Overview

Russ is a shareholder and chair of Reminger's Guardianships practice group and Mediation/Arbitration practice group. He has been an attorney with Reminger since 1988.

Russ is frequently called on to handle disputes between next-of-kin, beneficiaries, guardians, and executors. These disputes include, but are not limited to, will contests, declaratory judgments to invalidate a trust agreement or amendment, joint with rights of survivor or payable on death disputes, transfer on death beneficiary disputes, guardianship appointments or terminations, fraudulent uses of powers of attorney, and any and all cases regarding a probate or non-probate financial misuse regarding a decedent or elder clients.

He has been invited to speak on behalf of many organizations on issues that range from probate administration to undue influence and incompetency claims to guardianships and guardianship litigation. Russ is very dedicated to the fight against opioid abuse as a board member of The K.I.S.S. Foundation and President of Fight the Urge, Inc., as well as an active speaker on the topic. 

Russ has also served as an assistant prosecutor for the cities of Willowick, Willoughby Hills, and the Village of Waite Hill. He currently serves as a prosecutor for Lake Metroparks and has done so since 2000. His experience as a magistrate and law clerk for the Lake County Probate Court in the early 1980's provided invaluable experience to him as to how probate courts analyze cases in the areas of probate and elder law.

Honors & Recognitions

Recognized as a Super Lawyer by Ohio Super Lawyers Magazine, since 2014

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Listed in Best Lawyers of America for Litigation-Trusts and Estates, since 2012

Rated AV® Preeminent™: Very Highly Rated in Both Legal Ability and Ethical Standards by Martindale Hubbell Peer Review


Community & Professional

Ohio State Bar Association
-Member, Probate and Trust Section

Lake County Bar Association
-Member, Probate Law Committee, Settlement Week (Co-Chair)

Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association
-Member, Estate Planning, Probate & Trust Law Section

K.I.S.S. Foundation
-Board Member

Fight the Urge, Inc.
-President

Lake County Board of Mental Retardation/Developmental Disabilities
-Past President, 2002
-Past Vice-President, 2001

Lake Metroparks Prosecutor, 2000-current

Justinian Forum Member

Wickliffe Italian American Club
-Parliamentary Committee Member 

Results

For a more complete list of trial results, please contact attorney.
  • Aug 30, 2021, Dismissal
    U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio

    Defense of an attorney-trustee in trust lawsuit. The Federal Court dismissed the Plaintiff’s federal lawsuit on res judicata grounds. 

  • Oct 13, 2020, Motion to Dismiss Granted
    United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio

    Plaintiff Beneficiary has been litigating for years in state court over Plaintiff’s parents’ estate plan with varied results. Presumably dissatisfied with the rulings in state probate court, Plaintiff tries to bring new suit against Trustee in Federal Court which has limited subject matter jurisdiction. Trustee client successfully moved the Court to abstain or defer to multiple state court proceedings where all parties represented before a single probate judge.  Federal Court stayed proceedings before it pending outcome of state probate and appellate matters. 

  • Jun 15, 2012, Judgment Affirmed
    11th Appellate Dist

    T. Grzely v. M. Lucas-Singer,fka Grzely, et al.

    Claimant heir appeals adverse trial court judgment denying life insurance proceeds from decedent

  • Jul 29, 2011, Judgment Affirmed
    11th Appellate Dist No. 2010-L-075

    Estate of Marion Ryan

    Plaintiff appeals adverse trial court judgment in will contest claim.

  • Jul 26, 2011, Judgment Affirmed
    11th Appellate Dist

    Sharon Mastro v. Jane Glavan, Extrx. Of E/O Norman Hanslik, et al

    Plaintiff appeals adverse trial court judgment rejecting their claim of will invalidation.

