Tis the season to review Betras Kopp’s winter driving tips…

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It’s that time of year, time to review BK’s safe winter driving tips.
Please be careful on the roads, and remember, even though you do everything right, someone who does just one thing wrong in icy conditions can cause an accident in the blink of an eye. If you’re involved in a wreck caused by a careless or distracted driver, contact Betras Kopp BEFORE you talk to an insurance agent or adjuster.
We’ll arrange a free consultation that will give us the opportunity to evaluate your case and provide you with sound advice that will protect your rights and your ability to secure justice and the financial settlement you and your family needs and deserves.
Check out our winter driving tips here and please stay safe out there:
SAFETY ON WINTER ROADS
Bad roads can lead to bad wrecks. Driving on snow-covered, icy roads is tricky—even for those of us who have been doing it for decades. In order to help drivers avoid accidents, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration and OSHA have developed the “Three Ps” of winter driving safety:
PREPARE for the trip; PROTECT yourself; and PREVENT crashes on the road.
Some of the advice is pretty obvious—like making sure all the ice and snow is scraped off all your windows before you head down the road. But even though common sense dictates that being able to see is critical to safe driving, we’ve all seen people weaving around as they peer out of the very small space they’ve cleared on their windshield that looks like a porthole on a tank’s gun turret. There’s only one difference: a car isn’t a tank rolling through woods, it’s a car lurching down a road crowded with other vehicles that can be hit because the driver can’t see them, lane lines, traffic signals or stop signs. So let’s start with the obvious, clear off all your windows, it’s great way to prevent collisions. We’re talking to guys in particular, because as the graphic shows, men are a lot more likely to drive in cars with ice-covered windows then women…
Here are the rest of NHTSA’s “Three Ps:
PREPARE
Maintain Your Car: Check battery, tire tread, and windshield wipers, keep your windows clear, put no-freeze fluid in the washer reservoir, and check your antifreeze.
Have On Hand: flashlight, jumper cables, abrasive material (sand, kitty litter, even floor mats), shovel, snow brush and ice scraper, warning devices (like flares) and blankets. For long trips, add food and water, medication and cell phone.
Plan Your route: Allow plenty of time (check the weather and leave early if necessary), be familiar with the maps/ directions, and let others know your route and arrival time.
Practice cold weather driving when your area gets snow — but not on a main road. Until you’ve sharpened your winter weather driving skills and know how your vehicle handles in snowy conditions, it’s best to practice in an empty parking lot in full daylight. Note our emphasis on the word “empty.”
Know what your brakes will do: stomp on antilock brakes, pump on non-antilock brakes. Stopping distances are longer on water-covered ice and ice.
Don’t idle for a long time with the windows up or in an enclosed space.
PROTECT YOURSELF
Buckle up and use child safety seats properly.
Never place a rear-facing infant seat in front of an air bag.
Children 12 and under are much safer in the back seat.
Stopped or Stalled? Stay in your car, don’t overexert, put bright markers on antenna or windows and shine dome light, and, if you run your car, clear exhaust pipe and run it just enough to stay warm. Don’t idle for a long time with the windows up or in an enclosed space.
PREVENT CRASHES
Drive slowly. It’s harder to control or stop your vehicle on a slick or snow-covered surface. On the road, increase your following distance enough so that you’ll have plenty of time to stop for vehicles ahead of you.
A word of caution about braking: Know what kind of brakes your vehicle has and how to use them properly. In general, if you have antilock brakes, apply firm, continuous pressure. If you don’t have antilock brakes, pump the brakes gently.
If you find yourself in a skid stay calm and ease your foot off the gas while carefully steering in the direction you want the front of your vehicle to go. Stay off the pedals (gas and brake) until you are able to maintain control of your vehicle. This procedure, known as “steering into the skid,” will bring the back end of your car in line with the front.
Drugs and alcohol never mix with driving.
Texting while behind the wheel is especially dangerous in winter conditions. Put your phone down.
You can check out NHTSA’s interactive winter driving safety website by clicking here.

