Kelley v. Ferraro

Summary

Widow of deceased law firm partner sought dissolution of law firm and division of its assets.

Lynn Kelley, a former Cleveland Heights municipal judge, was the widow of Michael Kelley. Michael Kelley and James Ferraro founded an asbestos litigation law firm 1997. Lynn Kelley sought to recover half of the law firm's total assets, estimated close to $3.5 billion.

According to the plaintiff, the partners had agreed to dissolve the partnership and distribute the assets upon the death of either partner. However, Judge Daniel Gaul ruled that the jury could only award damages based on quasi-contract.

The jury found there was a quasi-contract, and awarded the plaintiff damages of $4,220,000.

Outcome

Owed to the Lynn Kelly: 4,220,000

Case Information

Attorneys

Witnesses

Plaintiff: Kelley, Lynn
Defense: Ferraro, James
Verdict: $4,220,000

Judge: Daniel Gaul
Jurisdiction: Ohio Court of Common Pleas, Cuyahoga County
Court: Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court

Case Number: CV-06-589040
Industry: Legal
Practice Area: Wills, Trusts, Estates and Probate, Business Organizations, Commercial Law

Plaintiff

Kelley, Lynn

Represented By:
Wuliger, William (Wuliger, Fadel & Beyer, LLP)

Defense

Ferraro, James

Sessions

Attorney

Witness

Type

Description

PM Session

Openings

7 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:03	General Case Activities
00:04:03	Opening Statement	Wuliger, William
01:00:59	Opening Statement	Climaco, John
02:02:00	General Case Activities
02:02:49	Witness Direct Examination	Wuliger, William	Lavell, Brother Robert	In Person
02:19:06	Witness Cross Examination	Climaco, John	Lavell, Brother Robert	In Person
02:23:56	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Wuliger, William	Lavell, Brother Robert	In Person

MAR

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

8 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:06	General Case Activities
00:07:05	Witness Direct Examination	Wuliger, William	Austin, Mr. Gerald	In Person
00:32:21	Witness Cross Examination	Climaco, John	Austin, Mr. Gerald	In Person
00:35:13	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Wuliger, William	Austin, Mr. Gerald	In Person
00:37:08	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Climaco, John	Austin, Mr. Gerald	In Person
00:38:51	Witness Direct Examination	Wuliger, William	Grambo, Ms. Sheila	In Person
02:22:21	General Case Activities
02:26:01	Witness Cross Examination	Climaco, John	Grambo, Ms. Sheila	In Person

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

10 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:14	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Wuliger, William	Grambo, Ms. Sheila	In Person
00:06:24	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Climaco, John	Grambo, Ms. Sheila	In Person
00:11:16	General Case Activities
00:21:49	Witness Direct Examination	Wuliger, William	O'Toole, John	Video Recording
01:14:54	Witness Cross Examination	Simpkins, Scott	O'Toole, John	Video Recording
01:27:24	General Case Activities
01:42:24	Witness Direct Examination	Wuliger, William	Frost, Robert	Video Recording
02:20:04	Witness Cross Examination	Simpkins, Scott	Frost, Robert	Video Recording
02:26:54	General Case Activities
02:47:54	Witness Direct Examination	Climaco, John	O'Toole, John	Transcript Reading

MAR

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

7 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:10	General Case Activities
00:00:32	Witness Direct Examination	Wuliger, William	DiCorpo, Mr. Michael	In Person
01:13:32	Break
01:36:42	Witness Direct Examination	Wuliger, William	DiCorpo, Mr. Michael	In Person
02:00:32	Witness Cross Examination	Simpkins, Scott	DiCorpo, Mr. Michael	In Person
02:39:02	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Wuliger, William	DiCorpo, Mr. Michael	In Person
02:45:02	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Simpkins, Scott	DiCorpo, Mr. Michael	In Person

