Defense Digest

On the Pulse ... The Ohio Opportunity

Since its founding days, the Marshall, Dennehey, Warner, Coleman & Goggin office in Akron, Ohio has experienced sure and steady growth. Founded in January 2003, the Akron office continues to expand the quality and quantity of its work on behalf of its clients throughout the state of Ohio. Originally founded with just one attorney, the office has grown to a team that includes three attorneys, two secretaries, and a file clerk. This growth has largely come through a dedicated determination to meet the dates, deadlines, and details of our clients.

There are presently three attorneys who handle cases, as a team, in all the major courts of common pleas, courts of appeal, and the federal district courts of Ohio. From small claims court through the Ohio Supreme Court, the members of the Akron legal team have defended clients in a wide variety of casualty, professional liability, employment-related matters, and workers' compensation claims. This includes the prosecution and defense of expert witnesses, a significant motion practice, and trials before a jury in all parts of the state of Ohio.

Though the Akron office is located in northeastern Ohio, the breadth of our commitment to our clients extends throughout Ohio. We have claims pending from Cincinnati in the southwestern portion of the state to Ashtabula in the eastern corner of the state next to Pennsylvania. Many of our claims concern catastrophic and fatal injuries involving multiple parties with a wide range of liability, damages, and coverage issues. Our team strives to keep our clients informed through communication and correspondence beyond the routine and in strict compliance with applicable guidelines. We endeavor to add value to the defense of all of our cases in every corner of Ohio.

One of the proudest achievements of this new office occurred in the last quarter of 2004. In that quarter several of our clients in very significant product liability, employment-related intentional tort claims, and premises liability cases received summary judgment in almost all parts of the state of Ohio. When the total demands for settlement of these catastrophic claims were added up, our clients saved nearly $10 million through dispositive motion victories. This is a testament to the dedication and discipline of this very young office.

The three attorneys in the Akron office dedicate themselves to the importance of being part of one firm connected to the interests of serving clients with skill and superior legal service.

Sam Casolari is the managing attorney of the Akron office and a shareholder. He has tried numerous cases throughout Ohio and has appeared in all the major courts of the state through the Ohio Supreme Court. Chris Reece is a former Assistant Director of Law for the City of Akron and is very connected in northeastern Ohio. He, too, has appeared in the major courts of Ohio, as well as the federal courts through the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Chris has a solid background in municipal liability, employment-related matters, and casualty claims. Marty Sitler recently joined our team after having served his country in the United States Marine Corps as a Judge Advocate. His experiences as a Judge Advocate included litigating, teaching, and serving as a trial judge. Marty brings superior skills in a wide variety of areas at both the trial and appellate levels.

The Akron team is very involved in the civic life of Ohio and elsewhere. Sam Casolari is a Trustee of Grove City College in western Pennsylvania and the Marva Collins Preparatory School in Cincinnati, Ohio. Both Chris and Marty are also involved in the local community in a variety of ways. Chris is active in the local youth soccer program as a coach and parent coordinator. Marty also serves as a volunteer with several area youth sports programs. Further, Marty is a recent inductee to the Inn of Court in Summit County, Ohio.

Our team also includes Jill Gardner and Robbyn Moore, who bring to the Firm great technical and personal expertise in making sure that the important dates and details in our practice are met with ease and efficiency. Both Jill and Robbyn are members of our new Civic and Charity Committee, which, led by Chris Reece in our office, is committed to the Firm’s connection to the greater community of Ohio.

Recently, we were proud to welcome Nancy Forshey, a longtime resident of Akron, as a file clerk.

The entire Akron team is proud to be part of one firm connected with each other in a common purpose of providing excellent legal services in an atmosphere of trust and tenacity.

In this edition of Defense Digest you will see several articles from members of the Akron team. One involves the recent enactment of Tort Reform in Ohio. As with all things, we on the Akron team are endeavoring to make sure that the Legislature’s enactment is part and parcel to the defense of our casualty, professional liability, and other claims. Please look this article over, and if you have any questions on the impact of Tort Reform in Ohio, please do not hesitate to contact any of our attorneys.

Our Akron office is dedicated to one firm connected to its clients and community and is linked to a wide variety of talent without regard to the barriers of geography and distance. If you are ever in Akron, please do not hesitate to stop by our offices located in the historic Quaker Square complex. You will be more than welcome by the members of our team and to become part of the Marshall Dennehey experience.

*Sam, a shareholder and managing attorney in our Akron, OH office, is a member of our casualty practice group and can be reached at (330)255-0039 or scasolari@mdwcg.com.