Attorneys

Michael was the first Chairman of the American Association for Justice's (AAJ) Trucking Litigation Group. He is the author of the West/AAJ publication Litigating Truck Accident Cases published in 2005 and updated annually. He is a frequent lecturer who teaches other attorneys how to handle truck accident cases across the country.

He is a member of AAJ, Trial Lawyers for Public Justice, and the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum. Michael is also a proud graduate of Gerry Spence's Trial Lawyers College.

Michael says his most educational experience was attending truck driving school - while in the middle of managing his practice.

E.J. has served in the past as the Chairman of the American Association for Justice's (AAJ) Railroad Section. He is a past president of the Academy of Rail Labor Attorneys. He has experience handling truck/train collisions across the country.

E.J. is a board certified civil trial advocate, who has served as an examiner for the civil board exam. He is also a member of ATLA and the Million Dollar Advocates Forum.

He lives at home with his wife and an occasional child visiting from college. His hobbies include golf and raising Irish Wolfhounds.

Ronald Leonhardt  joined E.J. Leizerman & Associates after twenty-two years as a claims adjuster and claims manager with one of the largest insurance companies in the nation. He brings to the firm vast experience in the management of medical-injury litigation. Ronald is an active member of the American Association for Justice (AAJ) as well as state and local bar associations. He also belongs to the truck litigation group of AAJ.

Rena M. Samole concentrates her practice in the areas of commercial litigation, serious personal injury and wrongful death. Recently, Ms. Samole successfully opposed a Petition for Certiorari to the United States Supreme Court.  She has litigated numerous issues of first impression in federal and state courts across the country.

Prior to joining EJ Leizerman & Associates, Ms. Samole practiced law at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP in Chicago for eight years. She also served as a law clerk for Hon. Mark Filip of the United States District Court of the Northern District of Illinois.

Ms. Samole graduated from Washington University School of Law in St. Louis, Missouri, summa cum laude. During her tenure at Washington University, Ms. Samole was elected to the Order of the Coif, served on the executive board of the school's law review, and was a member of a national moot court team.

Ms. Samole has published articles on legal procedure and commercial law.   Recently, Ms. Samole co-authored a treatise on the liability of brokers and shippers in truck collision cases.  She is an avid cyclist and a certified Spinning ® instructor.

Joshua Leizerman continues the Leizerman family tradition of representing injured victims and their families.  He has substantial experience working on catastrophic car, truck and train cases.  He is a member of the American Association of Justice, the Academy of Rail Labor Attorneys and the Ohio State Bar Association. 

Joshua has been a nationally-ranked tennis player and a member of the United States Marine Corps.