Overview
Nick came to Spangenberg Shibley & Liber LLP in 2004 after serving as a law clerk for the late Honorable John M. Manos, Senior Judge for the Federal District Court for the Northern District of Ohio after graduating magna cum laude from the Cleveland Marshall College of Law in 2002.
During my two years with Judge Manos, I had the opportunity to observe trial lawyers from Ohio and all over the country. I set my sights high and was fortunate to be given the opportunity to practice at one of Ohio's most well-respected firms."
Nick has been recognized as an Ohio Super Lawyer® for many years. He was also recently selected to Best Lawyers® 2023 Lawyer of the Year for Personal Injury Litigation in Cleveland. Nick is also a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates. He serves as a trustee for the Ohio Association for Justice and is a member of Judge John M. Manos Inn of Court.
Nick is admitted to practice in Ohio state and federal courts and the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals.
Relentlessly Pursuing Justice
Nick has dedicated his career to seeking justice for people who have been injured or harmed by another's careless or reckless misconduct. He focuses his practice on representing victims of medical malpractice and other types of professional misconduct, including accounting malpractice, claims against insurance companies and insurance agents, and law enforcement misconduct. Nick also litigates car and truck crash cases.
Holding Wrongdoers Accountable & Protecting the Community
Nick is proud of the work he does in holding wrongdoers and rule-breakers accountable for the harms and losses they cause. A former professional athlete, Nick thrives in the competitive and highly demanding litigation atmosphere.
Professional Memberships
- Cleveland Academy of Trial Attorneys
- Ohio Association for Justice
- American Association for Justice
- Northern Ohio Italian American Foundation
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cleveland
- Board of Trustees, Cleveland Marshall Law Alumni Association
- Member, Cleveland Marshall College of Law Curriculum Advisory Board
- Holy Rosary Parish Finance Committee
Lectures
- No Pain, No Gain, No Compensation!: Exploitation of Professional Athletes Through Substandard Medical Care Administered by Team Physicians, CLEV. ST. LAW REV. vol. 49 no. 3, 2001
- Insurance Law, Bad Faith Litigation, 2008
- The Contingency Fee Alternative for Costly Legal Services, COSE, 2007
- Insurance Policy Construction and Interpretation, 2007
Awards and Honors
- Best Lawyers® 2021 Lawyer of the Year for Civil Rights Law in Cleveland
- The Best Lawyers in America, Civil Rights Law, 2017
- Selected to Ohio Super Lawyers - General Plaintiffs, 2017
- Ohio Super Lawyers Rising Star, 2006-2007, 2009-2013
- Selected to Super Lawyers: 2014-2015
- Selected to "Who To Watch in Law" List, Crain's Cleveland Business: 2014
- Anderson Publishing Award for student with high grade: Torts and Contracts
- CALI Excellence Awards (high grade): Torts, Contracts, Commercial Law, Secured Transactions, Estates and Trusts, Taxation I
- Judge Nancy A. Fuerst Award for Academic Achievement
- Carroll A. Sierk Award for achievement in Taxation I
- Pro Bono Community Service Award
- Reminger & Reminger Award for meritorious writing in field of medicine and law
- Academic All-American
- Male Athlete Outstanding Leadership Award
- East Coast Athletic Conference Medal of Honor
Results
- A $4.58 million wrongful death jury verdict involving the death of a mother who was sent home from the emergency room with a “migraine” and died within 24 hours from untreated brain swelling.
- A $3.97 million medical malpractice jury verdict for permanent injuries sustained during a typically routine biopsy procedure.
- A $2.1 million verdict on behalf of five children whose parents were killed by a driver who lost control of his car and struck them head-on.
- A significant settlement on behalf of a widow whose husband died of a heart attack when his doctor temporarily discontinued his heart medication without first consulting with the prescribing cardiologist.
- A $400,000 workplace intentional tort jury verdict for a temporary worker who lost his thumb while operating an unguarded router machine.
- A $1.65 million settlement for a woman whose health insurance was canceled after being diagnosed with a life-threatening medical condition.
- Nick represented the widow of a 62-year-old man who was restrained and pepper-sprayed to death while being detained for misdemeanor trespassing in Florida. This case and Nick were featured on the Today Show. The case settled for $4 million – the largest settlement against a Florida law enforcement agency at the time.
- A $500,000 settlement for a man who was shot by police while sitting in his car with his hands in the air. Fortunately, Nick’s client did not sustain life-threatening or serious physical injuries. The circumstances surrounding this shooting were highlighted in the Department of Justice’s investigative report concerning the Cleveland Police Department.
- A seven-figure settlement on behalf of a group of creditors who were deceived into extending credit to a mutual customer based on false and misleading information communicated to them by a bank.
Outside Activities
- Nick played professional soccer and was a member of the 1998 NPSL championship Cleveland Crunch indoor soccer team.
- Nick lives in Gates Mills with his wife Shannon and his two children, Nicky and Gianna.