Retired Judge, Mediator, Arbitrator

Judge, Ohio Court of Claims by appointment of the Chief Justice, 2008-Present; Visiting Judge, Ohio Supreme Court, 2008-Present; Formerly Principal, Shumaker Loop and Kendrick, 2006 – 2007; Judge, Franklin County Common Pleas Court, 1983 – 2006; Judge, Franklin County Municipal Court, 1980 – 1983; Associate, Squire, Sanders and Dempsey (was with predecessor firm).

Serving in numerous counties in the State of Ohio litigating arbitrating and mediating mostly civil disputes including construction disputes. Served as an elected general jurisdiction judge for almost 27 years. Recently retired as a part-time visiting judge assigned by the Ohio Supreme Court to hear civil and criminal cases throughout the state of Ohio.Recently retired as the longest serving Court of Claims Judge in the State of Ohio . ( 15 years ) During the 30 years as a trial judge was assigned over 30,000 cases both criminal and civil. At least 10,000 have been significant civil cases. Presided over more than 800 jury trials, 2,500 no-jury cases. Presided over cases involving contract disputes; professional corporation disputes; product liability; professional liability including medical, dental and legal malpractice; election disputes; land disputes; appropriation matters; non-competition matters; personal injury and construction cases. Among the 1500 plus construction cases handled the matters included: owner v contractor disputes involving large building construction; contractor v subcontractor disputes involving large office building construction; owner/and or contractor v subcontractor disputes involving small office building construction; owner v contractor v subcontractor disputes involving residential housing construction; homeowner v contractor regarding residential mold construction disputes; and, highway, nursing home, shopping center and residential home remodeling construction disputes. Have taught law to judges and attorneys for many years. Taught law in Europe for the past 15 years.<br/><br/>Has been an instructor at the National Judicial College and the Ohio Judicial College. National speaker on the subject of trial persuasion. Former Chief Legal Correspondent for WTVN radio.

As a judge conducted over 2000 mediations ranging from multi-million dollar construction cases; million dollar employment disputes and professional malpractice claims. All of these cases were assigned as a judge (handled over 15,000 civil cases). In the past six years since retirement from the bench has conducted numerous mediations: a dispute between insurance companies over coverage of a 1.6 million dollar fire; 3.4 million dollar claim against a software manufacturer; a construction dispute between a general contractor and his subcontractor; numerous consumer disputes dealing with credit card debt; a 1.5 million dollar claim against a cell phone company by a supplier; a claim against a bank for improper foreclosure and, several employment discrimination cases.

As a judge mediated disputes involving: liability for negligent conduct; whether civil rights or statutory rights were violated in employment actions; whether construction contracts were properly performed; whether professional negligence took place and what, if any, damages were proximately caused by the negligence; whether former employees breached their non-compete contractual requirements upon termination. Privately the disputes mediated included: claim by an insurance company that a fire was covered under another insurance policy; claim against a software developer that the programs developed did not comply with the contract; a claim by a general contractor against a landscape subcontractor for failure to perform; two claims by credit card holders against the bank as to what was owed; a claim by a debtor against a bank for violation of a construction loan contract; and, a claim by a cell phone supplier against a large cell phone service company that the supplier contract was breached.

My primary role is to make sure the parties understand that the mediation process is not a place to hit home runs. It's a place where winning is not the primary objective. The primary objective is to look toward the future and resolve the disputes of the past. Hitting a double will suffice. Because of my background in conducting over 850 jury trials I have a unique understanding of the risks of litigation, juror's likes and dislikes and the strengths and weaknesses of each party's case.

Ohio State University School of Law (JD-1968); Ohio State University (BS, Finance-1965).

Admitted to the Bar: Ohio (1968); U.S. District Court: District of Ohio; U.S. Supreme Court.

Ohio State Bar Association; Common Pleas Judges Association; Ohio Judicial Conference.

PUBLICATIONS: Assigned to sit on various courts of appeal in the state of Ohio and has been a part of numerous written decisions. Authored reported decisions include: Physicians' Services v Willoughby (1987) 37 Ohio App. 130 (dissenting opinion); Columbus v State Employment Relations Bd. (1985) 29 Ohio Misc. 25; Columbus Motor Car v Textile-Tech (1981) 68 Ohio Misc. 25; Kimble v Universal TV Rentals, Inc. (1981) 65 Ohio Misc 17. In addition, has written thousands of opinions on various motions and findings of fact that have not been published. <br/><br/>SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS: Has spoken for the Ohio Judicial College, Ohio State Bar Association, Columbus Bar Association, National Judicial College the Ohio Judicial College and various bar associations on numerous legal subjects over 50 times. In addition, has been the featured speaker for the Ohio State Bar Association, Michigan Bar Association (litigation section) and the Chiropractors Insurance Company, both in Las Vegas. Presented seminars on Persuasion to the OSBA Annual Meeting (2012). Seminars also for the OSBA and CBA. Also in the past has been the chief legal correspondent for WTVN radio in Columbus. Taught law in Europe for the past 15 years. (Slovenia, Albania, Serbia, Czech Republic and Belarus)

Columbus, Ohio

$2,250 Per Day

English

United States of America

Columbus, OH