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The BZ Difference
The BZ Difference
When you or a loved one experiences a tragedy, Attorney Brian Zimmerman’s compassionate focus provides peace of mind. He’ll listen to your story, determine the best course of action and represent you passionately and diligently.
​Brian is an experienced trial lawyer who has been involved in numerous multi-million-dollar settlements and verdicts in the State of Ohio. His success is based in compassion. He walks side by side with you, expressing true care and concern for your suffering and pain.
By focusing his practice on wrongful death, product liability, workplace injuries/death and other personal injury cases, Brian has had the privilege of representing injured clients and their families in difficult and complex litigation including:

  • A $4 million unanimous wrongful death lawsuit in Tuscarawas County

  • A $6 million unanimous verdict in a product liability lawsuit in Stark County

  • A $7.2 million verdict for a gas explosion wrongful death lawsuit in Portage County

  • A $5.53 million settlement for the tragic death of a factory worker

  • A $2.6 million settlement for a worker who fell from scaffolding

  • A $5 million verdict for a man who suffered devastating injuries from a defective product

  • A more than $2 million verdict for a defamation case in Stark County

Melissa Penny
Paralegal
One of Brian’s lead team members is Melissa Penny, paralegal.
Melissa has participated in numerous civil, appellate, administrative and probate cases. Her responsibilities include drafting civil and criminal pleadings, preparing and reviewing discovery, client/court contact, requesting and organizing medical records, preparing settlement and demand packages, completing probate forms, drafting wills, living wills, deeds, power of attorney documents, electronic filing, maintaining and organizing large files, and trial preparation. Melissa is also responsible for billing, accounts payable, payroll, budgeting, bank reconciliation and financial reports.
Brian fought for more than 13 years for a high-school principal who was wrongfully terminated and his reputation defamed. In that long fight, which made its way to the Ohio Supreme Court and the United States Supreme Court, Brian successfully obtained re-employment for his client, an award of back pay, attorney fees and a jury verdict that exceeded $500,000 for the damage to his client’s reputation.
Brian is committed to Stark County. He proudly opened his office in the Canton Arts District. He serves on the board of the Stark County Humane Society and the Community Drop-In Center and other local community boards.
A former administrative counsel for the Ohio Fifth District Court of Appeals, Brian is a member of the Ohio State Bar Association, and the Stark County Bar Association. He is a member of the Ohio Association for Justice , The American Association for Justice and the Stark County Association for Justice. Brian also served as the chairperson for the Negligence Law Division for the Ohio Association for Justice.
As a trial attorney, Brian has also earned the prestigious distinction of Super Lawyer and a BV rating in Martindale Hubbell.
Prior to joining B. Zimmerman Law, Melissa worked at Schulman, Zimmerman and Associates and was a legal secretary/receptionist for a law firm in Akron. She is a graduate of Marlington High School and Raedel Business College with her Paralegal Certificate.
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