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News

January 31, 2012
Christopher A. Holecek and Angela M. Lavin successfully preserved a summary judgment and substantial jury verdict in an action seeking an injunction and money damages on behalf of a corporate client in an unfair competition lawsuit tried in federal court in Miami. The opposing party had appealed the favorable outcomes, and, after full briefing and oral argument, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the rulings and findings in their entirety, including an award of attorneys’ fees.

January 15, 2012
Peter A. Hessler was successful in causing an opposing counsel in a previously settled case to remove unflattering remarks and accusations about the firm’s client on the opposing law firm’s website. In settling the multi-count action, Hessler insisted on non-disparagement and non-disclosure provisions, with a monetary penalty for violating the same. When he learned of the website and its content, designed to solicit clients who may assert claims against the law firm’s client, Hessler successfully negotiated the removal of the offensive comment on the strength of the provisions of the settlement agreement.

December 22, 2011
Christopher A. Holecek, a Partner in the firm’s Litigation and Product Liability groups, has been named to the Ohio Super Lawyers list as one of the top attorneys in Ohio for 2011. No more than 5 percent of the lawyers in the state are selected by Super Lawyers. Angela M. Lavin and Scott J. Robinson, Associates in the firm’s Litigation group, have been named to the Ohio Rising Stars list as being among the top attorneys in Ohio for 2011. No more than 2.5 percent of the lawyers in the state are selected to the list.

Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters business, is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The annual selections are made using a rigorous multi-phased process that includes a statewide survey of lawyers, an independent research evaluation of candidates and peer reviews by practice area.

September 12, 2011
Aaron D. Plasco joined the firm’s Corporate and Business Services practice group. Aaron is a 2007 graduate of the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law.

August 21, 2011
Iken S. Sans joined the firm’s Intellectual Property practice group as a Patent Agent. Iken earned her Bachelor of Chemical Engineering from Cleveland State University in 1998 and a 2011 graduate of the University of Akron School of Law.

July 1, 2011
Renee L. Miller, a paralegal in the firm’s Estate Planning, Estate Administration and Elder Law practice group, successfully completed the Ohio State Bar Association’s Paralegal Certification process.

June 24, 2011
Peter A. Hessler, chair of the firm’s Litigation practice group, and associate Angela M. Lavin, with the assistance of litigation support manager Jason M. Lowbridge, successfully defended our clients in the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court in which the plaintiff sought damages under various tort claims, including malpractice. The Honorable Linda Rocker granted a directed verdict in our clients’ favor dismissing several of the claims and the jury returned a defense verdict on the remaining claims.

June 20, 2011
The National Board of Trial Advocacy (NBTA) advised Christopher Holecek, a partner in the firm’s Product Liability Defense, Litigation and E-Discovery & Technology practice groups that he had met all their requirements, passed the examination and had been approved as a Board Certified Civil Trial Specialist.

April 20, 2011
The DRI – The Voice of the Defense Bar featured an article on Christopher Holecek and a recent defense verdict in a case related to a shareholder dispute. The full version of the article can be found here.

April 18, 2011
Monica M. Newell joined our Estate Planning, Estate Administration and Elder Law group. Monica is a 1999 graduate of Cleveland-Marshall College of Law.

April 12, 2011
Charles “Drew” Hayes is Vice Chair of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) Cleveland Section. The Section is sponsoring the IEEE EnergyTech 2011, an advanced energy conference, on May 25-26, 2011 at Case Western Reserve University. The conference will feature presentations on smart grid, energy storage, wind power, plug-in electric vehicles, power electronics, photovoltaics, solar-thermal energy, and other alternative and renewable means of power generation.

More News….

Articles

Funding A Start-Up Business With Retirement Assets
by Christopher A. Corpus, published January 2012
Most entrepreneurs have one problem in common – financing. For example, a bank has agreed to lend the entrepreneur start-up funds but the bank is requiring the entrepreneur to also make a twenty percent investment in the business. The only problem is that the entrepreneur does not have enough liquid assets in his/her bank accounts or investment accounts to satisfy this requirement and the entrepreneur does not have access to friends or family to lend assistance… (read more)

Patent System Receives Long Overdue Reforms
by Iken S. Sans, published October 2011
On September 16, President Obama signed the America Invents Act (AIA), enacting the first patent reform legislation in over 60 years. Primary goals of the act include: bringing the U.S. patent system in line with most of the other patent systems in the world; improving patent quality; and most importantly, adequately funding the United States Patent and Trademark Office (PTO). This article discusses some provisions of the America Invents Act and how they could impact patenting and portfolio strategies of inventors and businesses. (read more)

Guardianship of Adults
by Monica M. Newell, published October 2011
Over the past several months, Uncle Ray has been found sleeping on his neighbor’s driveway, writing checks to charities for excessive amounts, and has been rushed to the hospital because he failed to take his blood pressure medicine. While we all may be familiar with someone who fails to make good decisions, it may be time to consider whether a guardianship is in the best interest of Uncle Ray for his own safety and well-being. (read more)

What is Medicaid Planning?
by Monica M. Newell, published July 2011
The long held misconception that Medicare covers the costs of long term nursing home care has been eroded in recent years due to the federal and state government budgetary concerns over the costs of health care. Medicare is healthcare coverage to which persons over age 65, and certain disabled persons, are entitled. Medicaid differs from Medicare… (read more)

Rewarding An Employee With Corporate Stock Can Be Tricky
by Christopher A. Holecek, published May 2011
Banker and philanthropist Andrew Mellon once remarked “No good deed goes unpunished.” Consider a business owner who wants to compensate a hard working and loyal employee by awarding the employee stock in the company. While such a nice gesture may not seem risky, several problems can potentially arise if the company is not careful… (read more)

Ohio’s Intentional Tort Pendulum Continues To Swing
by Scott J. Robinson, published May 2011
Workplace injuries have always been a minefield for employers, employees and the attorneys who handle them. The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses among private industry employers have been occurring at a rate of between 3½ and 6 percent since 2001… (read more)

What Is www.SaferProducts.gov?
by Christopher A. Corpus, published May 2011
The United States Congress recently enacted legislation requiring the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to “establish and maintain a database on the safety of consumer products” that is publicly available, searchable and accessible through the Internet… (read more)