparing Your Complaint to Get Your Claims to the Jury." Lorain County Bar Association, Elyria OH. 2001.
- "Litigating the Class Action Lawsuit in Ohio." Lorain County Bar Association, Elyria, OH. 2000.
- "Trial Advocacy in Ohio." National Business Institute, Cleveland, OH. 2000.
- "How to Recognize Your Class Action Clients Before You See Them to the Door." Erie County Bar Association, Erie, PA. 1999.
- "Economic Proofs of Liability and Damages in Class Action Suits." Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH. 1999.
- "Litigating the Class Action Lawsuit in Ohio." National Business Institute, Cleveland, OH. 1999.
- "Don't Overlook Class Actions." Texas Trial Lawyers Association Conference, Houston, TX. 1998.
- "Plaintiff Class Actions: Their Purposes, Requisites and Pathology." Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH. 1997 & 1998.
- "Class Action Opportunities in Professional Negligence Cases." American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys' Annual Seminar, San Francisco, CA. 1996.
- "Stigma Related Damages." Mealey's New Exposures Toxic and Mass Tort Conference, Philadelphia, PA. 1996.
Reported Cases
- Estate of Mikulski v. Centerior Energy Corp., 2019-Ohio-983, 133 N.E.3d 899 (8th Dist.)
- Pikas v. The Williams Cos., Inc., 822 F. Supp. 2d 1163 (N.D. Okla. 2011)
- West v. AK Steel Corp. Retirement Accumulation Pension Plan, 657 F. Supp. 2d 914 (S.D. Ohio 2009)
- Pikas v. The Williams Cos., Inc., 542 F. Supp. 2d 782 (S.D. Ohio 2008)
- Mikulski v. Centerior Energy Corp., 501 F.3d 555 (6th Cir. 2007) (en banc)
- West v. AK Steel Corp. Retirement Accumulation Pension Plan, 484 F.3d 395 (6th Cir. 2007)
- Mikulski v. Centerior Energy Corp., 435 F.3d 666 (6th Cir. 2006)
- West v. AK Steel Corp. Retirement Accumulation Pension Plan, 318 F. Supp. 2d. 579 (S.D. Ohio 2004)
- Walker v. Asea Brown Boveri, Inc. Cash Balance Pension Plan, 214 F.R.D. 58 (D. Conn. 2003)
- In re: Hechinger Investment Co. of Delaware, 298 F.3d 219 (3rd Cir. 2002)
- Rybarczyk v. TRW Inc., 235 F.3d 975 (6th Cir. 2000)
- Fine v. America Online, Inc., 139 Ohio App.3d 133, 743 N.E.2d 416 (2000)
- Yepko v. State Farm Mut. Ins. Co., 25 F. Supp. 2d 831 (N.D. Ohio 1998)
- Yepko v. State Farm Mut. Ins. Co., 79 Ohio St. 3d 414, 683 N.E.2d 1090 (1997)
- Schwochow v. Chung, 102 Ohio App. 3d 348, 657 N.E.2d 312 (1995)
- Turner v. Turner, 67 Ohio St. 3d 337, 617 N.E.2d 1123 (1993)
- DeSario v. Industrial Excess Landfill, Inc., 68 Ohio App. 3d 117, 587 N.E.2d 454 (1991)
- Board of Educ. of the Strongsville City School Dist. v. Theado, 57 Ohio St. 3d 162, 566 N.E.2d 667 (1991)
- Ailiff v. Mar-Bal, Inc., 62 Ohio App.3d 232, 575 N.E.2d 228 (1990)