SuperLawyer Jacklyn Soroka joins Betras Kopp legal team as firm expands to Florida’s east coast

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In this edition of Legally Speaking on WFMJ Today BK Managing Partner David Betras introduces Attorney Jacklyn Soroka, the newest member of the Betras Kopp Legal team. Attorney Soroka practices marital and family law in Florida. During the segment she and David discussed the significant differences between the laws that govern marital and family law in Florida and Ohio and announced that BK will now maintain an office in West Palm Beach.
Attorney Soroka has earned the highly coveted “SuperLawyer” designation and is a member of the Florida Bar, the Palm Beach County Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the Florida Association of Women Lawyers Palm Beach County Chapter and the Susan Greenberg Family Law American Inns of Court of the Palm Beaches.
Ms. Soroka received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Central Florida – Burnett Honors College and obtained her Juris Doctor from the Florida International University College of Law. In law school, she interned for a renowned judge in the 11th Judicial Circuit of Florida Family Court. She went on to serve as a felony assistant public defender at the Miami-Dade County Public Defender’s Office in the 11th Judicial Circuit.
Honored for her exceptional work in helping those who need it the most, Ms. Soroka was awarded with the 40 Under 40 Outstanding Lawyers of South Florida award by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. She also worked at the Lawyers for Children America, a nonprofit organization that advocates for and protects the rights of children. At The Florida Bar, Ms. Soroka was a member of its Legislative Committee, the Children’s Issues Committee, the Membership Committee, the Equitable Distribution Committee, the Sponsorship Committee and the Continuing Legal Education Committee.

Betras Kopp files multiple lawsuits on behalf of Realty Tower victims, actions allege that gross negligence by natural gas suppliers, contractors, building owners caused catastrophic explosion

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Attorneys Brian Kopp, Frank Cassese, and James Melfi of Betras Kopp LLC today filed multiple lawsuits in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court on behalf of people who suffered personal injuries, property and other economic damages as a result of the explosion that rocked the Realty Towers building in downtown Youngstown on May 28, 2024.

The complaints allege that a number of natural gas suppliers, Greenheart Companies, the contractor hired by the city of Youngstown to remove utility lines from underneath the sidewalk in front of Realty Towers, as well as the building’s owners and managers were directly responsible for the catastrophic blast.

“We are totally committed to ensuring that all those responsible for this avoidable catastrophe are held responsible for their actions and to securing justice and just compensation for our clients,” Attorney Brian Kopp said.

Suits were filed on behalf of six people who suffered damages as a result of injuries caused by the blast. They are Caroline Pizarro, Ariadna Pizzaro, Christina Will, Richard Will, Susie A. Page, and Vito Colella.

A complaint was also filed on behalf of 22 Realty Tower residents who lost their homes and possessions when the building was rendered uninhabitable. The plaintiffs include:

Jason P. Small, Esq., Tracey S. Monroe-Winbush, Erin E. Driscoll, Frank A. Daloise, William E. Mayberry, Jr., Victasia C. Hooks, Saeed R. Garner, Taylor Hammond, a minor, by and through her Mother and next of friend, Victasia C. Hooks, O’Mar Z. Garner, a minor, by and through his Father and next of friend Saeed R. Garner, Harry E. Bierworth, Gregg A. Rossi, Esq, Deanna L. Rossi, Jordan T. Raines,  Christopher L. Eskew, Justin T. Reynolds, Mark A. Talanda, Larry S. Mohn, III,  Sha’Haun A. Williams, Robert E. Diroll and Jarret W. Smotrila.

The defendants listed in the actions are: Enbridge, Inc., Dominion Energy, Inc., Dominion Energy Questar Corporation, Enbridge (U.S.) Gas Distribution, LLC. Enbridge Elephant Holdings, LLC. Enbridge Alternative Fuel, LLC., Enbridge Pipelines (Toledo) Inc., Enbridge Genoa U.S. Holdings, LLC., Enbridge (U.S.) Inc. Enbridge Eog Holdings, LLC., Greenheart Companies, LLC., Ly Property Management, LLC., Yo Properties 47, LLC., and other as yet unknown parties who conduct contributed to the plaintiffs’ injuries.

