Governmental/Public Entity Liability

Reminger has one of the largest governmental practices in the Midwest providing comprehensive representation to county governments, townships, villages, cities and schools.

Reminger’s multi-state practice handles virtually every type of governmental need.  This includes:

• Tort claims, including those arising out of the operation of vehicles, defective premises, and other injuries from governmental functions.
• Civil Rights claims, including §1983 actions.
• Employment disputes.
• Zoning and land use disputes.
• Construction disputes.
• All aspects of school liability;
• Counseling on construction projects.

Reminger’s governmental liability practice stands out for three reasons.  First, the size of Reminger’s practice – throughout the Midwest – has led to an expertise not often found.  Simply, Reminger lawyers have been involved in virtually every aspect of governmental litigation.  Second, Reminger brings a fearless approach to all litigation, including governmental litigation.  Too often governmental lawyers fear taking a hard case to trial.  Reminger lawyers, having more trial experience than most, are always ready to stand and try a meritless claim.  Third, Reminger offers uncompromising value in its services.  Proper staffing of Reminger’s cases, dramatically cuts clients’ costs.  Reminger never over-staffs a case, unlike many firms which bring multiple lawyers to events, where there is no need for such.  Further, Reminger’s geographical scope allows files to be placed in the hands of the right lawyers, in the geographical area where the case is venued. 

Our Service

Our Governmental Liability Practice Group distinguishes itself from our competition in the following ways:

1. Dedicated Client Service. Our group is committed to exceeding reporting guidelines of our clients. We also proactively meet with governmental entities during both regular session meetings and executive session meetings to help counsel clients not only through the litigation process, but also in the administrative process both before and after a lawsuit is filed.
2. Philosophy of Practice. We are mindful that many lawsuits including 'Sunshine Law' claims and civil rights claims run the risk of paying the opposing party's attorney fees. Thus, we pride ourselves on being trial lawyers, rather than simply 'litigators'. We collaborate with our clients to resolve the matter in the least amount of time and at the least amount of expense to keep not only our fees reasonable, but those of our opponents as well.
3. We are a good value. Our firm is a leader in 'alternative fee arrangements' and we presently serve numerous clients on a fixed fee basis. Our hourly rate is competitive, simple and straightforward and includes all in-house, out-of-pocket expenses such as long distance telephone calls, mailings, mileage, computer usage research charges, faxes, copies, etc.
4. Value-added components. Our governmental attorneys will provide complimentary consultation with insureds and members in areas of loss prevention, case evaluation, substantive law, and claim management. Our attorneys will also make themselves available for a complementary marketing presentation and provide insight into new legislation and case law which often impacts governmental liability and concepts of governmental immunity. Our statewide offices, in-house videoconferencing facilities, and total firm electronic integration allows us to conduct interviews, discovery, and presentations with economic efficiency throughout the region.

Representative Matters

Reminger lawyers hav obtained some of the landmark decisions in the governmental liability arena and have handled significant cases which include:

• Successfully represented a city in an employee class action mandamus case, in front of the Ohio Supreme Court, seeking payment of back benefits for fifteen years.

• Successfully trying a jury trial for race discrimination of a teacher who put children at risk.

• Successful defense of a teacher termination case where the teacher implicitly threatened to bring a gun to school.

• Obtaining the landmark Sixth Circuit case involving the scope of a management employees’ freedom of speech rights and the ability of a municipality to curtail those rights, so the municipality may properly run its service operations.

• Successfully trying the case of a terminated police chief.

• Successfully defended a municipality for double drowning deaths, over a low head dam.

• Tried and obtained a dismissal of a removal petition of Trustees.

• Successfully defended a municipality, in the Ohio Supreme Court, on a claim brought by a drunk pedestrian struck, walking in the street.

• • Successfully defended a terminations of multiple fire fighters.

Representative Clients

Allied Darwin, Arch Insurance, Cleveland Metroparks, HAS, Tokio Marine HCC – Public Risk Group, Municipal Insurance Alliance, Ohio Government Risk Management Plan, OTARMA, Public Entities Pool administered by American Risk Pooling Consultants, Inc., Multiple Ohio municipalities, villages and townships, the City of Newark, the City of Chillicothe, the City of Bridgeport, Etna Township, Village of Lincoln Heights, Monroe Township, Pleasant Township, Franklin Township, Liberty Township, Bennington Township, Village of Bethesda, City of Washington Court House, Lucas County, Ross County Agricultural Society, Washington County Agricultural Society, Muskingum County Agricultural Society and Washington County Health District

Testimonials

"Pat Kasson resolved a very dangerous school district claim at an excellent value by virtue of his knowledgeable and practical approach.”
-Brian, Claim Counsel

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