Jillian L. Dinehart

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Biography

Jillian is a member of the Professional Liability Department with a diverse and robust practice. Jillian defends municipalities and their employees in high-risk contract and tort matters, including wrongful death actions, labor and employment issues and allegations of civil rights violations. She also assists with privacy and data breach matters, helping clients to reduce cyber risk exposures and navigate incident response, containment and compliance measures following a data breach. An additional focus of Jillian's practice is devoted to defending corporate and individual insureds in product liability, construction and other premises liability and personal injury claims. Notably, Jillian has practiced in both the state and federal system and has argued before the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Jillian grew up in the Finger Lakes region of New York and graduated from SUNY Albany with a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science and concentrations in Spanish and Arabic Language studies. She went on to receive her juris doctor from Case Western Reserve University School of Law, where she began her litigation career as an award-winning student in the Criminal Defense Clinic. Before joining Marshall Dennehey in 2017, Jillian had a varied civil practice working as a judicial staff attorney as well as an assistant director of law. She continues to use those public-sector skills in advocating for her political subdivision clients.

Outside of the office you are likely to find Jillian anywhere music can be found or walking her dogs through the Cleveland MetroParks.

Honors & awards

The Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch, Health Care Law
2023

The Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
2024

The Best Lawyers in America, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
2026

Year joined

2017

Results

Successfully Defended a Suburban Mayor in a Defamation Case

Public Entity & Civil Rights Litigation
January 16, 2025

We successfully defended an appeal of a trial court decision dismissing a defamation claim against a suburban mayor. The plaintiff, a former police officer, brought actions against a former city mayor and related defendants, asserting defamation, false light and related claims. The plaintiff alleged that statements made during a press conference disparaged him and violated a non-disparagement clause in his separation agreement. The court ruled the defamation and false light claims were correctly barred by the one-year statute of limitations under R.C.

Summary Judgment Won in Slip and Fall Case Involving a Large Supermarket Chain

Premises & Retail Liability
November 5, 2024

We won summary judgment in Franklin County, Ohio, for a large supermarket chain in a slip-and-fall case. The plaintiff alleged he slipped and fell in the parking lot on ice that remained more than two days after the most recent snow fall and after the lot had been plowed and salted by a co-defendant. The plaintiff’s expert opined that no amount of remaining snow or ice is acceptable and that the standard of care according to the Ohio Building Code requires complete removal in order to maintain a “slip-resistant” surface.

Dismissal Affirmed on Appeal in Ohio Personal Injury Lawsuit

General Liability
Appellate Advocacy & Post-Trial Practice
June 5, 2024

Our motion to dismiss was affirmed on appeal after the Ninth District Court of Appeals found that the plaintiff had sued a non sui juris entity by suing a county department in a personal injury suit. The plaintiff initially filed suit against the department, which was later dismissed without prejudice to allow more time to develop the plaintiff’s medical records. When he refiled his suit, he again named a county department as the defendant. We filed a motion to dismiss, arguing that a county department does not have the capacity to be sued.

Summary Judgment on Behalf of Former Mayor in Civil Rights Lawsuit

Public Entity & Civil Rights Litigation
March 4, 2024

Jillian won summary judgment in favor of her client, a former suburban mayor, after seven years of protracted litigation, arising out of alleged defamation. In 2016, Jillian’s client was arrested for domestic violence. Although the criminal case was ultimately dismissed, the charge significantly tarnished her personal life and career and she lost re-election. In 2017, the police chief and a lieutenant that led the investigation into the criminal charge left their positions, allegedly forced out by the mayor.

Summary Judgment Secured in Protracted Defamation Case

Public Entity & Civil Rights Litigation
March 4, 2024

We won summary judgment for a former suburban mayor after seven years of litigation. As background, in 2016, our client was arrested for domestic violence, but the criminal case was ultimately dismissed for lack of evidence and sealed. In 2017, after the police chief and lieutenant left their positions, the City found documents regarding the sealed charges against the mayor in their offices. This spurred an internal investigation into the police investigation into the mayor, which found that there were significant deficiencies in the criminal investigation.

Thought Leadership

Totality of the Circumstances: Tasing Okay in Immediate Passive Resistance

Cleveland
Public Entity & Civil Rights Litigation
January 1, 2026
In a colorful opinion from the Sixth Circuit, the court found that it was not excessive force to tase the plaintiff when he refused to supply his hand for cuffing in the wake of more significant refusals to submit to the police o

Legal Updates for Real Estate E&O - CASE LAW UPDATE

Cleveland
Real Estate E&O Liability
November 1, 2025
Ohio Supreme Court Clarifies Sellers’ Disclosure Obligations: No Duty to Disclose Publicly Recorded EasementsAshmus v. Coughlin, 2025-Ohio-2412

It Was Just a Mistake! Or Was It Negligence? Ohio Supreme Court Defines Mistake for Contract Principles

Cleveland
General Liability
October 1, 2025
In a certified conflict, the Ohio Supreme Court considered whether a negligent failure to exercise a lease renew option warranted equitable relief. The Court found it did not. Case Law Alerts, 4th Quarter, October 2025 is prepared by Marshall Dennehey to provide information on recent developments of interest to our readers.

