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Sean R. Alto

Partner

Sean Alto knows that, for most of his personal injury clients, justice is more than just recovering compensation to balance the harms and losses — it’s about preventing the same tragedy they suffered from happening to someone else.

That’s why for Sean, success stems not only from his commitment to his clients, but also from his ability to help influence public policy and make a lasting impact across the country.

“Excellent, caring, and thorough. Sean Alto did a superb job at guiding me through the process. He made significant progress with my case all while I was still healing in the hospital from a brain injury and a broken leg from a drunk driver who ran me over. Communications were very clear and concise, and I never felt like I was out of the loop of what was going on. Sean went above and beyond in every manner. He truly has a passion for his position, and it shows in his work and dedication to his clients.”
Brian Millar
  • ​​Presenter at the Columbus Bar Association and the Ohio Association for Justice Annual Convention
  • Helped more than 100 clients navigate complex legal issues
  • Chaired the Columbus Bar Association Common Pleas Court Committee for several years
  • 2nd degree black belt in Kuk Sool Won
  • Co-Chair American Association for Justice COVID-19 Business Interruption Litigation Task Force
  • Appointed to the Ohio Supreme Court Civil Justice Program Fund Application Review Committee in 2020 and 2022
  • Has been named a Super Lawyers Rising Star
  • The Best Lawyers in America®️️️️ & Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America™️️️️ 2023 Honorees
  • ​​Presenter at the Columbus Bar Association and the Ohio Association for Justice Annual Convention
  • Helped more than 100 clients navigate complex legal issues
  • Chaired the Columbus Bar Association Common Pleas Court Committee for several years
  • 2nd degree black belt in Kuk Sool Won
  • Co-Chair American Association for Justice COVID-19 Business Interruption Litigation Task Force
  • Appointed to the Ohio Supreme Court Civil Justice Program Fund Application Review Committee in 2020 and 2022
  • Has been named a Super Lawyers Rising Star
  • The Best Lawyers in America®️️️️ & Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America™️️️️ 2023 Honorees

Sean prides himself on taking cases that other firms have turned down.

This urge to help people began from a young age, when he was growing up in northeastern Ohio.

He attended The Ohio State University and began to plant his roots in Columbus. After obtaining his J.D. from Capital University Law School, he didn’t originally know that he wanted to go into personal injury law. In fact, Sean clerked at a midsize insurance defense firm one summer during law school.

That experience quickly taught him that he did not want to be working on the side of the insurance companies.

After law school, Sean held a clerkship with a trial court judge and discovered that he had a knack for plaintiff’s work.

Sean joined Cooper Elliott in 2014. He’s proud to be part of a team that is dedicated to defending good, honest people hurt by those who are careless or greedy – and one that values quality of cases over quantity.

SEAN'S MISSION
“Good, honest people get hurt by those who are careless or greedy. For me, it’s the moment when I am able to help clients achieve peace of mind after they’ve endured such a hardship—that’s why I do what I do.”

An important component of that quality is making sure his clients are heard and helping them achieve justice in a way they never imagined possible. For example, Sean has achieved resolutions for his clients in several hazing cases that have made national news.

Sean represented the families in the tragic cases of Collin Wiant, who died due to a fraternity hazing ritual at Ohio University in 2018, and Stone Foltz, who was also a victim of a fatal hazing incident at Bowling Green University in 2021.

In addition to reaching significant resolutions for these heartbroken families, Sean and fellow attorney Rex Elliott worked with the Foltz and Wiant families to pass Collin’s Law, which made hazing a felony in Ohio and demanded more transparency about hazing incidents from universities and other institutions.

In 2023, Sean and Rex were awarded the J. Thomas Henrietta Distinguished Advocacy Award from the Ohio Association for Justice for their work in these cases.

Similarly, Sean represented the family of Bryan Galliher, who was murdered in 2016 by a neighbor who was able to buy a black powder gun from Cabela’s despite the perpetrator’s admission that he was a convicted felon. The family sued Cabela’s for the illegal sale, which led not only to a seven-figure resolution, but also led to new policies for Cabela’s and its parent company Bass Pro that they do not sell black powder firearms online or over the telephone.

Outside of the office, Sean loves spending time with his family. He has been married to his wife Kelly for almost 9 years, and together they have three children: Jackson, Mackenzie, and Logan.

At the end of the day, Sean values the opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives and provide them with solace when they have nowhere else to turn.

For the Foltz family, the Wiant family, the Galliher family, and all of his other clients, Sean’s commitment to seeking justice for those who have been wronged has led to incredible results. But his advocacy doesn’t end at the immediate needs of his clients. Sean’s passion for personal injury lawsuits stems from a desire to improve the community around him – to implement long-lasting change that makes Ohio safer.

