The Update: Fall Issue

President's Message

By: Benjamin C. Sassé

2022 OACTA President

Leaves flying in a crisp fall breeze signal that an OACTA President’s term is nearly at an end. The best thing about this role is the chance to see so many do so much for this organization.

From seminars and publications to the first Women in the Law Regional Summit, happy hours, a successful charity golf outing, a new mentoring program, and amicus briefs, OACTA officers, board members and committee leaders worked hard to increase engagement and promote fairness, excellence, and integrity in the civil justice system. And I am far from the only one to notice. I’m proud to join other OACTA officers and our Executive Director, Debbie Nunner, next week at DRI’s Annual Meeting—where OACTA will receive the 2022 Rudolph A. Janata award for this innovative programming. Thank you to everyone who made this award possible, and a special thanks to Debbie for her behind-the-scenes work and keeping the organization on task.

One more in-person event remains on this year’s calendar, next month’s Annual Meeting on November 10 and 11 at The Ritz-Carlton in Cleveland. An outstanding program awaits, including presentations on the “reverse reptile theory”; the Ohio Constitution; insurance class actions; disability discrimination claims and “long” COVID; current ADR trends; critical race theory; and implicit bias. We will also hear from a panel of trial court judges on what to expect moving forward, a panel of in-house counsel on the challenges facing legal departments, and an Ohio Supreme Court justice on practice before the Court. And we will honor this year’s award recipients—Cormac DeLaney, Mark McCarthy, James Sullivan, Hilary Taylor, Thomas Spyker, Adelia Mohan, Gretchen Mote, and Nicole Mitchell—and the three law students receiving Hilary S. Taylor Inclusion and Equity Scholarships: Victoria Bonds, Stephanie Darville, and Athena Williams. Registration remains open and I hope to see you there.

The business part of the Annual Meeting in November also will usher in new officers to carry OACTA’s mission forward. David Orlandini will take over as President and continue to work with Paul McCartney (Vice President) and Elizabeth Smith (Treasurer), along with newly appointed Secretary Dan Richards and our talented and dedicated Board of Trustees. Having had the chance to watch these members serve the past few years, I know we are in good hands. David has had many roles in OACTA and flourished in all of them. He will be an excellent president, with a strong slate of officers and board members to support him.

Finally, thank you for allowing me to lead OACTA this past year. I am proud to have been your President, and I hope to see you soon.

Join us November 10-11 at the Ritz Carlton Cleveland! An outstanding program will provide up to 8.75 CLE credits, including 1.0hr. of APC/Ethics credit.

Presentations include the following:

Paul D. Motz, Esq. - "Reverse Reptile Theory - Beating Plaintiffs at their Own Game"
Judge Philip Calabrese, Judge Ashley Kilbane and Judge Oldfield - "Back to the Courtroom - What We Can Expect from Courts Moving Forward"
Professor Steven Steinglass - "The Importance of the Ohio Constitution"
Karl A. Bekeny, Esq., Kevin M. Young, Esq., Ethan W. Weber, Esq. - "Class Actions in Insurance"
Doug P. Holthus, Esq. - "Disability Discrimination in the Time of 'Long' COVID; & Employment Policies Under the Biden NLRB Board"
Joseph S. Simms, Esq. - "Current Trends in Alternative Dispute Resolution and a Look at Post-COVID Changes"
Professor Brant T. Lee - "Critical Race Theory"
Chelsea Smith, Esq., Frederick D. Cruz, Esq., Elizabeth (Betsy) Nino de Rivera, Esq. - "Cracking the Code: Perspectives from In-House Counsel and Challenges Facing In-House Legal Departments"
Justice Michael Donnelly - "Navigating and Arguing in the Ohio Supreme Court"
Karen D. Adinolfi, Esq. - "Implicit Bias: Define It, Recognize It, Combat It!"

In addition to the educational program, meeting registration includes a Networking Reception on Thursday and the OACTA Legal Excellence Awards Luncheon & Annual Business Meeting.

View the Program

Learn More & Register Today!

Thank you to our Sponsors!

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Congratulations to the OACTA Awards Recipients

Congratulations to the 2022 OACTA Award Recipients!

During the OACTA Annual Business Meeting & Legal Excellence Award Luncheon on Thursday, November 10, the following awards will be presented. This presentation will take place during the OACTA 2022 Annual Meeting at the Ritz Carlton in Cleveland.

