Richard James Makowski Esq

Makowski Law Offices

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Claimed Lawyer Profile

Practice Areas

Criminal Law: Criminal Appeals, Drug Crimes, Expungement, Fraud, Gun Crimes, Internet Crimes, Sex Crimes, Theft, Violent Crimes

Gov & Administrative Law: Administrative Law, Election Law, Government Contracts, Government Finance, Legislative & Government Affairs

Insurance Claims: Bad Faith Insurance, Business Insurance, Disability Insurance, Health Insurance, Life Insurance, Motor Vehicle Insurance, Property Insurance

Landlord Tenant: Evictions, Housing Discrimination, Landlord Rights, Rent Control, Tenants' Rights

Personal Injury: Animal & Dog Bites, Brain Injury, Car Accidents, Construction Accidents, Motorcycle Accidents, Premises Liability, Truck Accidents, Wrongful Death

Real Estate Law: Commercial Real Estate, Condominiums, Easements, Eminent Domain, Homeowners Association, Land Use & Zoning, Mortgages, Neighbor Disputes, Residential Real Estate, Water Law

Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice

Professional Experience

Attorney: Makowski Law Offices; 2013 - Current; Eminent domain consulting and practice; Probate; Living Wills and Health Care directives; real estate transactions; zoning and land use issues; civil litigation.

Principal Assistant Attorney General, Transportation Section, Columbus, OH: Ohio Attorney General; 2005 - 2012; Trial and appellate work in complex eminent domain cases for Ohio Department of Transportation; defense of Federal Civil Rights and environmental approval (NEPA) actions in US District Courts for Northern and Southern Districts of Ohio and Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals; defense of competitive bidding claims; co-counsel in prosecution of breach of warranty and contract claims on construction contracts; review and revision to design-build construction contracting documents for state highway project; contract drafting and revision.

Assistant Attorney General, Transportation Section, Cleveland, OH: Ohio Attorney General; 1983 - 2005; Representation of Ohio Department of Transportation from Ohio Attorney General Cleveland Regional Office in eminent domain trials and appeals in northeast and northwest Ohio; defense of Federal Civil Rights actions; legal research and presentation of informal legal opinions; contract review and drafting; legal counsel in real estate acquisition matters.

Executive Director: Famicos Foundation, Cleveland, OH; 1991 - 1992; Manage staff of neighborhood non-profit housing redevelopment corporation in Hough and Glenville neighborhoods of Cleveland involved in acquisition and renovation of residential houses for lease-purchase program; management of multi-family apartment properties; development of resources; formation of partnership with for-profit developer in acquisition of multi-family apartments using low income housing tax credits.

Self-employed attorney: Richard J. Makowski, Attorney at Law, Chesterland, OH; 1983 - 1992; Associated with Joseph H. Weiss, Jr., Attorney in general civil litigation and appeals; misdemeanor and felony criminal defense; real estate law; construction litigation; family law; probate; debt collections.

Geauga County Public Defender: Geauga County Public Defender Commission, Chardon, OH; 1981 - 1983; Manage public defender office staff and provide defense in felony and misdemeanor criminal cases in Geauga County, OH.

Assistant Prosecuting Attorney: Geauga County Prosecutor Office, Chardon, OH; 1977 - 1981; Prosecution of felony criminal cases; defense of Geauga County and various township officials in civil litigation including zoning and land use regulation issues; legal research and presentation of legal opinions.