Mentor Lawyers

Howard Rabb concentrates on estate, general business and bankruptcy matters. He regularly advises clients on business, estate and debt strategies. A lifelong Clevelander, he has a “Superb” AVVO rating.

Estate Planning: Howard’s practice involves an analysis of the goals of the client, an understanding of all relevant family relationships, and a comprehensive list of all of the clients assets. After obtaining this information, he will advise his clients as to whether a living trust or testamentary trust makes sense in order to address probate, distribution, or tax concerns. Typically, the estate planning will include wills, health-care power of attorney, living...

Attorney Patrick Brickman focuses his practice on class actions and complex litigation. His cases primarily deal with unlawful conduct by government agencies, manufacturers, retailers, and employers. These actions touch on any number of legal issues across diverse areas of law, including real estate law, insurance law, commercial law, constitutional law, tax law, advertising law, wage & hour law, benefits law, and more.

Patrick attended the University of Dayton for his undergraduate work, and the University of Akron School of Law for law school, where he was an advocate on the Moot Court Team and an Associate Editor for the Akron Law...

Kristen M. Kraus has extensive experience in handling civil jury trials in both state and federal court. She has litigated cases in nearly every county in Northeast Ohio, as well as the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio.

Kristen joined Dworken & Bernstein upon graduation from law school in 2001. Since joining the firm, she has been representing victims of personal injury, as well as those injured in workplace accidents. A significant portion of her current practice is devoted to representing injured workers in workers’ compensation matters both at the Industrial Commission of Ohio and at the...

Since 2005, Nicole Fiorelli has successfully represented numerous clients in consumer class action and wage and hour litigation. She has taken on the government and large national corporations in cases in Ohio and throughout the United States. She handles a wide range of claims including minimum wage and overtime violations, consumer fraud and statutory violations, breach of contract, and unjust enrichment.

A few of Nicole Fiorelli’s career highlights include:

Obtained a six-figure verdict against a national fitness club chain that failed to pay overtime to some of its employees and ultimately negotiated a favorable settlement for the class;
Defeated summary judgment...

Patrick Murphy is a seasoned personal injury litigator with extensive experience in nursing home abuse, medical malpractice, and wrongful death cases. Time and again Patrick has been recognized as one of the top personal injury lawyers in his field.

Mr. Murphy received his undergraduate degree in Political Science from Kent State University. He was awarded his law degree from Cleveland Marshall College of Law where he was a vice chairman of the Moot Court Board of Governors.

He has been designated as an Ohio Super Lawyer, and one of the top 100 Trial Lawyers by the National Trial Lawyers since 2011. In...

Jim Timmerberg represents plaintiffs in class action suits and complex commercial litigation matters. In addition to earning his JD from Case Western Reserve University, Jim holds a MA in European History. He was admitted to the Ohio bar in 1997. Jim began his legal career by clerking for the Honorable Donald R. Ford in the Eleventh District Court of Appeals of Ohio. Since his clerkship, he has represented plaintiffs in complex commercial litigation matters. He joined Dworken & Bernstein Co. L.P.A.’s class-action group in August 2011.
Jim received his Juris Doctorate from Case Western Reserve University in 1996. The University...

Erik L. Walter is a bold advocate for business clients in the areas of environmental law, oil and gas, commercial transactions, zoning and litigation for both individuals and corporations. He sits on numerous nonprofit boards in the community. Prior to joining Dworken & Bernstein Co., L.P.A., Erik was a shareholder with the law firm of Knaggs, Harter, Brake & Schneider, P.C. located in Lansing, Michigan. Prior to joining Knaggs, Harter, Brake & Schneider, P.C. in 1999, Erik served for nearly three years as the law clerk for the Honorable William E. Collette in the Ingham County Circuit Court located...

Stacy Stefanik’s main focus is workers’ compensation, both administratively and in litigation. She also has extensive experience handling Social Security disability claims and unemployment matters. She has represented clients at the administrative level, in court and on appeal and has tried cases in Common Pleas court, argued before the Court of Appeals, and briefed cases in the Court of Appeals and the Ohio Supreme Court.

Stacy graduated from Calvin College in 2003 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and a minor in Japanese. She received her Juris Doctorate from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law and was admitted to practice law...

Our law office understands that when people hire an attorney, they need immediate help. We take the time to listen to all their concerns and to get all the facts about their case. We provide thorough research into the legal matter to make sure there are no surprises that can affect the outcome. Don’t let your legal situation get worse, call or email us today for a consultation.

Dan Williams represents clients in criminal matters, including juvenile, adult misdemeanor and felony, DUI/OVI defense, and expungements. He was admitted to the Ohio bar in 2012. He represents clients throughout NE Ohio including Lake, Geauga and Ashtabula counties. After working tirelessly for the past three years advocating for the rights of indigent criminal defendants throughout Lake County, Dan joined Dworken & Bernstein. After receiving his undergraduate degree from Miami University, Dan moved to Chicago where he worked as an Account Executive for a nationwide mortgage lending company. But his pride in his hometown never wavered, and he returned to Cleveland...

