In the past two years alone, Durst Kerridge has won four appeals, all on behalf of Appellants in high-stakes matters, including:
- Reversal of a $1,187,886 judgment in First Financial Bank v. Tailored Fund Cap, L.L.C., 1st Dist. Hamilton No. C 230626, 2024-Ohio-4982, a complex intercreditor dispute. Read more about the case and watch the oral argument here.
- Reversal of a summary judgment decision in Sidloski v. Yamaha Motor Co., LTD, 1st Dist. Hamilton No. C 240570, 2025-Ohio-5069, a products liability/wrongful death action. Read more about the case and watch the oral argument here.
- Reversal of a domestic relations decision in Crum-Cianflone v. Cianflone, 5th Dist. Richland No. 2025 CA 0037, 2026-Ohio-663, resulting in our client’s entitlement to a seven-figure sum of additional spousal support payments. Read more about the case here.
- Reversal of an adverse Court of Appeals decision by the Ohio Supreme Court in In re L.E.S., Slip Opinion No. 2026-Ohio-1449, a same-sex custody dispute involving significant constitutional law issues. Read about the case and watch oral argument here.
Exceptionally Qualified to Handle Appeals
Many assume that any experienced litigator can seamlessly step into an appellate role, but the reality is quite different. Appellate law demands a distinct skill set — one that combines a thorough command of specialized procedural requirements with the ability to distill complex cases into focused, compelling arguments tailored for a reviewing court.
Trial attorneys who venture into appellate work without this expertise often encounter procedural missteps or emphasize points that, while central at trial, carry little weight on appeal. For example, when experienced attorneys consult Paul Kerridge about jurisdictional memoranda in support of Ohio Supreme Court appeals, Paul frequently finds that the attorney has overemphasized why the Court of Appeals got it wrong, and in so doing, weakened the argument for why the Court should take the case.
Our appellate team approaches every appeal with a fresh, objective perspective that strengthens the case on review. We also frequently work alongside trial counsel during the earlier stages of litigation to ensure that key issues are properly preserved for appellate review.
Leadership in Ohio Appellate Practice
Our Ohio appeal lawyers not only have extensive appellate experience, but maintain deep roots in the appellate legal community.
Paul R. Kerridge began his career as an Assistant Ohio Attorney General in the Appellate Division before going on to serve two terms as a Judicial Attorney to the Hon. Justice Patrick F. Fischer of the Ohio Supreme Court and one term as a Law Clerk to the Hon. Judge Chad A. Readler of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
From 2020 to 2025, Paul co-chaired the Cincinnati Bar Association’s Appellate Practice Group, which collaborated extensively with the Judges and Adminstrative Staff of the First District Court of Appeals.
Prior to forming Durst Kerridge, Paul worked in the Appellate Department of one of the Midwest’s largest law firms.
Alex J. Durst chaired the CBA’s Appellate Practice Group from 2018 to 2025 and is now Co-Chair of the State and Federal Practice Group. In this capacity, Alex works closely with local courts, including the First District Court of Appeals, to organize CLEs bringing together the bar and bench. Alex was also appointed by the First District to its local rules committee in 2018 and to its pro bono committee in 2023.
Our record of successful appellate advocacy includes:
Won reversal by the United States Supreme Court in a qui tam matter. The decision paved the way for a potential damages award of over $2 Billion.
Won reversal of $1,187,886 judgment against New York-based finance company in intercreditor dispute with Ohio bank in the First District.
Won reversal of summary judgment decision in products liability/wrongful death action against Yamaha Motor Co. in the First District, after being retained to represent Plaintiff on appeal.
Obtained reversal of First District Court of Appeals decision in the Ohio Supreme Court, in same-sex custody dispute involving significant constitutional law issues.
Obtained reversal of summary judgment decision on behalf of Plaintiff in Ohio Consumer Sales Practices Act case.
Won multiple family law appeals after being specially retained on appeal, including reversal of a child custody decision resulting in an immediate award of custody to the firm’s clients.
Successfully obtained interim relief such as stays of execution pending appeal in the First District and the Supreme Court of Ohio (including on an emergency basis).
Successfully defended liability determination in multi-million dollar payments industry dispute.
Obtained dismissal on procedural grounds of appeal of substantial sanctions/attorney fee award obtained in favor of our client.
Won precedent-setting case before the Supreme Court of Ohio involving the right of indigent defendants to effective assistance of counsel after being chosen to represent the Defendant on appeal.
Argued in the Massachusetts Appeals Court in case of first impression involving the application of Massachusetts’ Saving Statute, G. L. c. 260, § 32.
Our Appellate Services
Durst Kerridge offers comprehensive appellate services to our clients and co-counsel. Our appeal lawyers in Ohio are often hired at the trial level before an appeal has been filed. Our appellate advocacy includes, but is not limited to:
- Assisting trial counsel with preserving issues for appeal, ensuring procedural requisites for an appeal are satisfied, and drafting post-trial motions in anticipation of an appeal
- Developing appellate strategy, including the selection of issues to raise on appeal, the framing of legal arguments, and the most effective presentation of the client’s case
- Preparing and drafting persuasive appellate briefs
- Preparing and executing oral arguments
We are highly knowledgeable regarding:
- Ohio and federal appellate procedure
- Securing the right to an appeal
- Seeking (or challenging) stays pending appeal, including on an emergency basis
- Nuanced “final and appealable” order issues (which are prevalent in Ohio)
- Ohio Supreme Court practice, including seeking the Court’s acceptance of a jurisdictional appeal, motion practice, briefing, and oral argument
