Welcome
Welcome to my website. I hope you find it informative and helpful.
I am licensed to practice law in the states of Ohio and Michigan, and I am also admitted to practice in the United States District Courts for the Northern District of Ohio and the Eastern District of Michigan, as well as the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit (Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee). I have clients from all across the world who have come to me in time of need.
I strive to keep my client base small, so that I can give each client my utmost attention. I take great pride in what I do, and provide the type of legal representation that I would want for myself if I ever had the need.
I concentrate my practice in the areas of family law (divorce, dissolution, custody and support), criminal defense, and appeals. I have over thirty years of experience helping people. If you have gone to trial and have been found guilty, or if you find yourself on the losing end of a civil proceeding, or if you are a civil litigant on the winning end and are defending against an appeal from a judgment in your favor, I can help you. Here you can watch the most recent video of me successfully arguing a case before the Ohio Supreme Court: https://www.ohiochannel.org/video/supreme-court-of-ohio-1-30-2019-case-no-2018-0602-as-v-jw.
Please feel free to contact me* with questions about your legal issue. Provide as much information as possible so that I may understand your problem. While this contact does not establish an attorney/client relationship, all information is protected by the rules governing confidentiality and will not be shared with others except to the extent it may be necessary to fully evaluate your case, and for no other purpose. Any expert or attorney whom I consult about your case is likewise duty-bound to maintain confidentiality.
Let me put my over 30 years of experience to work for you.
* Fees and Terms:
Please consider the following before you contact me:
I require a retainer to undertake your representation. A retainer is a sum of money that you pay to me to retain my services. Retainers are refundable to the extent that they are not earned. The retainer is deposited into a trust account where client funds are maintained. I don’t touch the money until I have earned the money. I generate monthly invoices for all of my clients. The invoices are detailed; they show the date that work was performed, a detailed description of the work performed, and the amount of time spent doing the work, in 1/10-hour increments. The invoices show how much money has been moved out of the trust account from your retainer and into my business account to pay myself and my operating expenses. The invoices will show how much of your money is left to work with, if any, or if there is a balance due. The invoices are payable upon receipt.
I generally charge $250.00 per hour for my services. I bill against your retainer.
I also accept all major credit cards and e-Checks. Such payments can be made directly from this website (“Payment” page).
Representative Cases:
Federal Appeals:
Officially Published Opinions:
United States v. Cruz, 976 F.3d 656 (6th Cir. 2020).
United States v. Davis, 924 F.3d 899 (6th Cir. 2019).
United States v. Price, 841 F.3d 703 (6th Cir. 2016).
United States v. Payton, 754 F.3d 375 (6th Cir. 2014).
United States v. Mack, 729 F.3d. 594 (6th Cir. 2013).
United States v. Sanford, 707 F.3d 594 (6th Cir. 2012).
United States v. Coles, 695 F.3d 559 (6th Cir. 2012).
United States v. Quinney, 583 F.3d 891 (6th Cir. 2009).
Davis v. United States, 499 F.3d 590 (6th. Cir. 2007).
Unpublished Opinions & Orders:
United States v. Travis, No. 23-1000 (6th Cir. 2024).
United States v. Martin, No. 21-4019 (6th Cir. 2023) cert. denied U.S. Sup. Ct. No. 22-6736 (Jun. 30, 2023).
United States v. Calhoun, No. 21-6244 (6th Cir. 2023).
United States v. Humphries, No. 21-5433 (6th Cir. 2022).
United States v. Jones, No. 20-3164 (6th Cir. 2021).
United States v. Abrams, No. 19-1387 (6th Cir. 2020).
United States v. Haynes, No. 19-3526 (6th Cir. 2020).
United States v. Abrams, No. 19-1387 (6th Cir. 2020).
United States v. Mobasseri, No. 19-3792 (6th Cir. 2020).
United States v. Hawkins, 787 Fed. Appx. 870 (6th Cir. 2019).
United States v. Mobasseri, 764 Fed. Appx. 549 (6th Cir. 2019).
United States. v. Martin, 722 Fed. Appx. 435 (6th Cir. 2018).
