Joseph R. Miller
Practice Areas
Industries
Education
- Harvard Law School, J.D., 1997, cum laude
- The Ohio State University, B.A., 1994, summa cum laude
Bar & Court Admissions
Judicial Clerkships
- The Honorable Susan J. Dlott, United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, 1997-1998
Joe is a partner in the Vorys Columbus office and the chair of the firm's litigation group. His practice is focused on land use, real estate and eminent domain litigation. He has obtained substantial jury verdicts and settlements, including seven and eight-figure amounts, on behalf of landowners in eminent domain litigation. Joe has experience representing real estate developers, individuals and businesses before local administrative and legislative bodies, and state and federal courts in matters involving land use and zoning disputes.
Joe also has significant experience in business and commercial litigation, including securities, contract, trade secrets, and product liability disputes.
Career highlights include
Eminent Domain/Real Estate/Land Use
- Successfully representing land owners before the Supreme Court of Ohio in defeating proposed referendum on zoning regulations to permit wind power. State, ex rel. Stoll v. Logan Cty. Bd. of Elections, et al., 117 Ohio St. 3d 6 (2008)
- Successfully representing landowners before the Supreme Court of Ohio in mandamus and contempt proceedings against the Ohio Department of Natural Resources for taking private property. State ex rel Doner v. ODNR, 130 Ohio St 3d 326 (2012)
- Successfully representing real estate developers in civil rights actions pursuant to 42 U.S.C.§1983, including in which federal courts have held as a matter of law that local governments violated client's rights of due process as a result of illegal zoning regulations
Business Litigation
- Obtaining multi-million dollar judgment in favor of a business client on breach of contract and fraud claims in private arbitration
- Successfully representing defendants and plaintiffs at trial in federal and state courts, as well as in private arbitration, including before the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and the American Arbitration Association (AAA)
- Successfully obtaining summary judgment for business clients and defending such judgments in both federal and state courts of appeals
- Obtaining a seven-figure judgment in favor of a business client on breach of contract and conversion claims in federal court
Joe is a member of the Columbus Bar Association and Federal Bar Association.
Joe is AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell, its highest peer review rating of legal ability and ethical standards.
Joe received his J.D. cum laude from Harvard Law School and his B.A. summa cum laude from The Ohio State University.
Joe clerked for the Honorable Susan J. Dlott of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio.
Professional and Community Activities
- Catholic Social Services, Board Member, 2015-Present; Board Chair 2020-Present
- St. Stephen's Community House, Board Member, 2008-2014; Board Chair, 2013
- Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission, Board and Chair of the Legislative Committee, 1999-2002
Honors & Awards
- The Best Lawyers in America, Commercial Litigation, 2020-2021
- Ohio Super Lawyers Rising Stars, General Litigation, 2005-2007, 2009-2011
- Columbus CEO, Top Lawyers in Columbus, 2011-2021
- Martindale-Hubbell AV Peer Review Rated
News
- 7/7/2021Vorys partner Joe Miller was quoted in an article from the Columbus Dispatch titled "Liberty Township: Elections Board Removes Overlay Petition From Fall Ballot."
- 1/28/2021The Ohio Supreme Court has sided with Washington County, Ohio landowners in an eminent domain case over a high-voltage transmission line. The landowners, represented by Vorys Partners Joe Miller, Tom Fusonie, John Kuhl and Dan Shuey, will now have their appeal, on whether the power company needs their land, heard in appeals court before any compensation-related trials for their property can begin.
- 12/17/2020Vorys is pleased to announce that 31 attorneys from the firm have been named 2021 Ohio Super Lawyers and Rising Stars.
- 9/4/2020Joseph Miller was quoted in a Columbus Business First story about U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals decision regarding a proposal for an extended stay "residential hotel" as part of a major development in Powell Ohio.
- 8/31/2020Joseph Miller was quoted in a Columbus Business First story about a federal judge’s decision regarding a proposed housing development in Genoa Township, Ohio.
- 8/20/2020One hundred and twelve lawyers from Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America® 2021 edition. In addition, 26 Vorys attorneys were named to the inaugural Best Lawyers in America “Ones to Watch” list.
- 6/30/2020Joe Miller, a partner in the Vorys Columbus office and the chair of the firm’s litigation group, was quoted in a Columbus Dispatch story titled “Apartment Complex Accuses Delaware of Housing Discrimination.”
