Community Involvement

Committed to Giving Back to Our Cleveland Community

Supporting various state organizations together with our involvement in the Cleveland legal community has been a large part of our culture at Spangenberg Shibley & Liber LLP for over 70 years. Through defending people's rights, promoting legal education, and helping nonprofit programs, Spangenberg Shibley & Liber LLP encourages public service that benefits the community. Our Cleveland personal injury lawyers are proud to sponsor a variety of charities and causes that truly make a difference, including those listed below.

For more information about our firm’s community involvement, call Spangenberg Shibley & Liber LLP at (216) 600-0114.

The City Club of Cleveland

Through a special contribution in memory of Craig Spangenberg’s service and commitment to the City Club of Cleveland, the Craig Spangenberg Memorial Forum is one of several of Forum Foundation programs which strives to create a civil civic dialogue on community-shared issues. Established in 1912, the City Club is the oldest continuously operating free speech forum in the United States.

American Red Cross

Among the many humanitarian efforts the American Red Cross provides, it is the largest supplier of blood and blood products in the United States. We are proud to note that Spangenberg partner Peter J. Brodhead is a longtime regular donor of platelets and plasma with the American Red Cross. Patients who need platelets include those undergoing chemotherapy, bone marrow / stem cell transplants, organ transplants, or those with certain blood abnormalities. Plasma products are used for treatment of burns and trauma, as well as for cancer patients. For more information regarding donating blood, platelets or plasma, visit the American Red Cross platelet donation website.

Cleveland Rape Crisis Center

The Spangenberg Law Firm has been pleased to sponsor the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center’s biennial chorale benefit performance, Sing Out! Which raises funds to support survivors of sexual abuse, promote healing and prevention and advocate for social change.

Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association

We are pleased to contribute to the pro bono and public service programs supported by the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association (CMBA). Rock the Foundation is CMBF’s largest fundraising event and raises the majority of the money needed for many of the organization’s community programs, including the award-winning 3Rs: Rights, Responsibilities, Realities. In 2011 and 2012, Rock the Foundation rocked the House of Blues, where Spangenberg partner and CMBA Board Member Peter J. Brodhead played keyboard for Cleveland's own No Name Band. The band, composed entirely of attorneys, plays free of charge for charity and non-profit organizational events.

Cmba 3rs Mentoring Program

The 3Rs—Rights, Responsibilities, Realities—is a program of the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association (CMBA). In this unprecedented program, members of Cleveland's legal community partner with the Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) and East Cleveland City Schools. Volunteers personally connect with high school students to address fundamental issues facing the students, our city and our region. Using a real-world curriculum focused on the United States Constitution, 3Rs program volunteers visit 10th grade social studies classes to work with small groups of students to accomplish the following goals: • Improving understanding of and respect for the law and our Constitution • Improving passage of the Ohio Graduation Test • Providing practical career counseling to focus students on their potential beyond high school • Improving the "pipeline" of minorities flowing into legal careers in the region

Cleveland Marshall College of Law

Our firm is committed to providing financial support to the Trial Courtroom Project Fund at Cleveland State University’s Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. Investment in the trial courtroom will strengthen the legal education program at Cleveland-Marshall College of Law as it continues to serve as a great community resource. As a Cleveland-Marshall College of Law alumnus, Spangenberg partner Peter J. Brodhead is an emeritus member of the Cleveland-Marshall Visiting Committee. The committee is composed of approximately 30 of the area's leading attorneys, judges and community leaders. The community advises the law school on issues affecting legal education and strengthens the school in the areas of admissions, advocacy, and development.

Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

The Spangenberg Law Firm is proud to support the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center (Case CCC). The firm sponsored the Case CCC team in the annual VeloSano Bike to Cure cycling event, which raises money for translational and clinical research at the Cleveland Clinic, leading to new scientific knowledge about treating and preventing cancer. Case CCC, based at Case Western Reserve University, is an organization that supports cancer-related research efforts through partnership with University Hospitals Case Medical Center and the Cleveland Clinic. Peter H. Weinberger, the Managing Partner at Spangenberg Shibley & Liber LLP, serves as the Chair of the Leadership Council of the Case CCC.

Legal Aid Society of Cleveland

Spangenberg Shibley & Liber is pleased to support The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland. Founded in 1905, The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland is the fifth oldest legal aid society in the world and has an illustrious history of providing high-quality legal services to indigent clients. 100% of registration proceeds to the Spangenberg Litigation Institute, which focuses on the latest techniques in litigation and trial practice in the tradition of our firm’s founding partner, Craig Spangenberg, benefit the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland.