Unites States. v. Cooper, 698 Fed. Appx. 304 (6th Cir. 2017.)
United States v. Clisby , 636 Fed. Appx. 243 (6th Cir. 2016).
United States v. McCaskill, No. 15-1113 (6th Cir. 2016).
United States v. Barry, 647 Fed. Appx. 519 (6th Cir. 2016).
United States v. Greer, No. 14-2076 (6th Cir. 2015).
United States v. Wooten, 602 Fed. Appx. 267 (6th Cir. 2015).
United States v. Musick, 601 Fed. Appx. 414 (6th Cir. 2015).
United States v. Thomas, 599 Fed. Appx. 240 (6th Cir. 2015).
United States v. Noble, No. 12-6557 (6th Cir. 2015).
United States v. Rodriguez-Gonzales, 543 Fed. Appx. 532 (6th Cir. 2013).
United States v. Ayers, No. 13-3161 (6th Cir. 2013).
United States v. Conner, 531 Fed. Appx. 633 (6th Cir. 2013).
United States v. Grady, No. 12-1788 (6th Cir. 2013).
United States v. Conner, No. 521 Fed. Appx. 493 (6th Cir. 2013).
United States v. Grindles, No. 12-5920 (6th Cir. 2013).
United States v. Sims, 512 Fed. Appx. 540 (6th Cir. 2013).
United States v. Bloomfield, No. 11-3347 (6th Cir. 2012).
United States v. Heard, 464 Fed. Appx. 459 (6th Cir. 2012).
United States v. Thomas, 450 Fed. Appx. 530 (6th Cir. 2012).
United States v. Gaines, No. 10-5149 (6th Cir. 2012).
United States v. Sonier, No. 10-4134 (6th Cir. 2011).
United States v. Mendoza-Almendarez, No. 09-4179 (6th Cir. 2011).
United States v. Quinney, No. 07-3190 (6th Cir. 2007).
United States v. Wright, No. 04-1685 (6th Cir. 2005).
State Appeals:
Officially Published Opinions:
A.S. v. J.W., 157 Ohio St. 3d 47, 2019-Ohio-2473.
Disciplinary Counsel v. Schuman, 152 Ohio St. 3d 47, 2018-Ohio-8800.
State v. Belton, 149 Ohio St. 3d 165, 2016-Ohio-1581.
Nickel v. Carter (2004), 104 Ohio St. 3d 542.
State v. Lamb (2004), 156 Ohio App. 3d 128.
State v. Perry (2002), 147 Ohio App. 3d 164.
State ex rel. Wayne County CSEA v. Tanner (2001), 146 Ohio App. 3d 765.
State v. Lyons (2000), 138 Ohio App. 3d 614.
State v. Davis (1999), 133 Ohio App. 3d 114.
State v. Tyren (Ohio Com. Pl. 1998), 91 Ohio Misc. 2d 67.
In re: Carlos O. (1994), 96 Ohio App. 3d 252.
State v. Williams (1991), 57 Ohio St. 3d 24.
Reported Opinions:
State v. Bowen, 2024-Ohio-606.
State v. Kalvitz, 2024-Ohio-392.
State v. Brown, 2023-Ohio-4452.
State v. Klorer, 2023-Ohio-4242.
Novak v. Novak, 2023-Ohio-2811.
State v. Kryling, 2023-Ohio-1921.
State v. Gibson, 2023-Ohio-1776.
State v. Rice, 2023-Ohio-743.
State v. Layson, 2023-Ohio-105.
State v. Bishop, 2023-Ohio-102.
State v. Dabney, 2023-Ohio-28.
Bernholtz v. Bernholtz, 2022-Ohio-4764.
State v. Irving, 2022-Ohio-4019.
State v. Maxcy-Tipton, 2022-Ohio-3502.
State v. Fanelli, 2022-Ohio-3498.
State v. Brown, 2022-Ohio-2285.
In re: E.M., 2022-Ohio-2091.
State v. Schramm, 2022-Ohio-1535.
State v. Hamilton, 2022-Ohio-967.
State v. Chears, 2022-Ohio-861.
State v. Mercado, 2022-Ohio-405.
