Bonezzi Switzer Polito & Perry Co. LPA

Best's Recommended Insurance Attorneys - General Defense

Jeffrey W. Van Wagner

Cleveland, OH

• E-Mail: jvanwagner@bspplaw.com

Practice Areas

• Nursing Home Liability
• General Liability
• Medical Malpractice
• Defense Litigation
• Medical Malpractice Defense
• Professional Liability
• Product Liability

Admitted

• Ohio, 1979
• U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio, 1980
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit, 1986
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit, 1993
• U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio, 2003

Jeffrey Van Wagner is the Managing Shareholder of the firm. His career as a litigator and trial attorney has now spanned 3 decades. Mr. Van Wagner has extensive litigation and trial experience in the areas of nursing home liability, medical malpractice defense of physicians and institutions, and product liability. He has extensive experience in defending physicians and institutions where opioid prescription practices are at issue and is well familiar with the nuances of the learned intermediary doctrine as applied to the sales and marketing of prescription medications.

Education:

• John Carroll University, B.A., 1976
• Creighton University, B.A., 1976
• Case Western Reserve University School of Law, J.D. (Order of the Coif), 1979

Bret C. Perry

Cleveland and Sheffield, OH Offices

• E-Mail: bperry@bspplaw.com

Practice Areas

• Appellate Practice
• Hospital Malpractice
• Insurance Defense
• Long-Term Care
• Medical Malpractice Defense
• Nursing Home Liability
• Professional Liability
• Risk Management

Admitted

• Ohio, 2001

Bret Perry is a Shareholder of the firm. He concentrates his practice in the areas of the defense of physician, nursing, hospital, long-term care, aging services and assisted living malpractice claims. In addition, Mr. Perry is routinely called upon to represent the interests of ancillary healthcare providers including those employing home health aides, physical therapists, medical and radiology technologists, orthodontist and dentists. He has extensive trial experience handling complex multi-million-dollar malpractice claims through jury verdict as well as extensive appellate experience before both state and federal courts of appeal and the Ohio Supreme Court.

Education:

• Bowling Green State University, B.S., 1997
• Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, J.D., 2000

Military:

U.S. Navy Veteran, Desert Shield and Desert Storm

Paul W. McCartney

Cincinnati, OH

• E-Mail: pmccartney@bspplaw.com

Practice Areas

• Nursing Home Defense
• Medical Malpractice Defense

Admitted

• Ohio, 1988

Paul McCartney is a Shareholder whose practice focuses on defending nursing homes, physicians, hospitals and other healthcare providers in litigation involving claims of professional negligence related to patient care. He is an experienced trial lawyer but also has experience in handling appellate issues. Mr. McCartney routinely lectures to healthcare providers on issues related to risk management and litigation.

Education:

• Kenyon College, B.A., 1984
• The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, J.D., 1988

Donald H. Switzer

Cleveland, OH

• E-Mail: dswitzer@bspplaw.com

Practice Areas

• Contract Disputes
• Hospital Malpractice
• Medical Malpractice Defense
• Personal Injury
• Premises Liability
• Toxic Torts

Admitted

• Ohio, 1978

Donald Switzer is a Shareholder as well as one of the founders of the firm. He has devoted his practice almost exclusively to the defense of physicians, hospitals and other healthcare professionals for over thirty years. Mr. Switzer's caseload frequently consists of many high profile and high exposure lawsuits, including wrongful death, quadriplegia and other neurological impairments and cases involving significant economic damages.

He has successfully defended physicians and hospitals in many counties in northeast Ohio from Richland County to Ashtabula County.

Mr. Switzer is a graduate of the University of Virginia Law School. He served over three years active duty as an Infantry Officer in the U.S. Army in the 1970s and rose to the rank of Captain.

Mr. Switzer has been named an Ohio Super Lawyer from 2008 through 2017; and named to "The Best Lawyers in America" from 2009 through 2017. He further enjoys an AV Preeminent rating with Martindale-Hubbell.

Education:

• Texas A&M University, B.A., 1972
• University of Virginia School of Law, J.D., 1978

Military:

U.S. Army, Captain

Jay Rice

Cleveland, OH

• E-Mail: jrice@bspplaw.com

Admitted

• Ohio, 1979

Additional Biographical Details:

Jay Rice’s practice generally concerns the defense of insurance companies and their insureds in a wide variety of civil litigation matters. His practice is primarily devoted to litigation involving insurance coverage disputes. He is an OSBA Certified Specialist in Insurance Coverage Law.

