Email: ngreer@spanglaw.com
OVERVIEW
Nicole Greer joined the Spangenberg firm as an associate in 2009. Since joining the firm, Nicole has worked on a wide variety of cases, primarily in the areas of medical malpractice and dangerous products and drugs. Nicole has seen how medical malpractice can occur during diagnosis, treatment, or rehabilitation and follow-up. It is scary to realize that medications or products we use every day may be dangerous because of manufacturing defects, inadequate warnings, or actual misrepresentation. Even though each situation is different, the pain and suffering that are caused by negligence and wrongdoing are the constant that motivates Nicole to seek compensation for her clients and to hold the responsible parties accountable so as to prevent future avoidable injuries.
BACKGROUND
Prior to joining the Spangenberg firm, Nicole practiced law in Columbus, where she gained experience in commercial litigation and criminal defense. Nicole's experience includes practice in state and federal court and in arbitration proceedings.
Nicole graduated with honors from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law in 2005 where she focused on courses that would help prepare her to be a trial lawyer, including trial practice, appellate advocacy, evidence, jury selection, witness interviewing, depositions, a prosecution practicum, and a judicial externship. Nicole also took courses that allowed her to explore issues of social importance such as seminars on topics in criminal law, cybersecurity, and the law of cyberspace, and participating in the legislation clinic and DC externship program.
Nicole received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the Ohio University Honors Tutorial College, cum laude, with a major in Social Theater. Sometimes people ask what theater has to do with being a trial lawyer. "My theater training taught me how to tell a story and helped me learn to connect with an audience. Trying a case is not the same as performing, but it uses many of the same skills. My theater background also helps me think creatively about how to approach a case and solve problems for my clients." Specifically, Nicole studied social theater, which meant she examined how theater could be used as social commentary and as a means of social change. "As a lawyer, I am always seeking social change when I pursue justice on behalf of my clients."
GIVING EACH CLIENT A VOICE
Nicole is dedicated to seeking justice for clients who have been injured or harmed by medical malpractice, dangerous products or drugs, or other negligent or wrongful acts. "Our clients have suffered catastrophic injuries that could have been avoided, and it is my job to hold the responsible parties accountable and make sure that our clients' voices are heard."
Nicole worked in healthcare before attending law school. That work experience inspired Nicole to pursue a career in law, and is the foundation for her passion for representing individuals and families who have been seriously injured. In the healthcare field, Nicole worked in patient financial services and assisted with audits of medical records. As a result, Nicole discovered that behind the complex billing and medical records systems are individual patients who are sometimes harmed by errors they may not even know about, and who may not feel like they have any recourse if they do suffer an injury. Nicole originally applied to law school with the goal of working on behalf of hospitals to help them become more compliant with regulations that protect patients. However, Nicole quickly realized that she could only truly make a difference by representing individuals who had been harmed.
Nicole also served as an AmeriCorps member in Seattle before attending law school. She worked with elementary school children who spoke 22 different primary languages, of which a large percentage lived in public housing. Nicole enjoyed getting to know so many children with such unique stories and playing a role in helping them become successful students and proud, diverse Americans. That year of service confirmed Nicole's commitment to working on behalf of people who may not otherwise have a voice. At Spangenberg Shibley & Liber, Nicole appreciates having the opportunity to get to know her clients as individuals and being able to advocate for them in a legal system where their voices may not otherwise be heard.
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
It is important to Nicole to be engaged in the legal community, both locally and nationwide. "I view being a trial lawyer as a calling, and I believe that I have an obligation to serve the profession and the public through bar service. The lawyers I meet through my bar involvement share my commitment to seeking justice and can be a great professional resource for me and for my clients."
Nicole is active in the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division, and serves as the Ohio/West Virginia ABA YLD District Representative and as the liaison to the Standing Committee on Judicial Independence. In addition, Nicole has previously served as the ABA YLD Marketing Team Chair and as the ABA YLD Liaison to the ABA Standing Committee on Continuing Legal Education. Nicole is also a member of the ABA Section of Litigation and its trial practice committee.
Serving as the YLD liaison to the ABA Standing Committee on Judicial Independence is one way that Nicole serves the interests of her clients through her bar association involvement. This committee assists courts and bar associations in addressing infringement of judicial independence, encourages public awareness and appreciation of the importance of judicial independence and merit selection, makes recommendations for ways to improve and enhance judicial independence and acts as a clearinghouse for the ABA's activities dealing with judicial independence. Nicole was also appointed to serve as a member of the Task Force on Plaintiffs' Involvement of the Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section of the ABA. Nicole is proud to be a voice for judicial independence and for plaintiffs in the ABA.
Nicole is also actively involved in the Ohio State Bar Association as a member of the Young Lawyers Section Council, for which she served as Co-Chair of the Young Lawyers Section Public Service Committee from 2008-2010. In addition, Nicole served as a member of the OSBA Task Force on Legal Education in 2008-2009 which submitted recommendations to the Ohio Supreme Court regarding possible changes in legal education and the Ohio Bar Exam.
Locally, Nicole is a member of the William K. Thomas Inn of Court and the Cleveland Academy of Trial Attorneys. She is also a member of the American Association for Justice and the Ohio Association for Justice.
WHY SPANGENBERG?
Choosing a law firm can be intimidating, and it is important to choose a law firm you trust. I tell prospective clients that we have the experience, the resources, and the commitment they are looking for. The Spangenberg firm has a long reputation of effectively representing plaintiffs in Ohio and nationwide. We are a firm of hardworking trial attorneys who understand what it takes to prepare and try a lawsuit on behalf of our clients.
The lawyers at Spangenberg Shibley & Liber know the law and know how to prepare for trial. There is more to being a good lawyer, though, than simply knowing the law. We also care about each client and are personally invested in your case. That means we will discuss your expectations, explain the legal process, and keep you up to date as your case progresses. At Spangenberg, we strive to earn your trust every day by thorough legal preparation and developing lasting relationships.
Spangenberg Shibley & Liber is a boutique civil litigation trial firm in downtown Cleveland, Ohio handling cases on a statewide and nationwide basis. The firm's trial practice is diverse and sophisticated. It includes a wide array of consumer healthcare issues including medical malpractice, nursing home negligence, health insurance claim denials, dangerous drugs, and defective medical devices. In addition to its consumer health care litigation practice, Spangenberg lawyers represent individuals who have been seriously injured or killed in motor vehicle accidents, on the job, through exposure to dangerous chemicals/mold, by defective consumer and household products such as automobiles, motorcycles and power tools, tainted food and many other situations. The firm also represents those who have been injured or harmed by law enforcement engaged in the violation of a citizen's civil rights.
Apart from its personal injury practice, Spangenberg has a committed consumer rights practice litigating claims of marketing fraud, deceptive business practices, and violation of warranty for all sorts of consumer products.
Finally, Spangenberg Shibley & Liber represents businesses and entrepreneurs for all types of business litigation situations where the individual or business has been wronged in a business transaction.
We invite you to learn more about attorney Nicole Greer. To schedule a consultation, contact our offices in Cleveland, Ohio.
