DEFENSE OF INSURANCE COMPANIES AND THEIR INSUREDS

Jeff Kay has extensive experience, in both state courts and federal district courts, across multiple areas of practice with the primary area of expertise being civil litigation defense.  He has provided representation to numerous insurance companies/risk pools, including, among others, Nationwide and its wholly owned subsidiaries (Scottsdale Insurance Company, Scottsdale Surplus Lines Insurance Company, Scottsdale Indemnity Company and Western Heritage Insurance Company), Freedom Specialty Insurance (subsidiary of Scottsdale Insurance Company), Lloyd’s of London, Selective Insurance Company of North America, Fireman’s Fund, Trident, Colony Insurance Company, Nautilus Insurance Company, CORSA and PERSO, and their insureds with respect to both first and third party claims which includes the following areas: employment discrimination, professional liability (including doctors, lawyers, accountants, home inspectors, counselors and nursing homes), municipal liability, automobile negligence claims, general commercial matters, bad faith claims, uninsured/underinsured claims, products liability, wrongful death claims, commercial premises liability claims, and property and casualty claims.

He also has significant experience in providing advice and representation in insurance coverage matters, including the securing of declaratory judgments on policy interpretations.

DEFENSE OF PUBLIC ENTITIES AND PRIVATE EMPLOYERS

Jeff has provided counsel and representation to public entities, public officials and private employers in cases involving issues such as hiring, terms of employment, defamation, harassment based on gender, race, age and disability, wrongful discharge, claimed violations of the First, Fourth, Fifth, Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution, excessive force, false imprisonment, malicious prosecution and wrongful death.

Jeff has successfully handled cases before state and federal administrative agencies, with a focus on representing clients before the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission and the Ohio Civil Rights Commission.  From 1996 to 1997 Jeff was employed by the Ohio Civil Rights Commission and, among other duties, was primarily responsible for drafting the Cleveland Regional Office’s Recommendation – for submission to the Commission – which set forth the Cleveland Regional Office’s legal basis for its determination as to whether an employer had or had not unlawfully engaged in discrimination.  His time and experience with the Ohio Civil Rights Commission has provided Jeff with unique insight into the handling of employment matters before such agencies.

BUSINESS AND TRANSACTIONAL EXPERIENCE

In addition, Jeff demonstrates a rare and unique combination of excellence and success as both a trial lawyer and a transactional attorney.  This difficult to find combination of skills provides his business clients with a significant advantage.  Jeff’s proven courtroom abilities, combined with his transactional experience, gives him a unique ability to analyze and solve a wide variety of legal issues and problems faced by his clients.  While Jeff is extremely effective in settling disputes, when necessary he will fiercely protect his clients’ legal interests in the courtroom.

Jeff understands the needs of business owners and entrepreneurs as he is an entrepreneur and investor himself.  Jeff founded Jacobs III Capital Holdings, LLC, a creative and cutting-edge investment company, in 2003 and since then it has invested in several successful business ventures including residential real estate development.  Jacobs III has experienced success in recent years as an investor in a joint venture specializing in investments in the risky and complex world of futures and options markets.

OHIO APPELLATE EXPERIENCE

Jeff has likewise achieved success on behalf of his clients before state and federal appellate courts, having successfully argued cases before the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, Fifth District Court of Appeals, Sixth District Court of Appeals, Seventh District Court of Appeals, Eighth District Court of Appeals, Ninth District Court of Appeals, Tenth District Court of Appeals and the Eleventh District Court of Appeals.