Overview

Jim’s practice focuses primarily in the areas Employment and Professional Liability. Jim has litigated hundreds of employment claims in state and federal courts and agencies, including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Ohio Civil Rights Commission, National Labor Relations Board and Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Jim’s defense of employment claims has included all manner of discrimination, retaliation, wrongful termination, and other statutory claims under the FMLA, FLSA and NLRA. Jim is a leader in the firm’s Employment Practices Group and has presented on a variety of related topics to human resource professional, employers and insurance companies.

Jim also serves as the Co-Chair of Reminger's Legal Professional Liability Practice Group. Jim’s focus is on the defense of lawyer malpractice cases, which has included the representation of collection lawyers in class action lawsuits. Further, Jim handles matters involving all types of professional liability, directors and officers, business and commercial litigation, and construction disputes. His representation of clients has included both trials and appellate advocacy before the Ohio Court of Appeals, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court.

Honors & Recognitions

Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® for Professional Malpractice Law - Defendants

Community & Professional

Ohio State Bar Association

Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association

Ohio Association of Civil Trial Attorneys

Ohio Supreme Court Lawyer-To-Lawyer Mentoring Program

 

Results

For a more complete list of trial results, please contact attorney.
  • Oct 11, 2022, Motion for Judgment on Pleadings Granted
    Cuyahoga County

    Defense of wrongful termination and tortious interference claim

  • May 16, 2019
    Lorain

    Represented professional services assistance program alleged to have violated plaintiff's constitutional civil rights.

  • Mar 20, 2019
    Summit County

    Defense of employment discrimination claim.

  • Mar 22, 2018, Directed Verdict
    USDC, Bankruptcy

    Defense of legal professional liability in domestic relations matter

  • Mar 14, 2018, Motion to Dismiss Writ of Mandamus Granted
    Ohio Supreme Court

    In Re: Dove Le Moor

    Motion to Dismiss Writ of Mandamus granted in favor of client in defense of professional liability claim.

  • Dec 18, 2017
    Portage County Court of Common Pleas

    Motion for summary judgment granted in favor of client in defense of legal professional liability claim.

  • Dec 12, 2017, Affirmed
    Ohio Seventh District Court of Appeals

    Pipino v. Gallagher Sharp

    Motion for Summary Judgment in favor of client in defense of legal professional liability claim affirmed on appeal.

  • Apr 27, 2017
    8th Dist. Ct. of Appeals

    Alkire v. Alsfelder

    Motion for summary judgment granted in favor of client was affirmed on appeal in defense of legal professional liability case.

  • Mar 17, 2017
    U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio

    Motion for partial judgment on the pleadings was granted in favor of client in defense of FCRA case.

  • Mar 17, 2017
    EEOC

    Determination of no probable cause in favor of client in defense of employment discrimination charge.

  • Sep 12, 2016
    Mahoning County Court of Common Pleas

    Motion for summary judgment granted in favor of client in defense of legal professional liability claim.

  • Apr 18, 2016
    Wood

    Motion for summary judgment was granted in favor of client in defense of whistleblower case.

  • Jan 29, 2016
    Cuyahoga

    Motion for summary judgment was granted in favor of client in defense of legal professional liability claim.

  • Oct 28, 2015
    EEOC

    Determination of no probable cause in favor of client in defense of employment discrimination charge.

  • Sep 23, 2015
    EEOC

    Determination of no probable cause in favor of client in defense of employment discrimination charge.

  • Sep 19, 2015
    Logan

    Motion for summary judgment was granted in favor of client in prosecution of indemnification crossclaim.

  • Jun 23, 2015
    Cuyahoga

    Motion for summary judgment was granted in favor of client in defense of legal professional liability claim.

  • May 14, 2015
    Cuyahoga

    Motion for summary judgment was granted in favor of client in defense of legal professional liability claim.

  • May 12, 2015
    Belmont

    Motion for summary judgment was granted in favor of client in defense of legal professional liability claim.

  • Sep 14, 2014
    11th Dist. Ct. of Appeals

    DiPaolo v. Blair & Latell

    Motion for summary judgment granted in favor of client was affirmed on appeal in defense of legal professional liability claim.

  • DiPaolo Industry Development v. Blair & Latell
    Jan 3, 2014
    Trumbull

    Motion for summary judgment was granted in favor of client in defense of legal professional liability claim.

