ATTORNEY RHONDA GAIL DAVIS: What are the biggest problems with insurance companies?

I am interested in hearing your thoughts about the ways that property and casualty insurance companies handle your insurance claims. Do you think you have been fairly treated by the adjusters?

Professional Details

LICENSES TO PRACTICE LAW

Arkansas (1991)

Tennessee (1991)

Ohio (1994)

SIGNIFICANT COURT DECISIONS

Akron Bar Association v. Finan (Ohio S. Ct. 2008) (grievance and discipline of attorney)

Akron Bar Association v. Paulson (Ohio S. Ct. 2006) (grievance and discipline of attorney)

Oberlin v. Akron General Medical Center (Ohio S. Ct. 2001) (cross examination of medical expert’s bias)

Galmish v. Cicchini (Ohio S. Ct. 2000) (fraud and good faith and fair dealing)

Roberts v. Ohio Permanente Medical Group (Ohio S. Ct. 1996) (loss of chance doctrine)

Young v. Duvall (5th Dist. Ohio 2009) (application of incarceration tolling provision to statute of limitations defense)

Hahn v. Wayne County Children’s Services (9th Dist. Ohio 2001) (claims in foster care molestation case)

Buehler v. Falor (9th Dist. Ohio 2001) (jury instructions-“thin-skull” plaintiff & aggravation of pre-existing condition)

Chilcote v. Gleason Construction Company (5th Dist. Ohio 2001) (judicial contempt of opposing counsel, sanctions, & clarity of orders)

HONORS

2008, Fellow, Ohio Association for Justice

2005, Fellow, Akron Bar Foundation

2002 President’s Award, Ohio Academy of Trial Lawyers

2001-2002 President’s Award (outstanding service), Summit County Trial Lawyers Association

1998 Distinguished Service Award, Ohio Academy of Trial Lawyers

ORGANIZATIONS

Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association, 1995-2005

Akron Bar Association (Chair of New Lawyers Committee, 2 years & Chair & Co-Chair, Mock Trial Committee, 2000-2001, Grievance Subcommittee A, 2002-2004, Grievance Committee 2004-present, Fee Arbitration Committee, 2011-present, Solo/Small Firm Practice Committee, 2011-present, Diversity Committee Chair 2006-2007, 2007-Present), 1994-present

Akron Bar Foundation Fellows, 2005 to present

Akron Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service, 1995-present

Akron Law Library Association, 1994-Present

American Association for Justice (Board of Governors, 2008-2010, Executive Committee, 2010, Public Affairs Committee, 2007-present, Membership Oversight Committee, 2007-2008, Insurance Committee, 2007-2008, Bar Liaison Committee, 2 years; Women’s Caucus Chair, 2007-2008, Chair Elect,2005-2007, Ohio Liaison 1998-present, Secretary 2003-2004, Vice President 2004-2005, ATLA Womens’ Caucus Lobby Days 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011), 1995 to present

Institute for Community Based Medicine and Law (Charter Committee Member), 2004 to 2007

Ohio Association for Justice (various committees-Court Rules, Legislative, etc., Board of Trustees, 2001-present, Ninth District Trustee, 3 years; 2001-02 Negligence Chair; and Treasurer, 2002-2003, Secretary 2003-2004, Vice-President 2004-2005, President-Elect 2005-2006, President 2006- 2007, Executive Committee 2002-2008) , 1994-present

Ohio Academy of Trial Lawyers Education Foundation (Board of Trustees, President, 2006-2007), 2001-present

Ohio Justice Fund (fka ADOPT)/Leadership Council (Treasurer, 2007-2008), 2001-present

Ohio State Bar Association (Insurance & Negligence Committees, 2006- 2008), 1994-2008

Ohio Women’s Bar Association (Ninth District Trustee, 2001-2003), 2000-2004 & 2006-2007

Summit County Trial Lawyers Association (Board of Trustees, 2001-2004, 2006 to present, Treasurer, 2011-2012), 1994 to present

Scanlon Inn of Court, Barrister, 2000-2010

Supreme Court of Ohio Character and Fitness Commission, 9th District Commissioner, 2001-2006 (appointed for 2 terms)

Volunteer Legal Services (Interfaith Legal Clinic Volunteer), 2004-2009

ACTIVITIES

Author, Ohio Trial Articles

“Attractive Nuisance” Doctrine: Supreme Court of Ohio’s Adoption of Restatement of the Law,

Second, Torts, section 339 in Bennett v. Stanley (Summer 2002)

Challenges to Unfair Workers’ Compensation Subrogation Powers, OATL Trial (Winter 2000)

Defense Medical Examinations: Primer of Rights, Responsibilities, & Requirements (Spring 2001)

Author, Amicus Curiae Briefs

Paterek v. Peterson & Ibold (OAJ-underlying case tortfeasor’s insurance limits cap/limit on legal malpractice recovery)

Hall v. Banc One (OATL-juror challenges for cause)

Berrios v. State Farm (OATL-medical payments subrogation/reimbursement)

Lownsbury v. George Van Buren, M.D. (OATL-medical malpractice liability for physician supervising residents)