According to the complaints, On May 28, 2024, four members of the scrap-removal crew engaged by Greenheart were removing old utilities and other items from the basement of the Realty Tower.  During this process, a member of the scrap-removal crew used a reciprocating saw to cut into one of the gas lines, which was believed to be inactive. At that time, the Greenheart site supervisor was not present.

Immediately after the scrap-removal crew member began cutting the line, he immediately smelled natural gas, heard loud whistling and felt natural gas blowing into his face because the line was pressurized with natural gas. The scrap-removal crew called 911, activated the fire alarms and evacuated the Realty Tower. Approximately six minutes after the line was cut, a catastrophic explosion occurred.

Click the links below to view and download the complaints.

Vito Colello Complaint final Susie Page Complaint final Realty Tower PD Complaint Christina Will Complaint final Caroline Pizarro Complaint final

Lady justice with a colorful sky behind her

Attorney Frank Cassese secures acquittal in aggravated murder case, says verdict proves the criminal justice system works

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Attorney Frank Cassese

Attorney Frank Cassese, leader of Betras Kopp LLC’s (BK) Criminal Defense Practice Group, said today’s acquittal of Daundre Turner on charges of aggravated murder, murder, and robbery, demonstrates the value and effectiveness of the criminal justice system. A Mahoning County Common Pleas Court jury returned the not guilty verdicts after deliberating for six hours.

Mr. Turner was accused of the 2016 killing of Omar Croom on Youngstown’s Eastside. Youngstown Police detectives who investigated the crime at the time did not have sufficient evidence to recommend charges be brought against Mr.Turner. He was arrested, charged, and jailed in early 2023 when a different YPD officer reopened the cold case.

According to Attorney Cassese, the prosecution’s case was based on statements offered by Ranee Fitzgerald, Mr. Turner’s spouse who was charged with complicity to aggravated murder in Mr. Croom’s killing. She waived spousal privilege and testified against her husband during the trial. “The prosecution did a very professional, thorough job with the evidence they had, but at the end of the day, they simply could not convince the jury my client was guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.”

BK Managing Partner David Betras said the outcome of the case was determined by two factors: Attorney Cassese’s ability to identify and select jurors who would listen to the evidence with an open mind and his devastating cross examination of Fitzgerald. “Time after time, Frank pointed out inconsistencies and conflicts in her testimony that raised serious doubts about her veracity and credibility,” Atty. Betras noted.

“This verdict underscores the important role preparation, skill, knowledge, instinct, and sheer talent play in criminal trials,” he continued. “Frank spent hundreds of hours examining the evidence and statements the prosecution would offer at trial, preparing for jury selection, and crafting the questions he asked during cross examination—questions that determined the outcome of the case.”

“I’m extremely pleased by the verdict and gratified that Mr. Turner, who has been incarcerated in the Mahoning County jail while awaiting trial was set free today,” Atty. Cassese. “Along with our commitment to doing whatever is necessary to seek and secure justice for our clients, the entire BK team believes the cornerstone of the justice system is the American jury. Today, our faith in that system was validated.”

FTC strikes blow for economic freedom by banning non-compete clauses

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Attorney David Betras

BKM Managing Partner David Betras

Nearly every Thursday evening for more than 30 years I’ve hosted “Legally Speaking” on WKBN 570. During the program, which is now also aired live on our Facebook page, YouTube channel, and Instagram, I and attorneys from my firm answer listener questions, dispense sage, insightful, and free legal advice, and engage in entertaining and informative banter about various aspects of the law.

Over the course of the approximately 1,500 episodes that have been broadcast some issues have been raised so many times they’ve made it onto the Legally Speaking “greatest hits” list. They include disputes among neighbors related to property damage caused by trees and tree branches that crash to earth, domestic relations disputes, disputes among heirs, whether local governments can be forced to pay for flat tires and ruined wheels caused by potholes, and the enforceability of employment non-compete agreements.

