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Peter H. Weinberger Curriculum Vitae

EMPLOYMENT

Spangenberg Shibley & Liber LLP
  • Managing Partner

EDUCATION

1975Case Western Reserve University School of Law (J.D.)
1972Syracuse University (A.B. Psychology)
1968Orange High School

ADMITTED TO

1975Ohio Supreme Court
1975U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio
19756th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals
19864th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals
1995Pennsylvania Supreme Court
1995United States Supreme Court

LEADERSHIP POSITIONS - BAR ACTIVITIES

  • Member, Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association Blue Ribbon Panel to select officers and board members, 2008
  • Transition Team Member for Governor-Elect Ted Strickland, December, 2006
  • Commission on Rules of Practice and Procedures, Ohio Supreme Court, 2004 – 2010; Chairman Civil Rules Committee, 2009
  • Jury Instruction Committee, Ohio State Bar Association, 2003 – 2004
  • Member, Trial Lawyers Care (providing pro bono representation of September 11 Victims Compensation Fund), 2002-2004
  • President, Cuyahoga Bar Foundation, 1999 – 2001, Trustee, 1993 - 2003
  • Trustee, Ohio Academy of Trial Lawyers, 1999 – 2003
    • Legislative Chair, 2003 - 2005
  • Trustee, Legal Aid Society of Cleveland, 1998 - 2000
  • Co-Chairman, Cuyahoga Bar Association Holiday No Dinner Dance for the benefit of the Hungry, 1995 - 1998
  • Advisory Committee, Law-Medicine Center of CWRU Law School, 1994 - present
  • Member, Cleveland Bar Association Judicial Election Monitoring Committee, 1996 - 2001, Chairman, 1997 - 2001
  • Member, The Supreme Court Committee on Courthouse Security, 1993 - 1999
  • Member, Editorial Board for "Deposing and Examining Personal Injury Experts," James Publishing Corporation, 1995 - 1998
  • Member, The Committee For More Effective Judicial Elections, A Project of the Ohio Metropolitan Bar Leaders, 1992
  • President, Cuyahoga County Bar Association, 1991-1992
  • Charter member - Council - Litigation Section, Cleveland Bar Association, 1987-1990
  • Charter member - 8th District Judicial Conference
    • (member, AdHoc Committee on Formation of conference)
    • (member, Commission on Pre-trials)
    • (co-chairman, Commission on Personal Injury Litigation)
    • (member, Life Member Committee)
  • President, Cleveland Academy of Trial Attorneys, 1985 - 1986
  • Chairman, Grievance Committee, Cuyahoga County Bar Association, 1984 - 1986
  • Chairman, Young Lawyers Section, Cleveland Bar Association, 1980 - 1981
  • Law Day Chairman, Cleveland Bar Association, 1978

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

  • Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers
  • American Board of Trial Advocates - advocate member
  • Cleveland Academy of Trial Attorneys
  • Ohio Association For Justice (formerly, the Ohio Academy of Trial Lawyers)
  • American Association for Justice (formerly ATLA) - sustaining member
  • Ohio State Bar Association
  • Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association
  • American Trial Lawyers Association – Top 100 Lawyers
  • Million Dollar Advocate Forum

