The law firm Krugliak, Wilkins, Griffiths & Dougherty Co. has opened an office in downtown Akron, the firm’s first in Summit County.

The firm has offices in Jackson Township, Alliance, New Philadelphia and Sugarcreek.

Managing Director Terry A. Moore said the firm’s clients in and around Summit County have asked for a location in Akron, and it appeared the timing was right.

In the Akron Centre at 50 S. Main St., Suite 501, the office will be managed by attorney Edward V. Buehrle, who recently joined Krugliak as a shareholder and director.

Buehrle’s practice is focused on real estate and financial and business-related transactions. He received his bachelor’s degree from Hillsdale College and a master’s of business administration and law degree from the University of Akron.

The law firm was founded in 1958. For more information, visit www.kwgd.com.

A Philadelphia jury has found Rockwell Automation Inc., sued as successor to Allen-Bradley Company, liable for the asbestos-related death of Navy electrician's mate, David Lanpher. The liability finding is the first-ever asbestos-exposure verdict against Rockwell.

The case was tried as a reverse bifurcated proceeding - a multi-phase trial that requires the jury to determine first if the plaintiff's mesothelioma was caused by asbestos exposure, and if so, what amount of damages is reasonable to compensate for pain, suffering, loss of consortium, and other circumstances related to the plaintiff's illness. In Phase I, defendants remain unknown to the jury, and plaintiff's counsel is not permitted to discuss or make recommendations about the scope or amount of the award.

Phase II, the liability hearing , occurs if the jury finds that the plaintiff's illness was indeed caused by asbestos exposure. In Phase II, the jury hears evidence about the asbestos-containing products identified by the plaintiff, and determines which - if any - manufacturers are responsible for the plaintiff's illness. This in turn, directs how many manufacturers are apportioned a share of the damages awarded in Phase I.

In Lanpher vs. Alfa Laval, Inc., the jury found Rockwell - the lone defendant at verdict - to be one of eight manufacturers responsible for Mr. Lanpher's asbestos exposure and subsequent mesothelioma. As such, Rockwell is responsible for one-eighth, or 12.5 percent, of the $6.5 million awarded to the Lanpher family.

Phase I concluded on February 19, 2010. The final verdict was delivered on March 5, 2010, at the end of Phase II.

Mr. Lanpher, an active and gainfully employed 71-year-old husband, father and grandfather, had reportedly been in perfect health prior to his diagnosis of malignant pleural mesothelioma in August 2007. He died on July 13, 2008 - less than one year later, and just one day after completing the video deposition in which he sharply recalled the types, names and brands of the asbestos-containing products that caused his illness and cut short his life.

Via video deposition, Mr. Lanpher recounted enlisting in the U.S. Navy in 1954. During his 20-year career as an electrician's mate, he worked in the engineering spaces of the USS Chemung, USS Randolph,  USS Remey, USS Brough, USS Dashell, USS Benewah, and USS Wright. His assignments required him to handle various engine parts and components, including asbestos-containing insulating boards and motor control units. He recalled cutting and filing parts, including asbestos-containing motor control units manufactured and sold by Allen-Bradley, and the dust that he regularly breathed in tight quarters. He was honorably discharged in 1973, and worked as an electrician in Phoenix, Arizona, until he became too ill to work in 2007.

Mr. Lanpher's wife, Pauline, and daughter and son-in-law, Nancy and Terry Perkins, traveled from Phoenix for the trial. The family was present during both Phase I and Phase II verdicts, and were relieved and satisfied with the trial's outcome.

St. Louis attorneys John Carey, Joseph Danis and Jeffrey Lowe said Monday they formed Carey, Danis & Lowe law firm.

Carey, 48, and Danis, 40, were already practicing together as Carey & Danis LLC, which focused on pharmaceutical liability, mass torts and class actions, recovering more than $800 million for its clients.

The Lowe Law Firm focused its practice on personal injury cases and has won some of the largest jury verdicts in Missouri, obtaining settlements and judgments of more than $150 million. Lowe, 53, obtained a $105 million verdict against Bridgestone/Firestone in 2000 on behalf of Randy Dorman for injuries he suffered when a tire rim assembly exploded.

