Overview

Litigation can be an expensive and unwelcome distraction for individuals and businesses. Therefore, Doug recognizes that a negotiated resolution is often the best result for his clients. On the other hand, this is not always possible, and there is a time and place for litigation, up to and including trial and appellate proceedings, with which Doug has significant experience. Doug communicates with his clients early and often, to form an appropriate strategy that is consistent with the clients' overall goals, their budgets, and their willingness to incur risk, given the facts of each individual case -- which are all unique -- and to execute the strategy effectively.

Courts & Bar Associations

• Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association
• Ohio courts
• U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of Ohio
• U.S. Bankruptcy Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of Ohio
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit

Professional Honors & Awards

• Best Lawyers® - Commercial Litigation, Bankruptcy, Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law (2024)
• Best Lawyers® "Ones to Watch" - Commercial Litigation, Bankruptcy, Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law (2022)

Representative Engagements

• Defended a general contractor in a case filed by a subcontractor that culminated in a bench trial, in which the Court ruled in favor of the general contractor, including awarding damages of more than $150,000.00, plus attorneys' fees, to the general contractor on its counterclaim.
• Represented a shopping center owner in a lawsuit against a tenant for unpaid rent that culminated in a summary judgment in which the Court rejected the tenant's defenses and awarded the shopping center owner approximately $94,000.00, including attorneys' fees.
• Represented a commercial lender in obtaining the appointment of a receiver over its collateral, an office building, and obtaining a foreclosure decree in connection with outstanding indebtedness of approximately $5.5 Million.
• Represented a property developer in the purchase of a first mortgage loan, the initiation of a case to foreclose the mortgage, and the drafting, negotiating and completion of a deed-in-lieu agreement that resulted in the property developer acquiring an office building.
• Represented a lender in drafting a successful appellate brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals for Sixth Circuit, which affirmed the district court's summary judgment decision in favor of the lender and against the borrower related to the borrower's claims under various state and federal consumer protection laws.
• Served as second-chair in both bench and jury trials in probate courts, which led to successful outcomes for the clients, including favorable judgments.
• Represented an Ohio city's Board of Zoning Appeals ("BZA") at oral argument before a panel of the 11th District Court of Appeals, which resulted in the Court of Appeals reversing the decision of a court of common pleas and agreeing with the BZA that its application of a provision of the city's zoning code was proper and constitutional.