Notable Cases

At Berkman, Gordon, Murray & DeVan, our history and capabilities are demonstrated by the cases we have litigated .  Many of the civil and criminal cases we have handled have resulted in significant court decisions included in official state and federal reporters. Below is a list of some of those reported decisions. 

L.D. Mgmt. Co. v. Gray, 988 F.3d 836 (6th Cir. 2021)

Bickers v. Saavedra, 502 F.Supp.3d 1354 (S.D. Ind. 2020)

Free Speech Coalition v. Attorney General of United States, 974 F.3d 408 (3rd Cir. 2020)

Marquardt v. Carlton, 971 F. 3d.546 (6th Cir. 2020)

L.D. Mgmt. Co. v. Thomas, 456 F.Supp.3d 873 (W.D. Ky. 2020)

Three Expo Events, LLC v. City of Dallas, 907 F.3d 333 (5th Cir. 2018)

Free Speech Coalition, Inc. v. Attorney General of United States., 825 F.3d 149 (3rd Cir. 2016)

Murray v. Chagrin Valley Publishing Co., 25 N.E.3d 1111 (Ohio App. 8th Dist. 2014)

Annex Books, Inc. v. City of Indianapolis, 740 F.3d 1136 (7th Cir. 2014)

Free Speech Coalition, Inc. v. Holder, 957 F. Supp.2d 564 (E.D. Pa. 2013)

Entertainment Productions, Inc. v. Shelby County, Tenn., 721 F.3d 729 (6th Cir. 2013) cert denied 134 S.Ct. 906 (2014)

University of Alabama Bd. of Trustees v. New Life Art, Inc., 683 F.3d 1266 (11th Cir. 2012)

Free Speech Coalition, Inc. v. Attorney General of United States., 677 F.3d 519 (3rd Cir. 2012)

Ruffin v. Entertainment of the Eastern Panhandle, 845 F.Supp.2d 762 (N.D. W.Va. 2011)

Ocello v. Koster, 354 S.W.3d 187 (Mo. 2011)

East Brooks Books, Inc. v. City of Memphis, 633 F.3d 459 (6th Cir. 2011)

Annex Books, Inc. v. City of Indianapolis, 624 F.3d 368 (7th Cir. 2010)

Imaginary Images Inc., v. Evans, 612 F.3d 736 (4th Cir. 2010)

Texas Alcoholic Beverage Com’m, v. Silver City Club, 315 S.W.3d 643 (Tex. Ct. App. 2010)

Annex Books, Inc. v. City of Indianapolis, 673 F.Supp.3d 750 (S.D. Ind. 2009)

Entertainment Productions, Inc. v. Shelby County, Tenn., 588 F.3d 371 (6th Cir. 2009) cert denied 131 S.Ct. 141 (2010)

Annex Books, Inc. v. City of Indianapolis, 581 F.3d 460 (7th Cir. 2009)

Connection Distributing Co. v. Holder, 557 F.3d 321 (6th Cir. 2009) (en banc) cert. denied 558 U.S. 821, 130 S.Ct. 362 (2009)

Casey v. Reidy, 180 Ohio App. 3d 615 (7th Dist. 2009)

J.L. Spoons v. Dragani, 538 F.3d 379 (6th Cir. 2008) cert. denied 558 U.S ---. 815, 130 S.Ct. 53 (2009)

O’Neill v. Coughlan, 511 F.3d 638 (6th Cir. 2008) cert. denied 555 U.S. 1011,129 S.Ct. 570 (2008)

State v. Provan, 178 Ohio App. 3d 107 (5th Dist. 2008)

Abilene Retail # 30 v. Board of Commissioners of Dickinson County, 492 F.3d 1164 (10th Cir. 2007) rehearing denied 508 F.3d 958 (10th Cir. 2007) cert denied 552 U.S. 1296, 128 S.Ct. 1762 (2008)

Illusions—Dallas Private Club, Inc. v. Steen, 482 F.3d 299 (5th Cir. 2007)

American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression v. Strickland, 512 F. Supp. 2d 1082 (S.D. Ohio 2007)

Giovani Carandola, Ltd. v. Fox, 470 F.3d 1074 (4th Cir. 2006)

Apanovitch v. Houk, 466 F.3d 460 (6th Cir. 2006)

