James W. Lewis, Esq.
PRACTICE AREAS:
- Insurance Fraud
- Property Insurance
- Arson
- Insurance Bad Faith
- First-Party Defense
- International Business Law
- Investigative Law
HONORS:
- Earned the Martindale-Hubbell “A-V” peer-rated designation (legal ability “Very High to Preeminent” and general ethical reputation “Very High”)
- George A. Eisnaugle Award of the Ohio Chapter of the International Association of Arson Investigators, in recognition of his achievements in combating the crime of arson—the only lawyer-recipient of that award
OTHER PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
- Assistant Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney (1975-1980)
- Senior Assistant Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney and Director of the Economic Crime Unit (1978-1980)
- In 1994, following partnership in two A-V rated Columbus law firms, joined Lane, Alton & Horst, as counsel to the firm, to gain additional litigation support for his statewide investigative law practice
- Former member of the board of trustees and past president of the National Society of Professional Insurance Investigators (1993-1994)
- Commissioner, Board on the Unauthorized Practice of Law, Supreme Court of Ohio (2005-2008)
EDUCATION:
- Capital University Law School J.D., cum laude, 1975
- George Washington University
- The Ohio State University B.A., 1969. R.O.T.C. Distinguished Military Graduate
LANGUAGES:
Spanish (fluent, legal/business-level)
BAR ADMISSIONS:
- Ohio, 1975
- United States District Court, Southern District of Ohio, 1978
- United States District Court, Northern District of Ohio, 1990
- United States Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit, 1982
- United States Supreme Court, 1979
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS:
- Commissioner on the Board on the Unauthorized Practice of Law, Supreme Court of Ohio; responsibilities include hearing and deciding assigned litigation cases throughout Ohio (2005-2010)
- Columbus Bar Association
- Ohio State Bar Association
- National Society of Professional Insurance Investigators (President, 1993-1994)
- International Association of Arson Investigators (Ethical Practices and Grievance Committee, Ohio Chapter)
MILITARY SERVICE:
United States Army, First Lieutenant, Field Artillery, Battery B, 22d Field Artillery (105mm), 193d Infantry Brigade, Panama Canal Zone (1969-1972); awarded Army Commendation Medal for meritorious service.
Practicing: Insurance Fraud, Property Insurance, Arson, Insurance Bad Faith, First-Party Defense, International Business Law, Investigative Law