Bennett v. Stanley (OATL-attractive nuisance doctrine established; adoption of Section 339)

McMullen v. Ohio State University Hospital (OATL-expansion of loss of chance doctrine)

Miller v. ODOT (Summit County Trial Lawyers Association-constitutional challenge to sovereign immunity)

Continuing Legal Education Seminar and Other Presentations

Supreme Court of Ohio Year in Review (Mahoning Trumbull County Trial Lawyers Association Trial Practice Seminar), September 2011)

Top Ten Decisions Every Trial Lawyer Should Know (Mahoning Trumbull County Trial Lawyers Association Trial Practice Seminar), September 2011

Professionalism (Stark County Trial Lawyers/Stark County Bar Association Seminar, November 2009)

Defense Medical Examinations and Independent Medical Examinations (Civil Litigation Program-Law Education Institute/Colorado Bar Association, January 2009

Employment Law Mock Trial (OAJ Convention, May 2008)

Women’s Caucus Update (National Association of Trial Lawyer Executives Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, July 2008)

Trying a Personal Injury Case-Plaintiff’s Perspective (Akron Bar Association New Lawyers Training, December 2007 & December 2008))

Speaker (University of Akron School of Law Medical Malpractice Class, Spring 2007 & 2009)

Panelist, How Attorneys and Physicians Can Contribute to Promoting Accountability When Professional Mistakes Occur, (Second Annual Physician & Attorney Leadership Conference Responding to Stressful Professional Crises and Dilemmas (November 8, 2006, NEOUCOM, Ravenna, Ohio)

Defense Medical Examinations (2006 Melvin Belli Seminar, Seattle, Washington)

2005 Landmark Decisions from Supreme Court of Ohio (OATL Insurance Law Seminars 2006)

The Complaint (Summit County Trial Lawyers Members Only Trial Practice Seminar, 2006)

Faculty Member (OATL Trial Lawyers College 2005, 2006)

In God We Trust (Scanlon Inn of Court Group Presentation 2005)

Collateral Benefits and Subrogation after SB80 (OATL Insurance Law Seminars 2005)

Liens, Claims and Automobiles (Stark County TLA Trial Practice Seminar 2004)

DMEs and Med Pay (OATL Insurance Law Seminars 2004)

Opening Statement and Faculty Member (OATL New Lawyers Trial College 2004)

Defense Medical Examinations: Primer for Arkansas Trial Lawyers (Ark. TLA Encore Seminar 2003)

Medical Records for Paralegals (PESI Seminar, Akron 2003)

Opening Statement (OATL New Lawyers Trial Seminar 2003)

Character and Fitness Considerations (Akron Bar Association Bar Admissions Seminar 2002)

Defense Medical Examinations: Primer for Arkansas Trial Lawyers (Ark. TLA Convention 2002)

Notice to the Insurer and Releases in Scott Pontzer Cases (OATL Insurance Law Seminars 2002)

“Attractive Nuisance” Doctrine: Supreme Court of Ohio’s Adoption of Restatement of the Law, Second, Torts,

Section 339 in Bennett v. Stanley (OATL Negligence Law Seminar 2002)

Defense Medical Examinations (OATL Auto Collision Seminars 2002)

Dealing with Jury Bias (OATL Trial Practice Seminar 2002)

Motions in Limine (OATL Trial Tactics Seminar 2002)

The Aftermath of Holeton v. Crause Cartage Company: The Status of Workers Compensation Subrogation (OATL Holeton Seminar 2001)

Defense Medical Examinations (OATL Insurance Law Seminars 2001)

Select Evidence Issues (OATL Negligence Law Seminar 2001)

Cross-Examination of Defense Medical Experts (OATL Medical Malpractice Seminar 2000)

Medical Records: A Trial Lawyer’s Guide (SCTLA Trial Practice Seminar 2000)

Medical Records (OATL Medicine for Lawyers Seminar 1999)

Law Office Use of Technology Tools (Akron Bar Association Law and Technology Seminar 1999)

Trial Practice for New Lawyers (Akron Bar Association Young Lawyers Seminar 1998)

Pretrial Practice (OATL Convention New Lawyers Seminar 1997)

Prayer to Sir Thomas More

Thomas More, counselor of law and patron of statesmen, merry martyr and most human of saints:
Pray that, for the glory of God and in the pursuit of His justice, I may be able in argument, accurate in analysis, keen in study, correct in conclusion, loyal to clients, honest with all, courteous to adversaries, trustworthy with confidences, courageous in court. Sit with me at my desk and listen with me to my clients' tales. Read with me in my library and stand always beside me so that today I shall not, to win a point, lose my soul.
Pray that my family may find in me what yours found in you: friendship and courage, cheerfulness and charity, diligence in duties, counsel in adversity, patience in pain -- their good servant, and God's first.
Amen.

ATTORNEY RHONDA GAIL DAVIS

CONTACT

GREAT COURT MOVIES AND SCENES

A TRIAL LAWYER DEDICATED TO PEOPLE'S RIGHTS

What are the biggest problems with insurance companies?

Professional Details

Prayer to Sir Thomas More