Peter N. "Pete" Lavalette

Chuck Boyk has been licensed to practice law in Ohio since 1983. His major areas of practice involve plaintiff personal injury, including car accidents, wrongful death, medical malpractice, slip and falls (premises liability), and construction accidents. Chuck’s other areas of practice include workers compensation, criminal defense and general civil litigation. Chuck is licensed in all Ohio courts and the Eastern District of Michigan in Federal Court. During the past 40 years, Chuck has...

Adam S. Nightingale provides legal representation and crisis management for companies, health care/medical providers and other individuals subject to government investigations and prosecutions. He also assists his clients in responding to subpoenas and civil investigative demands from federal and state regulatory and law-enforcement agencies, including the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Department of Health and Human...

Heidi N. Hartman, member, concentrates her practice in the areas of employment law, labor law and related litigation. She has represented large and small employers in a variety of industries -- including automotive, education, manufacturing and health care -- in a wide assortment of employment matters and disputes. Ms. Hartman counsels employers to resolve situations with their employees and regularly defends employers in litigation if charges are filed in administrative agencies, such as the...

Carrie L. Urrutia’s practice includes counseling on employment policies and handbooks, training, representing employers in administrative proceedings, defending against discrimination claims and providing guidance on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), drug testing, privacy, harassment, workers' compensation and a host of other employment law issues. Ms. Urrutia regularly defends employers in state and federal courts as well as administrative ...

Rudolph A. Peckinpaugh, Jr. is a trial and appellate attorney with a concentration in the defense of medical, hospital and other professional liability claims in the state and federal courts, administrative agencies, and licensing boards in the State of Ohio. He has handled a variety of cases in the obstetrical, orthopedic, anesthesia and internal medicine areas and has lectured on subjects dealing with risk management, record confidentiality and the defense of medical malpractice litigation....

Gene R. Abercrombie concentrates his practice in the area of real estate law, with an emphasis on commercial sale and leasing transactions of all sizes, 1031 Tax Deferred Exchanges, zoning and planning, condominium and homeowners’ association representation, real estate tax valuation appeals throughout Ohio, real estate brokerage law and mechanics’ lien law. Gene is listed in Best Lawyers in America ®, including "Lawyer of the Year," for 2022 for Real Estate Law in the Toledo,...

With experience as a professional negotiator, a professor of organizational behavior and change, and nearly 25 years as a business lawyer, Fadi V. Nahhas takes a broad view of transactions. His unique personal and professional background has shaped both his practice and his approach to clients. Mr. Nahhas served as chair of the Eastman & Smith’s Executive Committee of the Firm and functions as outside general counsel on diverse needs of midsize businesses involved in a variety of in...

Stu Goldberg is a member of Eastman & Smith, concentrating his practice in the areas of product liability, fire, personal injury, commercial litigation, fraud investigations, insurance coverage and health care litigation. Mr. Goldberg has represented large and small manufacturers, retailers, contractors, nursing homes, physicians, trucking and other transportation companies, school districts, auto service centers, individuals, employers and employees, and insurance companies, in a wide va...

With more than 40 years of experience in business litigation, Reginald S. Jackson, Jr., of counsel, is a valuable addition to Eastman & Smith’s roster of attorneys. Mr. Jackson’s practice includes complex business litigation, federal white collar criminal defense and professional liability. Additionally Mr. Jackson has arbitrated and mediated in excess of 130 matters involving breach of contract, business torts, lender liability, shareholder actions and UCC. He is board certif...

Thomas J. Gibney concentrates his practice in the areas of human resources management in the private and public sectors, employment litigation, private and public sector labor negotiations and contract application, workers' compensation, and federal and state safety regulation litigation. He is a member of Eastman & Smith. Mr. Gibney is a frequent lecturer on the Affordable Care Act, National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), Occupational Safety and Health Act, Family and Medical Leave Act (FML...