F. Daniel Balmert
Mr. Balmert is the managing partner of the Vorys Akron office and practices in the areas of general litigation, product litigation, employment law, and workers’ compensation. He focuses on defense of employment and product liability matters in federal and state courts in Ohio and surrounding states as well as litigation of mass tort claims involving alleged manganese exposures from welding fumes. He is licensed in the state and federal courts of Ohio, and is admitted to practice in the United States District Court, Eastern and Western Districts of Michigan and the United States District Court, District of Nebraska.
Career highlights include:
- Serving as Ohio counsel to a welding machine manufacturer in more than 400 product liability cases involving allegations related to welding fumes, manganese and parkinsonism
- Negotiating and securing Industrial Commission of Ohio approval of the first structured settlement of an Ohio workers’ compensation death claim
- Managing and resolving a group of over 270 asbestos-related workers’ compensation claims against an Ohio employer in state court
- Successfully trying to verdict multiple employment discrimination cases and obtaining affirmance on appeal of an employer defamation and wrongful termination claim
- Litigating to resolution multiple consumer product liability cases and workers' compensation jury matters
- Concluding multiple employer intentional tort cases involving death and/or significant, disabling and disfiguring injuries
- Achieving status as a Life Member of both the Sixth Circuit Judicial Conference and the Eighth Judicial District of Ohio
- Serving on the Advisory Committee to the United States District Court, Northern District of Ohio from 1998 to 2008 and as an Emeritus Member since 2008
Mr. Balmert is a member of the Federal Bar Association, the Ohio State Bar Association and the Akron Bar Association, and is a Master Bencher in the Cleveland Employment American Inn of Court.
Mr. Balmert is a frequent lecturer for both the Self-Insured Group of Ohio and The Ohio Self-Insurers Association on medical and legal issues. In 2006, he delivered a presentation at the annual meeting of the Association of Legal Administrators in Montreal, Quebec, Canada on the topic of leadership in law firm management.
Mr. Balmert received his J.D. magna cum laude from Capital University Law School where he was a member of the Order of the Curia. He received his B.A. cum laude from the University of Notre Dame.
Professional and Community Activities
- Association of Defense Trial Attorneys, Executive Council, 2006-present; Secretary, 2010-2012; Vice President, 2012-2013; North Central Regional Chairperson, 2009-present
- United Stated District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Advisory Group Member, 1998-2008; Emeritus, 2008-present
- Defense Research Institute, Member
- Self-Insurers Group of Ohio, Trustee, 2003-present; President, 2010-2011
- Akron Bar Association, Board of Trustees, 2008-2011
- Civil Justice Reform Act Advisory Group to U.S.D.C. N.D., Ohio, Member, 1995-1998
- Former Member, Nomination/Review Committees for Applicants to the U.S.D.C. N.D., Ohio, Federal Court Panel
- Bluecoats Incorporated, Member, 2006-present
- Old Trail School, Emeritus Trustee, 1998-present
- Fairlawn Country Club Board of Trustees, 1995-1999; President, 1997-1998
- Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Cleveland Chapter, Board of Trustees, Chairman, 1994
- Susan G. Komen Foundation; Northeast Ohio "Pink Tie Guy", 2011-2012
Honors & Awards
- Fellow of the Akron Bar Foundation since 2004
- Fellow of the Ohio State Bar Foundation since 2007
- The Best Lawyers in America, Workers' Compensation Law, 1995-2013
- Ohio Super Lawyers, Top 100 Super Lawyers in Ohio, 2009
- Ohio Super Lawyers, Employment and Labor, 2004-2013
- Inside Business, Northeastern Ohio's Leading Lawyers, 2001-2012
- Martindale-Hubbell AV Peer Review Rated
- Akron Life and Leisure, Top Lawyers in Greater Akron 2007-2012
News
- Vorys Attorneys Recognized as 2013 Ohio Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
- Balmert Quoted in Akron Legal News Story on Mentoring Program
- 126 Vorys Attorneys included in the 2013 The Best Lawyers in America® List
- Balmert Elected Vice President of the Association of Defense Trial Attorneys
- 75 Vorys Attorneys Recognized as 2012 Ohio Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
- More than 100 Vorys Attorneys named on 2012 The Best Lawyers in America® List
- 72 Vorys Attorneys Recognized as 2011 Ohio Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
- Vorys Ranked #1 Law Firm in Ohio on 2011 Best Lawyers in America® list
- 54 Vorys Attorneys Recognized as 2010 Ohio Super Lawyers
- Eight Vorys Attorneys Selected as Leading Lawyers by Inside Business Magazine
- Vorys ranked #1 law firm in Ohio on 2010 Best Lawyers in America® list
- 70 Vorys Attorneys Recognized as 2009 Ohio Super Lawyers
- Eight Vorys Attorneys Selected as Leading Lawyers by Inside Business Magazine
- Vorys Attorneys Named on 2009 Best Lawyers in America List
- Balmert selected to join the Ohio State Bar Foundation's 2007 Fellows Class.
- Nine Vorys Attorneys Selected as Leading Lawyers
- Vorys named the "2008 Leading Ohio Law Firm" by Best Lawyers