Top Civil Lawyers Near Me in Columbus Area

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Eric J. Wittenberg

The main focus of my practice is litigation, primarily in the areas of business disputes, real estate, insurance  and personal injury, representing both plaintiffs and defendants.  Litigation can be time consuming, expensive and emotionally draining. I therefore continually analyze the costs and benefits of filing a lawsuit and pursuing the case. The most successful outcomes occur when the case is pursued with the expectation that a trial will occur. If the case does not settle, then we are ready for trial.. I also have an active practice in real estate, both residential and commercial, involving sales/purchases, refinance, landlord-tenant and leases.  I am the managing member of a small family owned real estate business and use my personal experience to represent my clients.. Our law firm also has represents businesses and individuals who are experiencing financial hardship including in bankruptcy and receivership matters.. I also have an active practice in probate law and estate planning, including Wills, Trusts, and lawsuits arising in Probate Court.

Since entering private practice in 1995, John Johnson has devoted his career to helping people through the most difficult turns of life. He has represented hundreds of clients in divorces and dissolutions, child custody actions, child and spousal support matters and post-divorce modifications. John has extensive knowledge of domestic law and has tried numerous cases in central Ohio’s domestic courts and argued a number of cases before the state’s appellate courts. He has earned the trust and respect of judges and fellow lawyers for his straightforward approach to representing his clients.. John has been named to Columbus CEO Magazine's Top Lawyers list for the past two years, and is AV-rated, the highest rating by the Martindale-Hubbell ratings service. He is a Board Certified Specialist in Family Law by the Ohio State Bar Association.. John is a lifelong central Ohio resident. He has a bachelor’s degree from Ohio Wesleyan University and a law degree from Capital University Law School. John served as an Assistant Attorney General for Ohio from 1993 through 1995 before entering private practice.

My practice is focused on complex commercial and business litigation, product liability defense and large loss subrogation, liability defense and wrongful death, insurance law and coverage litigation and fire investigation and litigation.  I also consult with businesses relating to consumer and customer claims, contract negotiation, risk management and dispute prevention.  My firm provides full service to our business and individual clients in areas such real estate, tax, merger and acquisition, finance, employment, intellectual property, cyber security, trade secrets, non-compete, and many more.  Visit us at .

My office represents individuals charged with crimes, from misdemeanor to felony.  I represent people at the trial stage, appeallate stage, and in post conviction.   I have been a lawyer for fifteen years and in that time done only  criminal defense.

Mr. Lewis focuses his practice on complex litigation, including consumer class actions, personal injury, trucking accidents, wrongful death, products liability, and insurance and commercial disputes. Mr. Lewis has been selected as one of the "Best Lawyers in America" by the respected peer-review publication of the same name, and named one of Ohio's "Super Lawyers," a distinction shared by only a fraction of practicing attorneys. He has recently be named as one of the Columbus area's "50 Best Lawyers." Mr. Lewis also serves as an adjunct professor of law at Capital University Law School where he teaches Law & Literature, a course that investigates jurisprudential and moral themes in great works of literature, drama, and art. Visit his law & literature website at . Mr. Lewis is the 2009-10 President of the Central Ohio Association of Justice, and for many years he acted as the editor in chief of the organization's legal periodical. He has served as Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and held numerous Committee Chairs during his long tenure on the Board.  Before beginning his career as a litigator, Mr. Lewis served as an editor of the law review and later as a federal judicial law clerk in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, where he helped draft more than 100 opinions for the court. Mr. Lewis enjoys serving as a mentor under the Ohio Surpeme Court's new attorney mentor program, and he volunteers significant time to local high school "street law" classes to help educate young people about our civil justice system. He regularly blogs about the law and cognitive science and psychology at .