The new firm will handle pharmaceutical liability, product liability, personal injury, medical malpractice, class actions, and economic loss cases throughout the United States.

The D.C. office of law firm Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLP has relocated its headquarters to larger space downtown.

The firm said that its new location, on the top floor of 1717 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, more than doubles the size of its offices and will allow for continued expansion of its practice.

"This relocation marks an important step in Curtis’ ongoing expansion in Washington,” said D.C. Managing Partner Daniel Lenihan.

The firm said that it has added four senior lawyers to its D.C. office since December 2008.

According to its Web site, Curtis has three U.S. offices with 16 professionals working in Washington, five working in Houston and more than 100 based in New York. In addition, Curtis has 10 international offices.

Coral Gables law firm Colson Hicks Edison is expanding to Washington, D.C.

The firm's new office is headed by Ron Kleinman, former managing shareholder of Greenberg Traurig's Washington office, and Colson Hicks Edison partner Joseph Matthews. Kleinman and Matthews will focus on litigation and arbitration.

Kleinman is recognized as an expert on international and treaty law who has been successful in securing compensation for victims of international terrorism.

Matthews, a partner at Colson Hicks Edison since l989, will be splitting his time between D.C. and South Florida. Prior to joining Colson Hicks Edison, he served as special counsel to U. S. Sen. Bob Graham in Washington.

Cleveland-based law firm Ulmer & Berne has signed a lease to occupy 18,000 square feet in the Citigroup Center for a larger Chicago office.

The new office at 500 W. Madison St. signals that the firm plans to expand from its current roster of eight attorneys. The new space can accommodate 30 lawyers plus staff. In September, the firm grew from two lawyers to eight with the addition of litigators from Reed Smith and Levenfeld Pearlstein.

Ulmer & Berne is the third Cleveland firm to enter or move to new offices in the Chicago market in recent months. Baker & Hostetler opened a new office at 191 N. Wacker Drive in November with four attorneys. In September McDonald Hopkins leased 24,000 square feet at 300 N. LaSalle St.

Tully Rinckey PLLC is pleased to announce the addition of attorney’s Jannika E. Cannon as a Senior Associate and Matthew Estes as an Associate in its Washington, D.C. law office. Both Ms. Cannon and Mr. Estes will focus their practice on federal sector labor and employment law. 

Ms. Cannon will provide representation to federal employees in a wide range of employment and labor issues including discrimination, sexual harassment, equal pay, adverse action, and Title VII claims, Inspector General (IG) Investigations, and whistleblower reprisal claims. She has significant experience representing clients at all stages of the administrative process before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), and Office of the Special Counsel. As a former federal employee herself, she has personal knowledge and insight into the unique rights these employees hold, and can assist clients in a wide spectrum of cases.

Ms. Cannon earned her Juris Doctorate at North Carolina Central University, graduating cum laude. In addition to her law degree, Ms. Cannon holds a B.S. degree from Tennessee State University. She is admitted to practice in Maryland and the District of Columbia.

Mr. Estes has previously concentrated his legal efforts in representing federal and civil service employees in adverse/disciplinary action cases, discrimination cases before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, federal retirement and disability retirement cases including Federal Erroneous Retirement Coverage Corrections Act (FERCCA) adjustments, and whistleblower retaliation cases.  He has significant experience in federal and private sector employment law, representing federal and state employees, labor relations unions, and private sector employees.

Mr. Estes received his Juris Doctorate degree from George Mason University School of Law and is licensed to practice in the Commonwealth of Virginia and Washington, D.C. During his time in law school, Mr. Estes was a founding member of the American Civil Liberties Club and a volunteer with the Community Service Club.  Prior to law school, Mr. Estes received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Virginia, attaining a degree in Government with a concentration in Political Theory. He is admitted to practice in the Commonwealth of Virginia and the District of Columbia.

For more information about Jannika Cannon and Matthew Estes’ addition to Tully Rinckey PLLC or the firm’s federal labor and employment law practice, please contact Jessica Brociek at 202-787-1900 or via email at jbrociek@tullylegal.com.