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José C. Feliciano
Partner

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Cleveland
PNC Center
1900 East 9th Street, Suite 3200
Cleveland, OH 44114-3482

T 216.861.7827
F 216.696.0740

Admissions

  • U.S. Supreme Court, 1978
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit, 1992
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit, 1981
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, 1996
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Pennsylvania, 1992
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio, 1975
  • Ohio, 1975

Education

  • M.B.A., Cleveland State University, 1984
  • J.D., Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, 1975
  • B.A., John Carroll University, 1972, honors

José C. Feliciano

An active trial lawyer for 37 years, José Feliciano represents manufacturing, pharmaceutical, computer, newspaper, steel and automotive companies in hundreds of complex commercial litigation cases throughout the U.S. in state and federal court, including products liability, construction, shareholders’ derivative suits, contracts, eminent domain, and commercial and personal torts. His experience in the labor arena includes litigating strike issues, as well as wrongful discharge and race, sex and age employment discrimination cases. He has handled matters in international arbitration tribunals and administrative bodies, among other jurisdictions and forums.

A former Chief Prosecutor for the City of Cleveland and Cuyahoga County public defender, José has participated as a first chair litigator in more than 70 civil and criminal jury trials to verdict, including the defense and prosecution of white collar crime.

Representative Matters
El Dia, Inc. Puerto Rican Cement Company, Inc. and Desarrollos Multiples Insulares, Inc. vs. Governor Pedro Rossello, et al.
Represented the Puerto Rican Cement Company in a case filed against the Governor of Puerto Rico, his Chief of Staff and four cabinet officers by El Dia Newspaper and its sister corporation (the Puerto Rican Cement Company), for violating its First Amendment rights and retaliating against the cement company by terminating more than 16 development permits throughout Puerto Rico.

Merrill Cohen, Trustee v. Douglas Colkitt, M.D., et al.
Represented the Trustee in a suit filed against 70 businesses to set aside fraudulent conveyances to the various businesses.

Lorain NAACO v. The Lorain Board of Education
Represented the Intervenors, the Hispanic community of Lorain, in a desegregation case filed by the NAACP against the Lorain Board of Education and the State of Ohio.

Deegan and McGarry, et al. vs. Med-Cor, Inc., et al.
In a class action brought by a class of lawyers and their clients, represented the defendants in a claim against the hospitals in Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio, for charging excessive duplicating costs for medical records in violation of the Ohio Consumer Sales Practices Act.

Memberships, Recognitions and Honors

  • Recognized as “Administrator of the Year” by the Northeast Ohio Chapter of the American Society for Public Administration (1983)
  • Named one of “Ten Outstanding Young Men in America” by U.S. Jaycees (1985)
  • Elected to American College of Trial Lawyers (1995)
  • Recipient: Federal Bar Association’s Boots Fisher Civic Achievement Award (2000)
  • Recipient: Hispanic Political Action Committee Civic Award (2000) 
  • Named “Hispanic of the Year” by Nueves Horizontes Newspaper (2002)
  • Recipient of “Spirit of Excellence Award” by the American Bar Association Commission on Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the Profession (2005)
  • Named an “Ohio Super Lawyer” by Law & Politics (2006-present)
  • Received the “Legacy Award” by the Hispanic Business Association (2008)
  • Chair: Advisory Group for the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio (2008)  
  • Cleveland State University Nance College of Business Hall of Fame (2010)
  • Named in “Who's Who: 150 names to know in Northeast Ohio” by Crain’s Cleveland Business (2012)
  • Cleveland International Hall of Fame Inductee (2012)
  • Recipient: “The International Entrepreneur’s (TiE) Community Catalyst Award” (2012)
  • American Bar Association (served on Board of Governors and House of Delegates; former Chair of Section of Dispute Resolution and former representative to National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws)
  • Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association (former President)
  • Founder and Chairman of the Hispanic Roundtable, a nonprofit group that aims to empower Cleveland’s Latino community
  • Former Chairman: Hispanic Leadership Development Program
  • Founder and former President: Hispanic Community Forum
  • Founder and former Vice President: Ohio Hispanic Bar Association  
  • Listed in “Who’s Who in American Law”
  • Life Member: Judicial Conference, Eighth Judicial District, Cuyahoga County, Ohio

Prior Experience

  • Appointed as White House Fellow by President Ronald Reagan (1984)
  • Served as Cleveland’s first Hispanic public official when appointed as city’s Chief Prosecuting Attorney by former Senator (then Mayor) George Voinovich (1980-84)

News
12/7/2012 173 BakerHostetler Attorneys Named 2012 Super Lawyers; 55 Named Rising Stars
8/21/2012 Feliciano to Receive International Entrepreneur Community Catalyst Award
5/21/2012 Feliciano Among Crain’s Cleveland Business’ “Who's Who: 150 names to know in Northeast Ohio"
1/21/2012 Feliciano Inducted into Cleveland International Hall of Fame
12/31/2011 2011 Super Lawyers Announced

Quotes
3/20/2013 Feliciano to Lead Cleveland Business Forum’s Pro-Immigrant Agenda The Plain Dealer Reports
10/8/2012 Feliciano Quoted in Front Page Plain Dealer Article on Global Cleveland’s Revitalization Efforts for the City