Peter H. Weinberger, Esq.

Peter H. Weinberger is a trial lawyer with a proven track record of successfully handling complex injury and wrongful death cases arising from medical malpractice, defective products, and motor vehicle accidents. In medical malpractice, Peter litigated and resolved cases involving delayed diagnoses, failed surgeries, and birth injuries. His expertise in defective product litigation includes highly complex cases involving industrial plant explosions, hazardous drugs, defective machinery, and unsafe insulation materials. Peter has handled complicated motor vehicle cases, including those involving overloaded trucks, tractor-trailer collisions, and railroad crossing accidents.

Peter brings extensive experience in representing clients who have suffered catastrophic injuries requiring lifetime medical care. He is adept at evaluating and presenting both economic and non-economic damages in wrongful death cases, ensuring that his clients receive the justice they deserve.

During the last 8 years, in a landmark role, Peter was appointed Plaintiff’s Co-Liaison Counsel in the National Prescription Opiate Multidistrict Litigation in the Northern District of Ohio Federal Court. He represents cities and counties in litigation against opioid manufacturers and distributors, including the makers of OxyContin and Fentanyl. This historic case seeks to address the devastating public costs of the opioid epidemic caused by the unlawful marketing and distribution of these drugs. In the fall of 2021, Peter led a trial team that secured a jury verdict on behalf of two Ohio bellwether counties against three national pharmacy chains that resulted in a $650 Million abatement award. That verdict led to a nationwide global settlement on behalf of more than 3,000 cities and counties against the pharmacy chains, and that settlement was part of more than $70 Billion dollars secured from all defendants in the opioid distribution chain.

The Federal District Judge assigned to the opioid multi-district litigation described Peter’s contribution in a recent order: “Spangenberg attorney Peter H. Weinberger’s overall contribution and leadership have been incalculable and irreplaceable to this MDL. Mr. Weinberger has made valuable, substantive contributions at virtually every conference, hearing, and proceeding before this Court. Time and again, he has proven himself to be deeply knowledgeable in all aspects of this MDL, and the Court is convinced that without his leadership and guidance on the PEC, this MDL, among the most complicated in our nation’s history, would not have produced these global settlements.”

Peter has also served on several other mass tort legal teams, including the Plaintiff’s Steering Committee in Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) cases such as In re Teflon and In re Gadolinium, as well as the Plaintiff's Executive Committee in the Olmesartan (Benicar) MDL. His leadership and dedication have earned him recognition as a trusted advocate in complex and precedent-setting litigation.

• 1988-present: Spangenberg Shibley & Liber LLP, Managing Partner, 2002-2017, of counsel, 2018 to present

• 1975: Case Western Reserve University School of Law, J.D., Cleveland, Ohio
• 1972: Syracuse University, B.A., Syracuse, New York
  • Major: Psychology

• 1995: United States Supreme Court
• 1986: 4th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals
• 1975: Ohio Supreme Court
• 1975: U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio
• 1975: 6th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals

• American Association for Justice (formerly ATLA), Sustaining Member
• American College of Trial Lawyers, Fellow
• Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Leadership Council, Chairman
• Chagrin Valley Country Club, President,
• Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, Blue Ribbon Panel Member
• Cleveland Bar Association Judicial Election Monitoring Committee
• Cleveland Bar Association, Law Day Chairman
• Cleveland Academy of Trial Attorneys, President
• Cuyahoga Bar Foundation
• Cuyahoga Bar Association Holiday No Dinner Dance for the benefit of the Hungry - Co-Chairman
• International Society of Barristers, Fellow
• Law-Medicine Center of CWRU Law School, Advisory Committee
• Ohio Association for Justice, Legislative Chair
• Million Dollar Advocate Forum
• Ohio Academy of Trial Lawyers, Trustee
• Ohio State Bar Association
• The Committee For More Effective Judicial Elections, A Project of the Ohio Metropolitan Bar Leaders
• The First Unitarian Church of Cleveland, past president
• Solon Civil Service Commission
• Young Lawyers Section, Cleveland Bar Association, Chairman
• 8th District Judicial Conference, Charter Member

