Dahman Law attorneys Samir Dahman and Alex Ebert and Legal Analysts Aaron Burnside, Alexis Preskar, and Madison Walker have joined Kohrman Jackson & Krantz LLP‘s Columbus Office.

At KJK, Mr. Dahman will serve as Partner in Charge of the Columbus Office. Samir is passionate about providing exceptional, client-focused legal services through value-based fee agreements. While Samir concentrates on business litigation involving disputes up to $65 million pending internationally, he brings a diverse practice, ranging from transactional work for start-ups to family estate planning to executive employment work. Notably, Mr. Dahman brings his acclaimed alternative/fixed-fee structure blended with an efficient and capable staffing model. He has taken alternative fee arrangements and flat billing to a new level, which KJK intends to further incorporate into its culture. Mr. Dahman has efficaciously led his team for years and he will continue the momentum with KJK’s Columbus office to ensure our success not just today, but for decades to come.

“Samir and his team from Dahman Law are a terrific addition to the KJK family and our Columbus office in particular. We are committed to growth in both our markets, building on our traditions of excellence and creating a model for the future practice of law,” said Jon Pinney, KJK’s Managing Partner.

Mr. Dahman noted “KJK is a special place with a rich history and promising future. That coupled with the exceptional people is why I am so excited about our team joining the firm.”

Mr. Dahman previously practiced at two other large Ohio law firms before starting his own firm. Over the past few years, Samir built Dahman Law into a successful small Columbus law firm. In 2015, Samir was named a Top 5 Lawyer in Columbus and Top 100 Lawyer in Ohio in Super Lawyer Magazine. And for his civic and professional efforts he received a Forty Under 40 Award by Business First. He is licensed in Ohio and Michigan. Samir received a B.A. from the University of Michigan a J.D., from the Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, where he is also an Adjunct Professor.

Alex Ebert, an analyst with Dahman Law and recent graduate of the University of Wisconsin Law School provided testimony for Ohio’s  House Government Accountability and Oversight Committee, Tuesday, June 23. The committee was considering a bill to raise Ohio’s cap on alcohol-by-volume (ABV) in beer from 12 percent ABV to 21 percent, a move that local craft brewers say would help them compete with the more than 40 other states where high-ABV beers can be legally brewed and purchased.

While attending The Ohio State’s Moritz College of Law, Ebert researched a law review article exploring how state regulations affect craft brewery entrepreneurship. Dan Ramos, sponsor of House Bill 68, asked Ebert to share his research insights with the committee, including the historical context of the law and considerations regarding public safety.

“As a man born and raised in Wisconsin on cheese, beer and bratwurst, the 12 percent cap on ABV for beer in Ohio struck me as peculiar when I moved here to finish law school last summer. So peculiar that I wrote a law review article on this topic.” Ebert said. “As a former newspaper journalist and present masochist I decided to spend an entire day searching through 2001 and 2002 documents on library microfiche digging for any mention of why the cap was imposed, removed, and then re-imposed.”

Ebert was quoted in Columbus Business First, and in the Akron Beacon Journal.

For the 4th year in a row Dahman Law will be sponsoring the Berkshire Triathlon benefiting Nationwide Children’s Hospital.

Since its beginning in 2012, the Berkshire Triathlon has raised over $15,000 while hundreds of people have had a great time being active. So Dahman Law is very proud to sponsor the 2015 Berkshire Triathlon.

The event is a sprint distance triathlon followed by a BBQ with yard games and a silent auction. Some of the better reasons to participate are that the triathlon is not competitive (meaning you can do whichever parts you please and go at your own pace), you can do it as a team (one person does the swim, another person rides, and a third runs), and there is City Barbecue and cold beverages waiting at the finish line.

100% of the proceeds from the Berkshire Triathlon will be donated directly to Nationwide Children’s Hospital and an annual pediatric patient family in need. There are zero administrative costs.

American City Business Journals’ local affiliate, Columbus Business First, recently announced its “Forty Under 40” class of 2015 and selected Dahman Law founder Samir Dahman as an honoree.

As a rising professional and community leader, Samir received the award given to individuals who have made exemplary leadership contributions to their legal, business and civic communities.   The 2015 honorees were chosen from a field of more than 350 nominations, a record for the 23-year program.

Dahman was extremely pleased to receive the award noting that “I have received a tremendous amount of guidance and support from family, friends, and mentors in my life, for which I am so grateful.”

#40U40

In the Saturday, March 14, 2015 edition of the Columbus Dispatch, Dahman Law attorney Samir B. Dahman was quoted for providing insight on digital estate planning.  Although not quoted, Research Analyst Aaron Burnside also contributed significantly to the article.

The article can be found online at Guide to Life: How to handle online accounts during estate planning

So What is Digital Estate Planning?

It is planning for how your digital assets will be protected and accessed after someone passes away.

What You Can do to Protect your Digital Assets?

• The first thing would be to set up an estate plan, likely including a trust.
• Generally, the best thing to do is to appoint someone (such as the executor of your estate) to take control of your digital accounts, make a list of all of your online accounts and passwords, and give clear instructions on how to handle each account.
• Uniform Law Commission (ULC) has drafted the “Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act”
  • aimed to allow executors and trustees complete access to deceased’s digital assets
• Ohio does not have any laws regarding the digital property of a deceased person.
  • 9 States have laws giving a representative of the estate the right to access some or all of the deceased’s digital property, depends on the state
    • VA, CT, RI, IN, OK, ID, NV, DE, NC
  • Several others have started the legislative process
    • MD, MI, ME, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OR, PA

How do I access a family member’s online accounts once they’ve passed?

