Entries by SMBP Admin

SMB&P Obtains Summary Judgment for Police K-9 Handler

SMB&P’s Government Entities group recently obtained summary judgment in favor of a police officer who was required to use force in an attempt to detain an individual experiencing a mental health emergency. Police were contacted by members of the individual’s family after he exhibited signs of mental instability over several days. Officers attempted to make […]

Sixth Circuit Affirms SMB&P Win for Police

The United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit recently affirmed a judgment in favor of local police officers obtained by SMB&P’s Government Entities team in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio. After local church replaced its minister, the elders feared controversy at the next Sunday service. They hired officers […]

SMB&P Maritime Group Gives “Maritime 101” Presentation to Client

In October 2024, SMB&P maritime attorneys, Megan A. Sullivan and Jim Barbiere, organized and presented a series of “Maritime 101” learning sessions to 40+ managers, employees, in-house counsel, and claims personnel for a long-time client of the firm, offering an introduction to maritime law, how to protect the client from liability, as well as compliance […]

SMB&P Adding New Attorney

SMB&P is excited to announce that the firm will be adding Jim Barbiere as an associate attorney beginning February 15, 2021. Jim has been an Assistant Prosecutor with the Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office since 2017, where he has defended County employees and officials in civil lawsuits in state and federal court. Jim will be a […]

Court Affirms Parental Consent Not Required for Adoption

SMB&P represented a grandmother seeking to adopt her granddaughter without the consent of the child’s biological mother. SMB&P successfully argued that the mother’s consent to the adoption was not required due to the mother’s failure, after notice and a hearing, and without justifiable cause, to have more than de minimus contact with the child in […]

Insurance Coverage Dispute Successfully Dismissed for SMB&P Client

SMB&P’s litigation attorneys successfully defended a leading national property/casualty insurance company in a case in which the plaintiffs alleged they were entitled to coverage under the at-fault driver’s employer’s garage liability policy. SMB&P partner Katie Barbiere prevailed by filing a motion for summary judgment, successfully arguing that the policy did not provide coverage because the […]

SMBP Ranked in 2018 U.S. News “Best Law Firms”

SMB&P has been rated a Cincinnati Metro area Tier 1 “Best Law Firm” by U.S. News & World Report in the areas of Commercial Litigation and Medical Malpractice, and a Cincinnati Metro Tier 2 “Best Law Firm” in the areas of First Amendment and Personal Injury Litigation.  Firms included in the 2018 “Best Law Firms” […]