  • Capital University Law School
  • The Ohio State University
  • The National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40
  • Best Lawyers – Ones to Watch
  • Ohio Association for Justice J. Thomas Henrietta Distinguished Advocacy Award
  • SuperLawers, 2023
  • SuperLawyers Rising Stars
  • Ohio
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio
  • Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals
  • Ohio State Bar Association
  • Columbus Bar Association
  • Ohio Association for Justice
  • American Association for Justice

Representative verdicts and settlements

*The outcome of any client’s case will depend on the particular legal and factual circumstances of the case.
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    Recent Reviews

    Chris SullivanChris Sullivan
    14:10 02 Mar 24
    My husband, Bob and I were injured in an automobile accident in December, 2022 when someone came through a Stop sign. We... contacted Cooper Elliott, and were fortunate to work with Sean Alto and Kaela King. They came to our home several times to meet us and discuss the case, and got to know us personally as well as professionally. They really care about their clients! In addition, Michael Tonovitz stayed in contact with us to keep us informed on the progress of the case, which was resolved to our satisfaction.We highly recommend this law firm for personal injury!read more
    Christina MotzChristina Motz
    19:02 01 Mar 24
    Reached out because they claim to do civil rights issues but getting police body cams when departments refuse is out of this... lawfirms ability according to the email.Need civil rights help, don't contact this firm, find a black lawyerread more
    Adam HoltAdam Holt
    13:55 20 Feb 24
    Dads SpecialtyDads Specialty
    14:06 15 Feb 24
    Highly Recommend Jon with Cooper & Elliott firm. He was very responsive and went above and beyond to help with our situation. ... Can't thank him enough for everything he has done for us. He will be our "Guy" moving forward for any legal help!!read more
    Ayesha AnsariAyesha Ansari
    23:14 25 Jan 24
    Excellent firm i am so glad I found cooper Elliot. My attorneys Jon and Adam helped me through the entire process
    Benjamin RoshBenjamin Rosh
    11:55 10 Jan 24
    Katie FarinaKatie Farina
    15:39 21 Dec 23
    I am so glad I found cooper Elliot. My attorneys Jon and Adam helped me through the entire process. After a traumatic experience... in my life I was confused and in pain. They worked tirelessly to become familiar with all the details of my story and represented me in a way that made me more able to process and understand the trauma myself. This was huge for me, while there’s still healing to do, I can do that work now instead of staying in a purgatory of cognitive dissonance. They didn’t just win justice for me, they are a significant part of my healing journey. They were validating, non judgmental, honest, and knowledgeable.read more
    Candy m wilsonCandy m wilson
    02:15 19 Dec 23
    Cindi RourkCindi Rourk
    17:29 15 Dec 23
    Excellent firm. The firm was referred to us for a commercial dispute. Bart Keyes is a master negotiator and kept us informed at... all times. Highly recommend.read more
    Val HernandezVal Hernandez
    01:19 10 Dec 23
    A DA D
    16:10 08 Dec 23
    Jonathan Bond handled a personal injury claim for me quickly with maximum results. He’s pleasant and enjoyable to work with, as... well as compassionate. The firm handled all the legwork of getting medical records and copies of paperwork, which not all firms do. I would recommend Jonathan to anyone and would definitely go back to him if the need were to arise again.read more
    Joe MillerJoe Miller
    12:19 02 Sep 23
    Very satisfied! We dealt with Bart Keyes who showed genuine interest in our situation. Bart was always very quick to respond when... we had questions and kept us informed throughout the case. If you need legal representation for a commercial real estate dispute we highly recommend Bart and the Cooper Elliot firm!read more
    Melanie ZookMelanie Zook
    08:42 23 Jul 23
    I honestly struggle to find the words to describe how incredible this firm is, especially Jeffrey Kenny and Sean Alto. 7 years... ago, my family started a journey through a nightmare. When the criminal justice system fell woefully short, Jeff agreed to take on our incredibly challenging and lengthy case, with no other reason than that it was the right thing to do, and he believed we deserved justice. There were so many times when I would have understood if they walked away, but they refused and vowed to get us the justice we deserved, and almost 7 years later, they have given my family just that. I will never, ever, forget what they have done for us. We were never just another case. They made us feel like we were their ONLY case! Thank you will never come close to the gratitude and respect I have for Jeff and Sean, as well as for Cooper Elliott. They will be superheroes in our home, forever!read more
    CM BuzzardCM Buzzard
    15:30 21 Jul 23
    Everyone from top to bottom in this company is always polite and ready to help. And no matter what is thrown their way, it's... handled quickly and skillfully. Whoever represents you will show themselves to be a master in their craft. You can feel safe working with Cooper Elliott.read more
    Matt BoazMatt Boaz
    11:20 16 Jun 23
    I would highly recommend Cooper Elliott to any of my friends and family! Chip Cooper was extremely helpful guiding me through a... difficult process. Chip was patient with me and provided feedback during the process that kept me informed until the desired outcome was achieved. There were interactions with other staff of the firm (whose names I do not know) that were helpful as well, I was impressed with the entire team!read more
    Jason HickJason Hick
    06:30 17 May 23
    Adam Richards is the best attorney I have ever met. He is responsive and very patient (I had a lot of questions) and he truly... cares. He fought hard for me and he stands up to the bully. he is not afraid to take on anyone. Anytime I hear someone who has a legal issue I go out of my way to recommend Adam. He is unlike any attorney I have ever met. He is compassionate and he always answers his phone. There is no way I would have got the results I received with any other attorney. He was a bulldog in my case and really went to bat for me. Words cant express how grateful I am to him. His actions personally affected my life in a very positive way. He protected me in so many ways I couldn't begin to name them. It is a great feeling when you know your attorney outmatches the other party's attorney and it is obvious.read more
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    Available 24/7. Cooper Elliott has been serving Columbus, Cincinnati, and communities throughout Ohio since 1995. We are honored to help people who have experienced life-changing harm achieve justice.