Overview
As a shareholder and Co-Chair of Reminger's Estates, Trusts, and Probate Litigation Practice Group, Paul has statewide experience involving an array of million-dollar estate, trust, and guardianship issues such as undue influence, power of attorney abuse, and financial exploitation. An award-winning journalist who worked at daily newspapers around the country before becoming a lawyer, Paul employs the writing and investigation skills he developed as a reporter to maximize results in litigation. Whether you are ready to plan your estate, need questions answered after a family member dies, or believe litigation is necessary to challenge wills, beneficiary designations, or other bad acts, Paul has guided clients through post-death land, corporate, divorce, and oil-and-gas lease disputes.
Paul regularly lectures on estate and trust administration and litigation topics across the state of Ohio. He is an officer for the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association’s Estate Planning, Probate & Trust Law Section and a member of the Ohio State Bar Association Probate Trust and Estate Section Council.
Representative Experience
Through effective cross examination at hearing (first chair), obtained client’s appointment as estate administrator over competing application by demonstrating other applicant was unsuitable to serve as the estate’s fiduciary.
Used effective written discovery and took multiple depositions that led to summary judgment on breach of fiduciary duty claim against estate executor for failing to prudently invest the decedent’s assets.
Obtained bench trial plaintiff’s verdict (third chair) and directed witnesses in plaintiff’s case in chief to help demonstrate elderly man’s caretaker exercised undue influence regarding his payable-on-death beneficiary designations.
Removed nominated executor (second chair) through effective hearing preparation and motion practice.
Honors & Recognitions
Selected as Best Lawyers: Ones To Watch for Litigation - Trusts and Estates, Trusts and Estates
Recognized as a "Rising Star" by Ohio Super Lawyers Magazine, 2020-2023
2012 Sidney A. Levin Award
-Best Legal Writing Paper for Student Note: Troubled Agreement for Troubled Waters: How an Amended Boundary Waters Treaty Can Solve the Great Lakes Agreement's Fatal Flaws, published in 2013 Cleveland-Marshall Global Business Law Review
North Carolina Press Association Awards 2010
-First place, sports news
North Carolina Press Association Awards 2009
-Second place, sports news
Pacific NW SPJ Awards 2007
-First place, sports news
Pacific NW SPJ Awards 2006
-Third place, sports feature; Honorable mention, sports news
Inland Northwest SPJ Awards 2006
-Second place, general columns
Ohio AP Awards 2002
-Best sports columnist; sports game story, honorable mention
Eagle Scout
-Highest rank awarded by Boy Scouts of America
Community & Professional
Ohio State Bar Association
-Member, Probate Trust and Estate Section Council
Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association
-Chair, Estate Planning, Probate & Trust Law Section
-Membership Committee
Results
- Oct 6, 2021Cuyahoga County Probate Court
We obtained a Plaintiffs’ verdict at trial for the decedent’s sisters invalidating, on the basis of undue influence, changes made to their decedent brother’s beneficiary designations for bank accounts, retirement accounts, a car title, and real estate executed two months before the decedent died and were contrary to the decedent’s expressed intent in his estate planning for more than 20 years. The trial victory resulted in $800,000 being returned to the benefit of Plaintiffs and their family members.
- May 14, 2020Cuyahoga County Probate Court
Obtained partial summary judgment on plaintiffs’ behalves in will-construction claim filed in alternative to a will-contest to determine whether plaintiffs were beneficiaries pursuant to the will’s terms. Court also determined that it would oversee the distribution of the estate to ensure the defendant acts in accordance with the testator’s intent and not in bad faith, with dishonesty, or with improper motive regarding further distributions. The Court also held that plaintiffs did not violate the will’s no-contest clause in pursuing the will-construction claim.
- Aug 1, 2019, Favorable RulingCuyahoga - Probate
Represented siblings in will construction/contest lawsuit and declaratory judgment complaint in which motion was filed for removal of Executor, brother of the deceased
- Apr 24, 2019Montgomery County-Probate Court
Obtained breach of fiduciary duty verdict against estate executor for failing in her duty to diversify the estate’s assets and prudently invest the same that resulted in fiduciary’s removal.
- Mar 27, 2018Wayne County Court of Common Pleas, Probate Division
Client was appointed administrator of the decedent’s estate over competing applicant after successfully demonstrating at evidentiary hearing and through motion practice that competing applicant was unsuitable for appointment
- Nov 7, 2016, Plaintiffs’ verdict granted in bench trialCuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, Probate Division
Successful Plaintiffs’ verdict against elderly man’s caretaker for undue influence that led to the financial exploitation of the elderly man prior to death through the change of various payable on death beneficiary designations.
- Feb 20, 2015U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio
Defended citizen’s First Amendment challenge to municipal sign ordinance.
News
News
Speaking Engagements
Insights
Publications
Blog Posts
Practice Areas
Education
J.D., Cleveland State University College of Law, cum laude, 2013
- Dean’s List
- Dean Advisory Council
- Global Business Law Review, Managing Publications Editor
- CSU College of Law Trial Team member
- Editor of The Gavel (Law school student newspaper)
- International Law Students Association Treasurer
- CALI High ‘A’ in Scholarly Writing
B.A., Ohio University E.W. Scripps School of Journalism, 2003
- Dean’s List
- Sports Editor of The Post (Independent student newspaper)
- Society of Professional Journalists
Admissions
- State of Ohio, 2013
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio, 2015