News

News

Speaking Engagements

  • Reminger Co., LPA Advanced Probate Law Institute
    Columbus Bar Association, Dec 15, 2022
  • Elder Law, Guardianships and Probate Administration
    Painesville, OH, Sep 13, 2018
  • Overview of Estate and Guardianship Administration, Probate Litigation, Powers of Attorney
    Painesville, OH, Sep 14, 2017
  • Current Developments and Land Sale Actions, Superintendents Rule 66, and Rights of the Ward in Guardianships.
    Lake County Probate Court, Painesville, OH, Jun 7, 2016
  • Rights, Needs and Responsibilities in Handling Guardianships in Ohio
    Ohio Judicial Conference – Lake County Probate Court, Painesville, OH, Feb 19, 2016
  • Fundamentals of Adult Guardianships and Guardianship Rule 66
    Supreme Court of Ohio Judicial College, Columbus, OH, Oct 30, 2015
  • Estate Administration, Litigation, Guardianships and Powers of Attorney for the Senior Citizen
    Lake County Council of Aging Senior Day, Painesville, OH, Sep 16, 2015
  • The New Manual on Adult Guardianships – Supreme Court Rule 66
    Lake County Council on Aging, Painesville, OH, Aug 28, 2015
  • Guardianships and Pre-need Funerals and Claims Against Estates
    Northeast Ohio Chapter of Funeral Home Directors Assn., Madison, OH, Jun 9, 2015
  • Advanced Directives in Probate Practice
    Ohio Probate Court Associations of Ohio Webinar, Nov 19, 2014
  • Nuts & Bolts of Guardianship from the Practitioner’s Standpoint
    Lake County Bar Association Probate Court CLE Seminar, Painesville, OH, May 22, 2014
  • Civil Actions – Land Sales and Concealment of Assets for in Guardianships
    Ohio State Bar Association Guardianship Seminar - Cleveland, OH, Sep 19, 2013
  • Durable Powers of Attorney for Healthcare, Living Wills and Physician Liability Acting Upon Advanced Directives
    2013 Medical/Legal Summit of Northeast Ohio - Cleveland, OH, Apr 13, 2013
  • Medical/Legal Summit
    2013
  • Avoiding Probate Litigation
    Boy Scouts of America Annual Estate Planning Seminar - Cleveland, OH, Sep 12, 2012
  • The Multiple Aspects of Guardianships
    Lake County Probate Court Guardianship Seminar - Painesville, OH, Jun 1, 2012
  • Uniform Power of Attorney Act
    Lake County Probate Court Senior Citizens Seminar - Painesville, OH, Mar 27, 2012
  • Guardianship Training Seminar
    2012
  • Recent Developments in Probate Law
    2012
  • Basics of Estate Administration
    2012
  • Seventh Annual Estate Planning Seminar
    2012
  • Ethics, Professionalism, Substance Seminar
    2012
  • Guardianship Seminar
    2012
  • Case Law Update - Probate and Trust
    Lake County Bar Assn. CLE Seminar - Painesville, OH, Feb 20, 2012
  • Guardianships and Ethics in Representing an Elderly Client
    Elder Law Seminar – Sterling Educational Services - Cleveland, OH, Nov 2, 2011
  • Estate Litigation and Guardianships
    Senior Citizen Appreciation Day – Lake County Probate Court - Painesville, OH, Sep 15, 2011
  • Probate Seminar
    2011
  • Elder Law: Legal, Financial Seminar
    2011
  • Internet Research: Legal Research Seminar
    2011
  • Probate and Trust Seminar
    2011
  • Estate Administration, Estate Planning and Estate Disputes - Senior Citizens Day
    Painesville, OH, Sep 16, 2010
  • Meet Your Judge Seminar
    2010
  • Ethics, Professionalism and Substance Seminar
    2010
  • View from the Bench Seminar
    2010
  • Concealment of Assets and Guardianships
    Nov 11, 2009
  • Civil Actions in Probate including Land Sales, Concealment of Assets and Surcharge Actions
    Oct 16, 2009
  • Civil Cases in Probate
    Oct 2, 2009
  • Joint Ownership with Rights of Survivorship "assets"
    Sep 10, 2009
  • Powers of Attorney and Self Dealing (Harmless Heir Statute)
    Jul 30, 2009
  • From File to Trial Seminar
    2009
  • Estates and Mediation Seminar
    2009
  • Probate Seminar
    2009
  • Elder Law Seminar
    2009
  • Guardianship Update Seminar
    2009
  • Guardianships (Legal, Financial and Healthcare) Issues
    Feb 24, 2009
  • Developments in Probate Law
    2008 Lake County Bar Association Probate CLE Seminar, Nov 11, 2008
  • Guardianship Documentation to the Senior Citizens, Lake County Probate Court-CLE Seminar
    Painesville, Ohio, Sep 16, 2008
  • Inventory, Assets, and Debts of an Estate, Ohio State Bar Association Young Lawyers CLE
    Cleveland, Ohio, Jun 11, 2008
  • Basics of Estate Administration
    2008
  • Probate Seminar
    2008
  • State of Probate Case Law & Statutory Law, Lake County Bar Association Annual Probate Real Estate Seminar
    Mentor, Ohio, Nov 12, 2007
  • Ethical Considerations & Fiduciary Relationships in the Area of Guardianships, Ohio State Bar Association Forum CLE
    Cleveland, OH, Sep 19, 2007
  • Legislative Update and Ohio Law for Probate Magistrates and Judges, Ohio Association of Magistrates
    Cleveland, Ohio, Apr 27, 2007
  • Basics of Estate Administration
    2007
  • Probate and Real Estate Seminar
    2007
  • Ohio Association of Magistrate Seminar
    2007
  • Annual Probate and Mental Health Seminar
    2007
  • Ethics, Professionalism and Substance Seminar
    2007
  • Guardian and Volunteer Visitor Seminar
    2007
  • Ethics, Professionalism and Substance Seminar
    2007
  • Inventory & Assets and their Litigation Basis, Estate Administration Section-Ohio State Bar Assn.
    Cleveland, Ohio, Feb 23, 2007
  • Probate and Real Estate Seminar
    2006
  • Estate & Business Succession Planning Seminar
    2006
  • Annual General Practice Update
    2006
  • Probate and Real Estate Seminar
    2006
  • Basics of Estate Administration Seminar
    2006
  • 3rd Annual Probate Law and Mental Seminar
    2006
  • Police Liability
    2005
  • Basics of Estate Administration Seminar
    2005
  • Ohio State Bar Association 18th Annual Meeting
    2005
  • Annual Child Custody Seminar
    2005
  • Probate Law and Mental Health Seminar
    2005
  • Annual General Practice Update
    2005

Insights

Publications

Education

J.D., Cleveland State University College of Law, 1983

B.A., Baldwin-Wallace College, 1979

Admissions

  • State of Ohio, 1983
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio, 1983
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