Pearson, Stephen

Robert M. Fertel joined Zashin & Rich Co., L.P.A. in 1998. Bob's primary practice areas are domestic relations, employment, complex civil litigation and appellate advocacy. He has appeared before trial and appellate courts at both the state and federal court levels.

Bob has argued successfully before the United States Supreme Court. In the seminal case, Cleveland Board of Education v. Loudermill , 470 U.S. 532 (1985), Bob established procedural due process requirements for public sector employees. This decision not only set the standard for the termination of public employees nationally, but also established controlling due process principles under the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution.

Bob's other legal accomplishments include:

• obtaining federal court decisions requiring the appointment of counsel for certain individuals charged with contempt of court; obtaining federal court judgments against public officials for violations of civil rights;
• invalidating the practice of referees not filing sufficient Reports and Recommendations which prevented trial judges from adequately determining their validity;
• obtaining a ruling by the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit which invalidated a provision of an insurance policy as being contrary to federal law; and,
• obtaining a ruling by a State Appellate Court finding a Constitutional right to the assistance of retained counsel for some non-indigent paternity defendants.

Bob is a 1965 graduate of Shaker Heights High School. He earned both his B.A. and J.D. Degrees from the Ohio State University.