Earl, Warburton and Adams Inc.

Christopher Walsh

Ohio State University, B.A. 1992 (History), member of Phi Kappa Phi and Phi Alpha Theta honorary fraternities; University of Dayton School of Law, J.D. 1995. Bar admissions as published: Ohio, 1995; U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio, 1995; U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio, 1996; U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit, 1998. In law school he was a selected member of the Jessup International Law Moot Court Team, awarded first place for best brief in regional competition, 1994.

Andy Adams (Of Counsel): Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, B.S. Ed. 1970 (English); Capital University Law School, J.D. 1975. Bar admissions as published: Ohio, 1975; U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio, 1976.

The site states

"Our firm has achieved AV preeminent status for ethical standards and legal ability, the highest level peer review rating available to attorneys." It does not publish a founding year, headcount, review counts or star ratings, and it publishes no legal disclaimer. Contact the office at 614 464-2392.

The About Us page also lists representative clients, including Hastings, First Acceptance, Mt. Carmel Health Systems, Borden, Inc., Anchor Hocking Glass Company, Honeywell Corporation, United Technologies, ITT Hartford Insurance, ACE USA, Panasonic Corporation of North America, Alfa Vision Insurance Corporation, Permanent General Assurance Corporation, Lane Aviation Corporation, Volvo Trucks North America, Columbia Gas of Ohio, Inc., Mettler Toledo Inc., A.O. Smith Corp. and Cooper Tools, Inc.

To ask whether a particular matter fits these services, contact the office by phone at 614 464-2392. The site does not publish a legal disclaimer, and nothing here is legal advice; whether the firm can take a matter is a question only the firm can answer.

The core of the firm's litigation work, as published on its home page, is workers' compensation and insurance defense. The site states: "From Lake Erie to the Ohio River, we handle worker's compensation and insurance litigation in all 88 counties, the Ohio Supreme Court, and all Federal Courts in Ohio."

The firm's stated defense posture is cost-conscious. It writes that it considers "the cost of an activity and the potential benefit before engaging in defense activities" and "will never recommend an action when the cost of the activity outweighs the anticipated benefit of the activity."

Attorney focus areas as published

Steven Hatten, "All phases of Workers' Compensation, Employer Defense"; Andy Adams (Of Counsel), "Employer Workers' Compensation; Trial Practice and Administrative Hearings"; Christopher Walsh, "Workers' Compensation Defense, General Personal Injury and Appellate Practice."

The home page also states

"All of our attorneys have more than 22 years of experience and the legal knowledge to handle customary areas of civil litigation without basic research and we come prepared. We don't hire newly minted attorneys to handle your cases; we let them get their experience elsewhere."

The site does not publish case results, settlement figures, success rates, timelines for resolving a claim, or any statement about what outcome a client should expect. Nothing on the site should be read as a prediction about any case. Employers, insurance carriers, self-insured companies and businesses who want to discuss a claim can reach the office at 614 464-2392 to schedule a conversation.

On expenses

"The only typical additional charges are advanced expenses [such as court costs], long distance phone charges and non-routine computerized research [where previously authorized]. Unlike other firms, postage, faxing, mileage, and similar charges have traditionally been overhead to us. You will not see charges for copying, vehicle mileage and the like on the bottom of our bills."

On conferences and monitoring

"Our firm does not charge clients for firm conferences, for any of the lawyers involved." Senior review of files handled by younger attorneys is "at firm expense, not the client's," and basic file review after an attorney substitution "is an internal expense for the firm."

On invoicing

"Billing is handled as the client requests to every extent possible... We prefer billing monthly or quarterly to allow for more smooth cash flow, but we can and do accommodate many varying instructions on submitting invoices. We are experienced in several types of electronic billing." The firm also says its size "does not permit extensive advancement of file expenses, but we can and do advance routine court costs and similar matters."

For rates, fees or a quote on a specific engagement, contact the office directly at 614 464-2392.

Evaluation

the firm says it "generally follows a 'target evaluation' approach to all files in making decisions as to settlement, motion or trial," outlining in its initial report "what we believe are the minimum steps to get the file to a decision point." Where alternative dispute mechanisms such as mediation are appropriate, it says it welcomes their use.

Reporting cadence

"We generally operate on a thirty day diary for file activity, as justified... where the file is active, our goal is to keep it moving each month." A longer diary may be recommended where a file does not warrant that pace. Specialized legal research is "normally undertaken only after prior authorization is obtained," with urgent trial issues the stated exception.

Technology

the firm says it can handle files in a paperless manner, including receipt of claim files in .tif or .pdf format, uses email "within the bounds of confidentiality and security," and is equipped to use electronic presentation equipment in the courtroom. It closes by inviting comments on its handling procedures. This describes the firm's general approach, not a commitment about any particular matter.

The areas served are statewide. The home page says the firm handles workers' compensation and insurance litigation "in all 88 counties" of Ohio, "the Ohio Supreme Court, and all Federal Courts in Ohio." The Firm Philosophy page adds detail on the geographic area: "We have pending cases basically all over from about the Ohio Turnpike line down to the Ohio River. We cover all state and federal courts and of course, if a client wants us to handle a case somewhere else, we are happy to discuss it." It notes it is asked less often to litigate in Northeast Ohio (Cleveland, Akron, Youngstown) and usually has a smaller number of pending matters in Cincinnati and Toledo.

Ask anyway — the agent will say plainly that it is not published rather than guess.