Neal E. Shapero is the managing shareholder of the law firm of Shapero | Roloff Co., L.P.A. and has over 30 years of experience representing injured persons and their families throughout Ohio and across the country. Neal is an experienced litigator and has conducted numerous trials with a high rate of success. His reputation and experience have led to frequent requests by colleagues, throughout the country, to serve as co-counsel in complex and sophisticated matters such as medical malpractice, nursing home abuse and neglect, railroad injury cases, products liability, wrongful death, civil rights violations and commercial litigation.

Neal has experience representing injured railroad employees in cases brought under the Federal Employers' Liability Act ("FELA"), and has worked closely with several railroad unions throughout his career to protect the rights of injured workers. He is a member of the Academy of Rail Labor Attorneys (ARLA) and the firm is designated legal counsel for railroad labor unions.

As part of his trial practice, Neal represents labor unions regarding unfair labor practices, arbitrations and breach of contract litigation. For many years, labor leaders have asked Neal to speak to their members about issues such as workplace safety and OSHA compliance and violations. Neal’s commitment to unions is strong, and he has always performed these speaking engagements at no cost.

His practice also includes negotiating employment separation agreements and litigating claims involving unlawful discrimination, wrongful discharge and sexual harassment claims.

Neal’s success in achieving significant results for his clients has earned him membership in the Million Dollar Advocates Forum. This is a prestigious organization of trial lawyers whose membership is limited to attorneys who have secured million dollar verdicts or settlements for their clients. Neal has also been named an Ohio Super Lawyer every year since 2012.

An integral component of Neal's success is his commitment to acting ethically and professionally. His reputation in this regard has earned him an AV rating by Martindale-Hubbell. Martindale-Hubbell ratings reflect the confidential opinions of other attorneys and judges, and an AV rating indicates that a lawyer has reached the height of professional excellence and integrity.

Neal feels strongly that sharing knowledge with other lawyers, and educating them in his areas of expertise, furthers both the legal profession and the level of service that is provided to clients everywhere. As a result, he devotes significant time to education and is frequently invited to lecture at continuing legal education seminars regarding his areas of practice. The following is a partial list of some of his speaking engagements:

• Advanced Personal Injury - Mastering Your Practice, 2009;
• Surviving A Civil Trial: From Voir Dire To Jury Instructions, 2009;
• Handling Your First Nursing Home Malpractice Case, 2009;
• Preparing And Trying The Bodily Injury Case, 2009
• Advanced Personal Injury: Mastering Your Practice, 2008
• Pre-Impact Terror: Maximizing Non-Economic Damages, 2008
• Best Practices In Products Liability, 2007
• Evidence and Expert Testimony Best Practices: Supporting Your Case, 2007
• Plaintiff’s Personal Injury: Practice Tips and Application, 2007
• Pretrial Skills: Thinking On Your Feet, 2006
• Nursing Home Malpractice, Evaluating and Addressing Accountability, 2006
• How To Get Evidence and Expert Testimony Admitted Into Court, 2006
• Nursing Home Negligence, Asserting Claims, 2005
• Nursing Home Malpractice in Ohio: Successful Case Management From Investigation to Trial, 2005
• Survival Claims: Can You Get Punitive Damages Without Conscious Pain & Suffering, Ohio Academy of Trial Lawyers Annual Convention, 2005
• Orthopedic Issues In Injury Cases, 2004
• Taking Your First Deposition, 2004
• Nursing Home Negligence, 2001 & 2003
• How To Litigate Your First Civil Trial In Ohio, 2000 & 2003
• Cross-Examination of the Defense Medical Examiner, 2000
• Trying The Soft Tissue Injury Case, 1998
• Premises Liability, 1997-1998
• FDA and MDA Requirements for Medical Device Litigation, 1990
• Fundamentals of Direct Examinations, 1989
• Municipal Liability, 1989

His commitment to educating attorneys extends not only to those currently practicing, but to those new to the profession as well. In 2009 Neal was appointed by the Ohio Supreme Court to serve as a mentor for attorneys who have recently passed the Ohio Bar Exam. The program involves mentoring a newly admitted attorney for the period of one year. During that year, Neal meets monthly with the new attorney to address various issues relating to the practice of law, including, but not limited to, ethics and professionalism.

Neal's personal life reflects the strong commitment to individual rights, education, and compassion seen in his professional career. These passions have led him to become extremely active with the Anti-Defamation League, one of the oldest and well known civil rights organizations in the United States. From 2008-2011, Neal served as the Board Chair for the Ohio, Kentucky and Allegheny Regions of the Anti-Defamation League. He currently is a member of the ADL's National Commission. One of the goals of the Anti-Defamation League is to fight against all forms of discrimination, hatred and bigotry.

Neal grew up in Lorain, Ohio and currently resides in Shaker Heights, Ohio with his wife and two sons. Neal is a very active member of the Shaker Heights Community, and, over the years, has been involved in coaching baseball and basketball through the Shaker Heights Recreational Department, serving on the Human Relations Commission, and chairing the City’s Martin Luther King Commemoration Program.

EDUCATION

• University of Akron, School of Law, J.D., 1984
• Kent State University, B.S. 1981

BAR AND COURT ADMISSIONS

• Ohio, 1984
• New Jersey, 1985 (inactive)
• U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, 1985
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, 1986
• Pro Hac Vice Admissions
  • United States District Courts
    • Southern District of Ohio
    • Northern District of New Jersey
    • Northern District of Illinois
    • Western District of Pennsylvania
    • Eastern District of Michigan
    • Southern District of Iowa, Central Division
    • Southern District of West Virginia
  • State Courts
    • Wayne County, Detroit, Michigan
    • Hudson County, Jersey City, New Jersey
    • Essex County, Newark, New Jersey
    • Circuit Court of Monongalia County, West Virginia
    • Iowa District Court, Polk County, Iowa
    • Beaver County, Pennsylvania

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

• Academy of Rail Labor Attorneys (ARLA)
• The American Association for Justice (AAJ)
• The Ohio Association for Justice (OAJ)
• Cleveland Academy of Trial Attorneys (CATA)
• Ohio State Bar Association (OSBA)
• Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association (CMBA)
• Lorain County Bar Association (LCBA)
• Akron Bar Association

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

• Anti-Defamation League
  • Board Chair of the Ohio, Kentucky and Allegheny Region, 2008 - 2011
  • National Commission 2008 - present

• City Of Shaker Heights, Human Relations Commission
  • Board Member, 1999-2003

• Congregation Shaarey Tikvah
  • Board Member, 2000-2003