ABOUT
DENNIS E. SAWAN
Senior Trial Attorney
Dennis E. Sawan has been a personal injury and civil rights litigator since 2013. His legal experience is remarkable for his relatively young age – spanning nearly two decades. When he was only eighteen years old, he began working in the Toledo Municipal Court as an intern for the Public Defender’s Office. This afforded him the unique ability to observe thousands of hours of live courtroom proceedings in both civil and criminal law prior to even starting law school.
Dennis comes from a family of 5 lawyers, so he was always naturally drawn to the legal profession. He began school at Indiana University – Bloomington months early so that he could take a class in personal law. While on campus from 2005-2009, he obtained a job as a videographer for the Indiana University School of Law – where his job consisted of sitting in various law school classes and filming and observing. In many respects, this proved to be a paid de-facto law school education while he was completing his undergraduate degree in Political Science.
He began law school at the University of Toledo in 2009, where he was quickly offered a job as a judicial research clerk – and eventually a courtroom bailiff – on a full-time basis. He worked to complete his Juris Doctorate at night while working full time in court. This afforded him the unique opportunity to test and observe law school lessons in real time in a busy courtroom with a frenetically paced docket.
DENNIS E. SAWAN
Senior Trial Attorney
Dennis E. Sawan has been a personal injury and civil rights litigator since 2013. His legal experience is remarkable for his relatively young age – spanning nearly two decades. When he was only eighteen years old, he began working in the Toledo Municipal Court as an intern for the Public Defender’s Office. This afforded him the unique ability to observe thousands of hours of live courtroom proceedings in both civil and criminal law prior to even starting law school.
Dennis comes from a family of 5 lawyers, so he was always naturally drawn to the legal profession. He began school at Indiana University – Bloomington months early so that he could take a class in personal law. While on campus from 2005-2009, he obtained a job as a videographer for the Indiana University School of Law – where his job consisted of sitting in various law school classes and filming and observing. In many respects, this proved to be a paid de-facto law school education while he was completing his undergraduate degree in Political Science.
He began law school at the University of Toledo in 2009, where he was quickly offered a job as a judicial research clerk – and eventually a courtroom bailiff – on a full-time basis. He worked to complete his Juris Doctorate at night while working full time in court. This afforded him the unique opportunity to test and observe law school lessons in real time in a busy courtroom with a frenetically paced docket.
Dennis entered private practice in 2013, with roots as a solo practitioner. At first, he began taking whatever cases he could get as he built up a law practice and reputation. Over time, however, his practice began to focus on personal injury, civil rights, state and federal litigation and business-related legal issues. He has tried several cases to juries, with an overwhelmingly positive win ratio.
In 2017, he entered practice with his father and his brother and co-founded the law firm Sawan & Sawan. As managing partner, Dennis was responsible for a wide array of day-to-day management duties – ranging from legal services to client relationship management to marketing strategy and execution. In this role, Dennis is proud to have recovered millions of dollars for personal injury clients, vindicated the rights of clients across the legal spectrum, and won a landmark, unanimous free speech case in the Ohio Supreme Court.
In July of 2022, Dennis began working for the Nick Schnyder Law Firm LLC as a senior trial lawyer. In this role, he is fortunate to be able to continue fighting tirelessly for the rights of the injured throughout Georgia and Florida. He became the Director of Litigation in 2024, overseeing eight litigation teams in hundreds of active litigation matters.
Notable Results
Dennis has been involved in the following notable cases:
- Sharpe v. Williams; Dekalb County State Court. $3,250,000.00 Jury Verdict. Highest Pre-Suit offer was $150,000 from State Farm.
- Rasawehr v. Bey; Ohio Supreme Court. 2020. Landmark, unanimous opinion holding that enjoining future Internet postings about a person imposes an unconstitutional prior restraint on protected speech in violation of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution
- Medical Malpractice claim settled for $1,200,000.
- Serious Injury Auto Accident for $850,000.
- Multiple Car Collision with Rotator Cuff Tear for $490,000.
- Slip and Fall with TFCC Tear for $500,000.
- Head on Collision involving a Distracted Driver for $250,000.
- Confidential Settlement against a Transportation Company for $675,000.
- Dog Bite Injury involving an Apartment Complex Violating its own Breed Restrictions for $125,000.
- A Traumatic Brain Injury resulting from a Rideshare Collision for $450,000.
- A Premises Liability Case involving a falling box of work boots for $350,000.
Speaking Engagements
12/12/2019 How to Get Your Social Media, Email and Text Evidence Admitted (& Keep theirs Out)
8/6/2020 The Battle Over Net Neutrality
9/24/2020 Personal Injury Boot Camp
3/23/2023 Fried Goldberg Breakfast Workshop: Sharpe v. Williams
In The Press
Law.com: DeKalb Jurors Return $3.25M Verdict After State Farm Rejects $100K Demand
Forbes: Boeing Faces New Challenges To Image, Reputation And Credibility
Forbes: Johnson & Johnson Faces Another Crisis After Supreme Court Decision
The Blade: Attorney files brief in Free Speech Case
In his free time, Dennis owns and operates a professional photography and videography company named Right Half Media – aptly named for the contrast with the analytical pursuit of law found in the more creative half of the brain. In this capacity, he has completed work for companies big and small – from local startups to international hospitality brands. He also leverages this creative toolkit to drive sales and brand awareness for his law practice – and to remain on the cutting edge of legal marketing.
Injured And Need a Fighter?
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404-999-1111