Patrick J. Murphy

My law practice has evolved over the years. At my first law firm, Weston Hurd Fallon Paisley & Howley, I developed a civil litigation practice with a primary focus on insurance defense. Over the years I was drawn toward medical malpractice defense, and in 1985 I had a chance to join Jacobson Maynard Tuschman & Kalur which provided me with the opportunity to practice exclusively in the medical malpractice arena on the defense side. Jacobson Maynard was a great firm to practice at and if our primary client, PIE Mutual Insurance Company, not run into trouble with the Ohio Department of Insurance, I probably would have finished my career at that firm. Unfortunately PIE Mutual Insurance Co. did have problems with the Ohio Department of Insurance and was ultimately liquidated. The demise of Jacobson Maynard provided me with the opportunity to join a small group of attorneys and to organize and start the firm of Bonezzi Switzer Murphy Polito & Hupp Co. L.P.A. I am very proud of all the attorneys at Bonezzi Switzer Murphy Polito & Hupp and what we have accomplished since 1998.

Throughout my legal career I have prided myself on maintaining a strong reputation for integrity in the way I practice law. Although I do not handle any plaintiff's work, I believe that both the plaintiff's bar and the defense bar recognize my reputation for integrity.

I am always cognizant of my responsibility to provide my client with the very best representation that is possible. This includes strongly advocating my client's position. However, I have found over the years that the best way to represent my client and to advance my client's position is to deal with opposing parties and opposing counsel honestly, reasonably and respectfully. There is no reason why litigation needs to become confrontational.

Approximately 10 years ago the practice of mediation began to grow, and it continues to grow at the present time. I have slowly been expanding my own practice as a mediator over the last five to seven years. I believe that the respect I receive from both plaintiff's bar and the defense bar places me in an excellent position to continue expanding my mediation practice. I realized early on that a successful mediation requires both patience and hard work on the part of the mediator. Patience has always been a strong trait of mine, and I am able to transfer my work ethic from trial preparation and trial work itself to my mediation practice. I feel the same sense of satisfaction in obtaining a successful mediation result as I do in a successful verdict and/or a successful settlement in my own cases where I am serving as defense counsel.