Joseph T. Dattilo

Joe focuses his practice on counseling privately owned companies as general counsel and upon handling complex business and product litigation for publicly and privately owned companies of all sizes. Previously, Joe served as general counsel for several units of two Cleveland area Fortune 500 companies and later served as Senior Counsel for BP America where he was responsible for both trying and managing complex business and product litigation and major litigation.

Joe has significant experience with general corporate matters serving as general counsel for all phases of a business entity including mergers and acquisitions and advising companies as to how to comply with Ohio consumer statutes.

Throughout his legal career, Joe has been heavily involved in the areas of anti-trust, product liability, construction, contract and environmental litigation, consumer law and appellate practice. He has experience resolving disputes through mediation, arbitration and litigation. Joe served as a mediator for the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas. His litigation experience includes acting as lead counsel in major and complex litigation in state and federal courts throughout the United States.

Experience

• Obtained defense verdict for a consumer products manufacturer in burn case involving three children in Newark, New Jersey 
• Successfully defended multinational oil and gas company in a federal court action brought by 11 sellers of ethanol who, under the Sherman Act and Clayton Act, alleged conspiracy to eliminate competition 
• Successfully represented Fortune 100 companies in Federal and state courts involving breach of contracts in the areas of construction, labor and supply, and coal 
• Successfully represented a Fortune 100 company in state court in a major product liability case involving alleged asbestos exposure 
• Successfully represented a Fortune 100 company in state court alleging environmental contamination of adjacent property 
• Successfully represented subsidiary of a major corporation that manufactured products containing asbestos against claims brought in state and federal courts in Texas by thousands of plaintiffs alleging asbestosis against many defendants 
• Successfully defended steel building manufacturers in various federal and state product liability matters 
• Successfully represented a major corporation in the construction of its world headquarters building and the litigation and claims that followed as to delays and cost overruns 
• Successfully represented a major appliance manufacturer in state court in New Jersey; obtained defense verdict 
• Acting as mediation counsel for Major U.S. manufacturer of consumer products, has successfully settled cases without litigation expense