Rittgers Rittgers & Nakajima
Personal Injury | Serving Lebanon, OH
513-496-0134When you need legal representation for your Personal Injury, connect with Rittgers Rittgers & Nakajima in Lebanon, Ohio.
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At Rittgers Rittgers & Nakajima, we combine personal care with more than 200 years of combined legal experience to deliver aggressive representation throughout Ohio and northern Kentucky. From local trial courts to the Ohio Supreme Court and federal courts, we have built a reputation for winning the tough cases other lawyers refuse to fight.
Our track record speaks for itself:
Criminal Defense: Numerous "not guilty" verdicts achieved in cases where no plea bargain was offered.
Injury & Death Cases: Countless multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements secured for our clients.
Our attorneys are recognized leaders in the legal field, boasting listings in Ohio Super Lawyers, the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, and past presidencies of the Ohio Association for Justice and the Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.
Whether you are facing criminal charges or dealing with a serious injury in Ohio or Kentucky, we have the knowledge and determination to move your case toward success.
Contact us today for legal assistance with:
Criminal Law: Felonies, OVI/DUI, sex offenses, domestic violence, white-collar crimes, and internet crimes.
Personal Injury: Wrongful death, motor vehicle accidents, premises liability, and product liability.
Call 513-496-0134 today to arrange your initial consultation.
Attorney Eric P. Allen
Bar Admissions:
- Ohio, 1989
- West Virginia, 1987
- U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit, 1989
- U.S. Court of Appeals 4th Circuit, 1993
- Kentucky, 2002
- U.S. District Court Southern District of Ohio
Education:
- University of Toledo College of Law, Toledo, Ohio
- J.D. - 1987
- Honors: cum laude
- Ohio University, Athens, Ohio
- B.A. - 1984
- Honors: magna cum laude
Professional Memberships and Achievements:
- Ohio Association for Justice, 2000 to Present
- American Association for Justice, 2000 to Present
- N.O.S.S.C.R.
- Cincinnati Bar Association
Languages Spoken:
- English
Attorney J.R. Bernans
Bar Admissions:
- Bar Name, Year Admitted One
- Bar Name, Year Admitted Two
Education:
- University of Cincinnati College of Law, Cincinnati, Ohio
- J.D.
- Honors: magna cum laude
- Honors: Order of the Coif
- University of Cincinnati, Carl H. Linder College of Business
- B.A.
- Honors: summa cum laude
Attorney Kourtney Brueckner
Bar Admissions:
- Ohio, 2017
- U.S. District Court Southern District of Ohio, 2018
Education:
- Ohio Northern University Pettit College of Law, Ada, Ohio
- J.D.
- Honors: Dan Guy Appellate Advocacy Competition, Semi-Finalist
- University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio
- B.A.
- Honors: Phi Alpha Delta, Vice President of External Affairs, Social Chair
- Honors: Mock Trial, Vice President, Captain, Opening Attorney
- Honors: Model United Nations, Head Delegate
- Honors: Chi Omega Women’s Fraternity, New Member Educator
- Major: Political Science
- Major: International Affairs
Languages Spoken:
- English
- Spanish
Attorney Jake Michael Cropper
Bar Admissions:
- Ohio, 2023
- Kentucky, 2023
Education:
- University of Dayton School of Law, Dayton, Ohio
- J.D.
