The Ohio Association for Justice (OAJ) is the only statewide, non-profit association of attorneys whose mission is to preserve the constitutional right and protect access to the civil justice system for all Ohioans as provided for in the Seventh Amendment to the United States Constitution.

The association seeks to inspire excellence among members of the trial bar in such specialty areas as workers’ compensation, personal injury, medical negligence, products liability, consumer law, insurance law, employment and civil rights law, and general negligence.

---

The Ohio Association of Justice has been an organization based on passion, protection and a common set of goals. This has been the core which has kept OAJ moving forward, always working hard to protect and provide for the citizens of Ohio. Whether continuing the ongoing battle against tort reform or taking on cases that resulted in decisions which protected the lives of Ohioans, OAJ has a fiery passion within the hearts of its members to uphold the Constitution and give voice to Ohioans who have been wronged.

Milestone years for the Association

 

1954	OAJ founded as the Ohio Chapter of the National Association of Claimants' Counsel. Its original purpose was to educate claimant attorneys so they would be better able to help workers injured on the job receive the benefits they deserve.
1962	The name of the association was changed to the Ohio Academy of Trial Lawyers. The OATL became an organization of claimant and plaintiff attorneys, but its primary purpose remained education. The first office was established in Columbus.
1968	The Academy became officially affiliated with the Association of Trial Lawyers of America. The first newsletter, The Advisory, was created.
1979	The Ohio Academy of Trial Lawyers Education Foundation was formed, further emphasizing the importance of continuing legal education in the mission of the organization.
1982	Blankenship v. Cincinnati Milicron Chemicals Inc. The Ohio Supreme Court held that employers were not immune from tort liability to employees who are intentionally injured, and that when an employer knows that an injury is substantially certain to occur, the employer has acted intentionally.
1989	The first edition of a scholarly magazine, Ohio Trial, was published.
2004	The association celebrated its 50th anniversary.
2007	The name of the organization was changed to the Ohio Association for Justice to align with the new name of its national affiliate, the American Association for Justice.
2014	The OAJ celebrated its 60th anniversary.

 

Ohio Association for Justice's Fellowship of Past Presidents

2025 - Lindsay Lawrence

2024 - Nathan Stuckey

2023 - Christian Patno

2022 - Sydney McLafferty

2021 - David Meyer

2020 - Robert Wagoner

2019 - Ellen McCarthy

2018 - Sean Harris

2017 - Richard F. Brian

2016 - Paul Grieco

2015 - Frank L. Gallucci

2014 - Daniel R. Michel

2013 - Donald C. Moore, Jr.

2012 - Robert E. DeRose

2011 - Denise K. Houston

2010 - Dennis P. Mulvihill

2009 - Richard W. Schulte

2008 - John A. Lancione

2007 - Mark M. Kitrick

2006 - Rhonda Gail Davis

2005 - Philip J. Fulton

2004 - Frederick M. Gittes

2003 - Peter J. Broadhead

2002 - Frank E. Todaro

2001 - Steve P. Collier

2000 - Anne M. Valentine

1999 - J. Michael Montecleone

1998 - James D. Dennis

1997 - J. Thomas Henretta

1996 - Dale K. Perdue

1995 - Clair M. Carlin

1994 - Thomas H. Bainbridge

1993 - Andrew P. Krembs

1992 - Martin W. Williams

1991 - Paul O. Scott

1990 - Jay Harris

1989 - Frank A. Ray

1988 - William Zavarello

1987 - Michael R. Kube

1986 - Bernard K. Bauer

1985 - John D. Liber

1984 - James R. McIlvaine

1983 - Don C. Iler

1982 - Rodney M. Arthur

1981 - Joseph W. Shea III

1980 - Sheldon L. Braverman

1979 - Jason A. Blue

1978 - James L. Pazol

1977 - Russel Smith

1976 - John J. Getgey, Jr.

1975 - Robert F. Thornton

1974 - Thomas A. Heffernan

1973 - Walter Bortz

1972 - Horace Baggott, Jr. 

1971 - Michael F. Colley

1970 - Keith E. Spero

1969 - Norman Shibley

1968 - Henry Maser

1967 - Robert Disbro

1966 - Richard Markus

1965 - Russell Volkema

1964 - Russel Volkema

1963 - Ben Horn

1962 - R. C. Norris

1961 - Robert Lett

1960 - Morton Reeves

1959 - Joseph Williams

1958 - Maurice Shapiro

1957 - Sam Z. Kaplan