Civil Division

Civil Division

Litigation: Our litigation section represents the City of Cleveland and its Departments and Divisions in proactive and defense litigation arising from contracts, property damage, personal injury, wrongful death, workers compensation, labor and employment matters, civil rights litigation, injunctive, declarative, and mandamus actions and other litigation in state and federal judicial and quasi-judicial tribunals in Ohio and throughout the country.  Our litigation section is organized by subject matter and includes the following practice groups: 

• Civil Rights Litigation and Police Practices: William Menzalora, Chief Assistant Director of Law;
• Labor and Employment Law: Tiffany Fischbach, Chief Assistant Director of Law;
• General Litigation:  J.R. Russell, Chief Assistant Director of Law.

Operations & Sustainability: Protects the health of residents and the environment, and provides environmental support for Brownfield projects and development at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. In addition, this section counsels and represents the City's electric and water utilities and airports.

• Chief Assistant Director of Law: Geraldine Butler

Code Enforcement: Fights for residents' quality of life through enforcement of the City's Building, Housing, Fire Prevention, Health and Zoning codes through criminal prosecution, civil nuisance abatement actions, and direct enforcement of the City’s codes.  This section counsels and represents the Department of Building & Housing, Department of Health and Division of Fire Prevention with respect to code enforcement.

• Chief Assistant Director of Law: David Roberts

House Counsel: Counsels the City regarding municipal law and finances, drafts legislation and contracts, and prosecutes tax cases.

• Chief Assistant Director of Law: Stephanie Melnyk

Development:  Helps the City's economic-development efforts by counseling and crafting real-estate and development transactions for job creation. The Law Department’s Development section counsels and represents the City Departments of Community Development, Economic Development, City Planning, Non-Code Enforcement Building & Housing Matters, and Port Control (airports).

• Chief Assistant Director of Law: Richard Bertovich

Public Records: All records of the City of Cleveland are public, except those exempted by the Ohio Revised Code. It is City policy that records will be organized and maintained so they are available for inspection and copying, as stated by law. The City Law Department receives nearly 25,000 public records requests per year. 

• Amy Hough, Chair