As co-chair of Calfee’s Litigation Department, Chris represents companies in business, finance and healthcare-related litigation.  Chris has prevailed in state and federal courts as first-chair trial lawyer in multimillion-dollar jury and bench trials in and out of Ohio.

• In July 2011, obtained on behalf of a national bank, a final judgment from the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida dismissing all claims in a multi-million dollar real estate fraud, RICO and civil conspiracy case brought by disgruntled investors.
• In April 2011, summary judgment was awarded to Calfee’s publicly held client in a case alleging alter ego and corporate veil theories against the client arising from a failed Cleveland real estate venture.
• In 2010, represented a publicly owned Ohio bank in a class-action lawsuit arising from alleged false and fraudulent mass mailing advertisements; the case was dismissed with prejudice by the court with the granting of Calfee’s motion to dismiss.
• In November 2010, obtained summary judgment for a plaintiff bank against one of Ohio’s largest auto dealers arising from a fraudulent loan and auto purchase scam.
• In 2009, obtained a $1 million settlement for Calfee's public company client in litigation pending in Charlotte federal court arising from defective manufacturing equipment.
• In 2008, successfully mediated and settled, at a 98% discount, improper lending and financing claims against Calfee's client that were valued at greater than $40 million.
• In 2007, succeeded in obtaining, on behalf of a former owner, officer and director of an Ohio engineering company, an injunction prohibiting the plaintiff-former employer from interfering in the client’s prospective business ventures.
• Obtained summary judgment in 2007 for a bank defendant in a novel case relating to lending practices, loan administration, collection efforts, and common law invasion of privacy issues.
• In 2007, settled at a 97% discount from the plaintiff’s alleged damages, fiduciary duty, RICO and contract claims against an Ohio-based publicly held bank.
• In 2006, successfully represented a national retailer which commenced preemptive litigation against its landlord who sought to preclude the retailer from shuttering operations in one location in order to open a new store nearby.
• In 2006, judgment was entered for Calfee’s Ohio client by a Boston federal court in a $3 million trade secret and breach of contract case.
• In 2005, following a two-week federal trial in Hartford, Connecticut, Chris obtained judgment in favor of Calfee’s clients -- a Cleveland biotech company and six of its directors and officers -- arising from the Connecticut plaintiff’s $7 million lawsuit for breach of contract, fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, unfair trade practices, and breach of good faith and fair dealing. 

ERISA/Health Care Litigation

• In December 2010, following oral argument, obtained affirmation from the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals of a summary judgment award in an ERISA case involving Plan Administrator discretion, the appropriate standard of appellate review and the interplay between written Plan terms and alleged conflicting oral representations.
• In 2009, finalized a $27 million settlement against an international financial adviser arising out of the Calfee pension plan client’s losses due to investments made in Bernard Madoff-related funds.
• After moving to dismiss the plaintiff’s state law claims and removing the case to federal court, obtained summary judgment in 2009 from the Northern District of Ohio on behalf of the defendant in a health care insurance bad faith and ERISA case.
• Arbitrated and obtained a settlement in excess of $1 million in 2009 for Calfee's hospital client arising from a failed joint venture with a national, publicly held hospital holding company.
• In 2009, on cross-motions for summary judgment filed after three days of evidentiary hearing, successfully limited an ERISA plaintiff to a small fraction of his sought-after $9 million in damages and attorneys’ fees arising from the administration of a Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan.
• In 2008, Chris appeared in Dayton federal court for a class-action fairness hearing and reached an agreement to settle on favorable terms ERISA and RICO class-action claims arising from pension plan consulting and actuarial services. 
• In 2006, successfully represented a Fortune 500 company pension plan in a federal court action where mistaken plan overpayments were recovered from the plan participant.
• Arguing ERISA preemption and standing issues before the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in 2005, Chris obtained judgment affirming the Louisiana district court’s summary judgment on behalf of three clients.  The companies had been sued in Louisiana state court for $2.4 million, arising from their alleged violations of Louisiana’s bad faith insurance statute.
• In 2005, Chris obtained an American Arbitration Association award on behalf of Ohio’s largest Medicaid healthcare provider following state court litigation and a multi-day arbitration hearing arising from Medicaid billing fraud and breach of contract allegations against the client.

Chris was selected for Nightingale’s Healthcare News’ 2009 list of Outstanding Healthcare Litigators.  Chris currently serves on Calfee’s Executive Committee, its Diversity Committee, as Chair of the firm’s Pro Bono Committee, and as co-chair of Calfee’s Marketing and Client Services Committee.