Perry, Jon R.

Bret C. Perry is a Shareholder in the law firm of Bonezzi Switzer Murphy Polito & Hupp, Co., L.P.A. in Cleveland, Ohio. Mr. Perry concentrates his practice in the areas of the defense of physician, nursing, hospital, long-term care, aging services and assisted living malpractice claims. In addition, Mr. Perry is routinely called upon to represent the interests of several ancillary healthcare providers including those employing home health aides, physical therapists, medical and radiology technologists, orthodontist and dentists. Mr. Perry has extensive trial experience handling multiple complex matters through jury verdict as well as extensive appellate experience handling oral arguments before both state and federal courts of appeal.

Most recently, Mr. Perry argued before the Ohio Supreme Court in Havel v. Villa St. Joseph, et al., 2012-Ohio-252, in support of R.C. 2315.21(B) which established a litigants right to a bifurcated trial when both compensatory and punitive damages have been alleged. The Ohio Supreme Court agreed with Mr. Perry's arguments and reversed both the trial and appellate court's prior decisions finding that the statute was unconstitutional. The efforts of Mr. Perry now ensure that Ohio litigants are guaranteed the right to a bifurcated trial pursuant to R.C. 2315.21(B) when claims for both compensatory and punitive damages have been alleged.

In light of his expertise, Mr. Perry is a frequent lecturer to hospital facilities and their staff and currently serves as the Chairman of the Ohio Association of Civil Trial Attorneys Medical Malpractice and Nursing Home Litigation Committee and Medical-Legal Liaison to the Northeast Ohio Academy of Medicine.

Prior to joining BSMPH, Mr. Perry served as a judicial staff attorney to the Honorable Nancy R. McDonnell, Presiding Judge, of the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, and as an appellate staff attorney to the Honorable Michael J. Corrigan and Frank D. Celebreeze of the Eighth District Court of Appeals.

Mr. Perry is a U.S. Navy veteran having served during the Desert Shield and Desert Storm conflict. In addition, Mr. Perry has been recognized by his peers as an Ohio Super Lawyer Rising Star for the years 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012. Most recently, Mr. Perry was recognized as an Ohio Super Lawyer for the year 2013 which recognizes the top five percent of attorneys in the State of Ohio as nominated by his peers.