Mr. Hargrove graduated Magna Cum Laude from Auburn University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics in 2001.  He graduated from the Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University Magna Cum Laude in 2004, finishing 4th in his Law School Class.  While at Mercer, Mr. Hargrove was a member of the Mercer Law Review, Moot Court Board, and the Brainerd Curie Honor Society.  Mr. Hargrove also obtained a Certificate in Advanced Legal Writing.. Mr. Hargrove is licensed in the State and Superior Courts of Georgia, the Northern and Middle Districts of Georgia, all Alabama State and Federal Courts and the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals.  Mr. Hargrove was honored on the “Georgia Rising Stars” list in Atlanta Magazine/Law and Politics in 2015, 2014 and 2013, voted by his peers as one of Georgia’s best Civil Litigation Young Lawyers.. Mr. Hargrove began his legal career in private practice in Atlanta with the firm of King & Spalding, LLP.  Mr. Hargrove then made the decision to return to his hometown of Columbus, Georgia.  He joined the firm of Page, Scrantom, Sprouse, Tucker & Ford, P.C. where he practiced for ten years (six as a Partner) before joining the Finley Firm.  During his more than ten years in private practice, Mr. Hargrove has handled cases throughout the state and federal courts in Georgia and Alabama, representing both plaintiffs and defendants in Business Disputes, Contractual Disputes, Landlord/Tenant Disputes and Evictions, Construction Litigation, Copyright and Trademark Litigation, Banking Litigation, Workouts and Foreclosures.  Mr. Hargrove has tried numerous cases to verdict in Bench Trials, Jury Trials and Arbitrations and has obtained Summary Adjudication in his clients’ favor in a multitude of cases.. Mr. Hargrove is a member of and serves on the advisory board of MyChurch in Columbus, Georgia, and is the Chairman of the Board of Auburn Christian Fellowship, a Campus Ministry at Auburn University.  He and his wife Trisha have three children.  In his spare time, Mr. Hargrove enjoys both freshwater and saltwater fishing.

Mr. Doran is a partner in the Columbus, Ohio, office of Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP, and is a member of the firm's litigation practice group. He represents plaintiffs and defendants in state and federal proceedings across a number of different disciplines. Mr. Doran has extensive experience in personal injury, wrongful death, premises liability and product liability litigation, including mass tort defense work, as well as commercial, construction and insurance related litigation.

Mike is the lawyer to call if you were injured in an accident involving a truck, motorcyle or car.  Before hiring a lawyer, go to Google and read their client reviews or call local judges for references.  We protect the People, not the powerful.  Geiser, Bowman and McLafferty.

Mike Dortch is a trial lawyer with extensive experience litigating civil cases of all types, including commercial, contract, insurance coverage, probate, environmental, and real property disputes.. I am admitted to practice before all Ohio courts by the Ohio Supreme Court and by the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, and the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio.  With permission of the court, I have also represented clients in courts within the states of Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, North Carolina and Texas.. In my energy practice, I have represented one of Ohio’s investor owned utilities in evidentiary hearings before the PUCO, including numerous cases involving the restructuring of the electric industry in Ohio, regulatory compliance, rules proceedings, and a merger with another investor owned utility.  I have also represented rural electric cooperatives, a fully-integrated Ohio based energy services company, and natural gas local distribution companies.  I have successfully represented several entities before the Ohio Power Siting Board in connection with their efforts to construct electric power generation plants in Ohio.  I have advised commercial and industrial clients regarding their electric and natural gas services contracts.. In my  environmental practice, I have represented clients in cases involving CERCLA cost recovery actions, site remediation/reclamation activities required by RCRA, CRO, and SMCRA, emergency response, and TSCA penalty proceedings. In addition, he successfully opposed an EPA effort to list real property owned by clients on the National Priorities List. I successfully defended the executor of an estate against claims that the executor had both CERCLA liability and fiduciary obligations requiring it to undertake the remediation of contaminated property belonging to the deceased.  On behalf of a petroleum distribution customer of a pipeline terminal, I successfully demonstrated that petroleum contamination beneath Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego was caused by other customers of the terminal.. In my telecommunications practice, I have represented nearly all forms of telecommunications service providers (CLECs, IXCs, cellular, paging, mobile radio) in every manner of case before the PUCO.  He also advises developers and other large consumers of telecommunications services regarding their telecommunications issues.. I graduated summa cum laude from Capital University Law School, where I am now an adjunct member of the faculty.  The editors of Cincinnati Magazine, in conjunction with Law and Politics Media, Inc., regularly name me an "Ohio Super Lawyer" -- a tribute enjoyed by only 5% of the practicing bar.. I am a member of the American Bar Association, the Ohio State Bar Association, the Columbus Bar Association and the Federal Bar Association.

Mark Kitrick has lectured on numerous topics including serious injury and wrongful death, interntional torts, selecting juries, damages, subrogation, class actions, medical malpractice, depositions, emergency room errors, aviation crashes and distracted driving.. Despite his schedule, Mr. Kitrick is dedicated to his health.  He balances that with a combination of crossfit training, rock climbing, parkour, master of martial arts and Israeli combat pistol & rifle. He is also a composer/musician and producer and has released two albums.