- 2/19/2020Joe Miller, a partner in the Vorys Columbus office and chair of the firm’s litigation practice, was quoted in a Columbus Business First story regarding the City of Pataskala’s moratorium on residential development.
- 12/19/2019Joe Miller, a partner in the Vorys Columbus office, was quoted a Delaware Gazette story regarding a vote of the Genoa Township Board of Trustees to accept a ruling in a consent decree to allow the “Ravines at Hoover” project, a 56-home subdivision on 42.8 acres, to move forward.
- 12/9/2019Vorys is pleased to announce that 39 attorneys from the firm have been named 2020 Ohio Super Lawyers and Rising Stars.
- 10/22/2019Joe Miller was quoted throughout a This Week: Dublin story about a temporary restraining order issued to stop trespassing from Dublin City School students, employees and buses onto a property adjacent to the district’s Emerald Campus.
- 8/15/2019One hundred and thirteen lawyers from Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2020.
- 1/22/2018Joseph Miller, a partner in the Vorys Columbus office, was quoted in a Delaware Gazette story regarding a ruling by the Delaware County Board of Elections related to petitions that were circulated to place a referendum on a rezoning decision on an upcoming ballot.
- 1/19/2018On January 18, 2018, the Power Siting Board of Ohio issued an Opinion, Order and Certificate issuing a certificate with conditions for AEP Ohio Transmission Company’s proposed Macksburg-Devola 138 kV Transmission Line Project.
- 1/19/2018On January 18, 2018, the Power Siting Board of Ohio issued an Opinion, Order and Certificate issuing a certificate with conditions for AEP Ohio Transmission Company’s
- 12/18/2017Joe Miller, a partner in the Vorys Columbus office, was quoted in a Dayton Daily News story titled “Owners of Former Store Sue Xenia; Lawsuit Alleges City Damaged Wall During Next-Door Demolition.”
- 12/14/2017Joe Miller, a partner in the Vorys Columbus office, was quoted in a Xenia Gazette article titled “Building Owner Files Federal Lawsuit Against Xenia.”
- 9/12/2017Joe Miller, a partner in the Vorys Columbus office and a member of the litigation group, was quoted in a Columbus Dispatch story about a Delaware County property owner who pursued residential development on a portion of land that he owned.
- 8/18/2017On August 17, 2017, the Power Siting Board of Ohio issued an opinion, order and certificate issuing a certificate with conditions for AEP Ohio Transmission Company’s proposed Herlan-Blue Racer 138 kV Transmission Line Project.
- 8/18/2017On August 17, 2017, the Power Siting Board of Ohio issued an opinion, order and certificate issuing a certificate with conditions for AEP Ohio Transmission Company’s proposed Lamping-Rouse 138 kV Transmission Line Project.
- 7/25/2017Joe Miller, a partner in the Columbus office, was quoted in a Delaware Gazette story titled “BOE Grants Protest of Petition.”
- 6/29/2017On June 6, 2017, the Ohio Power Siting Board held a hearing on AEP Ohio Transmission Company’s application as to its proposed new right of way, Lamping-Rouse 138 Kilovolt Transmission Line Project, which is proposed for 4.7 to 4.8 miles in southwestern Monroe County.
- 6/2/2017On May 31, 2017, the Staff of the Power Siting Board issued a Report of Investigation recommending Duke Energy Ohio, Inc.’s application for certificate of environmental compatibility and public need for the C314V Central Corridor Pipeline Extension Project with certain conditions that Duke Energy must meet.
- 5/5/2017On May 4, 2017, the Ohio Power Siting Board issued an opinion, order and conditional certificates for AEP Ohio Transmission Company for two electric transmission line projects in Harrison and Tuscarawas Counties
- 3/28/2017This year, 54 Vorys attorneys were listed in the 2017 Columbus CEO “Top Lawyers” List.
- 3/9/2017On March 3, 2017, the Power Siting Board informed Duke Energy Ohio, Inc. that it has received sufficient information to begin its review of Duke Energy Ohio’s application for certificate of environmental compatibility and public need for the C314V Central Corridor Pipeline Extension Project.
- 2/21/2017Joe Miller, a partner in the litigation group in the Vorys Columbus office, was quoted in a Delaware Gazette story titled “Harpers Pointe can move forward in Powell.”
- 2/3/2017On February 2, 2017, the Ohio Power Siting Board issued an opinion, order and certificate approving, with conditions, AEP Ohio Transmission Company, Inc.’s South Caldwell-Macksburg 138 kV transmission line project.
