Attorney at Law
For much of my legal career, I have advocated on behalf of injured individuals who have sustained damages as a result of another's negligence. I am exclusively dedicated to representing my clients zealously to ensure they can achieve the best possible results given the unique circumstances of each client's case.
In the personal injury field, I have handled and been involved in a wide spectrum of cases. On one hand, I have experience handling the everyday motor vehicle accident that occurs on our highways and roads. On the other hand, I have been involved in cases involving catastrophic injury where the injured party has sustained severe or permanent injury that will require continuous medical care for the remainder of their life. However, no matter the gravity of the injury or the factual circumstances of the case, I strive daily to ensure that each and every one of my clients feels like they are my only clients.
My work for the Willis, Willis & Rizzi Co., L.P.A. legal team involves primarily litigation. In a personal injury case, litigation occurs when the insurance company refuses to honor your claim or offers a financial package that is unfair and will not adequately compensate my client for his/her injuries. When this occurs, a lawsuit is filed and we fight vigorously against the insurance companies to ensure that justice is served to each and every individual client.
My litigation success extends from the trial court level to the appellate level. I have successfully argued appeals in the 9th and 11th District Court of Appeals and recently had the Ohio Supreme Court agree with and take my side on an argument I had presented in the 11th District Court of Appeals. I was born and raised in Copley, Ohio. I enjoy the small town feel of Copley yet also enjoy the luxury of having instant accessibility to Akron and the offerings of its unique neighborhoods. After completing my undergraduate studies at Kent State University, I attended law school in the wonderful state of West Virginia at the West Virginia University College of Law.
My family has long established roots in the West Akron area and the Italian-American community in general. At the age of 14 I learned the value of hard work in the kitchen of my family's local Italian restaurant, "Rizzi's Ristorante." On a daily basis, I strive to impart the values of hard work that were demanded from my family at a young age to ensure that each and every one of my clients feels truly respected and appreciated, and not just another name on a file.
Bar Admissions
Ohio, 2006
United States District Court, Northern District of Ohio, 2013
United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, 2013
Education
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West Virginia University College of Law, Morgantown, West Virginia
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Kent State University, Kent, Ohio
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Bachelors of Arts (Magna Cum Laude) - May, 2003
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Major: Justice Studies
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Copley High School, Copley, Ohio - June, 1999
Classes/Seminars/Publications
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Speaker, Ohio Association for Justice Insurance Law Seminar, 2014
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Writer, Ohio Association for Justice Quarterly Newsletter, April, 2015
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"Precision Discovery Strikes: Using Requests for Admissions in Trucking Cases to Subdue Your Opponent"
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Public Comment Published on Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's Consideration of Rulemaking to Increase the Minimum Levels of Financial Responsibility for Commercial Motor Carriers (2015):
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Quoted in Cleveland.com article "Trial Lawyers vs. Truckers: A Feud Over Trucks, Crashes, Insurance and Devastation" (2015):
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Quoted in Cleveland.com article "Woman Struck By Car, Lands On Hood -- Ruled an 'Occupant' of the Car in Appeals Court in Favoring Victim" (2013):
Professional Associations and Memberships
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Akron Bar Association, Member, 2006 - Present
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Ohio Association for Justice, 2012 - Present
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Ohio State Bar Association, Member, 2006 - Present
Pro Bono Activities
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Invited guest on American Work Force radio show on WERE to discuss the state increase of minimum insurance liability limits, 2014.