Jeffrey M. Whitesell

Jeffrey Whitesell is Counsel in the Cleveland office of Tucker Ellis & West LLP. His practice areas include products liability, medical malpractice, legal malpractice, toxic torts, securities litigation and business litigation. He serves as local and national counsel for product manufacturers doing business in a variety of industries, including pharmaceutical, medical device, prosthetic and automotive industries. He also counsels and represents hospitals, physicians, nurses and other medical providers in medical negligence cases arising from various medical practice areas.

Jeff was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, where he lives with his wife and three children. In addition to spending time with his family, he enjoys coaching, softball, boating, ice hockey, golf, and being a tortured Cleveland sports fan, rooting on the Browns, Indians and Cavaliers.

Jeff served as Judicial Law Clerk for the Honorable James M. Porter of the Eighth District Court of Appeals. He is a member of the Ohio State Bar Association.

Representative Cases

Williams v. Bausch & Lomb Company, et al., United States District Court, Southern District of Ohio (2011). Product liability medical device action creating new law on the application of the new statutory damage caps set forth in Ohio’s Tort Reform Act (Senate Bill 80).

In re Ortho Evra Products Liability Litigation, United States District Court, Northern District of Ohio (2006-2011). Multidistrict Litigation involving transdermal contractive patch.

Schwabe v. Southwest General Hospital, et al., Common Pleas Court of Cuyahoga County, Ohio (2008). Medical malpractice action involving physician’s placement of a tracheostomy tube.

Connell v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., et al., Common Pleas Court of Cuyahoga County, Ohio (2007). Summary judgment obtained in product liability action alleging occupational exposure to asbestos.

Frost v. Cleveland Rehabilitation & Special Care Center, Inc., et al., Common Pleas Court of Cuyahoga County, Ohio (2007). Summary judgment granted in medical malpractice action involving medical treatment and nursing care.

Perotti v. Johnson & Johnson Vision Products, Inc., et al., Common Pleas Court of Cuyahoga County, Ohio and Eighth District Court of Appeals (2005). Product liability action finding no duty owed for non-prescription, unauthorized use of a prescription medical device.

In re Sulzer Orthopedics, Inc. Hip Prosthesis and Knee Prosthesis Liability Litigation, United States District Court, Northern District of Ohio (2002-2005). Multidistrict Litigation involving recalled hip replacement implants.

McGee v. Johnson & Johnson, et al., United States District Court, Southern District of Ohio (2002). Product liability action involving surgical equipment.

Cortney Robertson v. Martha Wright, M.D., et al., Common Pleas Court of Cuyahoga County, Ohio (2002). Medical malpractice action alleging that lumbar puncture caused brain damage in new born. Defense verdict obtained at trial.

Recent Publications

“Physician Interaction with Pharmaceutical Companies: New Rules and Nationwide Trends,” published in Northern Ohio Physician, Vol. 94, No. 2, March/April 2009

“U.S. Supreme Court Issues Landmark Decision Regarding Pharmaceutical Warnings,” published in Northern Ohio Physician, Vol. 94, No. 4, July/August 2009

Full Bio