Education:

• Case Western Reserve University, B.A./M.A., 1976
• Case Western Reserve University, J.D., 1979

Edward D. Papp

Cleveland, OH

• E-Mail: epapp@bspplaw.com

Practice Areas

• Intentional Torts
• Premises Liability
• Asbestos Litigation
• Property Liability
• Toxic Torts

Admitted

• Ohio, 1997

Edward Papp is a Shareholder in the firm’s Cleveland office having joined the firm in February of 2017. He has been practicing law since 1997 and has over 20 years of experience representing companies involved in toxic tort litigation. Mr. Papp has handled all phases of litigation for manufacturers, suppliers and contractors involved in asbestos litigation from initial client investigation to trial. He has represented companies facing both product liability and intentional tort claims.

Mr. Papp has experience serving as National Coordinating Counsel for multiple defendants in asbestos litigation. In that capacity, he manages the cases across multiple states coordinating the defense of clients in various jurisdictions. He focuses clients not only on the short-term challenges of individual cases, but also the long-term impact the litigation could have on other areas of their businesses. Mr. Papp is keenly aware of the necessity to remain aggressive and proactive in a cost-effective manner while keeping the broad implications of the situation in mind. 

He has served as Ohio defense liaison counsel in multiple groups of asbestos cases. This work entails being the defense point person in administration of case-flow, overseeing of discovery and pre-trial issues as well as reporting to courts and other defendants in the cases.

Mr. Papp also has legal experience ranging from domestic relations law to serving as an estate administrator. He has been involved in general liability cases involving catastrophic injuries and wrongful death. He strives to practice law combining strong advocacy and professionalism.

Mr. Papp enjoys being an active parent and is involved in coaching youth sports. He has given several presentations about the power of a positive attitude and the critical need for good long-term decision making. He enjoys golfing and is getting more optimistic that the Browns will win a championship one day.

Education:

• John Carroll University, B.A., 1994
• The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, J.D., 1997

David C. Comstock Jr.

Youngstown, OH Office

• E-Mail: dcomstock@bspplaw.com

Practice Areas

• General Defense
• Insurance Coverage Litigation
• Bad Faith
• Business Litigation
• Product Liability
• Civil Rights Defense
• Special Investigative Unit Claims
• Fire

Admitted

• Ohio, 1988

David "Chip" Comstock is a shareholder who joined the firm on January 1, 2016. Prior to joining BSPP, he was a partner in an insurance/malpractice defense firm in Youngstown, Ohio, for more than 25 years. He has almost three decades of trial experience in both the federal and state courts, and is associated with more than 35 reported state and federal court opinions, including 25 Ohio Supreme Court cases. He is an OSBA Certified Insurance Coverage Law Specialist.

Education:

• The College of Wooster, B.A., 1985
• The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, J.D., 1988

Thomas F. Glassman

Cincinnati, OH

• E-Mail: tglassman@bspplaw.com

Practice Areas

• Liability Defense
• Insurance Coverage
• Bad Faith
• Retail and Restaurant Defense
• Appellate Advocacy
• Legal Malpractice

Admitted

• Ohio, 1993
• Kentucky, 1995

Thomas Glassman is a Shareholder in the firm’s Cincinnati office and practices in both Ohio and Kentucky. He has over 20 years of defense experience in both states. Mr. Glassman has handled more than 40 jury trials and 25 appeals. He has successfully handled appeals with both the Ohio and Kentucky Supreme Courts.

Education:

• University of Cincinnati, B.A., 1988
• Salmon P. Chase College of Law, J.D. (cum laude), 1993

Margo S. Meola

Cleveland and Youngstown, OH

• E-Mail: mmeola@bspplaw.com

Practice Areas

• Appellate
• Bad Faith
• Business Litigation
• Complex Litigation
• General Civil Litigation
• Insurance Coverage
• Mass Tort
• Medical Malpractice
• Product Liability
• Professional Malpractice
• Special Investigative Unit Claims

Admitted

• Ohio, 1995

Margo Meola joined the firm as a Shareholder in July of 2015. Prior to joining BSPP, she was a partner with Davis & Young. Ms. Meola began her career as an Attorney Clerk for the Honorable Joseph J. Vukovich in the Seventh District Court of Appeals. She has extensive civil trial and appellate experience and has handled complex and mass tort litigation, as well as medical malpractice and insurance coverage matters. Mrs Meloa is licensed to practice in both Ohio and Pennsylvania. 