That non-competes are a frequent topic of discussion on the show may come as a surprise to some. It shouldn’t. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), 30 million people or one in five American workers are bound by restrictive agreements that trap them in jobs they no longer want or prevent them from accepting new positions that offer better pay and working conditions.

And, as this compelling video and the desperate people who call Legally Speaking make clear, the agreements rob everyone from CEOs, to tech workers, to salespeople, to hair stylists of their freedom to choose where and by whom they are employed. Originally intended to prevent CEOs and other executives from stealing trade secrets, studies show that millions of low paid workers like janitors, cooks, and waiters, are subject to the agreements even though they have no access to trade secrets or confidential corporate information.

We’re often asked if Ohioans can be forced to sign non-competes as a condition of employment and once signed if they can be enforced. The answer to the former question is yes, people may be forced to sign the agreements as a condition of employment. The response to the latter is more complicated. Non-competes are enforceable if a judge finds they are “reasonable” under this three-part test that was developed by the Ohio Supreme Court. To pass the test, agreements must not:

  • Be greater than necessary to protect the employer’s legitimate business interests
  • Impose undue hardship on the employee
  • Be injurious to the public

But, as we tell those who call us to seek advice, challenging a non-compete can be a costly and time-consuming endeavor that most workers who find themselves chained to a job are unable to afford, a fact that adds to the fundamental unfairness of a situation that robs Americans of their basic economic rights.

Fortunately, and in an action that proves government can actually solve problems, the FTC enacted a nationwide ban on new non-competes by a 3-2 vote on April 23. The action came two years after President Biden urged Commission members to “curtail the unfair use of the agreements.” More than 26,000 people submitted public comments about the proposed rule during the time it was under consideration.

“Noncompete clauses keep wages low, suppress new ideas, and rob the American economy of dynamism, including from the more than 8,500 new startups that would be created a year once noncompetes are banned,” FTC Chair Lina M. Khan said in a statement issued following the vote. “The FTC’s final rule…will ensure Americans have the freedom to pursue a new job, start a new business, or bring a new idea to market.”

Predictably, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce which had vehemently opposed the ban, decried the vote and said it would sue to block imposition of the rule because it would “undermine American businesses’ ability to remain competitive.”

I’m not quite sure how empowering a hair stylist in Toledo to work in a salon where she can make more money or enabling an auto mechanic to accept a better paying job will undermine the American economy, but in my opinion freeing millions of Americans to pursue their careers and their dreams is worth the risk.

David Betras, Brian Kopp announce plans for continued growth as their law firm marks 25th anniversary

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Attorneys David Betras and Brian Kopp marked the 25th anniversary of the founding of one of the region’s most respected and successful law firms by reaffirming their commitment to the communities they serve and unveiling a comprehensive plan that will ensure the continued growth of their multi-disciplinary, multi-state practice which will now operate under the name Betras¨ Kopp LLC.

The firm was founded in 1999 when Betras, who began practicing law with his father Joe and Uncle Pete after graduating from Capital University Law School in 1985 and Kopp who had just completed a Federal Clerkship with United States District Court Judge Peter C. Economus decided to strike out on their own. In addition to building a thriving practice in the Mahoning Valley, Kopp spearheaded both the firm’s expansion into Tampa and Sarasota, Florida, and the impressive growth of BK’s complex corporate litigation and sports law practice. Attorneys Betras and Kopp have both earned the prestigious “SuperLawyers” designation.

The partners recently began implementing their plan for growth by adding attorneys Frank Cassese and James Melfi to the firm’s roster of outstanding lawyers. Attorney Cassese, who graduated from Cardinal Mooney High School and Ohio State University before receiving his law degree from Cleveland Marshall School of Law in 2015, will focus on civil and criminal litigation. Attorney Melfi, a graduate of Girard High School and Miami University (OH), received his Juris Doctorate from Capital University Law School in 2019. He is licensed to practice in Ohio and Florida and is a member of the firm’s Complex Litigation Practice Group.

