On October 18, 2007 a jury awarded our
clients $5,999,100.00 against a daycare operator
and its employee for physical abuse of our
clients' 3-year-old son. Our clients
courageously took a stand against a defendant
widely known throughout their community. Over
the course of the two-week trial, the jury
heard testimony that the defendant church
and the daycare it operated tried to cover
up the abuse and decided to render a verdict
that would send a message that this type
of conduct can never be tolerated.
Michael Faieta, et al. v. World Harvest
Church, et al., Case No. 06CVH05-7031
(Franklin County Common Pleas Court)(October
18, 2007)
Judge Michael Watson of the United States
District Court for the Southern District
of Ohio has approved settlement of a class
action suit in which we served as lead counsel
for a class of commercial truck owner-operators. The
Court's September 26, 2007 order granted
full and final approval to the terms we negotiated
on behalf of hundreds of independent owners.
Ruggles, et al. v. Bulkmatic Transport
Company, Case No. 2:03-CV-0617 (SD
Ohio)(September 26, 2007)
Chip Cooper and Rex Elliott have again been
selected by their peers to be included in
the 2007-2008 edition of The Best Lawyers
in America. (September 1, 2007)
John Camillus was named a "Rising Star" by
Ohio Super Lawyers magazine. This honor
is limited to the top 2.5% of lawyers who
are 40 or younger and have been in practice
ten years or less. (July 2007)
On January 26, 2007 a Franklin County, Ohio
jury returned a verdict in the amount of
$300,000.00 for our client who developed
myofascial pain, headaches and symptoms of
fibromyalgia after a rear-end collision. During
the four-day trial, the jury heard testimony
about the life-changing impact the crash
had on our client, who at the time of injury
was about to commence a PhD program.
Marion Ockenden et al. v. Dorel Griggs,
Case No. 05-CVH03-3291 (Franklin County,
Ohio Common Pleas Court)(January 26, 2007)
A Lancaster, Ohio jury has returned a verdict
of $775,000.00 for Cheryl and Tom Duckworth.
Cheryl suffered a painful, permanent injury
to her right heel, requiring several surgeries,
as a result of an automobile accident in
May 2005. The jury returned its verdict after
two days of testimony and 90 minutes of deliberation.
Cheryl Duckworth et al. v. Rebecca Lemond,
et al., Case No. 2005CV-817 (Fairfield County
Common Pleas Court)
(10/18/06)
The Honorable Richard A. Frye of the Franklin County Common Pleas Court has granted preliminary approval to a class action settlement that Cooper & Elliott and co-counsel David A. Goldstein & Associates have achieved on behalf of more than 37,000 individuals who purchased insurance policies from two Grange Insurance Company subsidiaries. Upon final approval by the Court, the settlement will result in a significant recovery – potentially, more than $2,250,000.00 – for policyholders who paid premiums based on rates that were not properly submitted to the Ohio Department of Insurance for approval.
James Upperman, et al. v. Grange Indemnity Insurance Co., et al., Case No. 04CVG12-13009 (Franklin County Common Pleas Court)
(10/16/06)
Judge Sargus of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio has approved the class action settlement on behalf of consumers who used an eBay "live auction" site operated by GoAntiques, Inc. In this consumer class action, GoAntiques was accused of creating the appearance that a "live" antiques auction was occurring when, in fact, a computer was generating the bidding and was creating bids to protect reserves established by antiques sellers.
(10/2/06)
Co-counsel Mark Lewis of Kitrick & Lewis negotiated an extraordinary settlement for the class of consumers. Equally important, by exposing GoAntiques' conduct through litigation, the defendant has been forced to change its business practices in a way that benefits all consumers.
Farris v. GoAntiques, Inc. and eBay, Inc., Case No. 2:05CVC-227 (United States District Court, SD Ohio)
The Rock Hill School District has agreed to pay $900,000.00 to settle discrimination and First Amendment retaliation claims brought on behalf of Brent and Amanda Unroe and their children against the school district and its superintendent, Lloyd Evans. The defendants agreed to settle the case as the jury was on the verge of rendering its verdict.
Brent Unroe, et al. v. Board of Education, Rock Hill Local School District, et al., Case No. 1:04-CV-181 (United States District Court, SD Ohio)
(9/22/2006)
Chip Cooper and Rex Elliott have been selected
for inclusion in the 2006-2007 edition of The
Best Lawyers in America. (September
1, 2006)
A Delaware County jury has returned a verdict for $300,000.00 in favor of Frank and Lisa Van Beusecum and against their home builder, Continental Builders. Continental negligently constructed the Van Beusecums' home, and as a result water penetrated behind the stucco exterior and also leaked into the basement at various places. The moisture eventually caused mold to grow inside the home. The jury's award will enable the Van Beusecums to excavate around their home and install a proper foundation drainage system.
VanBeusecum v. Continental Builders, Inc., Case No. 01CV-H-03-138 (Delaware County Common Pleas Court)
(7/6/06)
We are pleased to announce that John Camillus has joined Cooper & Elliott. Before joining us, John was an associate with Jones Day and clerked for the Honorable R. Guy Cole, Jr., United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
(11/19/05)
The photograph didn’t match.
The description didn’t match
The handwriting didn’t match.
But State Highway Patrol Trooper James R. Mendenhall arrested Michelle Black-Hosang anyway for allegedly falsifying a commercial drivers license form. The arrest put Michelle, a single mother of two, in jail for two days and got her fired. Six months later, Mendenhall was promoted to sergeant.
A federal jury in Columbus unanimously ruled that Michelle was falsely arrested and awarded her $350,000 for her suffering and losses — the largest verdict in a false-arrest case that federal judges in Columbus can remember.
(9/6/05)
Cooper & Elliott is pleased to announce that Karen Weis has joined the firm as an associate. Karen's practice is devoted to civil litigation and probate matters. She leads the Probate Law Committee of the Franklin County Trial Lawyers Association and is a member of the FCTLA's Board of Directors.