Education:

• John Carroll University, B.A., 1991
• Ohio Northern University, Pettit College of Law, J.D., 1995

Diane L. Feigi

Cleveland, OH

• E-Mail: dfeigi@bsphlaw.com

Practice Areas

• Asbestos Litigation
• Intentional Torts
• Premises Liability
• Product Liability
• Toxic Torts

Admitted

• Ohio, 1998

Diane Feigi is a Shareholder in the firm’s Cleveland office. She concentrates much of her practice in the defense of nursing homes and other healthcare professionals in litigation involving claims of professional negligence related to patient care. She also defends companies involved in product liability and toxic tort cases in state and federal courts throughout Ohio. Ms. Feigi represents companies involved in premises and intentional tort matters as well. She focuses primarily on asbestos litigation and has experience in defending benzene-related cases.

Previously, Ms. Feigi was associated with a law firm that served as national litigation counsel for a major steel conglomerate. In that role, she assisted in overseeing the coordination of the defense of asbestos cases filed in state and federal courts throughout the United States. Ms. Feigi has also served as coordinating defense counsel in the Cuyahoga County, Ohio asbestos litigation, which has given her the opportunity to work closely with opposing counsel and her fellow defense counsel in the development of case discovery matters.

Ms. Feigi has extensive deposition experience, having served as lead defense counsel at dozens of plaintiff and coworker depositions. She also appears in court regularly at hearings and oral arguments on behalf of her clients. In addition, Ms. Feigi has been involved in mediations and settlement conferences in successful efforts to bring about resolution of her clients' cases.

Ms. Feigi has also had experience in domestic relations cases and has represented individuals seeking Social Security Disability benefits. She has also worked on insurance coverage cases, including litigation stemming from the Scott Pontzer decision.

Education:

• The University of Akron, B.A. (summa cum laude), 1995
• Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, J.D., 1998

Brian F. Lange

Cleveland and Sheffield, OH

• E-Mail: blange@bspplaw.com

Practice Areas

• Appellate Practice
• Employment Defense
• Medical Malpractice Defense
• Nursing Home Litigation
• Personal Injury Defense

Admitted

• Ohio, 2006

Brian Lange is a Shareholder who practices in medical malpractice defense, employment law defense and general civil litigation. He concentrates his practice on the defense of physicians, hospitals, nursing homes and other healthcare professionals. Mr. Lange has assisted in the trial of several cases in various jurisdictions throughout Ohio.

Mr. Lange has assisted in the trial of several cases in various jurisdiction throughout Ohio. He has written numerous appellate briefs for several Ohio appellate courts, as well as the Ohio Supreme Court. He has also argued cases before the Ohio Supreme Court and the Eighth and Ninth District Courts of Appeal.

Mr. Lange is a 2006 graduate of the Ohio State Moritz College of Law where he competed in Moot Court and Trial Practice. He is admitted to the Ohio State Bar, the United States District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of Ohio and the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. He graduated in 2003 from Miami University with a Bachelor of Science Degree.

Prior to joining BSPH, Mr. Lange served as a judicial staff attorney to the Honorable Dick Ambrose of the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas.

Mr. Lange has been recognized as an Ohio Super Lawyers Rising Star from 2014 through 2017, a distinction that recognizes the top five percent of Ohio Lawyers under the age of forty or those in practice for ten years or less.

Education:

• Miami University, B.S., 2003
• The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, J.D., 2006

Christopher F. Mars

Cleveland and Sheffield, OH

• E-Mail: cmars@bspplaw.com

Practice Areas

• Asbestos Litigation
• Employment Defense
• Long-Term Care
• Medical Malpractice Defense
• Nursing Home Defense

Admitted

• Ohio, 2014

Christopher Mars is an Associate who was admitted to the Ohio Bar in May, 2014. He started with BSPH as a Law Clerk in 2012 and worked his way to an Associate position in June of 2014.

Education:

• Ohio University, B.A., 2008
• Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, J.D., 2013

Kenneth R. Beddow

Mansfield, OH

• E-Mail: kbeddow@bsphlaw.com

Practice Areas

• Insurance Litigation
• Medical Negligence
• Professional Negligence
• Business Litigation
• Personal Injury

Admitted

• Ohio, 1981

Ken Beddow joined Bonezzi Switzer Polito & Hupp as Shareholder in 2015. Prior to joining the firm Mr. Beddow was a principle in his own firm representing insureds, insurance companies, private businesses, local governments, attorneys, physicians, hospitals and health care systems in complex litigation throughout Ohio and Federal Courts. Mr. Beddow now operates the firm's Mansfield, Ohio, office. Mr. Beddow brings to Bonezzi Switzer a wealth of experience involving 36 years of trial experience encompassing catastrophic injury, wrongful death, business litigation, medical malpractice and legal malpractice defense.