Maddie Rettig is an attorney whose practice areas include police misconduct, prison conditions, First Amendment, malicious prosecutions, discrimination, retaliation, wrongful discharge, sexual harassment, as well as other civil rights and employment issues.. Maddie is particularly interested in constitutional litigation, as she strives to achieve justice and equal opportunity for individuals through the civil legal system.. Maddie received her J.D., cum laude, from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law. Upon graduation, Maddie earned the Labor and Employment Academic Achievement Award and designation as a Public Service Fellow for completing over 100 hours of pro bono work. In law school, Maddie received CALI Excellence Awards in Employee Benefits and the Civil Law Clinic. She also served as the Chief Articles Editor for the Ohio State Law Journal. Maddie received her B.A. from Ohio University magna cum laude and a Certificate in Law, Justice & Culture.. Prior to joining the firm, Maddie served as a judicial extern for the Honorable Chief Judge R. Guy Cole, Jr. on the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. She worked in the public sector for people on death row, wrongfully convicted persons, and low-income individuals experiencing the criminal justice system. She also worked for a non-profit organization facilitating rehabilitative programs for people in prison.. Professional Memberships include the American Constitution Society, the Ohio Employment Lawyers Association, and the Ohio State Bar Association. She was named a Super Lawyer Rising Star for 2021 and 2022.

I  represent people who have been harmed physically or financially. That is all  I do and all  I have ever done in my 31 years of representing  people in Ohio, Michigan and throughout the country.  Our firm has obtained numerous multi-million dollar results and we have earned the respect of our profession and clients.  We pledge to build on this reputation every day, with every case.. Defendants are backed by powerful corporations and insurance companies. Our law firm has the resources necessary to level the playing field in all areas of personal injury and professional negligence.   We commit the necessary time, money and experience to get our clients the best results possible.

I'm originally from Buffalo, New York and have remained a loyal Buffalo Bills and Sabres fan.  My wife and I have two grown daughter's who became teacher's like their mom (now retired) and two young grandchildren.

I passionately advocate for the rights of individuals with employment and discrimination cases. I am devoted to securing justice for clients by offering individualized and sophisticated legal counsel.. When I am not vigorously representing my clients, I spend my time with my wife and our basset hound, going to Lake Erie, volunteering with Big Brothers Big Sisters, and spending time outdoors.

I litigate civil rights cases because I believe in them.  I believe in the right to free speech, the right of citizens' to be secure in their own homes, and the right to be free from false prosecutions and excessive force at the hands of the police.  This is why I went to law school, and why I have spent the last 13 years fighting for my clients as hard as I possible can. If we do not protect our rights, no one will protect them for us.

I have over 25 years of legal experience in the areas of family relations law, business law, estate planning and insolvency advice. I am a certified specialist in family relations law. I take a personal interest in my client's cases and I am willing to be as aggressive as necessary to meet the needs of my client.I recognize that every case is different. I listen to my clients, find out their objectives and develop a strategy to meet those objectives. I give each legal case the personal attention it requires and recommend different strategies depending on the needs of the client. I provide competent and diligent representation.I provide aggressive yet caring representation. I will strive to aggressively protect my client's rights but I will never lose sight of the emotional and financial impact of litigation.

I have been an attorney in Ohio since 1987 and have handled a wide variety of legal matters, but primarily represent individuals and companies who have been sued for money damages.  I have always been in a private practice law firm and have been active in the legal community as can be seen in my LinkedIn profile. Since 2007, I have been recognized as an Ohio Super Lawyer and have been voted one of the Top 25 Female Lawyers in Columbus, Ohio since 2011.

I believe that if you are involved in a situation where you feel that you may need an attorney, you should not hesitate to contact one.  Many lawyers will take the time to talk with you about your problem(s), advise you about your rights, help prepare a plan and then advise you about whether or not you actually need to hire an attorney.  Many times, you will not need to go any further beyond this initial consultation.  But if you do, it is best to have your attorney involved from the beginning so that the right strategy is in place to protect you and to help ensure that your claim is resolved timely.  Do not hesitate to call an attorney for an initial consultation.. I truly enjoy helping individuals and companies with a variety of different cases as it keeps my practice ineteresting and well informed on the law.  I am always grateful when I can be involved early in the case so that a specialized strategy can be put into place for a client in hopes that we can resolve the claim early and if not, we can have our claim ready for suit and then focus the pressure on the other side.  I believe that a well prepared claim is much like a game of chess with a touch of contact sport, such as rugby.  You need to know how to be subtle and how to plan well into the future, but you also need to know when to be aggressive.  There is no other aspect of the law quite like litigation.

