Biography
Acton was graduated from Lake Catholic High School in 1993, the University of Dayton in 1997 with a BA, and in 2000 from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. He is a former law clerk in the Appellate Division of the Cuyahoga County, Ohio Prosecutor’s Office. Acton joined Kelley Ferraro in 2000. Acton was named a partner in 2008. Acton has extensive experience as a trial lawyer and has obtained many favorable verdicts and settlements on behalf of his clients, including those affected by different types of cancers, serious injuries, and death. Acton served as lead trial counsel in a case that resulted in a $20,000,000.00 jury verdict in favor a mesothelioma victim’s family. Subsequently, Acton served as lead trial counsel in another case that resulted in a $10,657,189.00 unanimous jury verdict in favor of another mesothelioma victim’s family. Acton was listed as having received the 33rd top wrongful death jury verdict in the country in 2021.
Additionally, Acton has successfully handled various appeals in the Ohio Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court of Ohio. Since 2008, Acton has been recognized by the National Board of Trial Advocacy as a Board Certified Civil Trial Advocate. Acton is admitted to practice law in the State of Ohio; Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio; United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio; United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and The Supreme Court of the United States of America.
Acton is a member of the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, Million Dollar Advocates Forum and The Ohio Association for Justice. Acton has also been invited to lecture other attorneys about effective trial tactics, the rules of evidence, expert witnesses, scientific evidence, and damages due to personal injury and death of a loved one. From 2009-2025 Acton was selected for inclusion in Super Lawyers Magazine as a result of peer nominations and evaluations and independent research. According to Super Lawyers, no more than five percent (5%) of the lawyers in the State of Ohio are selected for inclusion in Super Lawyers Magazine.
Education
- Cleveland State University, Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, Cleveland, Ohio
- J.D. – 2000
- University of Dayton, Dayton, Ohio
- B.A. – 1997
- Lake Catholic High School, Mentor, Ohio
- 1993
Bar Admission
- Ohio, 2000
- Pennsylvania, 2017
- U.S. District Court Northern District of Ohio, 2001
- U.S. District Court Southern District of Ohio, 2012
- U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit, 2003
- U.S. Supreme Court, 2005
Representative Cases
- Dennis v. General Motors Corp., Ohio App. 3rd Dist. No. 4-15-09, 2016-Ohio-247 (Defiance County, Ohio 2016)
- Bryant v. General Motors Corp., Ohio App. 3rd Dist. No. 4-15-03, 2015-Ohio-4911 (Defiance County, Ohio 2015)
- State ex rel. Cleveland Professional Football v. Buehrer, 140 Ohio St.3d 480, 2014-Ohio-3615 (The Supreme Court of Ohio, 2014),
- Walker v. Ford Motor Co., Ohio App. 8th Dist. No. 100759, 2014-Ohio-4208 (Cuyahoga County, Ohio 2014),
- Welsh v. Ford Motor Co., Ohio App. 8th Dist. No. 94068, 2011-Ohio-448 (Cuyahoga County, Ohio 2011),
- Shrock v. Copperweld Steel Co., 160 Ohio App.3d 623, 2005-Ohio-1901 (Trumbull County, Ohio 2005),
- Snyder v. Ford Motor Co., Ohio App. 3rd Dist. No. 1-05-41, 2005-Ohio-6415 (Allen County, Ohio 2005),
- Chieffo v. YSD Industries , Inc., 157 Ohio App.3d 182, 2004-Ohio-2481 (Mahoning County, Ohio 2004)
Honors
- Selected To Super Lawyers: 2014 – 2025
- Super Lawyer (Rising Stars): 2009 – 2013
- CALI Excellence for Future Award (Trial Advocacy)
- CALI Excellence for Future Award (Criminal Trial Process)
Past Positions
- Appellate Division of the Cuyahoga County, Ohio Prosecutor’s Office, Law Clerk
Professional Associations
- Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, Member
- Million Dollar Advocates Forum, Member
- Ohio Association for Justice, Member & Trustee
- The Judicial Conference of the Eighth Judicial District, Life Member
Certifications
- National Board of Trial Advocacy, Certified in “Civil Trial Law”
