I have represented public school districts since 1984.  Before that, the Cleveland School District employed me as a teacher and department chairman and later as a member of the district’s Department of Research and Analysis and the Department of Desegregation Implementation.

 

SERVICES

I represent school districts in almost all aspects of school and employment law, including:

        

• Arbitrations

• Board policy administration

• Employee hiring, discipline, and dismissal

• Labor contract negotiations

• Search and seizure

• Student and employee freedom of speech and religion

• Student enrollment, discipline, and expulsion

• Student records

• Sunshine laws (public records and open meetings)

 

I conduct independent investigations for boards of education when employees allege policy violations, including sexual harassment, discrimination, and bullying, among others.

 

HONORS

I have been rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell since 1990,  listed in The Best Lawyers in America in the field of education law since 2007 (named Cleveland Education Lawyer of the Year for 2015) and have been listed in Ohio Super Lawyers in education law for 2019.

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EDUCATION

Case Western Reserve University, B.A., 1969

Cleveland State University, M.Ed., 1979

Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, J.D., 1984, magna cum laude

 

BAR ADMISSIONS

Ohio

United States District Courts for the Northern and Southern District of Ohio

United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth District

United States Supreme Court