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

8 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:08	General Case Activities
00:00:33	Witness Cross Examination	Wuliger, William	Groves, Chad	In Person
00:33:18	General Case Activities
01:09:53	Break
01:31:38	Witness Cross Examination	Wuliger, William	Groves, Chad	In Person
01:51:23	General Case Activities
01:52:03	Witness Cross Examination	Wuliger, William	Groves, Chad	In Person
02:55:03	Witness Cross Examination	Wuliger, William	Groves, Chad	Video Recording

MAR

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

4 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:15	Witness Direct Examination	Wuliger, William	Sivinski, Mr. John	In Person
01:14:45	Break
01:32:30	Witness Cross Examination	Simpkins, Scott	Sivinski, Mr. John	In Person
02:02:00	Witness Direct Examination	Wuliger, William	Buckley, Mr. Brent	In Person

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

8 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:18	Witness Direct Examination	Wuliger, William	Buckley, Mr. Brent	In Person
00:28:52	Witness Cross Examination	Climaco, John	Buckley, Mr. Brent	In Person
00:55:02	Break
01:24:25	Witness Cross Examination	Climaco, John	Buckley, Mr. Brent	In Person
01:28:34	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Wuliger, William	Buckley, Mr. Brent	In Person
01:41:57	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Climaco, John	Buckley, Mr. Brent	In Person
01:53:12	Witness Direct Examination	Wuliger, William	Wilson, Thomas	Video Recording
02:25:12	Witness Direct Examination	Wuliger, William	Wilson, Thomas	Video Recording

MAR

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

6 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:25	Witness Direct Examination	Wuliger, William	Wilson, Thomas	Video Recording
00:53:25	Break
01:15:25	Witness Cross Examination	Climaco, John	Wilson, Thomas	Video Recording
01:39:25	Witness Direct Examination	Wuliger, William	Uzl, Mr. Bill	In Person
02:06:25	Witness Cross Examination	Climaco, John	Uzl, Mr. Bill	In Person
02:28:25	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Wuliger, William	Uzl, Mr. Bill	In Person

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

3 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:16	Witness Direct Examination	Wuliger, William	Ferraro, Mr. James	In Person
01:46:01	Break
02:02:01	Witness Direct Examination	Wuliger, William	Ferraro, Mr. James	In Person

MAR

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

3 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:01:57	Witness Direct Examination	Wuliger, William	Ferraro, Mr. James	In Person
01:15:49	Break
01:34:57	Witness Direct Examination	Wuliger, William	Ferraro, Mr. James	In Person

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

6 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:01:05	Witness Direct Examination	Wuliger, William	Ferraro, Mr. James	In Person
01:21:05	Break
01:37:00	Witness Direct Examination	Wuliger, William	Ferraro, Mr. James	In Person
01:50:05	Witness Direct Examination	Wuliger, William	Sommers, Ms. Sandra	In Person
02:04:55	Witness Cross Examination	Simpkins, Scott	Sommers, Ms. Sandra	In Person
02:13:50	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Wuliger, William	Sommers, Ms. Sandra	In Person

APR

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

4 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:13	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Wuliger, William	Ferraro, Mr. James	In Person
00:07:28	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Climaco, John	Ferraro, Mr. James	In Person
00:20:13	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Wuliger, William	Ferraro, Mr. James	In Person
00:41:13	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Climaco, John	Ferraro, Mr. James	In Person

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

5 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:17	Witness Direct Examination	Wuliger, William	Ickert, Heinz	In Person
01:06:17	Break
01:21:17	Witness Cross Examination	Climaco, John	Ickert, Heinz	In Person
02:34:47	Break
02:44:17	Witness Cross Examination	Climaco, John	Ickert, Heinz	In Person

APR

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

4 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:09	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Wuliger, William	Ickert, Heinz	In Person
00:32:39	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Climaco, John	Ickert, Heinz	In Person
00:43:44	Break
01:08:30	Witness Direct Examination	Wuliger, William	Ruben, Professor Alan Miles MA, JD	In Person

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

4 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:14	Witness Direct Examination	Wuliger, William	Ruben, Professor Alan Miles MA, JD	In Person
00:20:14	Witness Cross Examination	Cuppage, David	Ruben, Professor Alan Miles MA, JD	In Person
01:02:29	Break
01:18:49	Witness Cross Examination	Cuppage, David	Ruben, Professor Alan Miles MA, JD	In Person