I am an experienced attorney in the area of employment law and litigation, representing employers in connection with discrimination charges, express and implied employment contract issues, employment practices and related tort and benefit claims. My litigation experience includes the defense of both opt-out and opt-in class actions.. Beyond my legal career, I am past-president of Opera Columbus, past president of Chamber Music Columbus, a long-time board member of the Worthington Historical Society and former and current acting president of the Yale Club of Central Ohio.

I am a partner at Rourke & Blumenthal, LLP.  My firm specializes in handling complex injury cases on behalf of victims, including medical malpractice, product liability, and truck/car accidents.  We have obtained some of the highest verdicts and settlements in Ohio.  I encourage you to visit our website at for a summary of our results.  More important than just the results, we take great pride in the fact that we have helped countless families during their darkest hours.. We are a boutique litigation firm small enough to provide personal attention, but powerful enough to have the resources to take on big insurance companies and businesses.  We do not advertise on television or send mailers out to accident victims.  Our clients are referred to us by other attorneys who are familiar with our experience and success.  We are proud of the fact that other attorneys trust us enough with their clients, friends, and family to recommend our services in a time of need.

Former Outside Counsel and Special Counsel to the Attorney General, State of Ohio. Entrepreuner-Founder: Ohio Dispute Resolution Company,Del's Lemonade of Ohio and Cruisin' on the Riverfront Classic Car Show. Current Member, Board of Trustees, Deaf Services Center. Past Member; Board of Trustees, Contemporary Amercian Theatre Company (CATCO) and Center for New Directions. Life Member, Kappa Kappa Psi, Alpha Chapter, National Honorary Band Fraternity. Member; Sierra Club, Columbus Zoo, Wexner Center, WOSU, Chevy Classics Club, US Bowling Congress, RI Reds Historical Society and Columbus Museum. Honorary Kentucky Colonel. Youth Member: DeMolay and Boy Scouts (incl Philmont Ranch). Delegate-At-Large, 1976 National Presidential Convention

David Rayfield graduated with a B.A. from Rhodes College in 1994 and a J.D. from the University of Alabama in 2001. Following his graduation from the University of Alabama, David began his legal career by opening his own office with a law school classmate in Phenix City, Alabama. He enjoyed a general practice with an emphasis on civil litigation for his first five years of practice before being invited to join a regional firm based in Columbus, Georgia as a partner in 2006. There, David focused his practice on business litigation and representing individuals that had been injured, damaged or otherwise harmed by others. In July, 2015, David joined the law firm of Waldrep, Mullin & Callahan, LLC as a partner to continue his emphasis on handling complex civil litigation matters. Licensed in both Alabama and Georgia, David is currently focused on representing both plaintiffs and defendants in a variety of areas, including commercial litigation, probate litigation, and negligence actions.. Beyond his litigation practice, David is also very active in the legal community, having served as President of the Columbus Bar Association (2019-20), Treasurer of the Columbus American Inns of Court (2016-20), President of the Chattahoochee Bar Association (2009-2010), President of the Russell County, Alabama Bar Association (2005-2006), President of the Columbus Trial Lawyers Association (2013-2015), and Vice-President of the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association, 2nd Congressional District (2015-2016). David also co-chaired the launch of the Columbus American Inns of Court mentoring program in 2020, was instrumental in the 2019 restart of the Muscogee County Truancy Intervention Program (TIPs), and served as a mentor to numerous children through the TIPs program. He has also volunteered with the Muscogee County Legitimation Station and provided pro bono assistance to numerous veterans through his association with House of Heroes – Chattahoochee Valley Chapter.. Outside of the legal profession, David has served as a Trustee for the Muscogee County Library Foundation (2015-2018), a Board Member for the St. Luke Early Learning Center (2010-2018), and is a member of St. Paul Methodist Church in Columbus. He is also a graduate of Leadership Georgia (2020-21) and served as a program chair in 2022.. David has made his home in Columbus, Georgia since 2004 and where he currently resides with his wife, Dr. Stuart Eddings Rayfield, President of Columbus State University, and their two daughters.

