Jessica Sanderson

Jessica is a Shareholder in the Cleveland, OH office. She is a litigator that focuses primarily in the areas of trucking and commercial transportation, professional liability, products liability, and general liability defense. In the commercial transportation industry, Jessica focuses on the defense of commercial motor carriers involved in catastrophic accidents and serves on Roetzel's Emergency Response Team. Jessica also represents professionals in the healthcare, legal, and real estate professions. In addition to the above, Jessica has assisted clients in a wide array of litigation, including claims against consumer and industrial product manufacturers, wrongful death and survivorship claims, business disputes, construction defects, subrogation claims, and violations of the Ohio Consumer Sales Practices Act. 

Jessica has considerable civil litigation experience, having defended a wide variety of clients throughout Ohio state and federal courts. She has litigated cases from pre-suit through trial and mediation and has obtained a number of successful dismissals by dispositive motion. Jessica's commitment to excellence has been recognized by her peers, having been recognized by Ohio Super Lawyers as a Rising Star, and by The Best Lawyers in America®. Clients appreciate Jessica's ability to build a rapport, provide consistent and prompt communication about cases, meaningfully and efficiently evaluate cases, and propose a litigation plan consistent with the client's stated goals.

Jessica is a proud graduate of the Ladder Down Cleveland inaugural class of 2019 and is passionate about promoting the advancement of women in the law.

Experience

• Obtained favorable result for healthcare organization in a discovery dispute involving the peer review privilege 
• Obtained summary judgment on behalf of a physician in a case involving claims of medical negligence and wrongful death arising out of the prescription of benzodiazepines and opioids 
• Obtained a no payment settlement for a medical practice in a case involving a catastrophic wound and claim of wrongful death   
• Obtained dismissal of medical negligence claim on the basis that the claim was not timely
• Obtained favorable resolution for client in a complex construction case involving catastrophic injury at work site 
• Obtained nominal resolution for global glass supplier in claim alleging defective production and design
• Obtained no payment settlement for a real estate developer in claims for trespass and nuisance where initial demand exceeded six figures 
• Obtained summary judgment in multiples cases against Fortune 50 national retailers in cases alleging personal injury caused by slips/trips and falls on neon colored straws, potholes in a parking lot, flooring tiles 
• Obtained summary judgment on behalf national convenience store chain after customer slipped and fell on water next to a drink cooler 
• After filing for summary judgment, postured case for nominal settlement in case involving claims of assault, battery, false imprisonment, and breach of contract 
• Obtained favorable resolution terms for numerous clients in cases involving catastrophic and wrongful death claims 
• Represented privately held manufacturer of medical devices in breach of contract case resulting in a resolution of the claim for less than 3% of the original demand

Services

• Emergency Response & Crisis Management
• Transportation & Logistics
• Appellate
• Complex Business & Commercial Litigation
• Employment Litigation
• Liability Defense
• Medical Defense
• Professional Liability Litigation
• Transportation Litigation

Industries

• Transportation & Logistics
• Manufacturing

1. Michigan State University College of Law, J.D.
   • magna cum laude
   • Associate Editor, Michigan State Law Review
2. The University of Akron, B.A.
   • summa cum laude

Bar Admissions

1. Illinois
2. Ohio

Court Admissions

1. U.S. District Court, Western District of Pennsylvania

Clerkships

1. Extern for The Honorable David McKeague, U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit

• Selected as an "Ohio Super Lawyers - Rising Star" by Ohio Super Lawyers magazine (2017 - 2020)
• Ladder Down Cleveland - Inaugural Class (2019)
• Named to The Best Lawyers in America® for Transportation Law (2021-2023)

Professional Affiliations

• Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, Member
• Section Member, Women in the Law Section of the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association (former Membership Co-Chair)

Community Affiliations

• Co-Chair, Lakewood Community Relations Advisory Commission
• President, Lakewood Women's Club
  • Former Vice President
• Board Member, The University of Akron Honors College Alumni Board