Mike Bertsch defends employers facing workers’ compensation claims, alleged safety and U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) violations, allegations of intentional torts and other employment-related matters. Mike’s wide range of civil litigation experience includes workers’ compensation court appeals and mandamus actions, defense of employer intentional torts and wrongful discharge, product liability and first-party insurance matters.

Principal practice areas

• Workers’ compensation
• Employment law
• Employment litigation
• OSHA compliance and litigation
• Civil litigation – trial and appellate

Representative experience

• Defense of workplace injury claims before the Industrial Commission of Ohio and in Ohio state trial and appellate courts
• Investigation and defense of safety violation claims before the Industrial Commission
• Investigation and defense of alleged OSHA violations
• Consultation regarding OSHA compliance
• General civil litigation, including jury trials
• Mandamus actions
• Representation of employers before the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation adjudication panel and administrator on rating and reimbursement issues
• Counseling and litigation regarding employment policies and practices

Bar admissions

• Ohio Supreme Court (1982)
• 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals (1984)
• U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio (1982)
• U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio (2007)

Educational background

• Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, Cleveland State University (JD, 1981)
• Xavier University (BS, business administration, magna cum laude, 1978)

Professional and civic activities

• Member, Ohio State Bar Association
• Member, Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, Workers’ Compensation and Litigation sections
• Member, Lake County Safety Council
• Member, board of trustees, Shaker Heights Public Library (2014-present)
• Member, Greater Cleveland Safety Council
• Member, Self-Insured Group of Ohio
• President and board member (1990-1998), Epilepsy Association of Northeast Ohio

Publications

• Author, “Workers’ Compensation Alerts,” NGC Legal Insights (Fall 2015)
• Author, “Ohio BWC Settles Premium case, Separately Sets New Collection Schedule,” NGC Legal Insights (Summer 2014)

Speaking engagements

• Co-presenter, “How to Spot the Naughty from the Nice Workers’ Compensation Claimant: Three Case Studies,” Lake County Safety Council (Dec. 15, 2017)
• Frequent speaker and seminar presenter on workers’ compensation and other employment-related issues