James M. Kelley

James (Jay) M. Kelley III's practice areas include medical negligence and/or wrongful death arising from birth injury, maternal death, surgery, oncological, cardiac, trucking, auto and pharmaceutical causes in state and federal courts. Jay has tried to jury approximately 100 cases, including felony prosecution, criminal defense, civil defense and civil plaintiff. The last 15 years have been exclusively representing plaintiffs in catastrophic civil claims. Jay has been responsible for $200+million dollars in recovery for his clients.

Licensed to practice in Ohio and in the Northern and Southern Districts of Ohio, he has obtained multimillion-dollar verdicts and settlements for clients throughout Ohio and represents plaintiffs throughout the state.

Communication, hard work, empathy and a commitment to patient safety are central components to Jay's representation. Each client receives Jay's cellphone number to maximize access throughout the litigation. Hard work is more than a headnote as there is no shortcut to personal preparation which is supported by Elk and Elk's resources.

Legal representation is personal and emotional. Empathy towards clients during these challenges allows the attorney-client bond to grow, which assists in each aspect of litigation and maximizes results. Unique to Jay is his participation in improving the healthcare system. Jay is an author, reviewer, lecturer and keynote Speaker for AWHONN , The March of Dimes and several perinatal collaborative groups and medical education companies. This participation ensures Jay is current on each birth-related issue, and helps work towards the goal of increasing safety for children and mothers during the birth process.

Jay understands the privilege and responsibility of representing the catastrophically injured client/ family. His experience as a criminal prosecutor, criminal defense attorney and civil litigator enables him to understand and present complex issues presented in medical negligence cases to juries in clear terms. Jay's medical knowledge was put to use as a reviewer of the medical-legal chapter of a fetal monitoring text - Mosby's Pocket Guide to Fetal Monitoring: A Multidisciplinary Approach, Sixth Edition and Seventh Edition. Jay is lead author of a chapter in a leading gynecology text - "Comprehensive Gynecology, 5th Edition and 6th Edition (Katz, Lentz et al.). Jay is asked to lecture physician, nursing and legal groups nationally and internationally on birth injury and civil trial work.

Awards/Achievements

• Jay was awarded "Lawyer of the Year" in 2021 for Medical Malpractice Law in Cleveland.
• Since 2016, he has been included in The Best Lawyers in America® for Medical Malpractice Law and Personal Injury Litigation.
• Jay has been recognized as an “Ohio Super Lawyer” since 2009.
• He maintains the highest AVVO rating.
• He received a 5.0/5.0 AV Preeminent Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Rating™ by members of the Bar and Judiciary for his legal ability and professional ethical standards.
• Jay was named to the Top Five in Cleveland by Super Lawyers from 2012-2015; Top Ten Ohio Super Lawyers list from 2011-2015 by Cincinnati and Columbus Super Lawyers magazines; Top 100 Ohio Super Lawyers from 2010-2021; and Top 50 lawyers in Cleveland by Super Lawyers for 2009 and from 2012-2021.
• He serves on the board of trustees for the Cleveland Academy of Trial Attorneys.
  • Recipient of the President's Award in 2010
• Jay is a former member of the board of trustees for the Ohio Association of Justice.
• Nationally, he’s a member of the American Association of Justice’s “Leadership Forum.”
• Recognized by the National Association of Distinguished Counsel