Jennifer L. Lawther, a partner with NRS Injury Law, focuses her practice in workers’ compensation litigation. She has been in private practice since 1996. She successfully argued the following case before the Supreme Court of Ohio.
Supreme Court Oral Argument:
“May Workers’ Comp Claimant Recover All Fees and Costs of Appeal When One of Multiple Claimed Conditions Approved? Or Is Recovery Limited To Costs Attributable to the Granted Condition?” Case No. 2011-2040, Jeff Holmes v. Crawford Machine, Inc., and State of Ohio, BWC. Click here to read the oral argument.
Related Article: “Award of Attorney Fees and Costs to Successful Workers’ Compensation Appellant Not Dependent on How Many of Claimed Conditions Approved/Denied” Click here to read the article.
Evan M. Schantz is an associate attorney at NRS Injury Law, focusing on workers’ compensation.
Evan graduated with his Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science with a minor in Pre-Law from the University of Akron in 2018. In 2021, he graduated from the University of Akron School of Law with his J.D. and a certificate in litigation and trial advocacy. While attending Akron Law, Evan competed with both the Trial Team and the Moot Court Honor Society. Evan currently serves as a coach on the Akron Law Trial Team.
In law school, Evan clerked for an Akron based plaintiff personal injury firm and the Mahoning County Prosecutor’s Office.
Aside from passing the Ohio Bar Exam, Evan’s proudest accomplishment was being nominated for the 2013 Boardman High School Homecoming Court.
When not working, Evan is an avid Spider-Man collector.
Zachary Shapiro is a fourth-generation attorney who grew up in Cleveland. Prior to college, he studied at University Schools in Hunting Valley and then completed his Bachelor’s Degree at the University of Pittsburg. He majored in English Literature before he decided to follow in his family’s footsteps to law school at Cleveland Marshall College of Law.
During his time at Cleveland Marshall, Zach was the President of the Jewish Law School Association, and the Editor-in-Chief of the law school newspaper, The Gavel. He also practiced and honed his litigation skills by competing on the Cleveland Marshall Mock Trial Team.
After law school, Zach started his law career on Wall Street in New York City where he practiced personal injury. He represented various clientele, such as construction workers and uber drivers, all of whom were involved in catastrophic accidents.
He then took the skills he learned in New York and decided to move back home to Cleveland and joined NRS Injury Law. Now, he practices workers’ compensation just like his father, uncle, grandfather, and great-grandfather.
When he isn’t working, Zach loves skiing and snowboarding. When the snow disappears, you can find Zach watching movies, reading, or playing video games on his computer, which he built.
Zach loves his family, helping his clients, his three cats, and talking to anyone who likes a good story.
Katie Lietzke, an attorney with NRS Injury Law, has represented injured workers since 1996. She is well experienced in all areas of workers’ compensation, including injuries, occupational diseases, violations of specific safety requirements, permanent and total disability and statutory permanent total disability claims, loss of use awards, death claims and discrimination/terminations following the filing of workers’ compensation claims.
Katie has successfully argued cases at all levels of the Industrial Commission including the full Industrial Commission in Columbus. Katie has also represented claimants in the Courts of Common Pleas, and she’s argued workers’ compensation mandamus actions and employment issues to the Courts of Common Pleas in Cuyahoga County and Franklin County.
Her clients include numerous area firefighters, and she has successfully argued for the allowance of cancer caused by years of firefighting duties. She was recommended by the Northern Ohio Fire Fighters for a position on the Senate Bill 18 Committee in Columbus.
Katie is a mother of three children.
James Zink, an senior associate attorney with NRS Injury Law, focuses his practice on workers’ compensation. Previously, James worked for almost 10 years at Florida Rural Legal Services, providing a variety of civil legal services to over 1600 individuals in south Florida, including evictions, foreclosures, unemployment compensation appeals, and employment discrimination claims. James brings an extensive background in administrative law and a passion for service to his clients.
In his spare time, James enjoys spending time with his friends and family and taking in all the sporting events Cleveland has to offer. He also assists his alma mater Denison University in recruiting and organizing alumni events in Cleveland.
