John B. Lewis

Experience

• Prepared amicus briefs and presented oral argument before the Ohio Supreme Court regarding when waiver of the right to arbitrate occurs in the putative class action context.
• Lead defense counsel in an action alleging disability discrimination, breach of contract and breach of duty of fair representation claims under the Railway Labor Act. Prevailed at the district court and Sixth Circuit levels.
• Member of a team that persuaded the Ohio Supreme Court to adopt the federal standards for class certification under Ohio Rule 23.
• Successfully defended a multiparty arbitral award involving seniority issues, resulting in a published Sixth Circuit opinion outlining the applicable deferential standard of review.
• Secured a defense verdict in an action brought by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission alleging that a railroad discriminated against a minority employee in granting a leniency reinstatement.
• Presented oral argument in a case before a state appellate court where the judges found insufficient allegations of injury in a putative class action.
• Successfully defended a wage and hour action by enforcing the class action waiver in a mandatory arbitration agreement.
• Represented a telecommunications company before the Sixth Circuit, persuading the panel that an alleged past act of discrimination impacting a seniority system was not actionable.

Reported Decisions

• Brown v. Nexus Business Solutions, LLC, 29 F.4th 1315 (11th Cir. 2022) (Defended decision that analyzed the administrative exemption in the Fair Labor Standards Act).
• Gembarski v. PartsSource, Inc., 157 Ohio St. 3d 255, 2019-Ohio-3231, 134 N.E. 3d 1175 (Ohio Sup. Ct. 2019). (Amicus briefs and oral argument on behalf of Ohio Management Lawyers Association).
• Epic Systems Corp. v. Lewis, 138 S. Ct. 1612 (2018) (Amicus brief on behalf of seven organizations concerning the viability of an arbitration agreement with class action waiver despite the provisions of the National Labor Relations Act.)
• Campbell-Ewald Company v. Gomez, 577 U.S. 153 (2016) (Amicus Brief concerning use of offer of judgment in Telephone Consumer Protection Act case).
• Tyson Foods, Inc. v. Bouaphakeo, 577 U.S. 442 (2016) (Amicus Brief dealing with use of statistics for determining liability and damages and inclusion of uninjured class members in a class action under Rule 23 or a collective action under the Fair Labor Standards Act).
• Stammco, L.L.C. v. United Telephone Co. of Ohio, 136 Ohio St. 3d 231, 2013-Ohio-3019, 994 N.E. 2d 408 (Ohio Sup. Ct. 2013). (Stammco II) (Adopted federal standards for class certification under Ohio Rule 23).
• Standard Fire v. Knowles, 568 U.S. 588 (2013) (Amicus Brief in Class Action Fairness Act case).
• Comcast Corp. v. Behrend, 569 U.S. 27 (2013) (Amicus Brief in case considering plaintiffs' damages model in class action).
• Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen v. Norfolk Southern Railway Co., 191 LRRM (BNA) 3062 (N.D. Ohio 2011), aff'd 700 F.3d 891 (6th Cir. 2012). (Defended petition to review multi-party arbitral award).
• Emswiler v. CSX Transportation, Inc., 691 F.3d 782 (6th Cir. 2012). (ADA, exhaustion and Railway Labor Act preemption issues). 
• Aracri v. Dillards, Inc., 17 WH Cases 2d (BNA) 985, 2011 WL 1388613 (S.D. Ohio 2011). (Analyzed arbitration requirements and duty to engage in class/collective arbitration).
• Thomas v. Jackson Hewitt, Inc., 192 Ohio App. 3d 732, 2011-Ohio-618, 950 N.E. 2d 578. (Presented oral argument in case where appellate court found insufficient allegations of injury in putative class action). 
• Stammco, L.L.C. v. United Tel. Co. of Ohio, 125 Ohio St. 3d 91, 2010-Ohio-1042, 926 N.E. 2d 292 (Ohio Sup. Ct. 2010). (Stammco I) (Persuaded Ohio Supreme Court that class action definition was improper). 
• Nerswick v. CSX Transportation, Inc., 692 F. Supp. 2d 866 (S.D. Ohio 2010), aff'd 441 F. App'x 320 (6th Cir. 2011). (Defended Section 1983 action against railway police). 
• Corell v. CSX Transportation, Inc., 378 F. App'x 496, 109 FEP Cases (BNA) 689 (6th Cir. 2010). (Defended alleged gender discrimination action and challenged pretext analysis). 
• Ratkosky v. CSX Transportation, Inc., 2009-Ohio-5690, 2009 Ohio App. LEXIS 4782, 29 IER Cases (BNA) 1693 (Ohio App. 2009). (Defamation and Railway Labor Act preemption). 