- Mount St. Joseph University, Cincinnati, Ohio
- B.A. and B.S. - 2019
- Honors: Dean's List
- Honors: With High Honors
- Major: History and Legal Studies
Attorney Juliette Gaffney Dame
Bar Admissions:
- U.S. District Court Southern District of Ohio, 2007
- Ohio, 2006
Education:
- University of Dayton School of Law, Dayton, Ohio
- J.D. - 2006
- Drew University, Madison, New Jersey
- B.A. - 1996
- Honors: Dean's List
- Major: Political Science
Professional Memberships and Achievements:
- Ohio Bar Association
- Butler County Bar Association
- Warren County Bar Association
- Cincinnati Academy of Collaborative Professions
Languages Spoken:
- English
Attorney Nicholas D. Graman
Bar Admissions:
- Ohio, 2007
- U.S. District Court Southern District of Ohio, 2010
Education:
- University of Cincinnati College of Law, Cincinnati, Ohio
- J.D. - 2007
- Xavier University, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Bachelor of Arts
- Honors: cum laude
- Honors: With Honors
- Major: History
Professional Memberships and Achievements:
- Warren County Bar Association
- Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
- Ohio Association for Justice
- Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys, Member, 2007 to Present
Languages Spoken:
- English
Attorney Steve Kilburn
Bar Admissions:
- Ohio, 2013
- U.S. District Court Southern District of Ohio, 2014
Education:
- University of Dayton School of Law, Dayton, Ohio
- J.D. - 2013
- Eastern Kentucky University
- B.A. - 2010
- Honors: Magna Cum Laude
Professional Memberships and Achievements:
- Ohio Bar Association, 2013 to Present
- Warren County Bar Association, 2013 to Present
Attorney Gus Lazares
Bar Admissions:
- Ohio
- U.S. District Court Southern District of Ohio
- U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit
Education:
- Ohio State University Michael E. Moritz College of Law, Columbus, Ohio
- J.D.
- Honors: George A. Spiegelberg Award for Nation’s Top Oral Advocate (Awarded by the American College of Trial Lawyers)
- Honors: CALI Award for Top Grade in Depositions, Pretrial Litigation, Appellate Advocacy and Lawyers & the Media
- Honors: Extern for The Honorable Judge Walter Rice of the Southern District of Ohio
- Miami University
- Honors: All-American Mock Trial Attorney Award (from the American Mock Trial Association)
- Honors: Harrison Scholar (full four-year scholarship)
- Honors: Phi Beta Kappa
Professional Memberships and Achievements:
- Ohio Association for Justice, Member
- Cincinnati Bar Association, Member
Attorney Wesley Matthew Nakajima
Bar Admissions:
- Ohio, 2009
- U.S. District Court Southern District of Ohio
- Kentucky, 2009
- U.S. District Court Southern District of Indiana
- U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit
- Federal Claims Court
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Kentucky
- U.S. District Court Western District of Kentucky
Education:
- Northern Kentucky University, Salmon P. Chase College of Law, Highland Heights, Kentucky
- J.D. - 2008
- Honors: magna cum laude
- Northern Kentucky University
- LL.D. - 2008
- Bellarmine University , Louisville, Kentucky
- B.A. - 2004
- Honors: cum laude
- Honors: Dean's List
- Honors: With High Honors
- Major: Economics
Professional Memberships and Achievements:
- The Ohio Association of Justice, Member, 2009 to Present
- The Kentucky Justice Associations, Board of Governor 2009-2016
- American Association of Justice , Member, 2009 to Present
- Ohio Trial Lawyers Association, Member, 2014 to Present
- The Kentucky Justice Associations, Member, 2009
Languages Spoken:
- English
Attorney Edward C. Perry
Bar Admissions:
- Ohio, 1991
- U.S. District Court Southern District of Ohio, 2000
Education:
- Capital University Law School, Columbus, Ohio
- J.D.
- Xavier University, Cincinnati, Ohio
- B.A.
Professional Memberships and Achievements:
- Cincinnati Bar Association
- Ohio State Bar Association
Attorney Ellen B. Rittgers
Bar Admissions:
- Ohio, 1979
Education:
- University of Cincinnati College of Law, Cincinnati, Ohio
- J.D. - 1979
- Miami University, Oxford, Ohio
- 1976
Professional Memberships and Achievements:
- Warren County Bar Association, President, 2007 to Present
- Southwest Ohio Collaborative Law Association, Member, Present
- The Cincinnati Association of Collaborative Professionals, Committed Member, Present
Languages Spoken:
- English
Attorney Charles H. Rittgers
Bar Admissions:
- Ohio, 1978
- U.S. Federal Courts, 1980
Education:
- University of Cincinnati College of Law, Cincinnati, Ohio
- J.D., Doctor of Jurisprudence, 1978
- Miami University, Oxford, Ohio
- B.A., Bachelor of Arts - 1973
- Xavier University, Cincinnati, Ohio
- M.S., Master of Science - 1978
Professional Memberships and Achievements:
- Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (Past President), Member, 1987 to Present
- National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 2019 to Present
- American Association for Justice, 1983 to Present
- Ohio Academy of Trial Lawyers, Member, 1984 to Present
- Warren County Bar Association, Past President
- Greater Cincinnati Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, Former Board Member
- National DUI College, Founding Member, 2019 to Present
- Ohio Association of Justice, 2019 to Present
Languages Spoken:
- English
Attorney Charles M. Rittgers
Education:
- University of Cincinnati College of Law, Cincinnati, Ohio
Honors: Honorable Michael R. Barrett at the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio
Honors: Alumni Planning Committee
Dartmouth College
Lebanon High School
Professional Memberships and Achievements:
- Multi Million Dollar Advocates Forum, Member
- Ohio Association for Justice, Member
- Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Member
Attorney Samantha K. Rittgers
Bar Admissions:
- Ohio, 2015
Education:
- Salmon P. Chase College of Law, Highland Heights, Kentucky
- J.D.