Giovani Carandola, Ltd. v. City of Greensboro, 457 F.Supp.2d 615 (M.D. N.C. 2006)

Passions Video, Inc. v. Nixon, 458 F. 3d 837 (8th Cir. 2006)

Conchatta, Inc. v. Miller, 458 F.3d 258 (3rd Cir. 2006) cert denied 549 U.S. 1246, 127 S.Ct. 1330 (2007)

T.Weston v. Mineral Cty, W.Va. , 219 W.Va. 564 (2006)

Ravenna Rd. Management v. City of Twinsburg, 450 F. Supp.2d 782 (N.D. Ohio 2006)

Stojetz v. Ishee, 389 F. Supp. 2d 858 (N.D. Ohio 2005)

In re Flat Glass Litigation, 385 F.3d 350 (3rd Cir. 2004) cert denied 544 U.S. 948, 125 S.Ct. 1699 (2005)

State ex rel. Rodak v. Betleski, 104 Ohio St. 3d 345 (2004)

Mallett v. United States, 334 F.3d 491 (6th Cir. 2003)

ETW Corp. v. Jireh Publishing, Inc., 332 F.3d 915 (6th Cir. 2003)

Bookfriends, Inc. v. Taft, 223 F.Supp. 2d 932 (S.D. Ohio 2002)

Franklin Jefferson, Ltd. v. City of Columbus, 211 F. Supp. 2d 954 (S.D. Ohio 2002)

Giovani Carandola, Ltd. v. Bason, 303 F.3d 507 (4th Cir. 2002)

In re Flat Glass Antitrust Litigation, 288 F.3d 83 (3rd Cir. 2002)

U.S. v. Foresome Entertainment Co., 318 F.Supp. 2d 548 (N.D. Ohio 2002)

Harris v. Fitchville Tp. Trustees, 154 F. Supp. 2d 1182 (N.D. Ohio 2001)

State v. Quandt, 143 Ohio App. 3d 570 (8th Dist. 2001)

Aseff v. Cleveland Bd. Of Zoning Appeals, 142 Ohio App. 3d 624 (8th Dist. 2001)

R.W.B. of Riverview v. Stemple, 111 F.Supp. 2d 748 (S.D. W.Va. 2000)

J.L. Spoons, Inc. v. O’Connor, 194 F.R.D. 589 (N.D. Ohio 2000)

Union Twp. Bd. of Trustees v. Old 74 Corp., 137 Ohio App. 3d 289 (12th Dist. 2000)

United States v. Skeddle, 64 F. Supp., 2d 700 (N.D. Ohio 2000); 989 F. Supp. 870, 905,912, 917; (N.D. Ohio 1997) 981 F. Supp. 1069, 1074 (N.D. 1997); 940 F. Supp. 1146, 178 F. R D. 167(N.D. Ohio 1996)

Pennsylvania Pride, Inc. v. Southhampton Tp., 78 F. Supp. 2d 359 (M.D. Pa. 1999)

J.L. Spoons, Inc. v. City of Brunswick, 49 F.Supp.2d 1032 (N.D. Ohio 1999); 18 F.Supp.2d 782 (N.D. Ohio 1998); 181 F.R.D. 354 (N.D. Ohio 1998)

Fred Siegel Co., L.P.A. v. Arter & Hadden, 85 Ohio St. 3d 171 (1999)

J.L. Spoons, Inc. v. Brown, 40 F.Supp.2d 902 (N.D. Ohio 1999)

Chubb v. Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Comp., 81 Ohio St. 3d 275 (1998)

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum v. Gentile, 134 F.3d 749 (6th Cir. 1998)

R.A.S. Entertainment Group, Inc. v. Cleveland, 130 Ohio App. 3d 125 (8th Dist. 1998)

State ex rel. Eckstein v. Midwest Pride IV, Inc., 128 Ohio App. 3d 1 (12th Dist. 1998)

State v. Graor, 126 Ohio App. 3d 488 (8th Dist. 1998)

Interstate Indep. Corp. v. Fayette Cty. Bd. of Zoning Appeals, 123 Ohio App. 3d 511 (12th Dist. 1997)

Stringfellow’s of New York, Ltd. v. City of New York, 671 N.Y.S 2d 406 (N.Y. 1998)

Contempt of Lusnia, 121 Ohio App. 3d 184 (8th Dist. 1997)

