Douglas V. Bartman
Doug focuses his practice on residential and commercial construction and development matters, employment counseling and litigation, and commercial litigation. Doug's clients have included a national homebuilder, local custom home builders, owners and developers of construction projects, large employers, and numerous local businesses and individuals.
As a construction lawyer, Doug has substantial experience in drafting and negotiating contracts for both commercial and residential construction, and he provides valuable advice to residential builders on best practices to reduce litigation risk. Doug has represented numerous homebuilders, contractors, and owners in court and arbitration proceedings over construction defect, breach of contract, and non-payment claims. Doug is well-versed in arbitration law and procedure and has advocated successfully on the issue of enforcing arbitration provisions in multiple appeals before the Ohio Court of Appeals for the 8th District in Cleveland. Doug also has significant experience in insurance coverage disputes with respect to construction defect claims.
Doug has represented both developers and homebuilders in transactional matters, including drafting and negotiating lot sales agreements and related transactional documents for residential subdivisions. He has also prepared condominium association documents for condominium projects, and he represents purchasers and owners of apartment buildings in transactions and landlord-tenant disputes.
Doug's employment practice focuses primarily on advising employers with respect to regulatory and claims avoidance matters, including the investigation of internal employee complaints. He represents employers in defending against EEO and wage-related administrative charges and lawsuits, and in lawsuits to enforce restrictive covenant agreements. Though he primarily represents employers, he often represents individuals as well including in negotiating severance agreements with their employers.
Doug represents commercial and business clients in breach of contract, tortious interference, and corporate governance claims. He also counsels new businesses on business formation matters, including drafting operating agreements for limited liability companies.
Prior to moving to Cleveland in 1999, Doug practiced law for three years in San Francisco (where he was admitted to the California Bar) and for three years in Chicago (where he was admitted to the Illinois Bar). After he relocated to Cleveland, prior to joining Berns, Ockner & Greenberger, LLC, Doug was a partner at a mid-size Cleveland firm and then a large regional firm based in Cleveland. He also ran his own law firm for several years.
Doug has spoken at many seminars on construction contracts, construction defect litigation, and mechanics' liens. He also has authored numerous articles that have been published in an American Bar Association newsletter, the Cleveland Bar Journal, and the Builders Exchange magazine, amongst other publications.
Practice Areas
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Construction
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Employment Counseling and Litigation
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Real Estate Development and Transactions
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Real Estate Litigation
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Business and Commercial Litigation
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Insurance Coverage
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Education
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University of California, Hastings College of Law, J.D., 1993
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University of Michigan, A.B., 1989
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Economics
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Bar Admissions
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Ohio
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United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio
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United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
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Professional Honors
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Peer-review rated AV Preeminent by LexisNexis/Martindale-Hubbell
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Rated 10 out of 10 by AVVO
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