APR

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

4 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:13	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Wuliger, William	Ruben, Professor Alan Miles MA, JD	In Person
00:21:43	Witness Direct Examination	Wuliger, William	Kelley, Mrs. Lynn	In Person
01:42:43	Break
01:52:13	Witness Cross Examination	Climaco, John	Kelley, Mrs. Lynn	In Person

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

5 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:15	Witness Cross Examination	Climaco, John	Kelley, Mrs. Lynn	In Person
01:22:06	Break
01:48:21	Witness Cross Examination	Climaco, John	Kelley, Mrs. Lynn	In Person
02:12:51	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Wuliger, William	Kelley, Mrs. Lynn	In Person
02:15:36	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Climaco, John	Kelley, Mrs. Lynn	In Person

APR

PM Session

Defense Witness(es)

6 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:01	General Case Activities
00:01:16	Witness Direct Examination	Simpkins, Scott	Galluci, Mr. Anthony	In Person
00:36:33	Witness Cross Examination	Wuliger, William	Galluci, Mr. Anthony	In Person
01:27:01	Break
01:51:21	Witness Cross Examination	Wuliger, William	Galluci, Mr. Anthony	In Person
02:00:39	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Simpkins, Scott	Galluci, Mr. Anthony	In Person

AM Session

Defense Witness(es)

2 Chapters

			Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
		00:02:23	Witness Direct Examination	Wuliger, William	Kelley, Master Brendon	In Person
		00:30:23	Break

APR

AM Session

Defense Witness(es)

3 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:22	Witness Direct Examination	Simpkins, Scott	Wilson, Thomas	In Person
01:12:57	Break
01:28:12	Witness Cross Examination	Wuliger, William	Wilson, Thomas	In Person

PM Session

Defense Witness(es)

5 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:10	General Case Activities			In Person
00:01:15	Witness Direct Examination	Simpkins, Scott	Torok, Mr. Robert	In Person
00:48:45	Witness Cross Examination	Wuliger, William	Torok, Mr. Robert	In Person
01:41:35	Break
02:11:45	Witness Direct Examination	Climaco, John	Murphy, Mr. John	In Person

APR

AM Session

Defense Witness(es)

5 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:08	General Case Activities			In Person
00:04:34	Witness Cross Examination	Wuliger, William	Murphy, Mr. John	In Person
01:11:34	Break
01:27:04	Witness Cross Examination	Wuliger, William	Murphy, Mr. John	In Person
01:37:49	Witness Direct Examination	Climaco, John	Kelley, Mr. Edward	In Person

PM Session

Defense Witness(es)

3 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:01:07	Witness Cross Examination	Wuliger, William	Kelley, Mr. Edward	In Person
00:17:17	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Climaco, John	Kelley, Mr. Edward	In Person
00:29:02	Witness Direct Examination	Climaco, John	Ferraro, Mr. James	In Person

APR

AM Session

Defense Witness(es)

6 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:31	Witness Direct Examination	Climaco, John	Ferraro, Mr. James	In Person
00:29:46	Witness Cross Examination	Wuliger, William	Ferraro, Mr. James	In Person
01:18:01	Break
01:43:01	General Case Activities
01:56:46	Break
02:05:31	Witness Cross Examination	Wuliger, William	Ferraro, Mr. James	In Person

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

7 Chapters

APR

AM Session

Closings

5 Chapters

PM Session

Verdict

2 Chapters

APR

Kelley v. Ferraro

Summary

Outcome

Sessions

Suggest a Trial

CVN Essentials

Video Library

	Description	Attorney
00:00:05	General Case Activities
00:07:37	Closing Statement	Wuliger, William
00:52:47	Closing Statement	Climaco, John
02:03:57	Closing Statement	Wuliger, William
02:24:07	General Case Activities

			Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
		00:00:03	General Case Activities
		00:01:53	Reading of the Verdict