- Honors: Summa Cum Laude
- Honors: Honorable Michael R. Barrett at the United States District Court
- Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights, Kentucky
- B.A.
- Honors: summa cum laude
- Honors: Dean's List
- Major: Political Science
Professional Memberships and Achievements:
- SHRM-CP (Society for Human Resource Management), Member, 2019-2022
Attorney Justin Sanders
Bar Admissions:
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, pro hac vice
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky, pro hac vice
- U.S. District Court Southern District of Ohio
- U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit
Attorney Neal D. Schuett
Bar Admissions:
- Ohio, 2010
- U.S. District Court Southern District of Ohio, 2014
Education:
- University of Iowa College of Law, Iowa City, Iowa
- J.D. - 2006
- University of Iowa, Iowa City
- B.B.A. - 2003
- Honors: Dean's List
- Honors: Honors Program
- Honors: Two-time American Mock Trial Association National Champion
- Major: Business-MIS; Religious Studies
- University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
- B.A. - 2002
Professional Memberships and Achievements:
- Ohio Bar Association
- Greater Cincinnati Bar Association
- Butler County Bar Association
- Visiting Assistant Professor, Miami University
- American Mock Trial Association, Board of Directors
- Academy of Legal Studies in Business
Attorney Joseph W. Shea III
Bar Admissions:
- Ohio, 1974
- Kentucky, 1999
- U.S. District Court Southern District of Ohio, 1975
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Kentucky, 2000
- U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit, 1979
- U.S. Supreme Court, 1984
Education:
- Northern Kentucky University, Salmon P. Chase College of Law, Highland Heights, Kentucky
- J.D. - 1974
- Honors: National Moot Court
- University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio
- B.A. - 1969
- Major: Philosophy
Professional Memberships and Achievements:
- Supreme Court of Ohio, Member, Board of Bar Examiners, 1984 - 1989
- Chief Justice Thomas Moyer, Supreme Court of Ohio, Chief Bar Examination Examiner, 1989 - 1990
- Chief Justice Thomas Moyer, Special Re-Appointment as Supreme Court Examiner, 1991
- Ohio State Bar Association, Chairman, Ethical Advertising, Marketing and Solicitation Committee, 2008 - 2009
- National Board of Trial Advocacy, National Certification Examiner, 1984 - 1987
- National Board of Trial Advocacy, National Certification Examiner, 1991
- National Board of Trial Advocacy, National Certification Examiner, 1994
- National Board of Trial Advocacy, National Certification Examiner, 1997
- National Board of Trial Advocacy, National Certification Examiner, 2001
- National Board of Trial Advocacy, National Certification Examiner, 2003
- Governor's (Ohio) Insurance Task Force, 1984 - 1986
- American Inns of Court, Master, Potter Stewart Chapter, 1993 - 1998
- American Inns of Court, Emeritus Master, Potter Stewart Chapter, 1998 - Present
- American College of Trial Lawyers, Member, 1999 - Present
- American Board Trial Advocates (ABOTA), Advocate, 1989 - Present
- American Board Trial Advocates, National Board of Directors, 1989 - Present
- National Board of Trial Advocacy, Diplomat, 1984 - 2009
- National Board of Trial Advocacy, Ohio State Representative, 1990 - Present
- International Society of Barristers, Fellow, 1994 - Present
- American Board of Trial Advocacy (ABOTA), Cincinnati Chapter Elected as Chapter's Representative, 1989 - Present
- ABOTA Cincinnati Chapter Secretary, 1989 - Present
- OAJ (Youngest President Ever Elected in Academy History), President, 1981 - 1982
- OAJ, Board of Governors, 1983 - 1998
- Indian Hill Schools Booster Board, President, 1997 - 1998
- National Board of Specialty Certification, Nationwide Bar Examiner, 1990 - 2009
Attorney Barbara L. Strady
Bar Admissions:
- Ohio, 1991
- Kentucky, 2000
- U.S. District Court Southern District of Ohio, 1991
