Overview
Dennis O’Toole has been a trial lawyer for nearly 50 years. He has handled a wide variety of civil cases as part of a multi-state practice based in Northern Ohio. His practice includes eminent domain litigation representing landowners as well as public sector agencies. He obtained the three highest jury awards in eminent domain cases in the history of Lorain County representing private landowners. Dennis represents many townships and other political subdivisions in Ohio. His practice also includes serious personal injury and wrongful death cases.
Dennis serves as special counsel to many public sector clients across Ohio, including:
- Lorain County
- Lorain County Community College
- The City of Amherst
- The City of Avon
- The City of Oberlin
- The City of Wadsworth
- The City of Westlake
Dennis also represents many townships and other political subdivisions in Ohio. Throughout his entire career, Dennis has served as general counsel for the Lorain County Metropolitan Park District and the Lorain Metropolitan Housing Authority. Dennis also serves as general counsel for several regional rural water and sewer districts, including:
- Rural Lorain County Water Authority
- Northern Ohio Rural Water
- Lorain County Rural Wastewater District
- Jefferson County Water and Sewer District
In addition to Dennis’ representations, the Firm also serves as general counsel for the Ohio Rural Water Association and counsels many rural water associations and their general counsel throughout the United States. Dennis is recognized as a national authority on 1926(b) litigation cases and frequently lectures on the subject throughout the United States. He is a requested speaker and presenter on state and national levels and is an author and co-author of published works on legal liability and trial practice.
Dennis counsels agribusiness clients regarding the Current Agricultural Use Valuation (“CAUV”) Program which allows farmland devoted exclusively to commercial agriculture to be valued based on its value in agriculture, rather than the full market value, resulting in a lower tax bill for farmers and property owners. He helps clients determine if their property qualifies for CAUV designation and manages the annual filings to keep the properties in the CAUV Program.
Credentials:
J.D., Capital University Law School, 1974
Bachelor of Arts, Regis College (Denver, Colorado), 1970
Memberships:
Dennis served eight terms as chair of the Legal Ethics and Grievance Committee of the Lorain County Bar Association
Accomplishments
Special Assignments and Awards
- The Order of Barristers for high achievement in appellate advocacy
- Lorain County Bar Association Outstanding Service/Ethics and Grievance Committee Chair (8 terms)
- The Lorain County Metropolitan Park District, Service Award for Legal Services
- Lorain Metropolitan Housing Authority, Outstanding Legal Services Award
Recent Cases and Decisions
- City of Westlake v. City of Cleveland, 2019 Ohio 1435 (Ohio Ct. App. 2019)
- Ross County v. Chillicothe
- Village of Grafton v. Rural Lorain County Water Authority (Aug. 23, 2005), 419 F.3d 562
- Grobe v. Ohio Turnpike Commission, Lorain County Common Pleas Court, Case no. 04CV139723 (2006)
- Brown County Rural Water Association v. Village of Georgetown, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio, Case No. 1:04CV017
- The City of East Liverpool v. Buckeye Water District, et al., Columbiana County Common Pleas Court, Case No. 05CV502
- Steubenville v. Jefferson County Water and Sewer District, Jefferson County Common Pleas Court, Case No. 02CV370
- Steubenville v. Village of Wintersville, Jefferson County Common Pleas Court, Case No. 04CV00178
- City of Wadsworth v. Yannerilla, et al., 9th Appellate District, Case No. 06CA0019
Lectures/Seminars/Publications
- 1926(b) Litigation and Predatory Tactics of Municipalities and Counties (Annual Convention Ohio Rural Water Association)
- “Legal Liability in the Workplace” national symposium Minneapolis, Minnesota (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Region Six); New Orleans (HHS, National Convention); and, Las Vegas, Nevada (National Health and Fitness Association Convention)
- Lecture: numerous in-service seminars for management on the subject of “Preparing for Litigation before Litigation Starts”
- Lecture: “The Art and Skill of Cross-examination” numerous seminars
- Seminar Speaker: Ohio Rural Water Association Annual Convention 2001 – 2007
- Seminar Speaker/Panel Member: Kansas Rural Water Association Annual Convention, Wichita, Kansas, 2006: 1926(b) litigation
- Seminar Speaker/Panel Member: National Rural Water Association National Convention, Dallas, Texas, 2006: 1926(b) litigation
- Seminar Speaker: National Rural Water Association National Convention, Philadelphia, Pa. 2007: 1926(b) litigation, cases and strategies
- Co-author of the nationally published “AACCA Cheerleading Safety Manual” (UCA Publications, 1997) on the subject of tort liability and exposure, used and endorsed by the American Association of Cheerleading Coaches & Advisors
- Author, Summary Judgment in Ohio, Ohio Bar Association Seminar Series
Dennis resides in Vermilion, Ohio and maintains an active role as a lector and Eucharistic minister with his church and community hospital. He is chairman of the board of Kendal Northern Ohio, the parent company of Kendal at Oberlin, a continuing care retirement community and Kendal at Home, which provides at-home services to seniors.