  • Aug 9, 2013
    U.S. District Court, Northern Ohio

    Motion for judgment on the pleading was granted in favor of client in defense of a class action legal professional liability claim.

  • Mar 5, 2013
    Cuyahoga

    Motion for summary judgment was granted in favor of client in defense of legal professional liability claim.

  • Jan 13, 2013
    9th Appellate Dist.

    Heiland v. Smith

    Motion for summary judgment granted in favor of client was affirmed on appeal in defense of legal professional liability claim.

  • Sep 30, 2012
    U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio

    Motion to dismiss was granted in favor of client in defense of a class action legal professional liability claim.

  • Sep 25, 2012, Arbitrator’s ruling denying plaintiff’s motion to proceed on a class basis affirmed
    U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio

    Arbitrator’s ruling denying plaintiff’s motion to proceed on a class basis was affirmed in favor of client.

  • Sep 21, 2012
    U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio

    Motion for judgment on the pleadings was granted in favor of client in defense of a class action legal professional liability claim.

  • Sep 6, 2012
    OCRC

    Determination of no probable cause in favor of client in defense of employment discrimination charge.

  • Aug 9, 2012
    Cuyahoga

    Motion for summary judgment was granted in favor of client in defense of commercial litigation claim.

  • Jul 24, 2012, Motion to Dismiss and Compel Arbitration granted
    Portage

    Motion to dismiss and compel arbitration was granted in favor of client in class action legal professional liability claim.

  • Mar 12, 2012
    Court Of Claims

    Verdict in favor of client in prosecution of indemnity claim.

  • Mar 1, 2012, Arbitrator denied Plaintiff's motion to proceed on a class basis
    American Arbitration Association

    Motion to proceed on a class basis was denied in favor of client in class action consumer practices case.

  • Feb 17, 2012, Summary Judgment in favor of Defendant
    Summit

    Motion for summary judgment was granted in favor of client in employment discrimination case.

  • Feb 15, 2012
    Cuyahoga

    Motion to dismiss and compel arbitration was granted in favor of client in class action consumer practices case.

  • Dec 6, 2011
    Cuyahoga

    Motion for summary judgment was granted in favor of client in employment discrimination case.

  • Sep 21, 2011
    U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio

    Motion for summary judgment was granted in favor of client in employment discrimination case.

  • Jul 18, 2011
    U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio

    Motion for judgment on the pleadings was granted in favor of client in class action legal professional liability claim.

  • Jun 27, 2011, Judgment Affirmed
    5th Appellate Dist

    Coughlin v. Acock Associates

    Motion for summary judgment granted in favor of client was affirmed on appeal in construction case.

  • Apr 8, 2011
    U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio

    Motion to dismiss and compel arbitration was granted in favor of client in class action consumer practices case.

  • Mar 24, 2011, Judgment Reversed
    8th Appellate Dist

    Cincinnati Insurance Co. v. City of Cleveland

    Motion for summary judgment granted in favor of opposing party was reversed and remanded on appeal in construction case.

  • Feb 10, 2011, Judgment Affirmed
    8th Appellate Dist

    Panzica Construction Co. v. Zaremba, Inc.

    Motion to dismiss and compel arbitration was granted in favor of client affirmed on appeal in construction case.

News

Speaking Engagements

  • Employment Discrimination – Fundamental Principles
    The Nord Center Comprehensive Behavioral and Mental Health Services and Oswald Companies, Cleveland, OH, Nov 16, 2015
  • Jurisdictional Foundations for Mediation- Eagle International Associates Spring Conference.
    Scottsdale, AZ, May 14, 2010
  • Lawyer Liability under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ("FDCPA")- Ohio Credit Attorneys Association (OCAA).
    Strongsville,OH, May 7, 2010
  • Professionalism and the Rules of Professional Conduct
    Dec 5, 2009
  • Professionalism and Legal Liability Matters
    Legal Eagle Cleveland Seminar, Dec 2, 2008

Insights

Publications

Education

J.D., Cleveland State University College of Law, magna cum laude, 1994
Cleveland State Law Review, 1994

B.A., Mercyhurst College, magna cum laude, 1989

Admissions

  • State of Ohio, 1994
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio, 2004
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio, 2005
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit, 2007
  • United States Supreme Court, 2009
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