Mr. Beddow received his B.A. from Bowling Green State University in 1978 and his J.D. from the University of Toledo College of Law in 1981, where he was a member of the College of Law's National Moot Court Trial competition team. Mr. Beddow was admitted to the practice of law in Ohio in 1981 and has argued before the Ohio Supreme Court and multiple Courts of Appeals. Mr. Beddow is also admitted to federal court practice having represented clients in both the Northern and Southern Districts of the U.S. District Court of Ohio and before the U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit.

Mr. Beddow is a member of the Ohio State Bar Association (Negligence Law Section), the Richland County Bar Association, the Ohio Association of Civil Trial Attorneys (OACTA), the Society of Ohio Healthcare Attorneys (SOHA) and the Defense Research Institute (DRI).

Mr. Beddow has been named an Ohio Super Lawyer every year since 2014 in Medical Malpractice and Personal Injury Defense. He further enjoys a long standing AV Preeminent rating with Martindale-Hubbell. In 2008 Mr. Beddow was elected to the American Board of Trial Advocates.

Education:

• Bowling Green State University, B.A., 1978
• The University of Toledo College of Law, J.D., 1981

Brian D. Kerns

Cleveland and Medina, OH

• E-Mail: bkerns@bspplaw.com

Practice Areas

• Automobile Accidents
• Personal Injury
• Product Liability
• Insurance Litigation
• Medical Malpractice
• Motor Carriers
• Public Law

Admitted

• Ohio, 1986

Brian Kerns is a Shareholder who joined the firm in 2014. He operates the firm’s Medina, Ohio, office. Mr. Kerns has vast and varied experience handling complex and catastrophic injury litigation. Mr. Kerns’ 3 decades of legal practice have been marked by candor and fairness with all parties. His solid reputation among the bench and bar in Northern Ohio is the result of a career spent practicing law by the Golden Rule. Mr. Kerns is a past president of the Ohio Association of Civil Trial Attorneys (OACTA) and past president of the Medina County Bar Association. He is a Board-Certified Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy.

Education:

• Ohio University, B.S., 1982
• The University of Toledo College of Law, J.D., 1986

Patricia J. Trombetta

Cincinnati, OH

• E-Mail: ptrombetta@bspplaw.com

Practice Areas

• Liability Defense
• Insurance Coverage
• Bad Faith
• Construction Defect
• Retail and Restaurant Defense

Admitted

• Illinois, 1981
• Ohio, 1982
• District of Columbia, 1988
• Kentucky, 2009
• West Virginia, 2010

Patricia Trombetta, a Shareholder in the firm, practices in Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia from the Cincinnati office. She began her career as in-house counsel for Personal Service Insurance Company and then for J.C. Penney Casualty Insurance Company out of law school. Ms. Trombetta has been in private practice for the last 35 years primarily representing insurance companies and their insureds. Ms. Trombetta regularly writes and speaks on issues in the insurance industry and acts as mediator for the Federal Court in the Southern District of Ohio.

Education:

• Michigan State University, B.A., 1977
• University of Kentucky College of Law, J.D., 1980

Jane Warner

Cleveland, OH

• E-Mail: jwarner@bspplw.com

Admitted

• Ohio, 2002

Additional Biographical Details:

Jane Warner is a Shareholder who joined the firm on December 31, 2020. Jane is a trial attorney who defends health care providers and health care entities against claims of professional or institutional negligence. Jane, who has 13 years of experience in critical care nursing, applies her medical knowledge and ability to understand and communicate the provider’s perspective to the cases she handles. This proves to be invaluable as she translates technical data into logical information presented during trial. Jane identifies and implements case strategies that result in outcomes consistent with client objectives.

Education:

• Ursuline College, B.S.N., 1986
• Cleveland State University, J.D., 2002

William D. Bonezzi

St. Petersburg, FL

• E-Mail: wbonezzi@bspplaw.com

Practice Areas

• Commercial Litigation
• Environmental Law
• Insurance Defense
• Long-Term Care
• Medical Malpractice Defense
• Nursing Home Defense
• Premises Liability
• Product Liability Defense
• Professional Negligence
• Toxic Torts
• Workers' Compensation

Admitted

• Ohio, 1973
• Florida, 2011

William Bonezzi is a Shareholder as well as one of the founders of the firm. He has been a practicing attorney since 1973 and his legal career has been devoted to trial work. His competitive nature, developed in college athletics and honed in the U.S. Marine Corps where he served his country from 1965 to 1968, is ideally suited for confidently litigating the most difficult cases.