98 Marshall Dennehey Attorneys Recognized in the 2026 Editions of The Best Lawyers in America and the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America

August 20, 2025
Marshall Dennehey is proud to highlight the firm’s 98 attorneys who have been recognized in the 2026 editions of The Best Lawyers in America and the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America. Less than 6% of all practicing lawyers in the U.S.

Ohio Supreme Court Holds Seller Had No Duty to Disclose Recorded Sewer Easement in 'As-Is' Sale

Cleveland
Real Estate E&O Liability
July 14, 2025
The Ohio Supreme Court has reversed an appellate opinion and found that a seller does not have a duty to disclose a publicly-recorded sewer easement. In Ashmus v.

Classes/Seminars Taught

Ohio Personal Injury Litigation: Secrets Only the Top Attorneys Know, National Business Institute (NBI) Webinar, December 15, 2022

Political Subdivision Tort Liability, Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court, August 2015

Pro Bono Activities

Brief Advice Clinic with Legal Aid Society of Greater Cleveland, 2009

Immigration Clinic with Catholic Charities, 2009

AmeriCorps Service Member benefitting Legal Aid of Western New York, 2009

See more ›

Areas of Practice (10)

  • Public Entity & Civil Rights Litigation
  • Non-Profit D&O
  • Miscellaneous Professional Liability
  • Privacy & Data Security
  • Construction Injury Litigation
  • General Liability
  • Premises & Retail Liability
  • Product Liability
  • Insurance Agents & Brokers Liability
  • Real Estate E&O Liability

Education & Credentials

University Attended:
State University of New York at Albany, B.A., Political Science, 2006; State University of New York at Albany, B.A., magna cum laude, 2006; Case Western Reserve University School of Law, " 2010, 2009; Case Western Reserve University School of Law, Book Award Winner in Criminal Defense Clinic, 2009; Case Western Reserve University School of Law, Activities and Societies: Phi Alpha Delta, 2009; Case Western Reserve University School of Law, Vice Justice, 2009; Case Western Reserve University School of Law, 2010 Awards: CALI award for "Death Penalty Issues, 2009
Law School Attended:
Case Western Reserve University School of Law, J.D., Book Award Winner in Criminal Defense Clinic; Case Western Reserve University School of Law, J.D., Activities and Societies: Phi Alpha Delta; Case Western Reserve University School of Law, J.D., Vice Justice; Case Western Reserve University School of Law, J.D., " 2010; Case Western Reserve University School of Law, J.D., 2010 Awards: CALI award for "Death Penalty Issues
Year of First Admission:
2010
Admission:
2010, Ohio; 2014, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio; 2015, U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
Memberships:

Associations & memberships

American Bar Association

Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association

Reported Cases:
Significant Representative Matters: Jillian's Motion to Dismiss was affirmed on appeal after the Ninth District Court of Appeals found that Plaintiff had sued a non sui juris entity by suing a county department in a personal injury suit. The Plaintiff initially filed suit against the department, and later dismissed without prejudice to allow more time to develop Plaintiff's medical records. When he refiled his suit, he again named a county department as the defendant. Jillian filed a Motion to Dismiss arguing that a county department does not have the capacity to be sued. Plaintiff then filed a Motion to Amend the Complaint and named the county. Jillian then filed a Motion to Dismiss the Amended Complaint arguing that the plaintiff was outside of the statute of limitations and that the change in defendant could not relate back to the originally filed suit. Plaintiff's argument that naming the department was merely a misnomer and that the Amended Complaint should relate back to the original filing failed and the trial court dismissed the case. After oral argument, the appellate court affirmed the decision.; In 2023, Jillian went to trial in a motor-vehicle accident case in which she represented a driver that had died while the case was pending. There was also a large, financially successful, corporate co-defendant represented by other counsel. The plaintiff had sustained a broken arm in the accident that was surgically repaired. Jillian's client had admitted liability, so the case was solely to be heard on the value of the injury, and the liability of the corporate co-defendant. Likely counting on the deep pockets of the co-defendant, the Plaintiff's pre-suit demand was not rationally related to the injury or in the realm of similar verdicts in the region. During the first day of trial, Jillian formed a clear rapport with the jury panel, often engaging in friendly banter with the potential jurors about their own experiences in car accidents, injuries similar to the plaintiff's, and the social impact of surgical scars. This rapport was in direct contrast to a very dry voir dire by plaintiff's counsel and was bolstered by a similarly friendly voir dire by the co-defendant's counsel. The parties completed their opening statements and returned to court in the morning, at which time the plaintiff asked to engage in settlement discussions. As a result of Jillian's trial performance, the case settlement for $1.5 Million less than the plaintiff's demand the day before trial.;; Published Works: 'I Was Just Following Orders' - Ohio's Sixth Circuit Applies Fourth Amendment's Good-Faith Exception to First Amendment Retaliation Claims,' PLUS Blog, January 28, 2025; 'Understanding Municipalities' Rights and Liabilities in Weapons and Ordnance Legislation,' Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Journal (page 18), December 2022; 'Transferring a Plaintiff's Burden to the Court: In-Camera Inspections Are a Necessary Burden for Most Courts in Ohio,' Defense Digest, Vol. 27, No. 5, December 2021
ISLN:
924935243

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Contact Information:

216-344-9006  Fax

www.marshalldennehey.com/attorneys/jillian-l-dinehart

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