State ex rel. Bowers v. Elida Rd. Video & Books, Inc., 120 Ohio App. 3d 78 (3rd Dist. 1997)

State ex rel. Eckstein v. Video Express, 119 Ohio App. 3d 261 (12th Dist. 1997)

Raceway Video and Bookshop, Inc. v. Cleveland Bd. of Zoning Appeals, 118 Ohio App. 3d 264 (8th Dist. 1997)

State v. Gaul, 117 Ohio App. 3d 82 (8th Dist. 1997)

Earley v. Executive Bd. of United Transp. Union, 957 F.Supp. 997 (N.D. Ohio 1996)

State v. Keaton, 113 Ohio App. 3d 696 (12th Dist. 1996)

State ex rel. Midwest Pride IV, Inc. v. Pontious, 75 Ohio St. 3d 565 (1996)

Adult Video Assoc. v. U.S. Dept. of Justice, 71 F.3d 563 (6th Cir. 1995)

United States v. Jenkins, 46 F.3d 447 (5th Cir. 1995)

State v. Apanovitch, 107 Ohio App. 3d 82 (8th Dist. 1995)

State v. Waszily, 105 Ohio App. 3d 510 (8th Dist. 1995)

Thompson v. Wing, 70 Ohio St. 3d 176 (1994)

Triplett Grille v. City of Akron, 40 F.3d 129 (6th Cir. 1994)

Zilich v. Longo, 34 F.3d 359 (6th Cir. 1994) cert denied 514 U.S. 1036, 115 S.Ct. 1400 (1995)

United States v. Liberatore, 856 F. Supp. 358 (N.D. Ohio 1994)

United States v. International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Chaffeurs, Warehousemen and Helpers of America, AFL-CIO, 838 F. Supp. 800 (S.D. N. Y. 1993)

United States v. Krasner, 841 F. Supp. 649 (M.D. Pa. 1993)

West Virginia Pride, Inc. v. Wood County, 811 F. Supp. 1142 (S.D. W.Va. 1993)

United States v. Sturman, 951 F.2d 1466 (6th Cir. 1991) cert denied 504 U.S. 985, 112 S.Ct. 2964 (1992)

Morscott, Inc. v Cleveland, 936 F.2d 271 (6th Cir. 1991)

Griffin Systems, Inc. v. Ohio Dept. of Insurance, 61 Ohio St. 3d 552 (1991)

Cleveland v. Corrai, 70 Ohio App.3d 679 (8th Dist. 1990)

State ex rel. Pizza v. Strope, 54 Ohio St. 3d 41 (1990)

Brookpark News & Books, Inc. v. Cleveland, 66 Ohio App.3d 613 (8th Dist. 1990)

White Fabricating Co. v. United States, 903 F.2d 404 (6th Cir. 1990)

City of South Euclid v. Richardson, 49 Ohio St. 3d 147 (1990)

State v. Applause Video, Inc., 434 N.W.2d 864 (Iowa 1989)

Ed Stinn Chevrolet v. National City Bank, 31 Ohio St. 3d 150 (1987)

United States v. Sinito, 723 F.2d 1250 (6th Cir. 1983) cert denied 105 S.Ct. 86 (1984)

State ex rel. Corrigan v. Barnes, 3 Ohio App.3d 40 (8th Dist. 1982)

Turoso v. Cleveland Municipal Court, 674 F.2d 486 (6th Cir. 1982) cert denied 459 U.S. 880, 103 S.Ct. 177 (1982)

Sovereign News Co. v. Falke, 674 F.2d 484 (6th Cir. 1982) cert denied 459 U.S. 864, 103 S.Ct. 142 (1982)

East Side News, Inc. v. City of Geneva, Ohio, 583 F. Supp. 484 (N.D. Ohio 1981)

State ex rel. Crockett v. Robinson, 67 Ohio St. 3d 363 (1981)

State ex rel. Laramie Corp. v. City of Cleveland, 65 Ohio St. 3d 35 (1981)

State v. Young, 62 Ohio St. 370 (1980)

Consumer Credit Ins. Agency, Inc. v. United States, 599 F.2d 770 (6th Cir. 1979) cert denied 445 U.S. 903, 100 S.Ct. 1078 (1980)

Lo-Ji Sales v. New York, 442 U.S. 319 (1979)

Pinkus v. United States, 436 U.S. 293 (1978)

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