Hattie Larlham

Hattie Larlham has provided healthcare and social programs for children and adults with developmental disabilities for the past 40 years, believing that every individual who experiences developmental disabilities deserves quality care, including opportunities for social interaction and fun. The Spangenberg Law Firm was a gold-level supporter of the 9th Annual Rudolph H. Garfield Circle of Caring, which was held to honor Bruce G. Hearey for his service and dedication. The Circle of Caring is an annual gala that recognizes those whose leadership and generosity epitomize the Hattie Larlham spirit of dedication and caring. Learn more about the history of Hattie Larlham and how to volunteer today.

Frank J. Battisti Memorial Lecture

Our firm supports the Frank J. Battisti Memorial Lecture, which brings distinguished scholars, experts, and speakers to Case Western Reserve University as part of its annual lecture series. In 2010, the series featured Julian Bond, a world-renowned member of the United States civil rights movement, speaking on the role the law has played in both encouraging and thwarting that movement, beginning with the seminal Supreme Court decision of Brown v. Board of Education in 1954.

The Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

Peter H. Weinberger, is the Chairman of the Leadership Council of the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center.

American Association for Justice

The Spangenberg Law Firm has been a proud sponsor the American Association for Justice’s annual Student Trial Advocacy Competition (AAJ STAC) in Northeast Ohio. STAC is a mock trial competition which provides law students the opportunity to practice their trial advocacy skills before distinguished members of the bar and bench. The competition, which draws student teams from around the region, is made possible by the more than 80 judges and attorneys who donate their time to serve as judges during the weekend-long competition.

North Coast Community Homes

Peter J. Brodhead is an active trustee and committee chair of several nonprofit organizations, including North Coast Community Homes (NCCH), which provides safe, comfortable and affordable housing for individuals with mental retardation, mental illness, and other disabilities. The NCCH Board helps oversee a program acknowledged as the most outstanding nonprofit organization in the Greater Cleveland Metropolitan area by the Anisfield-Wolf Award in its fourth year.

The Beck Center for the Arts

The Beck Center for the Arts is a nonprofit performing arts and arts education organization dedicated to enriching Northeastern Ohioans' quality of life. Spangenberg partner Dennis R. Lansdowne volunteers on the Beck Center Board of Directors, which combines professional theatrical productions with comprehensive curriculum-based arts education in creative arts therapies, dance, music, theater and visual arts. Serving over 100,000 annually in Cuyahoga, Lorain, Lake and Summit Counties, the center's mission is to offer the highest quality arts experience, performances and education to all people and communities of the region.

Bringing Holiday Cheer

The Spangenberg Law Firm team has made it a holiday tradition to help deliver a fantastic holiday to area families. Through a lot of behind-the-scenes planning, shopping, and wrapping, we have been able to provide help spread holiday cheer and provide generous donations of clothing, household items, toys and more to wonderful families in Greater Cleveland.

The Cleveland Foodbank

Food donations help the Foodbank to distribute food to over 450 soup kitchens, pantries, and shelters serving the hungry. Donations will help fill the stomachs and warm the hearts of hungry children and adults throughout Northeast Ohio. Learn more on the Cleveland Foodbank website.

Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association

Spangenberg Shibley & Liber helped sponsor the 9th Annual Halloween Bench-Bar Run for Justice. Proceeds benefit the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Foundation (CMBF), which funds the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association's pro bono and public service programs, including the above-mentioned 3Rs program. Spangenberg partner Dennis R. Lansdowne took on the challenge, braving the elements and the distance. Planned in partnership with Hermes Sports & Events Cleveland, the run offered one-mile, five-mile and 5K distances paired with a morning of fun family activities.

City of Parma Andrew Boyko Memorial Scholarship Foundation

The Board of Trustees of the City of Parma Andrew Boyko Memorial Scholarship Foundation offers significant scholarships to many worthy young men and women as they further their post-high school education. The foundation was established in 2006 in honor of Andrew Boyko, who served the city of Parma for over 30 years as a judge, law director and in many other capacities.

Spangenberg Shibley & Liber Goes Green

SSL is proud to announce we have been officially designated as CMBA Green Certified for 2010 - 2012. The attorneys and staff take great pride in this distinction and see it as one way of contributing to the GREEN Initiative. CMBA's Green Initiative and Green Initiative Committee was first announced by 2008 - 2009 President Michael E. Brittain at the 2008 CMBA Annual Meeting. GIC promotes environmentally responsible programs or "green practices" for adoption by law firms, small law offices / solo practitioners and the CMBA itself. The CMBA Green Initiative Committee promotes its own suggested Green Practices to Cleveland firms in an effort to lessen the cumulative effects on the environment.

Cleveland Institute of Music

Peter J. Brodhead serves on Cleveland Institute of Music's Board of Trustees. The institute provides students from around the world with an outstanding, thorough and intensive education in the art of music performance and related musical disciplines. The majority of alumni perform with the world's most acclaimed musical organizations. Peter is proud to serve on the board of one of Northeast Ohio's greatest cultural treasures.