Joshua J. Strickland’s practices primarily in real estate and business transactions. He represents small and medium size businesses, real estate developers, landlords and non-profits in all of their business needs. He has been recognized as a Super Lawyer Rising Star. Josh focuses his practice in the areas of general business including formation, mergers and acquisitions, financing, employee relations, commercial transactions, intellectual property, construction development, and sales. His residential and commercial real estate practice includes sales, leasing, zoning, land use, oil and gas, environmental law and real estate, eminent domain and taxation.

Frank Bartela works to hold corporations and governments accountable to consumers and taxpayers in his class action and business litigation practice. He graduated cum laude from Case Western Reserve University Law School in 2011. Frank Bartela is an Associate in the firm’s Class Action practice group. His practice is focused on the litigation of complex civil actions including consumer class actions as well as wage and hour actions. In this capacity, Frank fights to represent the interests and protect the rights of his clients both in Ohio and across the country. Currently, his cases deal with unlawful conduct by government...

Irving Rosner is the head of Dworken & Bernstein’s Workers’ Compensation Department which helps the Firm’s clients who are injured at work. Prior to joining Dworken & Bernstein in 1986, Mr. Rosner was a trial attorney and prosecutor for the United States Department of Justice, Antitrust Division, in Washington, D.C. and in Cleveland, Ohio. In Mr. Rosner’s seven year stint (1979-1986) at the Justice Department, he tried complex cases against some of the nation’s finest litigators. Meticulous planning, preparation, and strong advocacy were essential traits that Mr. Rosner brought with him to Dworken & Bernstein when he...

Mr. Kraus graduated from Emory University (Atlanta, Georgia) in 1981 with a B.A. in Political Science. He received his law degree in 1984 from Case Western Reserve University School of Law (Cleveland, Ohio). He practiced law in a small family firm, Kraus & Kraus, from 1984 until 2000. In 2000, Mr. Kraus joined Dworken & Bernstein as an associate attorney and in July 2003, was made a partner in the firm. He has been a member of the Lake County Bar Association, the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, and the Florida Bar. Mr. Kraus has also served as a mediator with...

Kim Alabasi has practiced in the area of Immigration since 2004. Notably, Ms. Alabasi speaks Spanish fluently. She earned her undergraduate degree in Spanish/Sociology from Marquette University and later went on to work in Mexico, first as a teacher in Puebla, Mexico for two years, followed by a job with the non-profit group IMIFAP in Mexico City, Mexico. Ms. Alabasi worked for 7 years as bilingual clinical social worker with the Hispanic Unit of the Center for Families & Children in Cleveland prior to obtaining her law degree in 2003 and starting Alabasi & Associates in 2006. Ms. Alabasi...

Jerry is a partner with Nager, Romaine & Schneiberg Co., L.P.A. and focuses his practice on the administration and litigation of workers’ compensation matters. Jerry has represented injured workers on thousands of matters before the Industrial Commission of Ohio. He also regularly is involved in the litigation and trial of workers’ compensation cases in the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas as well as surrounding counties. In his fifteen years of practice, Jerry has successfully represented clients before the Tenth District and Eighth District Courts of Appeals. Jerry and his wife Kim have four children between the ages of thirteen...

Grant Keating is a partner practicing in the firm’s Business and Commercial Litigation department. He employs a pragmatic approach to litigation and has successfully represented a wide variety of businesses and individuals at trial, appeal and in ADR. Grant has extensive experience in the following areas of law: banking and loan restructuring, breach of contract, Clean Water Act, commercial lease disputes, construction disputes, creditor’s rights, defamation, director and officer liability, e-commerce, employment disputes, environmental litigation, foreclosures, international discovery assistance pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §1782, mechanic’s liens, minority shareholder rights, Ohio’s Consumer Sales Practices Act R.C. 1345.01 et. seq., professional negligence,...

Jerome Emoff received his undergraduate degree in Psychology from the George Washington University in Washington, D.C. in 1970, and his Juris Doctorate from the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law in 1974. Mr. Emoff is admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, the Ohio Supreme Court, and all other courts in the state of Ohio. Mr. Emoff concentrates his practice exclusively in all aspects of criminal litigation including federal and state cases at both the trial level and...

DENNIS J. IBOLD is one of the co-founders of the law firm of Ibold & O'Brien established in 1980 and formerly Petersen & Ibold. The general practice of Mr. Ibold includes an emphasis in family law, real estate, business law and personal injury. Super Lawyers Magazine, the leading attorney rating system for consumers named Dennis J. Ibold for eighteen consecutive years, 2006 through 2023, as an "Ohio Super Lawyer". "Super Lawyers" are selected from the top 5% of Ohio attorneys. The selection process includes a state wide survey of lawyers; evaluation based on twelve indicators of peer recognition and professional...

Attorney Scott Kuboff is a partner at Lowe Scott Fisher Co., LPA, where he focuses his litigation practice on personal injury, medical negligence, and wrongful death. Scott attended the University of Toledo where he earned a Bachelor’s of Business Administration and graduated cum laude and with College Honors. Scott then attended Cleveland State University College of Law where he was the President of the Student Bar Association and active in Moot Court. Following his graduation, Scott immediately began his practice with a prominent Cleveland criminal defense firm where he gained extensive courtroom and trial experience. In 2013, Scott transitioned his practice to...