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Kentucky, 2006
- U.S. Supreme Court, 2017
Education:
- University of Dayton School of Law, Dayton, Ohio
- J.D. - 1990
- University of Dayton, Ohio
- B.S. - 1987
Professional Memberships and Achievements:
- Ohio State Bar Association
- Kentucky Bar Association
- Dayton Bar Association
- Mid Miami Valley Bar Association, President, 2016
- Nation’s Top Once Percent Attorney
- Negligence Law Committee, Past Chair
- Miami Valley Trial Lawyers Association
- Ohio Association for Justice, Trustee, 2006 to Present
- Ohio State Bar Foundation, Member and Trustee
Attorney Kevin Tierney
Bar Admissions:
- Ohio
Attorney Michael D. Weisensel
Bar Admissions:
- Ohio, 1997
- U.S. District Court Southern District of Ohio
Education:
- University of Akron School of Law, Akron, Ohio
- J.D. - 1996
- State University of New York, Brockport, New York
- B.S. - 1992
Attorney James (Tanner) Duncan
Bar Admissions
- Ohio, 2019
- Kentucky, 2021
Education
- Northern Kentucky University, Salmon P. Chase College of Law, Highland Heights, Kentucky
- J.D.
- Honors: cum laude
- Honors: Trial Team, Order of the Barristers
- Law Review: The Northern Kentucky Law Review, Editor, 2017 - 2019
- University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, 2014
- B.A.
- Honors: cum laude
- Honors: Dean's List
- Honors: With Honors
- Major: History
Professional Memberships and Achievements:
- KY Bar Association, Member, 2021 to Present
- Northern KY Bar Association, Member, 2021 to Present
Testimonials
I have needed the Rittgers & Rittgers firm on two separate occasions, in 2002 for a DUI charge that went to a jury trial and now in dealing with two separate incidents in Butler and Hamilton counties. My father is a local judge and was in private practice for many years. Both times he suggested Rittgers & Rittgers and both times I used their services. I was found not guilty of a DUI after taking it to a jury trial on the advice of Charlie Rittgers Sr. In my latest situations Charlie Rittgers Jr. brought both to a more than satisfactory resolution. I have nothing but the best to say about this firm and I would suggest that anyone who finds themselves in need of legal counsel take their case to Rittgers & Rittgers.
- Scott Peeler
He gave me my life back. I can think of no higher praise. He knows the law and he listens and fights for his client. His advice is sound and in the client's best interest. Thank you Mr. Rittgers.
- Bill
A Wonderful Law Firm. I recently had a legal issue arise which was very touchy for me, and I was referred to Rittgers & Rittgers as THE firm to contact in Warren county. Several people suggested Rittgers & Rittgers, and the strongest recommendation came from a lawyer who did not have expertise in the area that I needed. Charles Rittgers Sr. was extremely easy to work with and was able to resolve my issue most effectively. Everyone else that I came into contact with at the firm was equally professional. I most wholeheartedly recommend Rittgers & Rittgers to anyone looking for a lawyer.
- Tim O.
Charlie and his entire staff are caring and focused on good results. I came to the law firm to find a good injury lawyer for a friend of mine. The firm was the best firm we interviewed and the result they obtained was greater than either of us expected. The case was settled before trial.
- Jan
Office Locations
Since 1997, the "Lead Counsel Verified" status has been granted to attorneys who possess:
- The Right Professional Experience
- A Spotless Record
The following attorneys at this firm are Lead Counsel Verified:
Ryan Lenward Nelson
This attorney practices in Ohio and is Lead Counsel Verified in the following practice areas:
| Practice Area | Year |
|---|---|
| Criminal Defense | Since 2022 |
Charles M. Rittgers
This attorney practices in Ohio and is Lead Counsel Verified in the following practice areas:
| Practice Area | Year |
|---|---|
| Criminal Defense | Since 2023 |