State v. Williams, 2022-Ohio-226.
State v. Roby, 2022-Ohio-223.
Adamski v. Adamski, 2022-Ohio-32.
State v. Loyd, 2021-Ohio-4508.
State v. Gutierrez, 2021-Ohio-4232.
State v. Mattoni, 2021-Ohio-3265.
State v. Foley, 2021-Ohio-3263.
State v. Flowers, 2021-Ohio-2966.
State v. Wheeler, 2021-Ohio-1074.
FitzGerald v. FitzGerald, 2021-Ohio-5442.
FitzGerald v. FitzGerald, 2020-Ohio-5442.
State v. Williamson, 2020-Ohio-5369.
State v. Richey, 2020-Ohio-4610.
In re the Adoption of K.R.S., 2020-Ohio-976.
State v. Jones, 2019-Ohio-3704.
State v. Norales-Martinez, 2018-Ohio-4356.
A.S. v. J.W., 2018-Ohio-1001.
Akers v. Akers, 2017-Ohio-9284.
In re Kh.M., 2017-Ohio-8706.
In re L.N., 2017-Ohio-4471.
State v. Gangwer, 2017-Ohio-1229.
In re: J.R., 2016-Ohio-4751.
In re: M.S., 2016-Ohio-3377.
Marine Max of Ohio, Inc. v. Moore, 2016-Ohio-3202.
Davis v. Davis, 2016-Ohio-1388.
Toledo v. Grove, 2015-Ohio-910.
In re M.W., 2014-Ohio-3578.
Ruggles v. Ruggles Family Ltd. Partnership, 2014-Ohio-3852.
State v. Phillips, 2013-Ohio-4743.
In re: I.B., 2013-Ohio-1262.
State v. Giffin, 2012-Ohio-6241.
State v. Nickel, 2012-Ohio-6067.
Davis v. Davis, 2012-Ohio-2088.
State v. Dennison, 2012-Ohio-1988.
State v. Lake, 2012-Ohio-1236.
State v. DeVault, 2012-Ohio-29.
State v. Isbell, 2011-Ohio-2082.
State v. Bryukhanova, 2010-Ohio-5504.
State v. Nickel, 2009-Ohio-5996.
Overfield v. McCleary, 2008-Ohio-2882.
State v. Carter, 2007-Ohio-6359.
Beaverson v. Beaverson, 2007-Ohio-3560.
Jean-Paul L. v. Michelle M., 2007-Ohio-1042.
Irwin v. Murray, 2006-Ohio-1633.
In re: Aasiyah T., 2005-Ohio-667.
Blaker v. Wilhelm, 2005-Ohio-317.
Hudson v. Ohio Dept. Rehab and Corr., 2004-Ohio-7203.
Ramirez v. State, 2004-Ohio-480.
Nickel v. Carter, 2003-Ohio-6977.
Haven House Manor, Ltd. v. Gabel, 2003-Ohio-6750.
Lance-Sepesi v. Goris, 2003-Ohio-1622.
Strong v. Strong, 2002-Ohio-2693.
Gorman v. Oates, 2002-Ohio-1511.
Unreported Opinions:
State v. Schroeder (Oct. 6, 2001), Wood App. No. WD-00-076.
State v. Ramirez (Jul. 20, 2001), Wood App. Nos. WD-00-050/062.
Descamps v. Kripke (Sep. 29, 2000), Lucas App. No. L-99- 1411.
State v. Schneider (Aug. 20, 1999), Wood App. No. WD-99-002.
State v. Lutman (Jun. 30, 1999), Lucas App. No. L-97-1447.
State v. Bahnsen (May 15, 1998), Wood App. No. WD-97-044.
Warner v. Warner (Feb. 27, 1998), Wood App. No. WD-07-095.
Bauer v. Bauer (Feb. 14, 1997), Wood App. No. WD-96-025.
State v. Young (Jun. 22, 1995), Hancock App. No. 5-95-4.
State v. Bryant (Jun. 3, 1994), Wood App. No. WD-93-112.
Hall v. Hall (Feb. 11, 1994), Wood App. No. WD-93-04.