• Bloedow v. CSX Transportation, Inc., (Bloedow II), 638 F. Supp. 2d 831 (N.D. Ohio 2009). (Res judicata and statute of limitations issues). 
• Baldock v. CSX Transportation, Inc., 21 AD Cases (BNA) 990 (S.D. Ind. 2009). (Defended ADA action by bipolar applicant). 
• Mattox v. Dillards Inc., 2008-Ohio-6488 (Ohio App. 2008). (Persuaded appellate court to enforce arbitration agreement without evidentiary hearing). 
• Leffman v. Sprint Corporation, 481 F.3d 428 (6th Cir. 2007). (Defended seniority system against alleged past act of discrimination). 
• Denczak v. Ford Motor Co., 215 F. App'x 442, 18 AD Cases (BNA) 1731 (6th Cir. 2007). (Analysis of ADA accommodation requirements). 
• Housing Advocates, Inc. v. Farmers Ins. Co., 2006-Ohio-2467 (Ohio App. 2006). (Defended multiple insurance companies against allegations that they discriminated against minorities by charging higher rates in major metropolitan areas). 
• Housing Advocates, Inc. v. American Fire & Cas. Co., 2006-Ohio-4495 (Ohio App. 2006). (Defended allegations of race discrimination against multiple insurance companies in sale of homeowners insurance). 
• American Train Dispatchers Ass'n v. CSX Transportation, Inc., 177 LRRM (BNA) 3237 (N.D. Ohio 2005). (Defended action to review arbitration award). 
• Bloedow v. CSX Transportation, Inc., 319 F. Supp. 2d 782 (N.D. Ohio 2004). (Duty of fair representation and breach of contract under Railway Labor Act). 
• Anthony v. United Telephone Co. of Ohio, 227 F. Supp. 2d 763 (N.D. Ohio 2002), aff'd, 2004 U.S. App. LEXIS 21315 (6th Cir. 2004). (Defended ADA and FMLA action). 
• Rogers v. Norfolk Southern Corp., 304 F. Supp. 2d 961 (S.D. Ohio 2003). (Defended ADA and Ohio disability action). 
• Gulan v. Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, 8 WH Cases 2d (BNA) 1701, (N.D. Ohio 2003). (Defended FMLA action). 
• Norfolk Southern Railway Co. v. International Longshoreman's Assn, Local 1913, 190 F. Supp. 2d 1021 (N.D. Ohio 2002). (Brought action that declared controversy a "minor dispute" under the Railway Labor Act). 
• Robinson v. Nationwide Mutual Ins. Co., 2001-Ohio-8793, 87 FEP Cases (BNA) 1592 (Ohio App. 2001). (Defended Age discrimination action). 
• Smoot v. United Transportation Union, 991 F. Supp. 913 (N.D. Ohio 1998), aff'd in part, 246 F.3d 633 (6th Cir.), cert. denied, 534 U.S. 1001 (2001). (Duty of fair representation action with wiretap counterclaims). 
• Barilla v. Patella, 144 Ohio App. 3d 524, 760 N.E.2d 898 (Cuyahoga Cty. 2001). (Age discrimination, defamation, negligent identification and tortious interference claims). 
• State ex Rel. Warren Newspapers, Inc. v. Petro, 80 Ohio St. 3d 261, 685 N.E. 2d 1223 (1997). (Public Records Act action). 
• Midland American Sales-Weintraub, Inc. v. Osram Sylvania, Inc., 874 F. Supp. 164 (N.D. Ohio 1995). (Tortious interference with contract). 
• Henegar v. Banta, 27 F.3d 223 (6th Cir.), cert. denied, 503 U.S. 1057 (1994). (Railway Labor Act preemption and defamation claim). 
• Bresnick v. Beulah Park Ltd. Partnership, 67 Ohio St. 3d 302, 617 N.E. 2d 1096 (1993) (Amicus brief in action involving racetrack owner's common law rights). 
• USA v. Alcan Aluminum Corporation, 964 F.2d 252 (3d Cir. 1992). (Amicus brief in environmental action). 
• Elek v. Huntington Nat'l Bank, 60 Ohio St. 3d. 135, 573 N.E. 2d 1056 (1991). (Amicus Brief for Civil Trial Lawyers Association in discrimination appeal asserting direct right to bring court action). 
• International Longshoreman's Ass'n. v. Lower Lake Dock Co., 927 F.2d 900 (6th Cir.), cert. denied, 502 U.S. 813 (1991). (Defended injunctive action with joint employer issues). 
• Murray v. Thistledown Racing Club, 770 F.2d 63 (6th Cir. 1985). (Established prima facie case for reverse race discrimination action).

Memberships

• American Law Institute: Life Member
  • Restatement of the Law, The U.S. Law of International Commercial Arbitration: Members Consultative Group
• William K. Thomas Inn of Court
  • President (2018 to 2019)
  • Master Bencher
• American Bar Association, Labor and Employment Law Section
• Ohio State Bar Association, Labor and Employment Law Section
• Ohio Management Lawyers Association
• The Supreme Court Historical Society
• Selden Society