Mr. Bonezzi is admitted to both the Florida and Ohio bar and currently possesses licenses to practice law in both states. He will be concentrating his practice in the State of Florida where he manages the Florida office. He will continue to concentrate his practice in Medical Negligence, Long-Term Care, Product Liability, Environmental and all aspects of General Liability.

Primarily defending catastrophic injury and/or death cases, Mr. Bonezzi's reputation for integrity and hard work is well known in the legal community. He is most satisfied when on his feet in a courtroom.

Mr. Bonezzi has tried to verdict in excess of 200 cases in all phases of his practice throughout multiple states including Ohio, Missouri and Kentucky. He has lectured extensively in those fields of practice as well. Mr. Bonezzi is one of the legal pioneers in defending toxic tort cases and continues to be very active in this area.

Mr. Bonezzi has been named an Ohio Super Lawyer from 2007 through 2016. He was also named a Florida Super Lawyer in 2016 and 2017. Mr. Bonezzi was named to "The Best Lawyers in America" from 2007 through 2017. He further enjoys an AV Preeminent rating with Martindale-Hubbell.

Education:

• Bowling Green State University, B.S., 1970
• Cleveland State University, Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, J.D., 1973

Military:

U.S. Marine Corps, Rank E-4

Sarah E. Fontana

Cleveland and Sheffield, OH

• E-Mail: sfontana@bspplaw.com

Admitted

• Ohio, 2020

Additional Biographical Details:

Sarah Fontana is an Associate who was admitted to the Ohio Bar in December 2020. She started with BSPP in 2023 and dedicates the majority of her practice to the defense of medical malpractice and nursing home negligence cases. She gained trial experience through her past employment as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney in Cuyahoga County, and previously served as a Staff Attorney with the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas before transitioning to civil litigation. Sarah obtained her J.D. with honors at The University of Akron School of Law and her B.A. at Cleveland State University.

Education:

• Cleveland State University, B.A., 2017
• The University of Akron School of Law, J.D., 2020

Jacob Nicholas

Youngstown, OH

• E-Mail: jnicholas@bspplaw.com

Admitted

• Ohio, 2017

Additional Biographical Details:

Jacob Nicholas joined Bonezzi Switzer as an Associate in 2021. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Nicholas was an Associate for a firm in Akron practicing a wide variety of liability issues including insurance defense ligation, premises liability, coverage issues and claim investigations.

Mr. Nicholas received his B.A. from Ohio University in 2013 and his J.D. from The University of Akron School of Law in 2017. He was a member of The University of Akron’s Moot Court Honors Society and the nationally ranked Trial Team. While on the Trial Team, he participated in multiple national and regional tournaments and was awarded Best Overall Advocate at the National Trial Advocacy Competition at Michigan State University in 2015. Mr. Nicholas was admitted to the Ohio Bar in 2017 and the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio in 2019. Mr. Nicholas is a member of the Ohio State Bar Association and Akron Bar Association.

Education:

• The Ohio State University, B.B.A., 2013
• The University of Akron School of Law, J.D., 2017

Michael P. Vigorito

Cleveland and Youngstown, OH

• E-Mail: mvigorito@bspplaw.com

Admitted

• Ohio, 2022

Additional Biographical Details:

Michael P. Vigorito graduated from the University fo Akron School of Law and was admitted to the Ohio Bar in 2022. At Akron Law, Mr. Vigorito was a member of the Health Law Society, the Intellectual Property and Technology Lwa Association, as well as the Re-Entry Clinic which assisted clients with Expedited Pardon Project applications with the Ohio Governor's Office. Prior ot joining BSPP, Mr. Vigorito was a Law Clerk for the Owings Law Firm and an intern for the Federal Aviation Administration. Mr. Vigorito is also a firefighter and a licensed paramedic in 4 states and Washington D.C., as well as acritical care flight paramedic. He has also had success as a soccer referee, officiating at the OHSAA State tournament, NCA Men's and Women's Division 1, USL 2, and the United Women's Soccer League National Final in 2018, among others.

Education:

• University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law, LL.M., 2019
• The University of Akron School of Law, J.D., 2022