Robert Erney Receives Lifetime Achievement Award
The Ohio Association for Justice has recognized Robert Erney with the 2025 Craig Spangenberg Lifetime Achievement Award, honoring a distinguished career that exemplifies the highest standards of legal advocacy and service to the civil justice system.
This award represents the pinnacle of recognition within Ohio’s plaintiff bar, acknowledging attorneys whose lifetime contributions have made a lasting impact on the legal profession and civil justice system.
The award presentation on May 9, 2025, marks a significant milestone for Rob, whose four-decade career has been distinguished by exceptional trial advocacy, transformative leadership in mediation, and unwavering commitment to justice for his clients. The recognition comes at a time when Rob has established himself as one of Ohio’s most respected mediators, achieving an extraordinary 99% resolution rate across nearly 3,000 personal injury mediations since 2007.
Legacy of Excellence Honors Craig Spangenberg’s Pioneering Spirit
The Craig Spangenberg Lifetime Achievement Award carries profound significance within Ohio’s legal community, named after one of the state’s most influential trial attorneys.
“I’m deeply honored to receive the Craig Spangenberg Lifetime Achievement Award from the Ohio Association for Justice,” said Rob. “This award is significant—not just because of what it represents but because of who it represents. Craig Spangenberg stood for integrity, courage, and tireless advocacy in the face of injustice. It is a humbling experience to be mentioned in the same breath as him and the remarkable past recipients.”
Craig Spangenberg (1914-1998) was a pioneering figure who founded what is now Spangenberg, Shibley & Liber in Cleveland, dedicating his career to creating a level legal playing field for individual plaintiffs against powerful corporate interests.
Spangenberg’s legendary career included groundbreaking work representing Canadian children injured by Thalidomide, which earned him an appointment as a Canadian Queen’s Counsel by Queen Elizabeth II. His influence extended to the highest levels of the federal judiciary, where Chief Justice Earl Warren appointed him to a crucial committee that spent ten years formulating uniform rules on evidence admissibility in federal courts. Spangenberg also developed the influential “eggshell victim” legal doctrine and founded the International Society of Barristers, establishing him as a titan of American trial advocacy.
The award recognizes attorneys whose careers best exemplify Spangenberg’s dedication to representing plaintiffs and promoting civil justice. Selection requires good standing with the Ohio Association for Justice, a minimum of ten years of consecutive membership, and demonstrated lifetime service to the civil justice system. The Ohio Association for Justice describes it as “the most significant award an OAJ member can receive.”
From Courtroom Advocate to Mediation Pioneer
Rob Erney’s journey to this recognition began in 1986 when he entered legal practice after graduating from the University of Cincinnati College of Law, where he earned multiple honors, including the American Jurisprudence Award in Torts and the Lawrence Maxwell Memorial Prize for Excellence in Appellate Advocacy. After serving as a judicial clerk for Ohio’s First Appellate District, he founded Erney Law, Co., L.P.A. in 1998, specializing in personal injury, wrongful death, and complex litigation.
Rob’s trial advocacy earned him consistent recognition as a Super Lawyer from 2006 to 2025, placing him among the top 5% of attorneys in Ohio. His courtroom prowess was further recognized through his selection to the American Board of Trial Advocates and inclusion in Best Lawyers in America, specifically in the areas of Insurance Law and Personal Injury Litigation, as well as the highest rating from Martindale-Hubbell, AV Preeminent, which acknowledges his competency and adherence to the highest ethical standards.
Leadership that Transforms Professional Communities
Rob’s influence extends far beyond individual case outcomes through his transformative leadership roles. As President of the Columbus Bar Association from 2020 to 2021, he served as the organization’s 130th president during a challenging period that required adapting legal practices to unprecedented circumstances. His leadership as President of the Central Ohio Association for Justice and the Columbus Rotary Club from 2008 to 2009 demonstrates his commitment to professional development and community service.
Colleagues consistently praise Rob’s character and effectiveness, with Jeff Boyd of Nelson-Boyd Attorneys reflecting, “It’s been my honor to know Rob and to call him my friend for nearly 40 years, and he is surely worthy of this lifetime achievement award.” Sean Harris of Harris Law Office, an OAJ Fellow, emphasizes Erney’s fundamental approach: “Rob has always been about service, service to others, service to his clients, service to the community.”
Matt Nakajima of Rittgers, Rittgers & Nakajima speaks to Rob’s effectiveness as a mediator, “He’s helped so many of my clients by getting difficult cases resolved that I never thought would be for life-changing amounts of money.” Charlie M. Rittgers notes, “Because Rob has the respect of both sides, the plaintiff’s bar and the civil defense bar, he’s able to be an effective mediator and resolve difficult cases.”
Rachel Duvall-Herman, Rob’s long-time paralegal, captures his essential character: “I don’t think there’s anything in his life that is not geared around serving others, whether it’s his family, his church, our clients, taking care of people, not just the law, but their physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.” She adds, “He’s a fighter. If he thinks somebody’s not getting a fair shake, he’ll go to the mat. It is not in his DNA to give up.”
Client-Centered Advocacy Defines a Distinguished Career
Throughout his career, Rob has consistently prioritized client welfare over financial considerations. Client Carl Emmenegger provides a detailed testimonial of Rob’s thorough approach: “What he did, the way he had my accident investigated, and I mean it was thorough, it was professional, and I couldn’t ask for more.” Bob Miller, another client, speaks to Rob’s character: “He’s honest. He’s a person of integrity. He follows his conscience. He’s true to his word. I’m very appreciative of him as a human being and as a professional attorney and a long-term practitioner of law.”
This client-centered philosophy extends to his mediation practice, where Rob’s reputation for fairness has earned respect from both plaintiff and defense attorneys. Sean Harris notes his authentic approach: “He is authentic to himself. He’s plain spoken, and he’s one of the people.” Jeff Boyd adds, “What you see with Rob is what you get. There’s only one Rob, whether he’s in court or out hunting turkeys.”
Matt Nakajima captures Rob’s genuine character: “He has that human touch, that everyday person’s touch, where whoever he meets, whoever he talks to, immediately, you know, you like him. He’s just a genuine guy. And there are few people you meet like that.”
Rob’s commitment to justice is complemented by extensive community service, including roles as Past President of the Holy Spirit Parish Council, a hospital volunteer at OSU Hospitals, and a Big Brother volunteer. Rachel Duvall-Herman speaks to his priorities: “His priorities are God, family, and then the law. He is all about his wife. They are so in love, even after almost 44 years.”
Jeff Boyd’s closing reflection captures the essence of Rob’s impact: “Every day with Rob is a day of sunshine. A fabulous husband to Maureen and a devoted father to five children and more grandchildren than I can count, and happily, a lifelong friend. There’s no better way to say it than this. They don’t make him like you anymore, and the world is a better place because you’re here.”
Conclusion
Rob Erney’s receipt of the 2025 Craig Spangenberg Lifetime Achievement Award marks the culmination of a distinguished career that has significantly enhanced Ohio’s legal profession and civil justice system. His evolution from an accomplished trial attorney to a transformative mediator exemplifies the depth of his commitment to serving clients and the legal community.
The recognition honors not only his individual achievements but also his embodiment of the professional excellence and ethical standards that Craig Spangenberg established as the foundation of effective legal advocacy.
For Ohio’s legal community, Rob’s recognition serves as both a celebration of remarkable achievement and an inspiration for continued dedication to the principles of justice, integrity, and client service that define the legal profession at its finest.