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, 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.
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
- May 16, 2019, Court Granted Motion for Judgment on Pleadings in Favor of ClientLorain
Represented professional services assistance program alleged to have violated plaintiff's constitutional civil rights.
- Mar 20, 2019, Motion For Summary Judgment GrantedSummit County
Defense of employment discrimination claim.
- Mar 22, 2018, Directed VerdictUSDC, Bankruptcy
Defense of legal professional liability in domestic relations matter
- Mar 14, 2018, Motion to Dismiss Writ of Mandamus GrantedOhio 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, Motion For Summary Judgment GrantedPortage County Court of Common Pleas
Motion for summary judgment granted in favor of client in defense of legal professional liability claim.
- Dec 12, 2017, AffirmedOhio 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, Motion For Summary Judgment Granted8th 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, Motion for partial judgmentU.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, No Probable CauseEEOC
Determination of no probable cause in favor of client in defense of employment discrimination charge.
- Sep 12, 2016, Motion For Summary Judgment GrantedMahoning County Court of Common Pleas
Motion for summary judgment granted in favor of client in defense of legal professional liability claim.
- Apr 18, 2016, Motion For Summary Judgment GrantedWood
Motion for summary judgment was granted in favor of client in defense of whistleblower case.
- Jan 29, 2016, Motion For Summary Judgment GrantedCuyahoga
Motion for summary judgment was granted in favor of client in defense of legal professional liability claim.
- Oct 28, 2015, Finding of no probable causeEEOC
Determination of no probable cause in favor of client in defense of employment discrimination charge.
- Sep 23, 2015, Finding of no probable causeEEOC
Determination of no probable cause in favor of client in defense of employment discrimination charge.
- Sep 19, 2015, Motion For Summary Judgment GrantedLogan
Motion for summary judgment was granted in favor of client in prosecution of indemnification crossclaim.
- Jun 23, 2015, Motion For Summary Judgment GrantedCuyahoga
Motion for summary judgment was granted in favor of client in defense of legal professional liability claim.
- May 14, 2015, Motion For Summary Judgment GrantedCuyahoga
Motion for summary judgment was granted in favor of client in defense of legal professional liability claim.
- May 12, 2015, Motion For Summary Judgment GrantedBelmont
Motion for summary judgment was granted in favor of client in defense of legal professional liability claim.
- Sep 14, 2014, Motion For Summary Judgment Granted11th 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 & LatellJan 3, 2014, Motion For Summary Judgment GrantedTrumbull
Motion for summary judgment was granted in favor of client in defense of legal professional liability claim.
- Aug 9, 2013, Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings grantedU.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, Motion For Summary Judgment GrantedCuyahoga
Motion for summary judgment was granted in favor of client in defense of legal professional liability claim.
- Jan 13, 2013, Affirmed in Part, and reversed granting of summary judgment9th 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, District Court granted Motion to Dismiss all federal claims and remanded state law claimsU.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 affirmedU.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, Granted Motion for Partial Judgment on the PleadingsU.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, Finding of no probable causeOCRC
Determination of no probable cause in favor of client in defense of employment discrimination charge.
- Aug 9, 2012, Motion for Summary Judgment in PartCuyahoga
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 grantedPortage
Motion to dismiss and compel arbitration was granted in favor of client in class action legal professional liability claim.
- Mar 12, 2012, Finding for Plaintiff that ODOT was solely liable for AccidentCourt 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 basisAmerican 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 DefendantSummit
Motion for summary judgment was granted in favor of client in employment discrimination case.
- Feb 15, 2012, Court granted Defendants Motion to Dismiss and Compel ArbitrationCuyahoga
Motion to dismiss and compel arbitration was granted in favor of client in class action consumer practices case.
- Dec 6, 2011, Court granted Defendants Motion for Summary JudgmentCuyahoga
Motion for summary judgment was granted in favor of client in employment discrimination case.
- Sep 21, 2011, Court granted Defendants Motion for Summary Judgment in partU.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio
Motion for summary judgment was granted in favor of client in employment discrimination case.
- Jul 18, 2011, Granted Motion for Partial Judgment on the PleadingsU.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 Affirmed5th 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, Court granted Defendants Motion to Dismiss and Compel ArbitrationU.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 Reversed8th 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 Affirmed8th 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
News
Speaking Engagements
Insights
Publications
Reminger Reports
Practice Areas
Education
J.D., Cleveland Marshall 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