David Helmick's practice at Waldrep, Mullin & Callahan focuses on complex business disputes and personal injury matters, where he generally represents the injured party in car wrecks and other tort litigation. He has a wide range of experience that includes the defense of government officials in 1983 actions, real estate litigation, insurance and employment disputes (including Title VII lawsuits), and various health care matters. He represents both individuals and established businesses. A former prosecutor, David also maintains a concentration on criminal defense in Georgia and federal courts. He has obtained numerous successful outcomes, for instance, in federal criminal defense matters representing clients charged with violation of federal statutes, and also defending soldiers and civilians charged with committing offenses on post at Ft. Benning, Georgia. He likewise has experience in domestic relations dealing with high net worth divorce matters. Prior to joining Waldrep, Mullin & Callahan, David was an Assistant District Attorney in the Muscogee County D.A.'s Office where he prosecuted major felonies, including murders, armed robberies, and complex thefts. As a felony prosecutor he successfully prosecuted a large number of jury trials as lead counsel and represented Georgia in eleven reported appellate opinions. David was also responsible for several capital appeals during this tenure, and assisted in the formation of the Muscogee County Adult Drug Court, which strives to rehabilitate individuals charged with drug related offenses.. David received his law degree from the Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University in Macon, Georgia, and received his undergraduate degree from the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee. David and his wife have a son and a daughter.

BIOGRAPHY OF M. SHAWN DINGUS. Family History. Shawn was born and raised in Flatwoods, Kentucky, a small town located in the eastern region of the state. His father worked as a railroad employee for C&O Railroad, Chessie System and CSX Transportation, and his mother cleaned homes and businesses on a part-time basis. After graduating from Russell High School with honors in 1990, he was the first in his family to attend college, choosing to attend Morehead State University on a  scholarship.. Undergraduate Studies. As a student at Morehead, Shawn was very involved in student government, including serving as president of his fraternity, Lambda Chi Alpha, serving as executive vice-president of the IntraFraternal Council, and running for office in the Student Government Association. In 1994, he was named the University's Greek Man of the Year, for his dedication and commitment to the fraternal system at the university. He graduated from Morehead in 1994 with a Bachelor of Arts in Government and a minor in Philosophy.. Law School. In 1995, Shawn elected to attend the University of Akron School of Law, where he continued to serve in student government, first as Treasurer of the Student Bar Association, and next as President of Phi Delta Phi Legal Fraternity. Shawn was also appointed to serve as the law school's representative to the American Bar Association in 1997, and served as its representative at the ABA National Convention in San Francisco, California in 1998. In that same year, he received his Juris Doctorate from Akron, graduating in the top 10% of his class, with a cum laude distinction.. Career. Upon graduation and passage of the state bar exam in 1998, Shawn accepted a position as an assistant prosecuting attorney in Morrow County, Ohio. He initially served the county as the prosecutor assigned to prosecute juvenile delinquency cases and represent the Morrow County Children Services Agency in cases involving abused and neglected children. He was later assigned to the adult criminal division, where he prosecuted adults charged with misdemeanors and felonies, which ranged from simple speeding violations to Aggravated Murder.. In 2000, Shawn left the prosecutor's office and accepted an associate position with The Plymale Partnership in downtown Columbus, where he represented individuals in civil matters, which included representation in bad faith actions against insurance companies and wrongful death actions. During his tenure at The Plymale Partnership, he served on the board of the Franklin County Trial Lawyers Association and was presented with the Association's Slugger Award in 2002 for his dedication and commitment to injured victims and their families.. In 2003, Shawn decided to set-out on his own and opened his own law firm, The Law Office of M. Shawn Dingus.   In 2009, Shawn joined Columbus attorney Ronald Plymale to form the firm of Plymale & Dingus, where he  represent individuals and small businesses in civil and criminal matters. He has had the honor of representing hundreds of individuals and businesses in cases ranging from wrongful death actions to divorce and child custody matters.. Shawn is involved in his community by serving on numerous professional and political boards and committees, as well as volunteering for various causes. He is a Board of Trustees member for the Central Community House and also serves on the Board of Directors of the American Constitution Society.  He is also a member of the First Congregational Church in downtown Columbus.. Areas of Practice. Education. Office: