Masury Lawyers

Jo A.Tatarko focuses on Commercial Litigation, representing clients in the areas of breach of contract, lease disputes, construction disputes, business disputes, and all other aspects of business litigation. Jo devotes 90% of her practice to litigation. In 2007 when Jo first joined Dworken & Bernstein, she was as a member of our Workers’ Compensation practice group. She represented individuals who were injured at work, both at administrative hearings before the Industrial Commission of Ohio and in Common Pleas courts in Ohio.

Howard Rabb concentrates on estate, general business and bankruptcy matters. He regularly advises clients on business, estate and debt strategies. A lifelong Clevelander, he has a “Superb” AVVO rating.

Estate Planning: Howard’s practice involves an analysis of the goals of the client, an understanding of all relevant family relationships, and a comprehensive list of all of the clients assets. After obtaining this information, he will advise his clients as to whether a living trust or testamentary trust makes sense in order to address probate, distribution, or tax concerns. Typically, the estate planning will include wills, health-care power of attorney, living...

Richard Selby heads our Commercial Litigation Department. He has extensive trial experience with Dworken & Bernstein in both state and federal court. In addition to his litigation experience, Ric regularly consults with clients on employment related issues and is called in to assist at trial with the Class Action department when those matters go to trial. He has been recognized as a Super Lawyer Rising Star and was selected to be included in the 2019 edition of Best Lawyers in America. In addition, he is a Contributing Editor to Attorney At Law Magazine featuring articles on Employment Law.

Ric joined Dworken...

Chris Crull was born and raised in Indiana. After graduating from high school, Chris enlisted and served in the US Navy from 1986 – 1990, achieving the rank of E-5.

After the Navy, Chris attended Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, and earned a bachelor’s degree in English and Philosophy. From there, Chris attended Kent State University and earned a Master’s Degree in philosophy.

After earning his Master’s Degree, Chris spent several years teaching introductory philosophy classes at Kent State University and at the University of Connecticut. During those years, he also worked as a cabinet...

For over 32 years, Mr. Jordan has dedicated his practice to defending individuals who have been charged with misdemeanor and felony crimes. He has represented clients charged with a felony in Cuyahoga County, Portage County, Geauga County, Lake County, Lorain County, Ashtabula County, Summit County, Erie County and other counties across the State of Ohio. Mr. Jordan also represents individuals accused of Federal Law violations such as: drug trafficking, conspiracy, tax evasion, theft, bank robbery and failure to report as a sex offender. He has practiced in the United States District Court Northern District of Ohio, United States District...

Kristen M. Kraus has extensive experience in handling civil jury trials in both state and federal court. She has litigated cases in nearly every county in Northeast Ohio, as well as the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio.

Kristen joined Dworken & Bernstein upon graduation from law school in 2001. Since joining the firm, she has been representing victims of personal injury, as well as those injured in workplace accidents. A significant portion of her current practice is devoted to representing injured workers in workers’ compensation matters both at the Industrial Commission of Ohio and at the...

As a family law practitioner, Anna Parise helps clients through divorce, child support, spousal support, and custody. Highly rated in peer reviews throughout her career, she is active in bringing family law legal services to those who cannot afford it. Anna’s legal practice includes domestic relations, divorce, family law, child support, spousal support, and custody. Anna is also frequently appointed by trial courts in Cuyahoga, Geauga, and Lake Counties as guardian ad litem to protect the interests of children. Formerly with a small boutique firm specializing in labor law, Anna joined Dworken & Bernstein Co., L.P.A. in 2005 becoming partner...

Joshua J. Strickland’s practices primarily in real estate and business transactions. He represents small and medium size businesses, real estate developers, landlords and non-profits in all of their business needs. He has been recognized as a Super Lawyer Rising Star. Josh focuses his practice in the areas of general business including formation, mergers and acquisitions, financing, employee relations, commercial transactions, intellectual property, construction development, and sales. His residential and commercial real estate practice includes sales, leasing, zoning, land use, oil and gas, environmental law and real estate, eminent domain and taxation.

Erik L. Walter is a bold advocate for business clients in the areas of environmental law, oil and gas, commercial transactions, zoning and litigation for both individuals and corporations. He sits on numerous nonprofit boards in the community. Prior to joining Dworken & Bernstein Co., L.P.A., Erik was a shareholder with the law firm of Knaggs, Harter, Brake & Schneider, P.C. located in Lansing, Michigan. Prior to joining Knaggs, Harter, Brake & Schneider, P.C. in 1999, Erik served for nearly three years as the law clerk for the Honorable William E. Collette in the Ingham County Circuit Court located...

When experience counts...Call me to help you navigate your way through your situation! I was born in Cleveland, Ohio. When I was young my passion has always been to bring fairness to our justice system. I have been chasing this objective ever since. I earned my Bachelors Degree from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Clarion University in Political Science. While at Clarion University, I played football on a full athletic scholarship, was a 4 year starter and the team Captain. I earned a Masters Degree in Public Administration at the University of Akron. ...

Ben Calkins is an honors graduate of Harvard College and the University of Michigan Law School.After law school, Mr. Calkins clerked for a Federal Judge before joining one of the World's largest law firms, Squire, Sanders & Dempsey.Mr. Calkins has also worked at and been a partner in several of the other most prominent old style law firms.

Ben Calkins started listening to the clients and to their many complaints about old style law firms.Mr. Calkins was committed to complete and total client satisfaction from the start of his legal career and recalls, with some pride, a client at his first...

Steve Voudris is an Ohio State Bar Association Certified Specialist in Labor & Employment Law who focuses his practice on representing employees who have been wrongfully terminated, suffered discrimination in the workplace, or have not been paid their overtime wages, tips or any wages for any unpaid time (such as for training or for working through lunch). He is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin Law School and Miami University. He spent the first six years of his legal career at the Cleveland office of Jones Day, one of the largest law firms in the world, and...

Kim Alabasi is fluent in Spanish and brings valuable experience as a licensed independent social worker and teacher in Mexico to her immigration law practice. She has practiced in the area of Immigration since 2004. She earned her undergraduate degree in Spanish/Sociology from Marquette University and later went on to work in Mexico, first as a teacher in Puebla, Mexico for two years, followed by a job with the non-profit group IMIFAP in Mexico City, Mexico. After obtaining her master’s degree in social work from Case Western University, Kim worked for 7 years as bilingual clinical social worker with the...

Since 2005, Nicole Fiorelli has successfully represented numerous clients in consumer class action and wage and hour litigation. She has taken on the government and large national corporations in cases in Ohio and throughout the United States. She handles a wide range of claims including minimum wage and overtime violations, consumer fraud and statutory violations, breach of contract, and unjust enrichment.

A few of Nicole Fiorelli’s career highlights include:

Obtained a six-figure verdict against a national fitness club chain that failed to pay overtime to some of its employees and ultimately negotiated a favorable settlement for the class;
Defeated summary judgment...

Frank Bartela works to hold corporations and governments accountable to consumers and taxpayers in his class action and business litigation practice. He graduated cum laude from Case Western Reserve University Law School in 2011. Frank Bartela is an Associate in the firm’s Class Action practice group. His practice is focused on the litigation of complex civil actions including consumer class actions as well as wage and hour actions. In this capacity, Frank fights to represent the interests and protect the rights of his clients both in Ohio and across the country. Currently, his cases deal with unlawful conduct by government...

Patrick Murphy is a seasoned personal injury litigator with extensive experience in nursing home abuse, medical malpractice, and wrongful death cases. Time and again Patrick has been recognized as one of the top personal injury lawyers in his field.

Mr. Murphy received his undergraduate degree in Political Science from Kent State University. He was awarded his law degree from Cleveland Marshall College of Law where he was a vice chairman of the Moot Court Board of Governors.

He has been designated as an Ohio Super Lawyer, and one of the top 100 Trial Lawyers by the National Trial Lawyers since 2011. In...

Attorney at Law Chris Davis, holds a Master's Degree in Psychology. Current remote areas of practice of law includes immigration law and family law. Currently, traveling throughout six S/E Asian countries, China, and Japan.

Attorney Patrick Brickman focuses his practice on class actions and complex litigation. His cases primarily deal with unlawful conduct by government agencies, manufacturers, retailers, and employers. These actions touch on any number of legal issues across diverse areas of law, including real estate law, insurance law, commercial law, constitutional law, tax law, advertising law, wage & hour law, benefits law, and more.

Patrick attended the University of Dayton for his undergraduate work, and the University of Akron School of Law for law school, where he was an advocate on the Moot Court Team and an Associate Editor for the Akron Law...

Irving Rosner is the head of Dworken & Bernstein’s Workers’ Compensation Department which helps the Firm’s clients who are injured at work. Prior to joining Dworken & Bernstein in 1986, Mr. Rosner was a trial attorney and prosecutor for the United States Department of Justice, Antitrust Division, in Washington, D.C. and in Cleveland, Ohio. In Mr. Rosner’s seven year stint (1979-1986) at the Justice Department, he tried complex cases against some of the nation’s finest litigators. Meticulous planning, preparation, and strong advocacy were essential traits that Mr. Rosner brought with him to Dworken & Bernstein when he...

Dan Williams represents clients in criminal matters, including juvenile, adult misdemeanor and felony, DUI/OVI defense, and expungements. He was admitted to the Ohio bar in 2012. He represents clients throughout NE Ohio including Lake, Geauga and Ashtabula counties. After working tirelessly for the past three years advocating for the rights of indigent criminal defendants throughout Lake County, Dan joined Dworken & Bernstein. After receiving his undergraduate degree from Miami University, Dan moved to Chicago where he worked as an Account Executive for a nationwide mortgage lending company. But his pride in his hometown never wavered, and he returned to Cleveland...

Since 1991, Ken Cahill has been practicing family law, working toward outcomes that are in the best interest of families and children. Ken is a noted speaker on issues of family law and serves as chair of the Family Law Committee. Protecting dependent, neglected and abused children was the role of Family Law attorney Kenneth J. Cahill at the Lake County Prosecutor’s Juvenile Division representing the Lake County Department of Jobs & Family Services. Practicing Family Law since 1991, Ken started first as an Assistant Lake County Prosecutor enforcing and modifying child support orders before joining the Lake County...

Attorney Justin M. Smith is the founder of J.M. Smith Co., LPA a law firm serving clients throughout Northeast Ohio in the practice areas of Consumer Bankruptcy, Criminal Defense, Personal Injury and Real Estate Law. Attorney Smith and his firm have helped clients through some of the most difficult situations they may encounter in their lives. This includes the decision to file bankruptcy, accusations of criminal charges and devastating personal injuries. J.M. Smith Co., LPA offers personalized service, support and advice to those in need of legal services. Attorney Smith is a graduate of Case Western Reserve School of Law...

Jim Timmerberg represents plaintiffs in class action suits and complex commercial litigation matters. In addition to earning his JD from Case Western Reserve University, Jim holds a MA in European History. He was admitted to the Ohio bar in 1997. Jim began his legal career by clerking for the Honorable Donald R. Ford in the Eleventh District Court of Appeals of Ohio. Since his clerkship, he has represented plaintiffs in complex commercial litigation matters. He joined Dworken & Bernstein Co. L.P.A.’s class-action group in August 2011.
Jim received his Juris Doctorate from Case Western Reserve University in 1996. The University...

At the law firm of David V. Patton, Attorney at Law, I focus on providing exceptional representation, marked by integrity, excellence and service, to clients in Cleveland and throughout Ohio.

Attorney James (Jim) Ickes is an experienced attorney spending the last 20 years in northeast Ohio representing clients in the areas of family law and divorce, with an emphasis on complex custody matters, and civil litigation. Jim is also an information security and privacy professional, holding an HCISPP (Health Care Information Security & Privacy Practitioner). Jim is a founding member of the firm ICKES\HOLT and is committed to the principle that the practice of law, at its core, is about solving problems. Jim is driven to provide pragmatic, timely, and well-articulated solutions to the many challenges confronting his clients. Jim...

I am an Associate Attorney with Hoover Kacyon, LLC. My primary practice areas include family law, civil litigation, estate planning, and appellate practice. Originally from the Mahoning Valley, I am a member of the Ohio State Bar Association, the Trumbull County Bar Association, and the Akron Bar Association, as well as a member of the Nathaniel R. Jones American Inn of Court in Youngstown.

I graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology in December of 2013 and received my Juris Doctorate from the University of Akron in 2019. During my tenure at Akron Law,...

Prior to becoming an Attorney I served one term as the President of a local labor union with about 150 members. About 3 years later I assisted in negotiating a labor contract for the same Union. I have worked as an attorney for over 19 years in many different areas of the law. For a sample of my work you may wish to read a matter which I worked on identified as City of Akron vs Holland Oil Company where I was successful in limiting the application of the Ohio Criminal Statute concerning Organizational Liability against my corporate client...

Planning for all the seasons of life.

I provide practical, forward-thinking estate planning services for individuals and families who want assurance that their wishes will be honored and their families will be cared for.

I provide compassionate, wise legal counsel to senior citizens, veterans, and their loved ones who are worried about how to pay for nursing home care without losing everything they have worked for, and who do not want to become a burden to their families.

I provide assistance for families that include loved ones with diminished capacity, who might require special needs trusts, conservatorships, or guardianships.

My practice arose out...

Our law office understands that when people hire an attorney, they need immediate help. We take the time to listen to all their concerns and to get all the facts about their case. We provide thorough research into the legal matter to make sure there are no surprises that can affect the outcome. Don’t let your legal situation get worse, call or email us today for a consultation.

Dynamic attorney and business professional with over 21 years of experience with a proven record of effectively representing a wide array of clients in all phases of complex labor and employment, commercial, civil and appellate litigation as well as in providing day-to-day legal counsel and training to a variety of clients related to labor, employment, corporate and business law issues. Extensive experience serving as General Counsel, as well as serving as lead counsel responsible for the oversight, management and direction of clients' legal and litigation strategies. Substantial background in serving as chief spokesperson and lead negotiator in contract negotiations. Proven...

I'm a shareholder and director in the law firm of Roth, Blair, Roberts, Strasfeld & Lodge, Co., LPA. I've been with the firm since 1988. My primary areas of practice are appellate law,civil litigation and insurance law. My appellate practice is multi-faceted -- arguing a wide variety of cases. My trial practice primarily involves 1)representing individuals and businesses in an assortment of legal disputes including construction issues, uniform commercial code concerns and landlord/tenant matters; and 2)counseling insurers and insureds in various coverage matters. I also provide free legal services to the Court Appointed Special Advocate Program of Mahoning County and to...

I have led my law firm, Wilson & Wilson Co., L.P.A., and been a CPA licensed in Ohio for over 30 years, along with being a licensed attorney in Georgia for over 12 years. I have extensive experience in complex civil litigation, personal injury and medical malpractice representing mainly smaller litigants in David vs. Goliath situations by personally handling cases in an efficient and cost effective manner without sacrificing results. My experience as a CPA and many years as outside corporate counsel for a wide range of companies handling litigation, taxation, transactional and management advisory matters have given me...

Mr. Kraus graduated from Emory University (Atlanta, Georgia) in 1981 with a B.A. in Political Science. He received his law degree in 1984 from Case Western Reserve University School of Law (Cleveland, Ohio). He practiced law in a small family firm, Kraus & Kraus, from 1984 until 2000. In 2000, Mr. Kraus joined Dworken & Bernstein as an associate attorney and in July 2003, was made a partner in the firm. He has been a member of the Lake County Bar Association, the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, and the Florida Bar. Mr. Kraus has also served as a mediator with...

Jerome Emoff received his undergraduate degree in Psychology from the George Washington University in Washington, D.C. in 1970, and his Juris Doctorate from the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law in 1974. Mr. Emoff is admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, the Ohio Supreme Court, and all other courts in the state of Ohio. Mr. Emoff concentrates his practice exclusively in all aspects of criminal litigation including federal and state cases at both the trial level and...

Shelley Fleming is currently focused on Consumer Class Actions, as well as claims pertaining to wage and hour laws, employment discrimination, and domestic relations issues. She conducts in-depth research on consumer protection claims and laws nationwide, and also drafts motions and appellate briefs. Prior to joining the firm, Shelley served as a Staff Attorney at the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court. In that position, she had the opportunity to conduct case management conferences, pre-trials, and settlement conferences. She attended civil and criminal trials and motion hearings. She drafted orders and opinions on discovery disputes, motions to dismiss and summary...

Melvyn E. Resnick earned his undergraduate degree in Business and Accounting with honors from Ohio University. He was awarded his law degree from Case Western Reserve School of Law and admitted to the Bar in 1966. Mr. Resnick is a member of the Lake County Bar Association. He is a past president of Tau Epsilon Rho Law Fraternity. He is licensed to practice in all Ohio courts as well as U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio, since 1968 and the U.S. Court of Appeals Sixth Circuit. Mr. Resnick's practice emphasizes real estate, commercial litigation, general business, corporate banking, estate...

Chad Hoover Herrnstein was born and raised near Akron, Ohio. Growing up, his father John Herrnstein worked alongside his grandfather (Orval Hoover) at Hoover, Heydorn, & Herrnstein Co. LPA – a law firm in Cuyahoga Falls. From an early age, Chad knew he wanted to follow in the footsteps of his family and become an attorney. Chad Hoover Herrnstein received a bachelor’s degree in Political Science, with a minor in Homeland Security, from The University of Akron in 2012. He continued his education at The University of Akron School of Law. Chad finished law school in the top 10% of...