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Joseph C. Domiano

joseph domiano

FOUNDING PARTNER

1928-2024

Founding partner Joseph C. Domiano brought the firm a wealth of legal experience drawn from a diverse career in the profession. Born in Cleveland on October 21, 1928, Joseph earned a BBA Degree at Adelbert College of Case Western Reserve before earning his legal degree at Cleveland State in 1956. He was admitted to the Ohio Bar in 1957, and is licensed to practice in the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio, U.S. Supreme Court, and U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit.

Joseph’s perspective on the law was shaped through his service as Special Counsel to the Ohio Attorney General, Prosecutor for the City of Maple Heights, Village of Bentleyville Solicitor, Counsel to the Maple Heights Board of Education, Twinsburg City Schools, and Law Director, City of Olmsted Falls.

In service to the local legal community, Joseph was a member of the Cuyahoga County Bar Association, where he served as a Trustee for the past 22 years, and as President in 1994. He was also a member of the Ohio State Bar Association, Cleveland Bar Association, Lorain County Bar Association, the Cleveland Academy of Trial Lawyers, the Ohio Academy of Trial Lawyers, and the American Association for Justice where he was a Fellow, National College of Advocacy. His areas of specialized practice included employment, intentional torts, negligence law, and railroad motorist-pedestrian law.

In civic service, Joseph served as parish council and finance council member of the Church of the Resurrection, and as a board member of Transitional Housing, Inc., a facility for homeless women.

He also enjoyed concerts, ballet, golf, sailing, boating, scuba diving, and snow skiing.

Areas of Practice

  • Employer Intentional Torts
  • Railroad Law – Motorists & Pedestrians
  • Negligence & Tort Law
  • Nursing Home Negligence & Abuse

Litigation Percentage

  • 95% of Practice Devoted to Litigation

Bar Admissions

  • Ohio, 1957
  • U.S. District Court Northern District of Ohio, 1959
  • U.S. District Court Northern District of Ohio, 1959
  • U.S. Supreme Court, 1980

Education

  • Cleveland State University, Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, Cleveland, Ohio
    • J.D. – 1956
  • Adelbert College of Case Western Reserve
    • B.B.A.

Honors and Awards

  • Fellow, National College of Advocacy

Professional Associations and Memberships

  • Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association (Formerly Cuyahoga County Bar Association), Member
  • Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association (Formerly Cuyahoga County Bar Association), President, 1994
  • Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association (Formerly Cuyahoga County Bar Association), Past Trustee
  • Ohio State Bar Association, Member
  • Lorain County Bar Association, Member
  • Cleveland Academy of Trial Attorneys, Member
  • Ohio Association for Justice, Member
  • American Association for Justice, Member

Past Employment Positions

  • Ohio Attorney General, Special Counsel
  • City of Maple Heights, Counsel
  • Village of Bentleyville, Solicitor
  • Maple Heights Board of Education, Counsel
  • Twinsburg City Schools, Counsel
  • City of Olmsted Falls, Law Director

Pro Bono Activities

  • Financial Council Member, Church of the Resurrection
  • Parish Council, Church of the Resurrection
  • Former Board Member, Transitional Housing, Inc.
  • Former Board Member, Knights of Columbus

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