Joseph W. Shea III

Joe is one of the most successful and experienced trial attorneys in the Midwest. Over the past several decades, Joe recovered record breaking verdicts in several local counties for victims of medical malpractice and their families – including verdicts of $8.3 million in Hamilton County, $6.5 million in Butler County, and $5.4 million in the Eastern District of Kentucky Federal Court in Kenton County. In two of these three listed cases, other attorneys and law firms declined to pursue the matter because they did not believe they could win the case. In most of Joe’s cases, favorable settlements are reached to help families cope with lifelong injury and loss. Joe is also called upon at times by the Ohio Attorney General (OAG) over the past decade. When he is called in by the OAG, it is to represent the state of Ohio as lead counsel in complicated litigation matters under the designation of “Special Counsel to the OAG”. In the past decade he recovered more than $6.5M in just two cases alone. Based on his advocacy for his clients and their families, Joe has numerous accolades including listings in the following publications: “Leading Lawyer” by Cincy Magazine each year for more than a decade, Best Lawyers in America in fields of Personal Injury and Medical Malpractice each year for more than two decades, “Best Lawyers in the Tristate” by Cincinnati Business Courier each year for more than a decade, and Ohio Super Lawyers “Top 50 Cincinnati and/or Top 100 Ohio” more 20 times since the designation began. Joe also received the Ohio State Bar Association’s Ritter Award, which is given annually to only one of Ohio's 50,000 lawyers or alternatively to one law-related organization for the accomplishment of the highest degree of professionalism, ethics, and contribution to the legal profession. Joe and his wife have three children and in his spare time he enjoys boating on the Great Lakes and road biking. Awards and Honors Super Lawyers® Selectees Joseph W. Shea III included in a Super Lawyers® list Honors Ohio Super Lawyer, 2004 - Present Ohio Super Lawyer listed top Cincinnati 50 or Top Ohio 100 over 25 times. America’s Top 100 Medical Malpractice listing, America’s Top 100 LLC Professional Achievement Award, Northern Kentucky University, 1998 Who's Who Among Students in Colleges and Universities, 1972 - 1974 Who's Who Among Outstanding Americans Who's Who in Emerging Leaders in America Salmon P. Chase College of Law Outstanding Alumni, 2009 Sole Resipiant of The Ritter Award, Ohio State Bar Association, 2008 Martindale-Hubbell Preeminent Rating by Peer Voting Every Year Since 1995 Alumni of the Month, University of Cincinnati McMicken College Arts and Sciences, 2008 "Leading Lawyer," Cincy Magazine, 2005 - Present "Leading Lawyer," Cincy Magazine, 2005 - Present "Best Lawyers in America," Medical Malpractice and Personal Injury, 1995 - Present John P. Kiely Award For Outstanding Trial Skills and Professionalism Other Sources of Feedback About Joseph W. Shea III 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 2006 Ohio Super Lawyers list 2005 Ohio Super Lawyers list 2004 Ohio Super Lawyers list

• Faculty Member, Litigation Forum, Case Western Reserve University School of Law, 1981-1982, 1983, 1984
• "Masters in Trial" (Mock Jury Trial), ABOTA, Kansas City, Kansas, 1992
• "Masters in Trial" (Mock Jury Trial), ABOTA, Columbus, Ohio, 1993 - 1994

• Ohio, 1974
• Kentucky, 1999
• U.S. District Court Southern District of Ohio, 1975
• U.S. District Court Eastern District of Kentucky, 2000
• U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit, 1979
• U.S. Court of Appeals 11th Circuit, 2023
• U.S. Supreme Court, 1984

• Supreme Court of Ohio, Member, Board of Bar Examiners, 1984 - 1989
• Chief Justice Thomas Moyer, Supreme Court of Ohio, Chief Bar Examination Examiner, 1989 - 1990
• Chief Justice Thomas Moyer, Special Re-Appointment as Supreme Court Examiner, 1991
• Ohio State Bar Association, Chairman, Ethical Advertising, Marketing and Solicitation Committee, 2008 - 2009
• National Board of Trial Advocacy, National Certification Examiner for specialty “Civil Litigation”, 1984 – 1987, 1991, 1994, 1997 2001, 2003
• Governor's (Ohio) Insurance Task Force, 1984 - 1986
• American Inns of Court, Master, Potter Stewart Chapter, 1993 - 1998
• American Inns of Court, Emeritus Master, Potter Stewart Chapter, 1998 - Present
• American College of Trial Lawyers, Member, 1999 - Present
• American Board Trial Advocates (ABOTA), Advocate, 1989 - Present
• American Board Trial Advocates, National Board of Directors, 1989 - Present
• National Board of Trial Advocacy, Diplomat, 1984 - Current
• American Board of Trial Advocacy (ABOTA), Cincinnati Chapter Elected as Chapter's Representative, 1989 - Present
• ABOTA Cincinnati Chapter Secretary, 1989 - Present
• OAJ (Youngest President Ever Elected in Academy History), President, 1981 - 1982
• OAJ, Board of Governors, 1979 - 1998
• Indian Hill Schools Booster Board, President, 1997 - 1998
• National Board of Specialty Certification, Nationwide Bar Examiner, 1990 - 2009