Experience & Expertise

Steve Dankof is experienced in resolving business disputes by negotiated settlement, mediation, arbitration, or trial by jury in a variety of matters for businesses and individuals in the Dayton Ohio area, including:

• Contract Disputes
• Franchise Disputes
• Theft of Trade Secrets
• Non-Competition Agreements
• Product Liability Suits
• Intentional Tort Lawsuits

Experienced Negotiator

Negotiation requires the skill of a problem solver.  Steve analyzes all angles of a case, at the earliest opportunity, to obtain the winning advantage.  There are many techniques that he employs to achieve this — including empathy for you, his client, as well as the opponent.

Empathy — putting yourself in the other person’s shoes, is quite simply, the understanding of the other party and their needs. 

Very little in life is black and white.  Empathy for the "other" gives greater insight into life's myriad gray areas.  This information is used to analyze and strategize to determine where you need to be flexible and where you don’t in your negotiation. 

No real money left on the table.  Steve will tell you, with confidence, that he has never left real money on the table as a result of a negotiation.  This is possible, once again, through the knowledge gained through empathy.

Experienced Trial Lawyer

It often is in your best interest to avoid a jury trial.  Using negotiation and other means of alternative dispute resolution often avoids unnecessary attorney’s fees and costs associated with an extended trial and keeps you more in control of the outcome. 

But, when a jury trial is necessary, Steve will meet that challenge for you.

Steve is an experienced, aggressive trial lawyer -- willing to push the envelope with a jury – to take chances, to be unpredictable.  Steve's non-cookie cutter approach unsettles opponents and works to your advantage.

Noteworthy Cases

• Bibbs v Julius Martin, M.D. – Montgomery County Ohio Common Please – Plaintiffs’ counsel with Montgomery County record wrongful death jury verdict of $2.95 Million (1995)
• Wilder v City of Dayton – Montgomery County Ohio Common Pleas  – Plaintiffs’ counsel in public nuisance case involving wrongful death, quadriplegia, etc.  Established Ohio’s standard for award of sanctions for discovery abuses.
• Gebhardt v Whirlpool – US District Court, Southern District of Ohio at Dayton, Product Liability claims for wrongful death and personal injury.

Trusted Counselor

Steve is often called on to counsel companies to ward off potential problems and disputes.  He can:

• Review your company’s forms, business policies and procedures and provide counsel to minimize your risk of litigation
• Conduct educational presentations for both management and employees on specific problem areas to improve your business practices

Contact Steven K. Dankof

If you have a pressing legal issue requiring counsel, please contact Steve.

You can take comfort in knowing that Steve will be with you throughout the entire process, gaining and using first-hand knowledge of your case to your best advantage. 

Steve's success in helping others achieve justice for wrongs brought against them can be your success.