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Our Firm History

A Name That Matters

  • 1920
  • engineering-building

    1928

    Dudnik & Associates founded by Abe Dudnik (born in Russia; moved to U.S. at age 5). Joined by Samuel Komito (offices in the Engineering Building until 1988).
  • 1930

  • 1930s–1980s

    Well known for representing injured railroad workers and people injured in auto, cab, bus, and trucking accidents.
  • 1940

  • 1940

    Scholarship fund established at Cleveland-Marshall College of Law by Abe Dudnik. Established in memory of his mother who put him through law school.

  • 1944

    Dudnik files suit against International Motor Freight for injury at Noble Products Plant.
  • 1950
  • abe-dudnik

    1953

    Marshall Nurenberg joins firm in February as a clerk. He is admitted to the bar in March of 1953.

    1953

    Dudnik named Regional Counsel of the Switchmen’s Union of North America.

  • 1955

    Dudnik heads the Practicing Law Institute as part of the Cuyahoga Bar Association.

  • 1957

    Leon Plevin joins the firm after working for Dudnik as an investigator through law school.
  • jacobson-nurenberg

    1959

    Dudnik teaches medical trial techniques weekly at Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. He donates his salary to aid indigent students.

    1959

    Aaron Jacobson joins the firm after a short career as a reporter for the Dayton Daily News and Cleveland News covering police beat.
  • 1960

  • 1960s–1980s

    Nurenberg is well known for his cases involving railroad workers in FELA cases.

  • 1960

    Dudnik files suit against Trans-American Corp for violating Sherman Anti-trust Law by conspiring to monopolize the bail bonding business throughout the country.
  • train

    1963

    Jack McCarthy joins the firm from the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s office.

    1963

    Abe Dudnik passes away. Firm becomes known as Komito, Nurenberg, Plevin, Jacobson, Heller & McCarthy.

    1963

    Gallick v. B & O Railroad, United States Supreme Court (Dudnik Nurenberg’s U.S. Supreme Court bug bite case. Record $625,000 Verdict.)
  • cessna

    1964

    Kelley’s Island 1962 air crash trial by Marshall Nurenberg in Erie County Common Pleas against Sky Tours, Inc.

  • 1969

    Verdict of $1.3 million for three orphans in fatal chlorine gas leak trial. One of the highest wrongful death awards in the history of Ohio courts at that time.
  • 1970
  • product-liability-practice

    1970s–1980s

    Firm develops product liability practice involving consumer and industrial products.

  • 1971

    Thomas Mester joins the firm as an attorney.

    1971

    Hired in-house investigators Bill Fife, followed by John Zarzeczny and Dan Davis in years following.

  • 1973

    Aaron Jacobson named Chairman of Medical-Legal committee of the Academy of Medicine.

  • 1975

    Marshall Nurenberg named as Fellow of International Academy of Lawyers.
  • Cleveland-Bar-Journal-MIN-1

    1976

    Aaron Jacobson appointed Editor of Cleveland Bar Journal.

  • Late 1970s

    Appellate Department developed, headed by Harlan Gordon, followed by Kathy St. John.

  • 1978

    Workers’ Compensation Department established.
  • 1980
  • open-house-1984

    1980

    David Paris joins the firm as an attorney.

  • 1981

    $2.28 million verdict in Sours case. Firm’s first auto crashworthiness case against General Motors.

  • 1982

    Hired first paralegal, Tamara Brininger.

  • 1986

    Firm changed name to Nurenberg, Plevin, Heller & McCarthy.

  • 1988

    Moved from Engineers Building to Standard Building.
  • 1990
  • IBM 1990 Computer

    1990

    Firm develops National Aviation practice when Jamie Lebovitz joins firm.

    1991

    NP Law litigation software developed. Computerized docket.

  • 1990-2014

    David Paris instructor at Trial Advocacy Institute at Cleveland-Marshall College of Law.

  • 1992

    Holeton v. Crouse Cartage – striking down of old WC subrogation statute

  • 1995

    Firm files first class action against State Farm Insurance Company.
  • Anne

    1997

    Anne L. Kilbane elected to the Court of Appeals, 8th District of Ohio.

  • 1997

    John White aviation case – $7.5 million, largest aviation verdict in Ohio by Jamie Lebovitz

    1997

    www.nphm.com website launched.

  • 1999

    $2.25 million verdict in firm’s first birth injury case tried by Thomas Mester and Bill Jacobson.
  • 2000
  • Alaska Newsletter 2000

    2000

    Alaska Airline aviation cases result in global $300 million settlement.

  • 2001

    David Paris elected president of CATA.

  • 2004–2013

    SuperLawyers & Rising Stars: Thomas Mester, David Paris, Jamie Lebovitz, William Jacobson, Kathleen St. John, Jonathan Mester, and Andy Young

  • 2005

    David Paris resolves $10 million consumer class action against Spitzer Auto Group.

  • 2006

    Changed name to Nurenberg, Paris, Heller & McCarthy.

  • 2006

    David Paris named Fellow of International Academy of Trial Lawyers.
  • David Paris & Kathleen St. John

    2006

    David Paris & Kathleen St. John settle State Farm class action for $31 million after 11-year battle.

  • 2007-2011

    Thomas Mester co-instructor at Case Western Reserve University in Law in Movies.

  • 2009

    NPHM begins new branding campaign. NP boxes & Experience Matters logo created.
  • 2010

  • 2010

    David Paris named Cleveland State University Distinguished Alumni of the Year.

  • 2011

    David Paris named Cleveland-Marshall College of Law Distinguished Alumni of the Year.

  • 2011

    $11 million verdict in aviation crash in Philadelphia State Court by Jamie Lebovitz.
  • community-matters

    2012

    Community Matters logo developed.

  • 2012

    Nala Evan’s medical malpractice birth injury verdict for $8.5 million by William Jacobson and Thomas Mester.
  • Severence-hall

    2012

    U.S. News Best Lawyer Award

  • 2013

    Miller wrongful death verdict in the Ohio Court of Claims for $3.4 Million in fatal pothole accident by Jamie Lebovitz.

  • 2013

    Martindale Client Distinction Awards to David Paris, Jamie Lebovitz, and Thomas Mester

  • 2013

    Nurenberg, Paris, Heller & McCarthy scholarship endowments top $700,000 at Cleveland-Marshall College of Law and Case Western Reserve University.

  • 2015

    Firm moves to 5\3 Building at 600 Superior Avenue, Cleveland, OH.

  • 2017

    Attorney Jordan D. Lebovitz obtains his commercial driver’s license to better understand the perspective of truck drivers.
  • Nurenberg Paris Attorneys

    2017

    Managing partner David M. Paris inducted into the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law Hall of Fame as a Living Legend.

  • 2018

    Partner Pamela E. Pantages and attorney Jeffrey M. Heller obtain a $2.75 million verdict, one of the highest in Montgomery County history, for a plaintiff who suffered a brachial plexus injury at birth.

  • 2018

    Slogan changes to “Fighting For The Injured Since 1928”

  • 2019

    Nurenberg, Paris, Heller & McCarthy, Co., L.P.A. is pleased to announce that Dana M. Paris and Jordan D. Lebovitz have been promoted to partners at the firm.
  • 2020

  • 2020

    COVID-19 hit pause on all businesses and people lives, but Nurenberg, Paris, Heller & McCarthy proceed work on current and new client’s cases during this time.

  • 2020

    Nurenberg, Paris, Heller & McCarthy, Co. L.P.A. is pleased to announce that Benjamin P. Wiborg has been promoted to partner at the firm.