Pierce Cunningham - Of Counsel
Pierce E. Cunningham has been a trial attorney for over 45 years having tried well over 100 jury cases. Pierce has appeared at all judicial levels including the United States Supreme Court.
Pierce’s trial practice includes complex commercial litigation, land use/zoning, insurance issues and corporate law.
Pierce has successfully participated in a number of significant cases throughout his career:
- Defense of the Cincinnati Riverfront Coliseum Inc. in $100 million suit for wrongful death and punitive damages arising out of the 1979 The Who concert.
- E. W. Scripps Co. - $20 million contract dispute involving employee termination benefits and insurance involving the sale by Scripps of the Pittsburgh Press.
- American Financial Group, Inc. – Defense of Pen Central Corp. in EPA Superfund cases (in excess of $50 million) in Indiana and Pennsylvania. In addition the defense of five toxic torts suits brought against Penn Central in South Bend, Indiana (Ramsey v. Conrail et al., 111 F. Supp.2d 1030 (N.D. Ill. 2000).
- Representation of Hamilton County’s 15 Municipal Court Judges in a U.S. District Court case involving jail overcrowding (Heath v. DeCourcy, 704 F. Supp. 799 (S.D. Ohio 1988))
Pierce has also assisted on key City of Cincinnati planning issues, and major zoning controversies, in addition to being a Special Prosecutor for the Hamilton County Sheriff election issue resolved favorably in the Ohio Supreme Court (2001- 2002).
Admitted to Practice
- State of Ohio
- Ohio Supreme Court
- U.S. District Court,Southern District of Ohio
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of Michigan
- U.S. District Court, Southern and Northern Districts
of Indiana
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
- U.S. Supreme Court
Professional Memberships
American Board of Trial Advocates
Faculty of the Ohio Legal Center for Continuing Legal Education
Cincinnati Bar Association Special Panel and Fee Arbitration Committees
Cincinnati Planning Commission (1968-1974, Chairman 1969-1974)
Cincinnati Riverfront Advisory Committee (1970-1974)
Cincinnati Urban Design and Review Board (1970-1974)
Cincinnati Zoning Board of Appeals (President 1972-1974)
Education
LL.B., Georgetown University (1959)
A.B., College of the Holy Cross (1956)
Professional Publications
Co author of 1996 publication “Mediation/Arbitration and Litigation” written in conjunction with Ohio State Bar Association seminars presented throughout the State of Ohio to Ohio attorneys.
Awards & Honors
Obtained Ohio's then largest civil jury verdict in May of 1980 in the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio.
Martindale-Hubbell Rating
AV Peer Review Rated 