• Companies are very protective of users’ privacy, even after death
• The ability to access or delete a family member’s account varies depending on the company and the privacy policy.
• Generally, you will need:
  • some sort of proof of your relationship to the deceased (i.e. a copy of your authority as Executor of the estate, a signed declaration stating that you’re immediate family)
  • Proof of the account user’s death (i.e. a copy of the death certificate, a copy of the obituary)

On January 8, 2015, Dahman Law attorney Jonathan N. Olivito argued the appeal of a favorable jury verdict on behalf of client RAE Associates, Inc. to the 10^th District Court of Appeals, Case No. 14-AP-482.

Olivito is a first year attorney and fresh graduate of Ohio State University’s Moritz College of Law.  Normally, appellate oral arguments are reserved for senior attorneys.  But because Olivito was ready for the responsibility and the firm strives to give every team member as rich of an experience as possible, Olivito was tasked with the challenge.

The Moritz College of Law noticed Olivito’s unique opportunity and interviewed him for an article on the law school’s website and weekly electronic newsletter.  The article is posted here.

Samir Dahman, firm founder, explained “we want to give everyone as much responsibility as they can reasonably handle.  It reminds us that we all make an impact and are critical to client success.  Some people call it ‘taking ownership’ – we call it routine.”

Dahman Law attorney Jonathan N. Olivito argued the appeal of a favorable jury verdict on behalf of client RAE Associates, Inc. to the 10^th District Court of Appeals, Case No. 14-AP-482.

After prevailing at a week-long trial, the unanimous jury not only awarded Dahman Law’s client RAE Associates $41,727.61 on its breach of contract complaint against Nexus Communications, Inc., but also rejected Nexus’ claim for $652,112.08.

Nexus first objected to the jury’s findings by objecting to the Magistrate’s Decision.  Then it filed a Motion for a New Trial with the Trial Judge.  When it lost on both of those, Nexus appealed to the 10^th District Court of Appeals.

Samir Dahman, firm founder, believed that the oral argument went well and is optimistic that the Appeals Court will agree with the jury, Magistrate, and Trial Court Judge in favor of RAE Associates.  Dahman said of Olivito “Jon was prepared, eloquent, and cogently responded to the Judges’ questions.”

Dahman Law prevailed at trial on November 20, 2014 for its client Logan Insulating & Foam Service LLC in Fairfield County Court of Common Pleas, Case No. 13-CV-121.

After a three-day trial, the 8 member jury unanimously and completely found in Logan Insulating’s favor and against Plaintiff Andrew Cooke on Cooke’s claims of breach of contract, slander of title, civil theft, and CSPA violations related to a $500,000 construction project at his home.  Interestingly, Cooke himself is a lawyer in New Albany and partner at the law firm of Cooke & Gleason, LLC.

Samir Dahman argued the case in the Fairfield County Court of Common Pleas in front of Judge Chris Martin with the assistance of Dahman Law attorney Jon Olivito.  Dahman called it a “great effort” as the firm was faced with litigating against an attorney-party, which made the case that much more challenging.  All the hard work paid off as Logan Insulating’s owner David Kornmiller was pleased with the outcome noting that “sometimes the good guys do win.”

Through comprehensive fact and legal research, working closely with the client, coordinated preparation, and adhering to high ethical and legal standards, Dahman Law was able to secure the win.  This recent trial is yet another example of how Dahman Law works with its clients, especially small business owners, to make sure all of their legal needs are met.

Dahman Law is now 3-0 at trial in the past 2 years, including two unanimous jury verdicts and one bench trial verdict where it is being awarded attorney’s fees.

Attorney Jonathan N. Olivito has joined Dahman Law, LLC’s Columbus, Ohio office.  Mr. Olivito’s practice includes commercial litigation and employment law.

Mr. Olivito previously worked at the Ohio State University Office of Legal Affairs and Ohio University’s Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs.  He is also a member of the prestigious Order of the Coif.

“Jon’s strengthens our commercial litigation and employment practices, has a brilliant legal mind, and is thorough”, says Samir Dahman, founder of Dahman Law, LLC. “He will provide our litigation and employment clients with a completive edge in their legal matters.”

The team at Dahman Law is passionate about providing exceptional, client-focused legal services.  They handle commercial litigation, business law, estate planning, employment, and immigration matters across Ohio, Michigan, and internationally. But what makes Dahman Law different is that you will know up front how much you can expect to pay for legal services, instead of wondering how much you will end up being charged at the end.

Dahman Law is able to do this by leveraging experience, creativity, and hard work, with value-based fee arrangements that provide clients predictability and results. A testament to our experience is the fact that its attorneys hail from Am Law 200 firms and corporate backgrounds.  So all of their services, including litigation, are handled on pre-determined, fixed fee or contingency bases. No hourly billing.

On November 14, 2014, Dahman Law founder Samir Dahman presented at the Supreme Court of Ohio Commission on Professionalism’s symposium “Preparing the Leaders of Tomorrow’s Changing the Legal Profession.”

The event was a success and very well attended with honorable judges, distinguished practitioners, and new attorneys all in attendance.