ABOUT US
For more than thirty-five years, I have helped hundreds of clients in personal injury cases, wrongful death claims and business disputes. I have negotiated out-of-court settlements and taken cases to trial against insurance companies, corporations and individuals. To maintain a smaller practice I have avoided aggressive advertising and let my reputation speak for itself. Most of my clients come to me by word of mouth, recommendations from former clients and other lawyers. If you have an injury claim or business-related matter, chances are I have handled that type of case before and can help you get it successfully resolved.
Firm Overview
Before practicing law I worked in various jobs, including as a restaurant server, factory worker, bartender, tutor in a maximum security prison and musician. These experiences provided valuable lessons that still influence me today. I started my legal career working as an attorney in a well-respected personal injury law firm. I then opened my own law practice as a solo practitioner because it let me choose the cases I wanted to handle, and the clients I wished to represent. I never viewed cases as “one-off” matters but instead saw the people behind them, people I fully expect to hear from again – and often have.
My offices are located in the Terminal Tower, the heart of downtown Cleveland. We can meet with you there, or via Zoom, FaceTime and telephone.
I will personally review your case with you. If you hire me as your attorney, I will personally handle your case, as I have done with hundreds of cases. I don’t meet you and then hand you off to a “green” attorney or a case manager. I will know you and your case first-hand.
My staff is highly skilled and will assist in the administrative aspects of your case. We work with many experts that can be used in your case if necessary, and we know when to use them.
Most injury cases are handled on a contingent fee basis, which means I get paid if and when you get paid. Most business cases are handled on an hourly fee basis.
I represent clients with cases involving personal injury, wrongful death, and business and insurance litigation. To learn more about me, please view my attorney profile. From my office in Cleveland, I can help you anywhere in Ohio.
Call me at 216-241-6770 to discuss your case.
Attorney Harvey Kugelman
I received my undergraduate degree from Boston University, graduating magna cum laude with a Bachelor or Arts degree in political science. My law degree is from the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law at Cleveland State University, where I was a member of its award-winning Moot Court Nationals Team and served as Chairman of the Moot Court Board of Governors. My professional training began as summer intern while in college working for a prestigious business law firm whose partners included a United States Senator. During law school I was a law clerk in a personal injury litigation firm, and upon graduation was hired and worked three years as an attorney in a prominent Cleveland law firm specializing in personal injury, products liability and medical malpractice before opening my own firm.
For more than thirty-five years, I have helped hundreds of clients in personal injury cases, wrongful death claims and business disputes. I have negotiated out-of-court settlements and taken cases to trial against insurance companies, corporations and individuals. To maintain a smaller practice I have avoided aggressive advertising and let my reputation speak for itself. Most of my clients come to me by word of mouth, recommendations from former clients and other lawyers. If you have an injury claim or business-related matter, chances are I have handled that type of case before and can help you get it successfully resolved.
I welcome the chance to talk with you about your case. Call me today at 216-241-6770.
Employment History:
- President, Harvey Kugelman Co., L.P.A., Cleveland, Ohio1
- Associate Attorney, Sindell Lowe and Guidubaldi, Cleveland, Ohio
- Legal Intern, Metzenbaum Gaines & Stern, Cleveland, Ohio
Education:
- J.D., Cleveland State University, Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, Cleveland, Ohio
- B.A., Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
Professional Qualifications:
- Admitted to practice all courts in Ohio
- Ohio State Bar
- Admitted to practice United States District Court (federal)
WHY CHOOSE US
I have handled countless cases of various types over the years, but what they have in common is my connection with my clients. Helping people with their injury and business matters is what I have been doing for 35 years. In all important matters you will speak directly to me, not a junior attorney with less knowledge of your case or the law. I will personally handle your case from beginning to end and I will deal directly with the insurance company or responsible party to make sure you receive a fair result.
An Experienced Partner On Your Side
Unscrupulous insurance adjustors try to get you to settle, often for far less than you deserve. These low-ball offers are insulting and stressful. Your lawyer will help you understand what you must and must not do as your case proceeds.
Time to Focus on Healing and Recovery
With a personal injury attorney on your side, you can concentrate on healing and recovery. Often clients require ongoing medical treatments. We can handle all of the paperwork, red tape, and legal complexities so that you are free to attend to healing
Representation in Court
Although many cases are settled out of court, we are prepared to skillfully represent you in court if the matter does not resolve.
Experience
In both injury and business matters, an attorney’s experience is crucial. In injury cases, you want an attorney who regularly deals with insurance companies and understands how they operate. One who knows the amount of leeway adjustors have on their offers, and understands how to document your loss and craft demands to generate the greatest returns. In fact, just having a personal injury attorney on your side often results in higher settlement offers.
When you choose me as your attorney, you are assured of knowledgeable, individualized representation and direct contact with me. Please contact me today at 216-241-6770.
Business Matters: Small Business Formation and General Business Litigation
I have great respect for anyone who creates or grows a business. Some of my favorite clients are my creative and courageous business clients whose businesses I have formed or helped flourish. My clients have included everything from boutique artisans to restaurants, from high-end home remodels to car dealerships, from scientific enterprises to haunted houses. These experiences have given me insight and appreciation into how businesses operate and how entrepreneurs think.
Unfortunately, business disputes arise. My business clients rely on me to try to head off trouble before it becomes critical, and to litigate matters when unavoidable. Business litigation can be distracting, arduous and expensive. I have decades of experience both bringing and defending lawsuits and claims on behalf of small businesses.
