Juris Doctor (JD)
The Ohio State University
1975
AV peer review rating by Martindale-Hubbell Adjunct Professor of Trial Practice, The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, 1999--2007 Who`s Who in Criminal Law in Central Ohio--Business First

Columbus Bar Association
Ohio State Bar Association
American Bar Association
U.S.District Courts: Ohio, Arizona U.S. Court of Appeals: Sixth Circuit United States Supreme Court
United States Supreme Court

1975
0006982
OH
6-10

There is no kind of criminal situation I have not handled. I have an enormous range of experience with police officers, prosecutors, and judges.
I began my legal career as an Assistant Prosecutor in Franklin County trying first juvenile and then more than 100 felony cases before juries over seven years. I went into private practice for myself in 1982 and have defended criminal investigations, accusations, and charges almost exclusively. I have tried nearly 100 criminal jury trials throughout Ohio as defense counsel since 1982.

When I was a senior in high school I took "Business Law"--and loved it. The summer after I graduated from high school I read "My Life in Court" by Louis Nizer, a famous trial lawyer, and loved it. Always thereafter, I wanted to become a lawyer. After law school I went to the prosecutor`s office because I wanted to learn how to try cases. I still believe that being a trial lawyer is the greatest job in the world.
Thirty-two years of trying cases, criminal and civil, as prosecutor, plaintiff, and defense counsel. As a result, I have the knowledge, experience, and reputation that can make the difference in obtaining a successfully negotiated settlement or winning or losing at trial. If I were a layperson, I'd want someone like me representing me.
After seven years I had many times over done everything there was to do as a felony prosecutor. Defense work was the next logical step in continuing to try cases.
Experience and communications! When clients call my office, they get me--not the first year associate, not the paralegal, not somebody else who needs permission to give advice. I do all the work myself, because that is necessary to getting good results. My rule on client communications is simple: no news means no news--good news is delivered immediately, bad news is delivered immediately(because if I were the client I'd want to know everything that was going on at all times). If my client isn`t hearing from me, there's absolutely nothing new to tell.
There is no ideal client(or even typical client) in my practice. Almost all my clients are referred by other lawyers who don`t do the kinds of work I do(about 70%) or current or former clients(about 20%). Most of my clients have never had a problem before and will never have a problem again--after we have solved the problem that brings them to my office. Nearly all of these people are able to help me help them, and I view their defense as a collective effort. I am the kind of lawyer who loses sleep over clients, and I am fortunate enough to have the kind of clients as people who deserve my loss of sleep over them.
Sports(participating and watching)--Ohio State football and basketball--watching my children participating in high school sports--reading(almost anything, but lots of books about lawyers and trials still)--my wife(who is also a lawyer) can`t believe I do this kind of work during the day and then come home and read about it at night and watch "Law and Order"--but, I love it!

Yes, following telephone discussion if there appears there may a basis for going forward together as client and counsel
No set amount. I am more concerned about the ability of the client to fund the needs of defending the situation over the course of time than I am about the amount of the initial retainer.

Available depending upon the requirements of the situation
Most cases are handled initially at least on an hourly basis as it is impossible at an initial consultation to accurately assess the ultimate needs to defend the situation