What About Bob?
When You Need Help
Robert Gray Palmer Co., LPA concentrates on plaintiffs' civil litigation, including bad faith insurance practices and coverage disputes, professional malpractice, personal injury (specifically wrongful death and traumatic brain injury), aviation law, breach of fiduciary duty and employer intentional tort. His services also include contested probate cases, sexual abuse, and other civil litigation. Bob's success in helping his clients comes from working as a team with his three paralegals and law clerk. His paralegals have over 48 years combined experience in litigation support and helping clients through the process.
When Reputation Counts
Bob is listed among the state's top lawyers. He was cited in the publication, Ohio Super Lawyers each year from 2004-2007. Columbus Monthly has consistently recognized him as one of the area's top personal injury litigation lawyers. For each year since 1993, he was cited in the Best Lawyers in America and in Martindale-Hubbell's national Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers in medical malpractice and personal injury. Bob is a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers and an active member in the American Association for Justice where he chaired the Federal Tort Liability Section.
As a member of the Ohio Association for Justice, he chaired the Insurance Law and Civil & Business Law sections. He served on numerous professional committees of the Ohio State and Columbus Bar Associations, and has served as an elected member to each of these associations' governing bodies. Bob lectures on legal matters throughout the country and has appeared on local television as an on-air legal commentator.
Dardinger Center at OSU
Left-to right: Bob Palmer, Dr. Antonio Chiocca, Melissa Dardinger, Dr. Herbert Newton and Bob Dardinger
The Esther Dardinger Neuro-oncology Center at the OSU Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute was created in 2003. It was established and funded by $14.7 million of the $30 million punitive damages award affirmed by the Supreme Court of Ohio in Dardinger v. Anthem Blue Cross.
The Center is co-directed by E. Antonio Chiocca, MD, PhD, Chair of the OSU Department of Neurosurgery and Herbert Newton, MD, who directs the Division of Neuro-oncology in the OSU Neurology Department. Dr. Newton, who treated Esther, holds the Esther Dardinger Endowed Chair in Neuro-oncology and Dr. Chiocca holds the Dardinger Family Endowed Chair of Oncological Neurosurgery.
The Dardinger Center for Neuro-oncology Research laboratory conducts state of the art research related to new treatment for brain and other tumors, neurological nanomedicine and functional neurosurgery. The Center is also involved in clinical trials and other treat modalities for active clinical patients. The Center is turning discoveries into treatments every day so treat patients become survivors. The Dardinger family and Palmer remain involved with the Center as it develops.
Columbus Bar Association
Bob Palmer and Belinda Barnes, President of CBA, 2007
The Columbus Bar Association (CBA) strives to be the leader in providing excellent, innovative and cost effective services to members of the legal profession and the general public in central Ohio. It is has over 5000 members and is recognized as one of the best bar associations in the United States. Through the active involvement of a broad and diverse membership, the CBA focuses on professionalism, education, advocacy and community service in order to advance the justice system for all. Bob was elected by members of the CBA to the maximum two terms on its governing body, the Board of Governors. He was recognized for his service from 2003 – 2007 by the then President Belinda Barnes. In addition, Bob (a former USAF JAG officer) has chaired the CBA’s Military Assistance Task Force since it was formed in 2001 in order to respond to the legal needs of those central Ohioans called to active duty and their dependents who were left at home.
Columbus Bar Foundation
The Columbus Bar Foundation is dedicated to promoting understanding of the law, the role of the legal profession, and access to justice for all. Through grants, the Foundation provides seed money and support for a variety of programs. Bob served as a trustee of the Foundation from 1993-1998, at which time he was president of the board. The Foundation has grown into a significant philanthropic resource for the Columbus community. Bob was re-elected as a trustee to the board in 2007, and is serving on its long range planning committee. He hopes to participate in further enhancing the Foundation’s support of access to justice initiatives, and education of the public about the law and the American legal system.
The Supreme Court of Ohio Rules of Superintendence Commission
On January 1, 2006, Bob was appointed to this Commission by Chief Justice Tom Moyer. Its purpose is to review and evaluate the Superintendence Rules currently in effect. The Supreme Court has implemented rules regarding proposed rules with respect to privacy of court records, restructuring the Rules of Superintendence and certain court proceedings. The Commission is chaired by Justice Judith Lanzinger, and consists of judges, court personnel, a representative from the Ohio legislature and two lawyers in private practice. As one of two private practice lawyers on the commission, Bob was assigned to work on the specific issues of jury service, conflict and trial dates, and multidistrict litigation. The Commission makes recommendations concerning the various rules to the full Supreme Court, which then acts on those recommendations.
Supreme Court Commercial Docket Task Force
Chief Justice Tom Moyer appointed Bob in February 2007 to this Task Force consisting of several lawyers and judges from around the state. The Task Force is charged with assessing the best method of establishing commercial civil litigation dockets by developing, implementing and evaluating pilot projects in select courts of common pleas. A pilot project will be proposed by the Task Force for implementation in 2008. A successful commercial docket would likely benefit not only individuals who own businesses but business entities such as corporations, and will not negatively impact on non-business, individual or consumer rights.
Ohio State Bar Foundation Class of 2006
Bob is also a fellow in the Ohio State Bar Foundation, a philanthropic arm of the Ohio State Bar Association. As a member of the class of 2006, Bob participated in a project to provide materials and education to citizens who wish to represent themselves in Ohio courts. As a result of his class (consisting of 45 lawyers from around the State of Ohio), members of the public will be able to access helpful information either through the Ohio Legal Services website at www.ohiolegalservices.org, or through printed materials available at public libraries throughout the State of Ohio. The purpose of these materials is to assist persons in representing themselves pro se so that they will be better able to find success in Ohio’s courts.
Otterbein College Theater Advisory Board
Since 2003, Bob has served on the Otterbein College Theater Advisory Board, which helps and supports the Otterbein faculty and students produce some of the very best live theater in the greater Columbus area.