Excellence in Advocacy Award:

Cormac DeLaney, Esq.

Manahan, Pietrykowski, DeLaney & Wasielewski Co., LPA

Lifetime Achievement Award:

Mark F. McCarthy, Esq.

Tucker Ellis LLP

Respected Advocate Award:

K. James Sullivan, Esq.

Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP

Distinguished Contributions to the Community Award:

Hilary S. Taylor, Esq. (posthumous)

Outstanding Young Lawyer Award:

Thomas N. Spyker, Esq.

Reminger Co. LPA

Frank Seth Hurd Member of the Year Award:

Adelia A. Mohan, Esq.

Weston Hurd. LLP

OACTA Committee Chair of the Year Award:

Gretchen Koehler Mote, Esq.

Ohio Bar Liability Insurance Co.

Nicole A. Mitchell, Esq.

Freund Freeze & Arnold

Mark Your Calendars!

November 10-11, 2022

OACTA Annual Meeting

The Ritz Carlton

Cleveland, OH

Learn More & Register Now!

December 7, 2022

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

“Pavement Defects in Injury Cases” Webinar

Sponsored by ARCCA

Registration Coming Soon

Save the Date!

September 5, 2023

OACTA Foundation Golf Outing

Pinnacle Golf Club

Grove City, Ohio

OACTA Foundation 13th Annual Golf Outing

Thank you to all who participated in the OACTA Foundation's 13th Annual Golf Outing!

The OACTA Foundation Golf Outing was held on Tuesday, September 6^th at Pinnacle Golf Club in Grove City. Fifty-five golfers came out to support the OACTA Foundation. Thank you to all who participated as a sponsor or golfer!

Net proceeds from the Golf Outing benefit the OACTA Foundation. The OACTA Foundation funds projects consistent with the mission of OACTA, such as the annual Hilary S. Taylor Inclusion and Equity Scholarship Program and the National Foundation for Judicial Excellence (NFJE). To date, the OACTA Foundation Golf Outing has raised over $115,000 for the scholarship program and NFJE!

Thank you to Golf Outing Co-Chairs Brigid Heid and Mark McCarthy for all their efforts! A special thank you to Weston Hurd and Tucker Ellis for sponsoring the reception.

Save the date the next year’s outing to be held on Tuesday, September 5, 2023 at Pinnacle Golf Club in Grove City!

Thank you to our 2022 OACTA Foundation Golf Outing Sponsors for their support!

Weston Hurd LLP – Reception Sponsor

Tucker Ellis LLP – Reception Sponsor

Lexitas Legal – Lunch Sponsor

Eastman & Smith Ltd. – Goodie Bag Sponsor

Young & Alexander Co. LPA – Beverage Cart Sponsor

Technology Concepts & Design, Inc. (TCDI)

Rimkus

Cavitch Familo & Durkin Co., LPA

Collins, Roche, Utley & Garner, LLC

Explico Engineering

Garvey, Garvey, Vinci & Garvey, Duffers-At-Law

Garvey Shearer Nordstrom PSC

Grange Insurance

Rudick Forensic Engineering

S-E-A, Ltd.

Subashi Wildermuth & Justice

Sutter O'Connell

The Law Firm of Fitzgerald, Reese & Elliott Co.

Veritext Legal Solutions

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Job Postings

If your company has a position available or if you are looking for a position within the civil defense practice, OACTA may be able to help! Job postings are available through the OACTA website and listings will appear for 90 days or until the position has been filled, whichever is lesser.

View the latest job posting HERE. If your company has a position available, submit a job posting.

Welcome New OACTA Members Since July!

Kayla Henderson, Robison, Curphey & O'Connell

Sam Benson, Nationwide Insurance

Caitlin Thompson, Smith Marshall LLP

Jeff Smith, RCO Law

Corey Tomlinson, RCO Law

Desmond Cullimore, The Cullimore Law Firm

Nicolas Davis, Young & Alexander Co. LPA

Eric Wittenberg, Cook, Sladoje & Wittenberg Co., LPA

Grant Wright, Ohio Bar Liability Ins. Co.

Ethan Weber, Tucker Ellis LLP

Thomas Connick, Schneider Smeltz Spieth Bell

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