PROFILE
Curtis practices in the litigation group at Cors & Bassett. His practice is fairly evenly divided between the areas of commercial litigation and labor/employment law.
In the labor/employment law area, Curtis counsels management clients on a daily basis regarding a host of issues including: staying union-free, management-union issues in general, the negotiation of collective bargaining agreements, election campaigns opposing union organizational attempts, drafting employee handbooks, negotiating severance agreements, non-competition and trade secret issues, employee leave issues, and compliance with Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, and the Fair Labor Standards Act.
Also in the labor/employment context, Curtis has successfully represented management clients in labor arbitrations, in unfair labor practice proceedings before the National Labor Relations Board, and he regularly practices before a host of other governmental agencies including: the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Ohio Civil Rights Commission, the Kentucky Human Relations Commission, the Pennsylvania Civil Rights Commission, the U.S. Department of Labor, and the United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration. He has also tried a number of employment-related cases in federal and state courts in Ohio, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and California.
In the commercial litigation arena, Curtis has litigated cases in Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Virginia, Michigan, Tennessee, California, New Jersey, Florida, Texas, Indiana, and of course, Ohio. He has served as lead counsel in several jury trials which were tried to verdict and has argued successfully in various courts of appeal throughout Ohio and in front of the Ohio Supreme Court.
Curtis has also developed an expertise in the automotive industry representing various dealers in a variety of areas, including Consumer Sales Practices Act claims, claims under the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, and claims against manufacturers.
Finally, in addition to non-competition and trade secret cases, Curtis has litigated trademark cases both in federal court and before the United States Patent and Trademark Board.
Curtis is also a regular speaker on labor/employment issues and on litigation topics in general.
Curtis received his juris doctor from the University of Cincinnati, where he served as an Editor on the University of Cincinnati Law Review. He earned a Masters of Music degree from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Alabama, where he graduated cum laude.
Curtis is admitted to practice in Ohio as well as the United States District Courts for the Southern District of Ohio, the Western District of Michigan, the Eastern District of Tennessee, and the Western District of Pennsylvania. Curtis is further admitted to United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and the United States Supreme Court.
AFFILIATIONS
Curtis is a member of the American Bar Association, Ohio State Bar Association, Cincinnati Bar Association, and the Potter Stewart Inn of Court.