PRACTICE AREA AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERTISE

• Represents employers in all areas of construction and employment law with an emphasis on defending employers in discrimination, wrongful discharge, whistleblower, retaliation, intentional tort, OSHA, MSHA,VSSR, unemployment and workers’ compensation cases.
• Traditional labor relations experience includes counseling employers on union avoidance, defense of union organization campaigns, collective bargaining, and representation of employers in grievance arbitrations as well as unfair labor practice proceedings before the NLRB.
• Counsels employers on personnel policies and practices, attendance control issues and compliance with state and federal employment laws and regulations.
• Assists companies in aggressively managing and controlling workers’ compensation costs.
• Substantial experience counseling and representing employers in workplace fatality and catastrophic accident situations.
• Represents contractors in competitive bidding protests and all areas of construction litigation.
• Named: 2011 Akron/Canton "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers ®
• Listed: The Best Lawyers in America®
• Listed: Super Lawyers General Counsel Edition
• Consistently recognized as one of Ohio’s Super Lawyers™ in Cincinnati Magazine, as voted by his peers.
• Listed among the Top 100 Ohio Super Lawyers™ (2009-2011).
• Certified by the Ohio State Bar Association as a Specialist in Workers’ Compensation.

EDUCATION

The Ohio State University College of Law (J.D., 1989)
Kent State University (M.A., 1986)
Mount Union College (B.A., magna cum laude, 1983)

PRESENTATIONS

Frequently writes and speaks on Employment Law, Workers’ Compensation Law, and OSHA Law, including presentations at continuing legal education seminars for National Business Institute, Lorman Education Services, Ohio Health Care Association, The Ohio Labor Letter and the Akron and Stark County Bar Associations.

Recent presentation topics include:

• "There's A New Sheriff in Town: Workplace Safety in the Age of Obama," Lorman Education Services.
• "Undocumented Workers and Workers’ Compensation: Are They Eligible for Benefits," Lorman Education Services.
  
• "Employment Law 101: The Do’s and Don’ts of Discharge," Ohio Assisted Living Association.
  
• "Squealer’s Rights: How to Recognize and Avoid Liability for Workers’ Compensation and Safety Related Retaliation Claims," Ohio Safety Congress & Expo.
  
• "Successful Strategies for Controlling Workers’ Compensation Costs," Lorman National Teleconference Seminar.
  
• "Navigating Your Way Through the Disability Minefield: How the ADA, FMLA and Other Laws Can Complicate the Process of Getting Injured Workers Back to Work," Ohio Safety Congress & Expo.
  
• "Workers’ Compensation and the ‘Art of War’: Successful Strategies for Controlling Workers’ Compensation Costs," Ohio Safety Congress & Expo.
  
• "How to Avoid Whistleblower and Retaliation Lawsuits," Stark County Human Resources Association.
  
• "Workplace Accidents: How to Minimize Your Company’s Liability Exposure," Ohio Safety Congress & Expo.
  "Effective Claims Management," H.J. Heinz Annual Safety Conference, Bonita Springs, FL.
  
• "Employment Law for Medical Office Managers," Stark County Medical Office Managers Association.
  
• "OSHA Compliance for Nursing Homes," Ohio Health Care Association.
  "Avoiding Liability for Employment Discrimination," Tusc. County SHRM.
  
• "Effective Use of Employee Separation Agreements."
  
• "OSHA Compliance Update in Ohio," National Business Institute Seminar.
  "Selecting and Terminating Employees," Lorman Education Services.
  
• "Advanced Workers’ Compensation in Ohio," National Business Institute.
  
• "Avoiding OSHA Citations and Liabilities in Ohio," Lorman Education Services.

COURTS AND BAR ASSOCIATIONS

Ohio Bar (1989)
United States Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
United States District Court, Northern and Southern Districts of Ohio
Member: Ohio State Bar Association, Workers’ Compensation and Labor and Employment Law Committees
Member: Stark County Bar Association, Workers’ Compensation and Labor and Employment Law Committees

PROFESSIONAL & CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS

Graduate: Thirteenth Class of Leadership Stark County
President, Board of Directors, American Cancer Society, Stark County Branch
Member: Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce (Economic Development Committee, and Labor and Employment and Workers’ Compensation Subcommittees)
Member: Steering Committee, Stark Co. Safety Council
Member: Board of Directors, Holy Cross Lutheran Church (2005-2006)
Assistant Law Director, City of North Canton (2004-2006)
Member: Board of Trustees, Canton Montessori School (2003-2005)
Member: North Canton Board of Zoning Appeals (1999-2002)
President: Stark County Safety Council (1997-1999)
Treasurer: The Arthritis Foundation of Northeastern Ohio, Stark County Branch (1993-1999)