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Practice/Industry Groups:
Litigation
Health Care
Developmental Disabilities
Manufacturing
Transportation & Logistics
Jim Hughes is a partner in the litigation group and represents clients in complex commercial litigation matters, including health care and environmental litigation. His practice also includes developmental disabilities law with an emphasis on Medicaid litigation.
Representative Experience
Litigation
Recovered $6 million in action against the Ohio Department of Education in matter involving calculation of state foundation funding for public school systems -- Cincinnati City School District v. State Board of Education, 2008 Ohio 1434; Obtained favorable decision on attorney fee application arising out of same case -- Cincinnati City School District v. State Board of Education, 2008 Ohio 2845
Recovered $7.2 million on behalf of Dayton City School District in matter involving calculation of state foundation funding
Successfully defended Verizon Wireless in action brought to enjoin construction of cellular communications tower
Favorable decision for beer manufacturer following jury trial in matter involving business valuation of beer distributing franchise under the Ohio Alcoholic Beverage Franchise Act – Bonbright v. InBev USA
Successfully defended against TRO seeking to enjoin actions of client engaged in business of providing reinsurance coverage for automobile extended warranty products
Prevailed at trial in action brought under the Uniform Trade Secrets Act; Secured decision for client against contract manufacturer for misappropriation of trade secrets relating to proprietary formula used to manufacture professional grade hair color products; Decision affirmed by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit – Amalgamated Industries v. Tressa, 2003 U.S. App. LEXIS 11905
Won decision at trial in favor of municipal water company in trespass action brought against surface mining company to enjoin mining activities that caused the sudden interruption and depletion of municipality’s water supply – Village of Byesville v. Northshore Coal, 2003 Ohio 4118
Represented major beer manufacturer in state and federal courts in matters involving termination of franchise agreements with distributors under the Ohio Alcoholic Beverage Franchise Act
Advised majority shareholder with respect to statutory appraisal action brought by minority shareholders in the Delaware Court of Chancery; Represented majority shareholder in action brought by minority shareholders alleging breach of fiduciary duty arising out of debt conversion and merger activities; Case partially resolved by award of summary judgment in favor of majority shareholder on breach of fiduciary duty claim arising out of debt conversion claim
Obtained decision in favor of hospital after hearing concluding that hospital had just cause to terminate physician’s hospital staff privileges
Successfully defended hospital in TRO action and in preliminary injunction hearing in action filed by physician alleging wrongful termination of staff privileges
Obtained injunction after TRO and preliminary injunction hearing to enjoin State of Ohio from enacting legislation that imposed unreasonably high Medicaid reimbursement rates
Obtained summary judgment in favor of client in class action brought by property owners against local manufacturer alleging diminution of property value based on company’s activities; Decision affirmed by Ohio Court of Appeals and Ohio Supreme Court-- Hager v. Waste Technologies Industries, 2002 Ohio 3466
Prevailed in action filed by ambulance company against hospital alleging breach of contract and interference with business opportunity; Obtained award of attorney fees under Civil Rule 11 and the Ohio frivolous conduct statute
Developmental Disabilities
Legal advisor to the Ohio Association of County Boards of Developmental Disabilities
Lead trial counsel for local county boards in Thompson v. Hayes, 2006 Ohio App. LEXIS 5940, in defense of action brought by private providers and the Ohio Providers Resource Association (OPRA) seeking to eliminate the provision in Ohio law requiring service contracts between county boards and private providers
Trial Counsel to county boards and individual taxpayers in Zimmerman v. ODJFS to enjoin ODJFS administrative rules that set reimbursement rates in excess of the provider's usual and customary rate (UCR)
Community and Professional Activities
Member of the Columbus, Ohio State and American Bar Associations
Member, American Health Lawyers Association
Member, Board of Trustees, Arthritis Foundation, Central Ohio Chapter Vice President, Board of Trustees, International Field Studies
Past Member, Board of Trustees, Columbus Academy
Admitted to Practice before Ohio Supreme Court; United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth and Sixth Circuits; United States District Court, Southern District of Ohio, Northern District of Ohio, Eastern District of Kentucky
Firm Activities
Elected Partner 1995
Elected Member of Executive Committee (2006-Present) - Committee serves as controller of the firm's resources and body for policy-making and long-range planning for the firm
Compensation Committee (2009 - Present) - Responsible for determining partner compensation
Professional Staff Committee (2004-2007) - Charged with training and evaluation of all non-partner attorneys
Vice-Chair Manufacturing and Logistics Industry Group (2002-present) Manage and coordinate practice development efforts for organizational group
Member, Finance Committee (1999-2004) - Responsible for development of firm's annual budget, supervising management of firm's 401k and pension plans, and monitoring validity and collectability of accounts receivable
Lateral Acquisition Committee (2002-2005) - Evaluate retention of lateral attorneys to firm
Chair, Law Firm Support Network (1997-2002) - Management of network of ten Ohio law firms formed for the purpose of sharing administrative and management resources and referral of legal work
Member, Practice Development Committee (1994-2002) - Committee responsible for firm's public relations and marketing efforts
Awards and Recognitions
Education
Capital University School of Law (J.D., with honors, 1986); Order of the Curia; Capital University Law Review
Union College (B.A., with honors, 1980)
The Ohio State University, Fisher College of Business (Executive Education Leadership Program, 2008)
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