Partner

Phone: 216-241-8333 x 131
Fax: 216-241-5890
E-mail: jritzler@rcp-attorneys.com

Joe is one of the founding members of Ritzler, Coughlin & Paglia and has served as co-chairman of the firm’s litigation practice since inception of the firm. Joe has been one of the most sought after and successful civil defense attorneys in Northeast Ohio for many years. He has developed his practice through his tireless representation of several of the largest insurance companies in the world and has tried in excess of 250 cases to verdict and has argued in courts throughout the state. He also assists insurance companies in fraud investigation.

Joe has been married to his wife Paula in excess of 30 years and they have two sons. The oldest son, Adam, is a pharmacist at the Cleveland Clinic and their youngest son, Charles, is pursuing his PhD in Animal Research.

Areas of Practice

Automobile negligence, insurance law, construction defects, commercial litigation, torts, employment litigation, trucking/transportation, products liability, employer intentional torts, premises liability, insurance coverage law, bad faith, environmental liability, defamation, business litigation, personal injury and insurance fraud investigation.

Bar Admissions

• Ohio, 1991

• U.S. District Court Northern District of Ohio, 1991

• U.S. Court of Appeals, 6th Circuit, 1993

• Ohio Supreme Court

Professional Associations and Memberships

• Life Member of the Eighth Judicial District

• Ohio State Bar Association

• Cleveland Bar Association

• Akron Bar Association

• Lorain County Bar Association

Education

• Cleveland State University, Cleveland Marshall College of Law, Cleveland, Ohio, 1990, J.D. Honors: Moot Court Team

• Youngstown State University, Youngstown, Ohio, 1987, B.S. Honors: Deans List

Civic Involvement

Joe is a founding member and current Chairman of the Board of the Cleveland Chapter of “A Special Wish” which grants wishes to terminally ill children from birth to age 21.