Jeffrey W. Van Wagner

Jeffrey Van Wagner is the Managing Shareholder of BSPH. His career as a litigator and trial attorney has now spanned three decades. He is a 1979 graduate of Case Western Reserve School of Law and has extensive litigation and trial experience in the areas of nursing home liability, medical malpractice defense of physicians and institutions and product liability. He has extensive experience in defending physicians and institutions where opioid prescription practices are at issue and is well familiar with the nuances of the learned intermediary doctrine as applied to the sales and marketing of prescription medications. Mr. Van Wagner's full-service endeavors for his clients also include providing claims and risk management services and presentations for clients, interactions with state and federal agencies, participation in civil and criminal investigations, and pre-suit evaluation and assessment of potential claims. He recently worked with physicians and pharmacists at a major medical provider in Cleveland to develop a pain management protocol for use of opioids in general and methadone induction specifically. The author of various articles and a frequent presenter to medical, nursing home and insurance clients, he has extensive experience with trials in courtrooms throughout the northern tier of Ohio. Mr. Van Wagner is a member of the Ohio State Bar as well as the United States District Court of Ohio (Northern and Southern Districts), the Sixth and Fifth District Courts of Appeal. Mr. Van Wagner was selected as an Ohio Super Lawyer for twelve straight years (2007 through 2018). In 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2018 he was also named as a Cleveland Top 50 and Ohio Top 100 Ohio Super Lawyer. He was also named to "The Best Lawyers in America" for 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018, the 19th through the 24th Editions in the fields of Medical Malpractice Defense and Health Care Law. Mr. Van Wagner further enjoys an AV Preeminent Five Star rating with Martindale-Hubbell. Awards and Honors Super Lawyers® Selectees Jeffrey W. Van Wagner included in a Super Lawyers® list Honors Ohio Super Lawyers, 2007 - 2018 Ohio Super Lawyers, Cleveland Top 50, 2012 - 2016 Ohio Super Lawyers, Ohio Top 100, 2012 - 2016 Ohio Super Lawyers, Cleveland Top 50, 2018 Ohio Super Lawyers, Ohio Top 100, 2018 "The Best Lawyers in America", 2013 - 2018 Other Sources of Feedback About Jeffrey W. Van Wagner Included on the 2026Ohio Super Lawyers list Past Lists 2025 Ohio Super Lawyers list 2024 Ohio Super Lawyers list 2023 Ohio Super Lawyers list 2022 Ohio Super Lawyers list 2021 Ohio Super Lawyers list 2020 Ohio Super Lawyers list 2019 Ohio Super Lawyers list 2018 Ohio Super Lawyers list 2017 Ohio Super Lawyers list 2016 Ohio Super Lawyers list 2015 Ohio Super Lawyers list 2014 Ohio Super Lawyers list 2013 Ohio Super Lawyers list 2012 Ohio Super Lawyers list 2011 Ohio Super Lawyers list 2010 Ohio Super Lawyers list 2009 Ohio Super Lawyers list 2008 Ohio Super Lawyers list 2007 Ohio Super Lawyers list

• Managing Shareholder

• Gallagher, Sharp, Fulton & Norman, Cleveland, Ohio, Associate, 1979 - 1983
• Ulmer & Berne, LLP, Partner, 1983 - 2008
• Representative Clients
• CommuniCare Family of Companies
• Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Ohio

• Alden v. Phifer Wire Products, Inc.
• Citation: 2005-Ohio-3014, 85064, 05-LW-2599
• Court: 8th OHCA8
• Berry v. MetroHealth Med. Ctr.
• Citation: 2004-Ohio-2841, 85184, 05-LW-2459
• Chromik v. Permanente
• Citation: 2007-Ohio-5856, No. 89088
• Court: OHCA8
• Year: 2007
• Estate of Stevic v. Bio-Medical Application of Ohio, Inc.
• Citation: 2008-Ohio-33, No. 2006 CA 0095
• Court: OHCA5
• Year: 2008
• Hageman v. Southwest Gen. Health Center
• Citation: 2006-Ohio-6765, No. 87826
• Year: 2006
• Musa v. Gillett Communications, Inc.
• Citation: 119 Ohio App.3d 673m 696 N.E.2d, 277
• Court: Ohio App. 8 Dist.
• Year: 1997
• Rinaldi v. City View Nursing & Rehab. Ctr., Inc.
• Citation: 2005-Ohio-6360, 85867
• Studier v. Taliak
• Citation: 74 Ohio App.3d 512, 599 N.E.2d 718
• Year: 1991
• Surdel v. MetroHealth Med. Ctr.
• Citation: 2000-Ohio-492, 135 Ohio App.3d 141, 733 N.E.2d 281
• Taylor v. Academy Iron & Metal Co.
• Citation: 36 Ohio St. 3d 149, 522 N.E.2d 464
• Court: Ohio
• Year: 1998

• Ohio, 1979
• U.S. District Court Northern District of Ohio, 1980
• U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit, 1986
• U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit, 1993
• U.S. District Court Southern District of Ohio, 2003

• Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association
• Defense Research Institute
• Ohio State Bar Association