Stephen D. Jones

Steve has been selected as an "Ohio Super Lawyer" every year since its inception (2004-2020), and in 2017, 2018, and 2019, was the only lawyer selected with a primary practice in eminent domain. He is a member of the firm’s Business Litigation Practice Group and focuses his practice primarily in the areas of eminent domain and real estate litigation. Steve leads Roetzel's dynamic and growing Ohio, regional, and national, eminent domain practice. He has also served as lead trial counsel in numerous complex commercial litigation cases both in state courts throughout Ohio and federal courts throughout the United States, including contract, shareholder, trademark, and product liability disputes.

Experience

Eminent Domain/ Real Estate

• Filed original action in mandamus against the Ohio Department of Transportation in the Supreme Court of Ohio seeking compensation and damages for a commercial property owner resulting from the closure of a highway intersection
• In a case of first impression, challenged ODOT's right to limit access at a retail fuel center that would have closed the business
• Won a jury verdict totaling in excess of $1 million in an eminent domain grade separation case in Cuyahoga County, Ohio
• Won a $970K jury verdict in an eminent domain case involving a road grade separation in Delaware County, Ohio
• Won a $3.7 million settlement for the owner of a golf course in an eminent domain case in Licking County, Ohio
• Won a settlement in excess of $1.5 million in an eminent domain case on behalf of the owner of a retail shopping center for the loss of parking spaces
• Won a $2.5 million settlement for the owner of a retail fuel center/convenience store in an eminent domain case in Allen County, Ohio
• Served as lead trial counsel to publicly traded electric utility and petroleum companies in numerous eminent domain proceedings
• Served as special counsel to the Ohio Attorney General representing a state commission in eminent domain proceedings

Business Litigation

• Served as special counsel to the Ohio Attorney General representing a state commission in a lawsuit over the award of a contract to operate a short line railroad
• Served as lead trial counsel in the successful defense of a publicly traded manufacturer of microprocessors in a product liability jury trial in federal court
• Served as lead trial counsel to the largest bank in the U.S. in defense of a lawsuit filed by a disappointed bidder in the award by the State of Ohio of a contract for electronic benefits transfer of food stamps
• Served as lead trial counsel representing a publicly traded manufacturer in a lawsuit filed by a disappointed bidder in the award by the State of Ohio of a contract for reflective license plate sheeting
• Represented numerous small to medium-sized companies and individuals in breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty and general business litigation disputes
• Served as counsel for a major internet service provider in an appellate decision addressing the issue of the exercise of personal jurisdiction over a non-resident defendant based upon electronic links

Services

• Eminent Domain
• Real Estate
• Environmental Law & Regulation
• Oil, Gas & Mineral Rights
• Business and Commercial Litigation
• Public Law Litigation

1. Capital University Law School, J.D.
2. University of Michigan, M.S.W., Public Policy and Administration
3. Otterbein University, B.A.
   • with honors

Bar Admissions

1. Ohio

Court Admissions

1. U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
2. U.S. District Court, District of Colorado
3. U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio
4. U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio
5. U.S. Supreme Court

• Named The Best Lawyers in America® Columbus "Lawyer of the Year" for Eminement Domain and Condemnation Law (2023)
• Named to The Best Lawyers in America® for Commercial Litigation (2021-2025); Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law (2021-2025); Environmental Law (2025); Litigation-Real Estate (2025) and Real Estate Law (2025)
• AV® Preeminent™ rating from Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory
• Voted by peers as one of central Ohio's leading lawyers in "The Verdict" special section of Business First magazine
• Recognized as a Columbus CEO Top Lawyer for Eminement Domain and Condemnation Law (2021-2024)
• Selected as an "Ohio Super Lawyer" by Ohio Super Lawyers magazine (2004-2020)

Professional Affiliations

• Association of Defense Trial Attorneys (ADTA)
• Columbus Bar Association
• Ohio State Bar Association

Community Affiliations

• Whitehall-Yearling High School Hall of Fame, Inductee (2009)
• Columbus Country Club, Board of Trustees (2003-present)
  • Executive Committee (2007-2009)
  • President (2010-2011)