Many law firms are primarily focused on maximizing their billed attorney fee hours in order to support the law firm. While large attorney fee bills are sometimes inevitable, my approach has always been different: my clients are clients for life, and our first discussion regarding a dispute will not only involve the legal issues but what approach will be the most cost-effective and make the most sense for my client.
I have decades of experience both bringing and defending lawsuits and claims on behalf of small businesses. I have litigated business disputes of almost every type in many courts, including breach of contract, employment-related matters and copyright and patent cases in federal court and state courts. Our unusual combination of experience, flexibility of approach and personal touch is unavailable in big firms. My primary goal has never been to make the last buck, but to form a trusted relationship. And my business clients have been as loyal to me as I have been to them.
Representative Cases
Partial amputation of two fingers in lumber yard
A lumber yard worker crushed against a tow motor by customer attempting to back his vehicle into a loading dock. Partial amputation of two fingers, torn knee meniscus. Settlement prior to trial: $750,000.00 over and above separate workers compensation awards and income replacement.
Vehicle Passenger Multiple Vertebrae Fracture
A passenger fractured multiple vertebrae resulting in surgeries when his wife, driving the vehicle, dozed off, lost control of the vehicle and struck a highway embankment. The claim was made against his spouse’s insurance carrier and own underinsured insurance carrier. The claim was settled for full policy limits of both insurance companies.
Disabled Vehicle Passengers – Wrongful death
Passengers with developmental disabilities transported in van between work sites as part of government-sponsored work program. Van drove left of center, causing head-on collision with truck and resulting in deaths and severe injuries. Suit brought against van driver, his employer and county. Defendants argued that passengers were “employees” and that compensation was therefore limited to relatively small damages available under workers compensation law. Settlement prior to trial: $3,000,000.00.
Nursing Negligence – Wrongful Death
A wrongful death claim involving the negligence of an elder care nurse, mistake in tubefeeding an elderly patient in a nursing home resulting in asphyxiation. Defendants denied fault. Case settled prior to trial, terms confidential.
Dog Bite of Child – Forehead Scar
9 year old bit by a dog at dog park, resulting in forehead stitches and scar. Settled prior to trial. Terms confidential.
Dog Bite – Partial Finger Amputation
A church parish volunteer bitten by priest’s dog, which had previously attempted to attack others in rectory. Wound infection led to partial finger amputation and reflex sympathetic dystrophy. Settled prior to trial. Terms confidential.
Dog Attack – Knee Surgery
Postal Worker twisted knee during dog attack, resulting in knee surgeries. Settled prior to trial: $265,000.00.
Pedestrian Struck by Vehicle – Multiple Fractures
Pedestrian attempting to cross busy street outside crosswalk struck by vehicle exiting shopping center. Fractures of pelvis, wrist, leg, vertebrae and ribs. Claim was initially denied by insurance company. Settled prior to trial: $250,000.00/full policy limits.
Motor Vehicle Accident – Cervical Disc Herniation and Surgery
Passenger sustained herniated cervical disc. Surgery to repair disc resulted in damage to vocal cords. Case settled prior to trial: $500,000.00 (combined available insurance limits).
Motor Vehicle Accident – Hit and Run Vehicle Causes Plunge Down Embankment
Unknown driver forces client’s vehicle off highway, through railing and down embankment. Lacerated spleen, fractured ribs, and separated shoulder requiring surgery. Settled prior to trial. Terms: confidential.
Motor Vehicle Accident – Post-Concussive Syndrome
Driver of vehicle rear-ended by another vehicle, resulting in blow to head. Injuries included post-concussive syndrome. Settled prior to trial: $85,000.00.
Slip and Fall – Torn Knee Meniscus
Supermarket customer slipped on spill of unknown clear liquid, tearing knee meniscus and resulting in surgery. Discovery of store “sweep logs” indicated employees had not performed regular aisle safety checks. Store argued that it had no knowledge of liquid, customer could not prove what the substance was, who had caused the spill or how long it had existed prior to the incident and that customer had a duty to avoid an open and obvious danger. Jury verdict in favor of plaintiff customer: $119,535.35. (Verdict upheld on appeal).
Vehicle rollover – Post-Concussive Syndrome
Drunk driver side-swiped van on highway, sending it across median and into rollover. Soft tissue injuries, post-concussive syndrome. Settled at Mediation: $72,000.00.
Slip and Fall – Herniated Discs
Supermarket customer slipped on liquid leaking from a store cooler, resulting in herniated discs. Store argued that it no knowledge of the leak, that customer could not prove when leak started or who was responsible, and that customer had a duty to avoid an open and obvious danger. Settled prior to trial: $225,000.00.
Business Case – Defense of Kitchen Remodeler
Litigation defense of kitchen design and installation company accused by customer of supposedly deficient work. Lawsuit against client dismissed by court prior to trial.
Business Case – Defense in Federal Court of Lawsuit Alleging Patent Violation
Litigation defense of trigger manufacturer accused of patent violations by large gun manufacturer. Settled before trial: terms confidential.
Business Cases – Defense of Auto Dealerships
Multiple cases successfully defending auto dealerships against claims alleging violations of Consumer Sales Practices Act.
Small Business Formation and Legal Assistance in Business Matters
Our office has formed and registered dozens of small businesses for our clients and handled countless business issues that arise. This includes the drafting and negotiating of commercial leases and business contracts as well as assistance in employment issues.
Practice Areas
Personal Injury
Motor Vehicle Accident
Medical Negligence
Dog Bite
Product Liability
Slip and Fall
Business Matters
Defense of Kitchen Remodeler
Defense of Auto Dealerships
Defense of Lawsuit Alleging Patent Violation