• Baylor MDL Judicial Summit, Aspen, Colorado, 2023
• AAJ Webinar - The Volkswagen Case, 2015
• The Don Keenan Reptile Superstars Seminar - The theory of Primacy and Recency and Reptile approaches to final argument, 2014
• Personal Injury Law Update, Federal Bar Association, Northern District of Ohio Section, 2009-2010
• "Medical Malpractice – The Winds of Change,” Lake County Bar Association, 2008
• Plaintiff's closing argument, Masters in Trial Demonstration, ABOTA, Seminar Participant, 2007
• "Was Malpractice Tort Reform Effective", Debate Participant, The City Club of Cleveland, 2007
• The Illusion of the Non-Economic Caps, 2006
• Testimony before the Ohio House Judiciary Committee and the Senate Judiciary Committee Opposing changes to the Ohio Insurance Guaranty Act, 2006
• Medical Malpractice Tort Reform, Cleveland Bar Association Health Care Institute, 2005
• Seminar on Medical Malpractice Tort Reform, Cleveland Workout Group, 2004
• Testimony before the Ohio House Judiciary Committee on Constitutional Issues Arising from Proposed SB 80, 2004
• Testimony before the Ohio Medical Malpractice Insurance Commission, 2004
• "A Medical Legal Case involving the failure to Diagnose Primary Hyperoxaluria”, Grand Rounds Presentation at the Medical College of Wisconsin, 2004
• Testimony opposing Tort Reform (SB 80) before the Ohio House Judiciary Committee, 2004
• Testimony opposing Tort Reform before Ohio Senate Commerce Committee, 2003
• Trial Tactics, Seminar Chair, 2002-2003
• The Future of Personal Injury Practice in the 21st Century, Eighth Judicial Conference, 2001
• Medical Malpractice Presentation, Northern Ohio Association for Healthcare Quality, 2000
• Novel Concepts in Final Argument, 1999
• Developing Deposition Skills, National Institute of Trial Advocacy, 1994-1998
• Trial Superstars, Cross-Examination of Medical Experts, Cleveland Bar Association, 1997
• Preparation, Selection, and Examination of Expert Witnesses, 1997
• Civil Trial Walk Thru, 1997
• Ohio Tort Reform - Medical Malpractice, OCLE, 1996-1997
• Medical Malpractice - Advanced Issues, OCLE, 1996
• Tort Reform Seminar, 1996
• Litigation from the Plaintiff's Perspective, OCLE, 1995-1996
• Cross-Examination of the Defense Medical Doctor, 1995
• Making the case for Pre-Judgment Interest, 1994
• Doubling Time Theory in Cancer Cases, Medical Negligence Seminar, 1993
• Post Verdict Motion Practice, 1992
• Preparing and Trying Automobile Accident Cases, 1990
• Fourteenth Annual Law Review Symposium "Litigation 1990", The Ohio Northern University Lecturer - The Cuyahoga Bar Association - Ethics Seminar, Tort Reform, Cross-Examination of Experts, 1990
• Damages in Opening Statement, 1989
• Evaluating and Settling Personal Injury Cases, 1988
• Tort Reform Legislation Seminar, Cuyahoga Bar Association, 1988
• A Mock Product Liability Trial, Risk and Insurance Management Society, Inc., 1988
• Toxic Torts - Solving the Causation Problem, 1987
• Immunities and Insurance Law, 1987
• Professional Educational Systems, Uninsured Motorist Claims and Coverage, 1986
• Product Liability, Council on Hazardous Substances, Cleveland State University, 1986
• Closing Argument, 1986
• Toxic Tort Litigation, Case Western Reserve University School of Law, 1986
• Testimony on behalf of Cuyahoga Bar Association before Ohio Supreme Court Advisory Committee on Disciplinary Procedures, 1986
• Direct and Cross-Examination of Medical Expert, 1985
• Damages, 1984
• Voir Dire and Direct Examination, 1984
• Uninsured Motorist Claims Symposium, 1983
• Cleveland Bar Association Trial Practice Seminars, Lecturer
• Ohio Academy of Trial Lawyers, Lecturer

• Best Lawyers®: “Lawyer of the Year” for Personal Injury Litigation and Medical Malpractice – Plaintiffs
• AAJ Stephen Sharpe Award (2024)
• Living Legacy Award – Cleveland Metro Bar Association (2023)
• Recognized by Best Lawyers® (2023)
• Best Lawyers®: “Lawyer of the Year” for Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs (2021)
• Super Lawyers®: Named a Top 10 Lawyer in the State of Ohio (2020)
• Super Lawyers®: Top 5 Cleveland (2018)
• Best Lawyers®: “Lawyer of the Year” for Medical Malpractice Litigation – Plaintiffs (2017)
• Ohio Super Lawyers®: Medical Malpractice – Plaintiff (2017)
• Benchmark Litigation: Local Litigation Star – Plaintiff (2013–Present)
• Best Lawyers®: “Lawyer of the Year” for Personal Injury (2013)
• Cleveland Medical Malpractice Lawyers: “Lawyer of the Year” (2012)
• Super Lawyers®: Named a Top 10 Lawyer in the State of Ohio (2012)
• Super Lawyers®: Top 5 Cleveland (2012)
• Best Lawyers in America (2007–2017)
• Ohio Super Lawyers®: Nominated and Published by Law and Politics, Cincinnati Magazine, and Northern Ohio Magazine (2005–2015)
• Cleveland Academy of Trial Attorneys: The Spangenberg Award (2005)
• Ohio Academy of Trial Lawyers: Distinguished Service Award (2005)
• Ohio Academy of Trial Lawyers: President's Award (2004)
• Cuyahoga County Bar Association: President’s Award (1999–2001)
• Cuyahoga County Bar Association: Outstanding Service Award (1985–1996)
• Cuyahoga County Bar Association: Certificate of Appreciation (1989)
• Cleveland Academy of Trial Attorneys: Award of Special Merit (1985)

• 2016: Compensating Persons Injured by Medical Malpractice and Other Tortious Behavior for Future Medical Expenses Under the Affordable Care Act published in the Health Policy and Law Review of Loyola University Chicago School of Law
• 2004: "S.B. 179: Immunizing Hospitals from Liability for Negligent Credentialing" published In Ohio Trial, Volume 14, Issue 1

Peter and his wife, Laurie, have been married for more than 50 years and have two children, Kelly and Adam, and four grandchildren.

Peter 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.

Peter serves as chairman of the Advisory council of the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center. Peter and Laurie recently endowed “The Peter and Laurie Weinberger Professorship in Cancer Research” there.