LEE E. PLAKAS, ESQ.
Areas of practice include: Commercial Litigation, Personal Injury, Medical Malpractice, Products Liability, Anti-trust, Employment Law Discrimination & Sports Law Litigation.
Managing Partner
Leonidas (Lee) E. Plakas is the Managing Partner of Tzangas, Plakas, Mannos & Raies, Ltd. Mr. Plakas' practice focuses on litigation, including commercial litigation, personal injury, medical malpractice, products liability, anti-trust, employment law discrimination, and sports law litigation. Mr. Plakas has been involved in hundreds of civil jury trials during his career in both State and Federal Courts. In addition to his litigation practice, Mr. Plakas represents businesses and corporations that operate on national and international levels.
Professional Honors
- Mr. Plakas has received the honor of being board certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy since 1998 as a Civil Trial Specialist. This certification is only bestowed upon trial attorneys who have been involved in numerous major jury trials and whose special trial expertise has been confirmed by judges and opposing attorneys who have been involved in jury trials with Mr. Plakas, and have observed his trial skills.
- Mr. Plakas’ litigation prowess has also been recognized by the American Board of Trial Advocates since 2003 for his skills and accomplishments in the art of trial advocacy.
- Mr. Plakas has since 1996 received a annual AV rating from the Martindale-Hubbell National Law Directory, which is the highest possible rating for both professional ability and ethics.
- Selected by peers for inclusion in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 Editions of "Best Lawyers in America"
- “Ohio Super Lawyer” – The Cincinnati Magazine and Ohio Super Lawyers 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009
- 2009 Avvo Top Lawyer, rated by Avvo.com
- Outstanding Law Alumni of the Year Award – Akron University School of Law, May, 2001
- Who's Who in American Law
- Appointed by Northern District of Ohio Federal Judges to serve on Committee to interview and recommend applicants for the judicial vacancy of Federal Magistrate Judge for the Northern District of Ohio - Fall of 1999
- Appointment by Ohio Governor Ted Strickland to the Ohio Judicial Appointments Recommendation Panel for Stark County Common Pleas Court judicial vacancy – Spring of 2007
- Appointed by Northern District of Ohio Federal Judges to serve on Committee to interview and recommend applicants for the judicial vacancy of Federal Magistrate Judge for the Northern District of Ohio - Spring of 2008
Professional Associations / Offices Held
Mr. Plakas is one of the founding members and past President of the Stark County Association for Justice, in which organization he still serves as a Trustee. After helping to establish the Stark County Academy of Trial Lawyers, Mr. Plakas also became one of the founding members of the Summit County Trial Lawyers Association. Additionally, he has served on the State Board of the Ohio Academy of Trial Lawyers, both as a State Trustee for the Fifth Appellate District, and as a State Representative-at-Large. In addition to being a member of the Stark County Association for Justice and Summit County Trial Lawyers Association, he is also a member of the American Association for Justice, the Ohio Association for Justice, the American Bar Association, as well as a member of both the Akron Bar Association and the Stark County Bar Association
Statewide Professional Seminars
- Ohio Academy of Trial Lawyers – Annual State Medical Negligence Seminar, Columbus, Ohio – November, 2002 Subject: Winning Plastic Surgery Cases
- Ohio Academy of Trial Lawyers - Annual State Trial Lawyers Convention and Seminar, Columbus, Ohio - May 3, 1995 Subject: Defining The Tort of Wrongful Discharge - Public Policy Exception To Employment At Will.
- Ohio Academy of Trial Lawyers - Annual State Trial Lawyers Convention and Seminar, Cleveland, Ohio - April 30, 1993 Subject: Responsibilities of Employers and Employees - Fair Dealings, Fiduciary Duties and Faithless Servants.
- Ohio Academy of Trial Lawyers - State Seminars: Columbus, Cincinnati, and Cleveland, Ohio -January, 1996; Subject: "Business Insurance Policies -- Do Employees Have UM/UIM Coverage?"
- Ohio Academy of Trial Lawyers - State Seminars, Columbus, Cincinnati & Cleveland, Ohio -December and January, 1991 - Construction and Interpretation of Insurance Contracts;
- Ohio Academy of Trial Lawyers - Annual State Trial Lawyers Convention and Seminar, Columbus, Ohio - April 1989 Subject: Assumption of Risk, Contributory Negligence, and Other Product Liability Defenses;
Regional Professional Seminars
- Mahoning/Trumbull Academy of Trial Lawyers - Regional Trial Seminar, Warren, Ohio -Fall 1989 - Use of Vocational Expert in Maximizing Damages;
- Stark County Academy of Trial Lawyers – Regional Trial Seminar, Canton, Ohio – October 1, 1999 - Combating Abusive Discovery Tactics;
- Stark County Academy of Trial Lawyers - Regional Trial Seminar, Canton, Ohio -November 8, 1996 - How to Preserve and Win Your Appeal;
- Stark County Academy of Trial Lawyers - Regional Trial Seminar, Canton, Ohio -November 10, 1995 - Everything You Need to Know About Experts - Trial Strategies;
- Stark County Academy of Trial Lawyers - Regional Trial Seminar, Canton, Ohio -October 28, 1994 - Presenting Medical Testimony;
- Stark County Academy of Trial Lawyers - Regional Trial Seminar, Canton, Ohio -October 30, 1992 - The Opening Statement;
- Stark County Academy of Trial Lawyers - Regional Trial Seminar, Canton Ohio -November 1, 1991 - Preparing the Doctor for Trial;
- Stark County Academy of Trial Lawyers - Regional Trial Seminar, Canton, Ohio -October 5, 1990 - Effective Cross-Examination of a Medical Expert;
- Stark County Academy of Trial Lawyers - Regional Trial Seminar, Canton, Ohio -October, 1989 - Effective Use of a Vocation Rehabilitation Expert;
- Stark County Academy of Trial Lawyers - Regional Trial Seminar, Canton, Ohio -Winter 1983 Direct Exam of a Trial Witness;
- Stark County Bar Association - 1989 - County Seminar - Products Liability Statutory Changes Created by Tort Reform;
- Summit County Trial Lawyers Association - October 5, 1994 - Presentation - Effective Use of Verdict Reporters and Deposition Banks;
- Published article entitled "The Negligence Cause of Action & Assumption of Risk in Removal of Safety Guard Cases", in a national legal magazine, Products Liability, Commentary & Cases, August, 1986