Shelley Fleming is currently focused on Consumer Class Actions, as well as claims pertaining to wage and hour laws, employment discrimination, and domestic relations issues. She conducts in-depth research on consumer protection claims and laws nationwide, and also drafts motions and appellate briefs. Prior to joining the firm, Shelley served as a Staff Attorney at the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court. In that position, she had the opportunity to conduct case management conferences, pre-trials, and settlement conferences. She attended civil and criminal trials and motion hearings. She drafted orders and opinions on discovery disputes, motions to dismiss and summary...

Melvyn E. Resnick earned his undergraduate degree in Business and Accounting with honors from Ohio University. He was awarded his law degree from Case Western Reserve School of Law and admitted to the Bar in 1966. Mr. Resnick is a member of the Lake County Bar Association. He is a past president of Tau Epsilon Rho Law Fraternity. He is licensed to practice in all Ohio courts as well as U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio, since 1968 and the U.S. Court of Appeals Sixth Circuit. Mr. Resnick's practice emphasizes real estate, commercial litigation, general business, corporate banking, estate...

Christian Foisy represents clients in nursing home abuse cases. He earned his JD from Case Western Reserve University and his Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Xavier University. He was admitted to the Ohio bar in 2018. Christian joined Dworken and Bernstein’s nursing home abuse practice in August 2020.

Shmuel is a new associate in our Class Action department. He has several years of experience standing up for and defending both employee and consumer rights in Ohio and nationally. He assisted in several of the firm’s complex class action cases involving a wide range of claims, including wage and hour as well as consumer and taxpayer rights. He also has extensive experience in Labor and Employment law, assisting clients in both discrimination and overtime wage claims. Shmuel graduated magna cum laude from Cleveland Marshall College of Law in 2020 and also received a master’s degree in Talmudic Law from...

As a family law practitioner, Lydia Gross helps clients through divorce, dissolution, child support, spousal support, and any other family law and probate matters. Lydia is admitted to practice law in Ohio and the United States District Court Northern District of Ohio. Lydia was formerly with a small firm in Cuyahoga County, where she also gained experience in general civil litigation.

We Help Families Through Their Legal Troubles

At Kurt Law, LLC, our firm delivers the legal help people need when they are facing challenging issues. We offer straight talk and realistic and logical approaches to resolving our clients' cases that are designed to be effective and keep costs down. We deliver results while preventing our clients from throwing good money after bad. Let Our Family Help Your Family!

John P. Thomas concentrates his practice in the areas of probate and estate litigation, elder law, estate and trust planning and administration. He has been named a 2010 Rising Star in Ohio Super Lawyers, and received the Ohio State Bar Foundation 2015 Community Service Award for Attorneys 40 and Under in District 18.

He formerly served as Treasurer of The Association of Specialists in Aging, which promotes the well-being of older persons in Cuyahoga, Lake, Geauga, and Ashtabula Counties. He is a past Board member of the Boston College Alumni Association in Cleveland, and a member of the St. Ignatius High...

28 years criminal law experience. Juvenile and all Municipal Courts in Ohio.

Nick Weiss opened his practice after years of civil litigation and in-house counsel experience. A transplant from Maine, he now represents families, individuals, and businesses, throughout northeast Ohio. He is proud to have been AV Preeminent rated by Martindale Hubbell every year since 2020 and is an Ohio Rising Star on Superlawyers.

Often, people feel like they need a little extra help, an extra hand to hold during their tough battles in life. That can be especially true when you're dealing with family issues or trying to stay in the country against all odds. That's why I take my responsibilities seriously. Because it's not just a job, its someone's life. And I'm glad I get to hold your hand and win our fight together. I'm licensed to practice law in the state of Ohio. I graduated with honors in both Law and Criminal Justice from the University of Cincinnati. I handle cases...

Mr. Doucet is a consumer and consumer finance attorney who solves complex legal problems with clear communication and creative strategies for his clients. He has deep experience in UDAAP regulations, including TILA, RESPA, EFTA, SCRA, FDCPA, ECOA, RICO, and FHA Regulations, plus some experience with CCPA, among others. He is most known for his defense of foreclosure to help people stay in their homes. His legal interests include contract drafting, FinTech, consumer-facing regulations, and strategic planning with a focus on meeting client’s objectives. He has published books including “Regulation Z of the Truth in Lending Act (integrated...

I began practicing law in 2002. I spent over 13 years with the Cleveland firm of Gallagher Sharp, primarily as a litigator, before venturing on my own and then landing at The Gertsburg Law Firm in 2017 before choosing to restart my own practice in 2020. Before becoming an attorney, I worked as a financial manager for a small business after earning his MBA. My experience allows me to understands the challenges facing small business owners, allowing me to advise, as well as provide valuable legal information. With over 20 years’ experience in the business and legal worlds, I strive...