LECTURES, APPEARANCES AND ARTICLES

  • Lecturer, Personal Injury Law Update, 2009, 2010, Federal Bar Association, Northern District of Ohio Section
  • Lecturer, Lake County Bar Association, "Medical Malpractice – The Winds of Change" June, 2008
  • Seminar Participant, plaintiff's closing argument, Masters in Trial Demonstration, ABOTA, September 2007
  • Debate Participant, The City Club of Cleveland, "Was Malpractice Tort Reform Effective", August 2007
  • Testimony before the Ohio House Judiciary Committee and the Senate Judiciary Committee Opposing changes to the Ohio Insurance Guaranty Act, May, 2006
  • Speaker – Cleveland Bar Association Health Care Institute – Medical Malpractice Tort Reform, April, 2005
  • Invited Panelist – Cleveland Workout Group – Seminar on Medical Malpractice Tort Reform, November, 2004
  • Testimony before the Ohio House Judiciary Committee on Constitutional Issues Arising from Proposed SB 80, July, 2004
  • Testimony before the Ohio Medical Malpractice Insurance Commission, May, 2004
  • Author, "S.B. 179: Immunizing Hospitals from Liability for Negligent Credentialing" published In Ohio Trial, Volume 14, Issue 1 (Spring, 2004)
  • Grand Rounds Presentation at the Medical College of Wisconsin, "A Medical Legal Case involving the failure to Diagnose Primary Hyperoxaluria", March, 2004
  • Testimony opposing Tort Reform (SB 80) before the Ohio House Judiciary Committee, March, 2004
  • Testimony opposing Tort Reform before Ohio Senate Commerce Committee, June, 2003
  • Panelist Speaker, The Future of Personal Injury Practice in the 21st Century, Eighth Judicial Conference, October, 2001
  • Invited Speaker, Medical Malpractice Presentation, Northern Ohio Association for Healthcare Quality, April, 2000
  • Invited Speaker, Trial Superstars, Cross Examination of Medical Experts, Cleveland Bar Association, 1997
  • Lecturer, Preparation, Selection and Examination of Expert Witnesses, Ohio CLE 1997
  • Lecturer, Ohio Tort Reform - Medical Malpractice, OCLE, 1996 and 1997
  • Lecturer, Medical Malpractice - Advanced Issues, OCLE, June, 1996
  • Lecturer, Litigation from the Plaintiff's Perspective, OCLE, 1995, 1996
  • Instructor, Developing Deposition Skills, National Institute of Trial Advocacy, January, 1994, March, 1996, March, 1998
  • Fourteenth Annual Law Review Symposium "Litigation 1990," The Ohio Northern University Lecturer - The Cuyahoga Bar Association - Ethics Seminar 1990, Tort Reform 1990, Cross-Examination of Experts, November 1990
  • Lecturer - Professional Educational Systems, Uninsured Motorist Claims and Coverage, July 1986, September 1988, Evaluating and Settling Personal Injury Cases 1989, Preparing and Trying Automobile Accident Cases 1990
  • Lecturer - Ohio Academy of Trial Lawyers
    • 2006 - The Illusion of the Non Economic Caps
    • 2003 - Seminar Chair, Trial Tactics
    • 2002 - Seminar Chair, Trial Tactics
    • 1999 - Novel Concepts in Final Argument
    • 1996 - Tort Reform Seminar - co-chairman
    • 1995 - Cross-Examination of the Defense Medical Doctor
    • 1994 - Making the case for Pre-Judgment Interest
    • 1993 - Doubling Time Theory in Cancer Cases, Medical Negligence Seminar
    • 1989 - Damages in Opening Statement
    • 1987 - Toxic Torts - Solving the Causation Problem
    • 1987 - Immunities and Insurance Law
    • 1984 - Damages
    • 1983 - Uninsured Motorist Claims
  • Tort Reform Legislation Seminar, Chairman and Lecturer, Cuyahoga Bar Association, April, 1988
  • Product Liability Law - published in Northeastern Sun Magazine, December, 1986
  • Lecturer - Product Liability, Council on Hazardous Substances, Cleveland State University Symposium, October, 1986
  • Lecturer and Program Coordinator - Toxic Tort Litigation, Case Western Reserve University School of Law, Continuing Legal Education, March 1986
  • Plaintiff's Counsel - A Mock Product Liability Trial, Risk and Insurance Management Society, Inc., March 1988
  • Testimony on behalf of Cuyahoga Bar Association before Ohio Supreme Court Advisory Committee on Disciplinary Procedures, February, 1986
  • Lecturer - Cleveland Bar Association Trial Practice Seminars
    • 1997 - Civil Trial Walk Thru
    • 1992 - Post Verdict Motion Practice
    • 1986 - Closing Argument
    • 1985 - Direct and Cross-Examination of Medical Expert
    • 1984 - Voir Dire and Direct Examination

AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS

  • Listed in Best Lawyers in America, 2007 through 2011
  • "Ohio Super Lawyer" – Nominated and Published by Law and Politics and Cincinnati Magazine and Northern Ohio Magazine, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 – Named as one of top 50 lawyers in Cleveland, and one of top 10 lawyers in Ohio for 2008
  • Selected by The American Trial Lawyers Association as one of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers in Ohio
  • The Spangenberg Award – Cleveland Academy of Trial Attorneys, 2005
  • Distinguished Service Award – Ohio Academy of Trial Lawyers, 2005
  • President's Award - Ohio Academy of Trial Lawyers, 2004
  • President's Award – Cuyahoga County Bar Association, 2001, 1999
  • Member, Million Dollar Advocates Forum, 1995 to present
  • Who's Who in American Law, 1990 to present
  • Cuyahoga County Bar Association, 1986 - Outstanding Service Award, 1985, 1996
    • Certificate of Appreciation, 1989
  • Cleveland Academy of Trial Attorneys, 1985 - Award of Special Merit

CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS

  • Chairman, Case Skin Cancer Research Institute Advisory Council, 2009 to present
  • Chagrin Valley County Club – President 2007-2008, Board of Trustees, 2005 – 2008, Membership Committee, 2004 – 2005; chairman, Buildings and Grounds Committee, 2004 - 2005
  • Cleveland Athletic Club – Board of Directors, 1999-2002
  • The First Unitarian Church of Cleveland, 1990-1992; President, 1992-1993
  • Commissioner, Solon Civil Service Commission, 1985-1987; Vice Chairman, 1986-1987
"The measure of a trial lawyer is to always be ready to try the client's case while at the same time assessing the benefits of a fair settlement against the risks of trial. Being skillful as a trial lawyer fosters great results in settlement for the client, and counseling a client about the decision whether to accept a settlement or go to trial is one of the most important roles we fill." Outside the Courtroom

Pete and wife Laurie have been married 38 years and have two children, Kelly and Adam. Pete has served in many leadership roles in professional and charitable organizations. He has been president of two local bar associations, president of the First Unitarian Church of Cleveland, and president of Chagrin Valley Country Club. Pete serves as chairman of the Case Skin Cancer Research council and has funded a research fellow in that field.