Peter Brodhead, Esq. Photo

Peter J. Brodhead, Esq.

Of Counsel
Peter Brodhead, Esq. Video Play
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Bio

Overview

"At Spangenberg, I have had the privilege of learning from and working with some of the finest trial lawyers in this area," he says. "After thirty years here, I still feel that there is no finer group of attorneys that work so skillfully and diligently on behalf of their clients and their causes."

Tireless Advocacy on Behalf of Clients

Over the span of three decades, Peter has handled a broad range of cases involving both traumatic injury as well as disease and illness due to toxic exposure from harmful chemicals and, in some instances, unsafe pharmaceutical products. Such matters have included:

Asbestos exposure resulting in asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma;

Fatal cancers resulting from substances such as benzene and vinyl chloride monomer fumes;

Respiratory disease due to metalworking fluid overexposure; and

Serious lung complications arising from asthma medication contaminated with harmful and potentially fatal bacteria.

Peter served as Plaintiffs' Liaison Counsel in the Federal Multidistrict Litigation 1909: In Re: Gadolinium-based Contrast Agent Product Liability Litigation.

Litigation

Cases on behalf of victims who suffered catastrophic injuries arising from vehicular and trucking collisions, as well as defective machinery and other products;

Civil rights matters primarily involving the unconstitutional use of excessive force; and

Multiple pharmaceutical injury cases involving Fosamax, Actos, and Tylenol.

Peter has penned "Ten Myths and Facts about Defective Drug Injury Claims: What Every Consumer Needs to Know."

In recent years, Peter has handled matters involving patent infringement and represented clients who were denied insurance coverage.

Employment

  • 1980-Present: Spangenberg Shibley & Liber LLP, Partner
  • 1979-1980: Honorable James J. Carroll and the Honorable Harry A. Hanna, Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court, Law Clerk
  • 1980-2018 – Partner: Spangenberg Shibley and Liber

Education

  • 1979: Cleveland-Marshall School of Law, J.D.
  • 1976 Denison University, B.A.
    • Major: History
  • 1972: St. Ignatius High School

Admissions

  • 1992: United States Supreme Court
  • 1982: 6th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals
  • 1980: U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio
  • 1979: Ohio Supreme Court

Leadership

  • 1995-Present: Ohio Association for Justice, Board of Trustees
  • 2015-2016: American Association for Justice, Zofran Litigation Group, Co-Chair
  • 2008-2011: Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, Board of Trustees
  • 2007-2011: American Association for Justice, Gadolinium Litigation Group, Co-Chair
  • 1996-2006: Ohio Association for Justice, Editorial Board Member, Ohio Trial
  • 2003-2004: Ohio Association for Justice, President
  • 1997-1998: Vice-Chair, American Bar Association
  • 1997-1998: Chair, Ohio Academy of Trial Lawyers

Memberships

  • American Association for Justice
  • American Bar Association
  • American Board of Trial Advocates, Association
  • Cleveland Academy of Trial Attorneys
  • Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association
  • International Society of Barristers, Fellow
  • John Manos Inns of Court, Master Bencher
  • Judicial Conference of the Eighth Judicial District of Ohio
  • Litigation Counsel of America, Fellow
  • Ohio Association for Justice
  • Ohio Civil Justice Reform Task Force

Lectures

  • 2016: Cleveland Legal Aid Services Trial Advocacy, “Direct Examination: The Care and Feeding of Your Witnesses Before and During Trial”
  • 2015: Zofran: GSK and the Generics, AAJ Hot Topics and Trends in Litigation Seminar
  • 2015: Zofran: The Antiemetic “Setron” Drugs: Their similarities and differences, AAJ Annual Convention
  • 2014: Testosterone Therapy: Mass Torts Made Perfect, Panel Member
  • 2013: MDL v. Coordinated State Court Litigation: Strategy, Synergy & Let Them Be, OAJ Winter Convention
  • 2013: Trial Techniques, OAJ Winter Convention
  • 2013: Medtronic Infuse Clinical & Regulatory Issues, AAJ Summer Convention
  • 2013: Insider Scoop: Mass Torts on the Horizon, Mass Torts Made Perfect
  • 2013: Medtronic Infuse Litigation: Hot Topics CLE Program, AAJ Winter Convention
  • 2012: Medtronic Infuse AAJ teleseminar
  • 2012: Actos: Medical and Scientific Literature – What Does It Say And Where Do We Stand Today? Mass Torts Made Perfect, Philadelphia, PA
  • 2010: Omniscan: Chemistry and Toxicology Overview. Mass Torts Made Perfect, Las Vegas, NV

Awards and Honors

  • 2017: Selected to Ohio Super Lawyers - Class Action
  • 2008-Present: Best Lawyers in America, Personal Injury Litigation-Plaintiffs.
  • 2009-2016: Top 100 Trial Lawyers, American Trial Lawyers Association
  • 2005-2015: Listed as Leading Lawyer in Inside Business Magazine
  • 2004-2015: “Ohio Super Lawyer,” Nominated and Published by Law and Politics and Cincinnati Magazine and Northern Ohio Magazine
  • 2004-2015: Selected to Top 100 Super Lawyers
  • Selected to Top 100 Ohio Super Lawyers
  • Selected to Top 50 Cleveland Super Lawyers
  • Selected to Top 50 Columbus Super Lawyers

Pharmaceutical & Medical Device Experience

  • Actos
  • Albuterol (Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee, Co-Discovery Chair/Trial Counsel)
  • Breast Implant
  • Crestor
  • Fen-Phen
  • Fosamax
  • Gadolinium (Plaintiffs’ Liaison Counsel/Member: Plaintiffs’ Executive Committee, Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee/Science and Daubert Committees/Trial Counsel)
  • Granuflo/NaturaLyte
  • Medtronic Infuse
  • Medtronic Pacemaker
  • Pradaxa
  • Sulzer Hip (subclass counsel)
  • Tylenol
  • Welding Fumes

Organizations

  • American Red Cross, Platelet & Plasma Donor
  • Little Sisters of the Poor, Advisory Trustee

Publications

  • 1997: “History of Capital Punishment,” published in Ohio Trial Magazine
  • 1993: “Junk Science is Junk Defense,” published in Ohio Trial Magazine

Outside of the Courtroom

Peter and his wife, Ellie, have four sons. He sings in the adult choir at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Gates Mills and plays keyboard in a band composed of attorneys and judges. The band plays charity and non-profit organization events free of charge.

Peter is also a long-time supporter of the American Red Cross and donates platelets and plasma regularly.

He is a member of the Advisory Board for the Little Sisters of the Poor which provides a nurturing living environment and skilled care for the elderly poor in Cleveland.

    I was having a hard time finding someone to represent me. I was frustrated. But after SS&L took my case, I was treated VERY well! Ericka Campbell is a rockstar! She was phenomenal at communicating with me. Spangenberg Shibley & Liber are the utmost

    - William R.

    SS&L treated me well and I felt supported.

    - Brian R.

    Our Family will be Forever Grateful!

    - Tim S.

    Attorney Tor and the whole team at Spangenberg Shibley & Liber, including the receptionist, made me feel welcome, comforted, and confident throughout my case. They showed me respect and kindness from start to finish.

    - Zandra S.

    I was feeling uncertain but after I met with Nick I felt at ease & confident. Communication was great, I was constantly informed and everyone was genuine & compassionate.

    - Sonja S.
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