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Advocating for Ohio Injury Victims

At The Stuckey Firm, standing up for injured people means more than fighting for results in a single case. It also means protecting the system that allows individuals and families to seek accountability when negligence causes harm. That is why our attorneys take an active role in statewide advocacy through the Ohio Association for Justice.

Ohio’s legislative climate is often challenging for injury victims, and meaningful reform does not always look like a sweeping new law. In many cases, it is quiet, persistent work focused on protecting what already exists. We are often engaged in legislative defense, working behind the scenes to stop laws that would weaken civil justice rights, restrict fairness for injured people, or shift power further toward insurance companies and large institutions. Our legislative work is focused in Ohio through our involvement with OAJ. While we serve clients in both Ohio and West Virginia, our advocacy efforts and public policy involvement are primarily concentrated in Ohio.

Leadership in the Ohio Legal Community

The Stuckey Firm has earned statewide credibility not only through trial-ready casework but also through leadership within Ohio’s legal community.

Nathan Stuckey is well known in Springfield as a trusted advocate for individuals and families affected by personal injuries. As the immediate past President of the Ohio Association for Justice, his leadership reflects both extensive experience and an unwavering commitment to protecting access to the civil justice system. Sydney McLafferty, a recent past president of the same organization, has successfully worked with Ohio legislators to improve laws for injury victims and their families. Her advocacy, paired with Nate’s leadership, strengthens our firm’s reputation as a team that not only reacts to injustice but also works to prevent it at the state level.

A Focus on Legislative Defense in a Conservative State

In a state like Ohio, which often leans conservative on tort and civil justice issues, advocacy is frequently about preventing harmful changes. Many proposed measures target the rights of injury victims, restrict fair recovery, or impose procedural hurdles that benefit insurers and large entities. Much of the work happens behind the scenes, through:

  • coalition-building
  • committee work
  • testimony preparation
  • direct negotiation
  • strategic pressure to prevent harmful legislation

These efforts are not always visible to the public, but they often protect real people from unfair outcomes long before a case ever reaches the courtroom.

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Restoring Vicarious Liability: The “Clawson” Fix

One of the most significant recent legislative efforts involved a needed correction after an Ohio Supreme Court decision commonly referred to in the legal community as the “Clawson” case. That decision created harmful consequences for injury victims and required a legislative fix to restore essential protections related to vicarious liability.

Sydney McLafferty played a significant role in this effort. She was heavily involved in supporting legislation designed to undo the impact of the decision and restore a fairer legal framework for injured Ohioans. An overview of this process was published in the Ohio Association for Justice magazine in an article titled Restoring Vicarious Liability. 

Sydney also provided testimony as part of the legislative process, including video testimony before the Ohio House Civil Justice Committee on June 6, 2023. This work reflects what our firm believes matters most: ensuring the law remains fair for real people, not tilted in favor of those with the most power.

Protecting Victims’ Access to Public Records (House Bill 315 and House Bill 96)

In Ohio, access to evidence can make or break an injury case. That is especially true in cases involving law enforcement footage, such as bodycam and dashcam recordings. For many victims, those public records are essential to understanding what happened and proving fault.

When Ohio House Bill 315 took effect in January 2025, it allowed law enforcement agencies to charge hundreds of dollars for providing copies of video recordings. This created a financial barrier for injury victims who needed critical evidence to support their claims. Nathan Stuckey engaged in behind-the-scenes negotiations with Ohio Attorney General David Yost to help secure an exception for victims like our clients who need these public records for legal cases.

That fix was incorporated into Ohio’s budget bill, House Bill 96, which was passed in June 2025 and went into effect on September 30, 2025.

This type of advocacy may not make headlines, but it protects injured people from being priced out of access to evidence that should be available when accountability is at stake.

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Ongoing Efforts to Improve Ohio’s Non-Economic Damages Cap

Both Nathan Stuckey and Sydney McLafferty have been actively involved in ongoing legislative efforts related to Ohio’s cap on non-economic damages. This is a long-term issue affecting injury victims across the state, and advocacy work continues behind the scenes to advance reform.

This issue is expected to resurface in the 2026 legislative session, and our firm remains committed to supporting work that protects fairness and access to meaningful recovery for those facing life-changing injuries.

Why Legislative Advocacy Matters to Our Clients

Legislative advocacy is not separate from client work. It is part of it. When laws change, the consequences affect real people, including the families we represent. Our involvement in statewide civil justice efforts reflects our belief that injury victims deserve:

  • Fair access to the courts
  • A legal system that does not favor corporations and insurers
  • The ability to obtain evidence and pursue accountability
  • Laws that recognize the lasting impact of catastrophic harm

When you work with The Stuckey Firm, you are working with attorneys who not only understand how the system works. You are working with a team that also helps protect it.

Meet Your Ohio Personal Injury Attorneys

Proven Leaders in Ohio Personal Injury Law

Our team of local attorneys were hand-selected for their experience and leadership in client service, top legal organizations, and our communities.

Founder

Nathan J. Stuckey

  • Immediate Past President of Ohio Association for Justice
  • The National Trial Lawyers, Top 100
  • Ohio Super Lawyers
Read Nathan's Bio

Partner

Sydney S. McLafferty

  • Past President, Ohio Association for Justice
  • Active Member, American Association of Justice
  • National Women’s Trial Lawyers, Top 25
Read Sydney's Bio

Partner

J. Michael Vervoort

  • Board Member, Ohio Association for Justice
  • Member, American Association for Justice
  • Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys
Read Michael's Bio

Attorney

Paul (PJ) Jacob Ratcliffe

  • Member, West Virginia Association for Justice
  • Member, Ohio Association for Justice
  • Member, American Association for Justice
Read Paul's Bio

Attorney

Christian W. Sorg

  • Member, Ohio Association for Justice
  • Member, Clark County Bar Association
  • Founding Board Member, Recon & Sniper Foundation
Read Christian's Bio

Attorney

James E. Heath

  • Past President, Clark County Bar Association
  • Board Member, Clark County Sportsman’s Club
  • Former Captian, U.S. Army JAG Corps
Read James's Bio

Of Counsel

Christian R. Patno

  • Of Counsel
  • President, American Board of Trial Advocates
  • Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America
Read Christian's Bio
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Protecting Your Rights Starts Here

If you were injured and you are worried about being treated unfairly by an insurance company or a system that feels stacked against you, you do not have to navigate it alone. Contact The Stuckey Firm to schedule a confidential consultation and get clear guidance from a team that fights for injury victims in court and works to protect their rights statewide.

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If you’re unsure what to do next, we’re here to listen and help you understand your options

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