Jan L. Roller is a trial lawyer with over thirty-five years of experience specializing in medical malpractice and personal injury litigation. She has successfully handled cases involving catastrophic injury for both the plaintiff and defendants, and allegations of wrongful death, defamation and employer intentional torts. She also serves as a mediator in these fields.

An experienced trial attorney with an outstanding trial record, Jan is a member of the prestigious American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) and the International Society of Barristers.

Jan joined Perez Morris in 2022, where she handles premises liability, professional liability, personal injury, and mediations. Prior to joining Perez Morris, Jan was a Partner at Giffen & Kaminski, where she defended public and private organizations in tort, personal injury and insurance matters. Prior to Giffen & Kaminski, Jan was a Partner at Davis & Young LPA and was an Assistant District Attorney for both Plymouth and Suffolk Counties in Massachusetts.

A dedicated civic leader, Jan is passionate about protecting civil rights, the advancement of women and the economic development of Cleveland. She has served on the boards of over a dozen non-profit organizations, foundations, and political organizations in Cleveland. Jan was the first woman Chair of the Cleveland-Cuyahoga Port Authority and served as President of the Board of the City Club of Cleveland. She is the recipient of the Lutheran Metropolitan Ministries Faith and Friendship Award, the Smart Business Nonprofit Executive of the Year Pillar Award and was recognized as a Crain’s Cleveland Business, Woman of Note.

Outside of her work and community service efforts, Jan enjoys traveling and spending time with her family.

Admissions

Ohio

U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio

U.S. District Court for the Southern Districts of Ohio

Massachusetts (inactive)

Memberships & Affiliations

• International Society of Barristers, Member, 2014
• American Board of Trial Advocates, Member, 2010
• Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, Member
• Ohio State Bar Association, Member
• Cleveland Bar Foundation
• Judge John M. Manos Inn of Court
  • Barrister, 1992-1993
  • Master Bencher, 1994 – Present
• Case Western Reserve University, Society of the Benchers, Member
• Eighth District Judicial Conference, Life Member
• International Association of Defense Counsel, Member, 2000 – 2004
• Case Western Reserve University, Guest Critiquer, Professor James McElhaney’s Trial Tactics Class, 1994 – 2001

Presentations

• Common Mistakes Made by Plaintiff’s Attorneys, Cleveland Academy of Trial Attorneys, Bernard Friedman Litigation Institute, March 2003
• Presenter, The Women Advocate, The Woman Lawyer in the Courtroom, Ohio State Bar and Ohio Women’s Bar Association, April 2001
• Trial Superstar Series, Cleveland Bar Association, October 1999
• Gorilla-Guerilla, Conquering the Legal Jungle, Cleveland Bar Association, May 1997
• Beyond Bridging the Gap, Cuyahoga County Bar Association, April 1996
• The Defendant’s Opening Statement, Litigation Institute of the Litigation Section of the Cleveland Bar Association, November 1988

AWARDS & RECOGNITION

• The Best Lawyers in America®, 2016 – present
• Martindale-Hubbell® AV Preeminent®
• Ohio Super Lawyers Magazine, Ohio Super Lawyer in Insurance Defense: Personal Injury, 2006, 2010, and 2018 – present
• City Year Cleveland, Idealist in Action Award, 2017
• Near West Theatre, Honoree, 2014
• Crain’s Cleveland Business, Women of Note, 2013
• Denison University Alumni Citation, 2010
• Lutheran Metropolitan Ministries, Faith and Friendship Award, 2010
• Smart Business, Nonprofit Executive of the Year, Pillar Award, 2008

BOARD POSITIONS & COMMUNITY SERVICE

• Cleveland Bar Foundation
  • Trustee, 2002 – present
  • President, 2007 – 2008
• The Refugee Response, Board Member, 2015 – present
• City Year Cleveland
  • Board Member, 2012 – present
  • Co-Chair, Advisory Board, 1996 – 2002
• Near West Theatre
  • Trustee, 1996 – present
  • President, 2001 – 2003
• Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority
  • Chair; Board Member, 2012 – 2019
  • Vice-Chair, 2017
• The City Club of Cleveland
  • Trustee, 2006 – 2012
  • President, 2009 – 2010
• City Club of Cleveland’s 100th Anniversary Conference on Free Speech, Chair, 2011
• Lutheran Metropolitan Ministries
  • Trustee, 2001 – 2012
  • President, 2005
  • Vice President, 2003
• Eighth District Judicial Conference, Co-Chair of Conference, April 2006
• Urban Community School, Trustee, 1991 – 2004
• Case Western Reserve University Law School, Law Alumni Association Board, 1999 – 2002, 1992 – 1993
• Levin College of Urban Affairs, Cleveland State University, Visiting Committee, 1998 – 2000
• Greater Cleveland Women’s Roundtable, Chair, 1995 – 1998
• Cleveland Bicentennial Commission, Task Force Chair, Volunteerism and Community Service, 1994 – 1996
• WomenSpace, Board Member, 1992 – 1995
• Neighborhood Counseling Service
  • Chair
  • Building Acquisition Committee
• Office of School Monitoring and Desegregation, Board Member, 1989 – 1994