- 1/30/2017On January 20, 2017, Duke Energy Ohio, Inc. filed an amended application for certificate of environmental compatibility and public need for the C314V Central Corridor Pipeline Extension Project with the Power Siting Board.
- 1/24/2017On January 23, 2017, Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio in Columbus seeking to condemn property rights across numerous tracts of private property
- 1/19/2017On January 19, 2017, AEP Ohio Transmission Company filed a certificate application for electric transmission and gas facilities with the Ohio Power Siting Board concerning a new proposed transmission line project in Monroe County.
- 12/1/2016On November 30, 2016, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued its Final Environmental Impact Statement for the NEXUS Gas Transmission Project.
- 11/29/2016On November 17, 2016, AEP Ohio Transmission Company filed a pre-application notification letter with the Ohio Power Siting Board concerning a new proposed transmission line project in Washington County.
- 10/24/2016There are a number of applications for proposed electric transmission line projects throughout Ohio pending before the Ohio Power Siting Board.
- 10/12/2016Joe Miller, a partner in the Columbus office, was quoted in an Olentangy Valley News story regarding about a pending Powell City Council vote on the rezoning of a parcel of land.
- 7/19/2016Joe Miller, a partner in the Columbus office, was quoted in a Columbus Dispatch story about a federal lawsuit that alleges that the city of Powell is ignoring its laws as they relate to a proposal for an extended-stay hotel.
- 7/13/2016Joe Miller, a partner in the Columbus office, was quoted in a Dublin Villager story regarding a resolution passed by the Dublin Board of Education that allows the district to file suit in Franklin County Common Pleas Court to use eminent domain to obtain an office building on Emerald Parkway.
- 7/10/2016Joe Miller, a partner in the Columbus office, was quoted in a Columbus Dispatch story about the use of eminent domain by school districts in Ohio to take private property.
- 8/21/2014Joseph Miller, a partner in the Vorys Columbus office and a member of the litigation group, was quoted in a Columbus Dispatch story about a $1.3 million verdict recently upheld by the 10th District Court of Appeals.
- 8/20/2014Bruce Ingram, a partner in the Vorys Columbus office and a member of the litigation group, was quoted in a This Week: Westerville story titled “Appeals Court Upholds Award for $1.3 million.”
- 3/3/2014In May 2013, a jury found that the city of Westerville must pay more than $1.3 million for the property. Westerville appealed the matter. In March 2014, the Vorys trial team filed a brief on the appeal arguing that Westerville wants to reverse the law of Ohio which has historically protected private property rights.
- 5/15/2013Bruce Ingram, a partner in the Vorys Columbus office, was quoted in a This Week: Westerville story about a $1.3 million verdict awarded to a property owner by a Franklin County Common Pleas Court jury.
- 3/5/2013Joseph Miller, a partner in the Vorys Columbus office, was quoted in an Associated Press story regarding the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ (ODNR) progress on completing appraisals for landowners along Grand Lake St. Marys whose land floods during rain storms because of a dam ODNR constructed in 1997.
- 9/7/2012Joseph Miller, a partner in the Vorys Columbus office, was quoted in an Associated Press story regarding a contempt court order against the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
- 8/11/2012Joseph Miller, a partner in the Vorys Columbus office, was quoted as counsel for a landowner in a Columbus Dispatch story regarding an eminent-domain case.
- 9/28/2011The Morning Journal and the Sandusky Register both ran feature stories about a settlement, negotiated by Vorys litigators, between the Erie MetroParks and Erie County private property owners.
- 3/17/2011
- 3/31/2010On March 24, 2010, Vorys obtained a unanimous $862,061 jury verdict on behalf of Reywal Co. Limited Partnership in ODOT v. Reywal Co. Limited Partnership, et al.
- 12/22/2009
- 12/29/2008
- 11/21/2008In a case brought before the U.S. District Court in the Southern District of Ohio, Judge Algenon Marbley agreed with Wedgewood Limited Partnership (Wedgewood), when he issued a ruling saying that Wedgewood’s federal civil rights were violated by Liberty Township.
- 6/26/2007
Events
- May 17-18, 2018Vorys attorneys Tom Fusonie and Joe Miller presented at the Eminent Domain Institute’s Ohio conference on Friday, May, 18, 2018 in Columbus
- 4/9/2010
Insights
- 2/2008In this client alert, Vorys attorneys outline the significant changes to Ohio’s eminent domain law since Ohio Senate Bill 7 took effect.