“In addition to impressive legal skills and credentials, Frank and Jim bring an incredible amount of energy to the firm,” Attorney Betras said. “They are eager to learn, possess strong work ethics, and are more than willing to put in the long hours it takes to seek and secure justice for our clients.”

“Adding these two talented attorneys to our team will enable us to significantly expand the firm’s professional and geographic reach and maintain the strong presence we have in our existing markets,” Attorney Kopp, leader of BK’s complex litigation and sports law practice groups said. “David and I are pleased Frank and Jim \joined the firm and excited about the prospect of working and growing with them in the years ahead.”

According to Atty. Betras, the growth strategy also includes rebranding the firm. “Over the past 25 years we’ve operated under a number of iterations of Betras, Kopp and someone,” he said. “Every time we changed the name we had to go through the costly and time-consuming process of changing everything from our letterhead to our TV ads, to our digital platforms, to our business cards, to our corporate registrations. It’s a process we do not want to repeat multiples times as we expand in the years ahead.”

“So, we decided to do it one more time and build off Betras and Kopp, the names that are at the core of our corporate identity,” Betras continued. “We’ve changed the firm name to Betras¨ Kopp LLC Attorneys at Law and have adopted a new, clean, modern logo. Our website URL is now www.betraskopp.com, we’re producing new TV ads, revising and upgrading our digital platforms and content, and taking all the steps necessary to inform our clients, the legal community, and the public about our new brand.”

While the makeup of the firm and its name are changing, one thing remains constant: David Betras’ and Brian Kopp’s commitment to their hometown. “For nearly a century residents of the Valley have relied on us to meet their legal needs,” Betras said. “It started in 1929 when my Uncle Pete opened a small law office in downtown Youngstown. When my dad, Joe, returned from serving in World War II, he used the GI Bill to go to law school and joined him. After being immersed in the law our entire lives my cousin Brian and I launched our first firm in 1999, and now, a quarter-century and thousands of satisfied clients later, he and I are writing a new chapter in our family’s legal legacy.”

BKM Managing Partner David Betras scores a big win for Trumbull County Commissioner Niki Frenchko, democracy, and Constitutional rights in federal court…

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Federal Judge rules Trumbull County officials repeatedly violated Niki Frenchko’s Constitutional rights, Commissioner vows to continue fight for government accountability and transparency

BKM Managing Partner David Betras and Trumbull County Commissioner Niki Frenchko

“Here in America, we do not arrest our political opponents.” Those tens words comprise the first sentence of a scathing 81-page opinion in which U.S. District Court Judge J Philip Calabrese found that Trumbull County Commissioners Frank Fuda and Maro Cantalamessa, Trumbull County Sheriff Paul Monroe, and Trumbull County Sheriff deputies Harold Wix and Robert Ross willfully violated Commissioner Niki Frenchko’s rights under the First and Fourth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution when they repeatedly attempted to silence her and prevent her from representing the interests of her constituents.

The ruling comes in a federal civil rights lawsuit filed on Commissioner Frenchko’s behalf in March of 2023 by Attorneys David Betras and Matt Miller-Novak formerly of Austintown, Ohio who now practices in Cincinnati. In the suit they alleged that Commissioner Frenchko’s arrest during the July 7, 2022 Trumbull County Commissioners meeting was a “…ruthless false arrest intended to punish a political adversary for criticizing the County Sheriff…” In addition to finding that the five defendants had indeed violated Commissioner Frenchko’s rights, Judge Calabrese also stripped them of their sovereign immunity which means they can be held individually liable for monetary damages.
“I was compelled to file this suit because if public officials can use their offices and power to silence me, they can do it to anyone,” Commissioner Frenchko said after the decision was announced. This is a tremendous day for freedom of speech, the rule of law, and democracy,” “The people of Trumbull County elected me in 2020 because I promised to bring transparency and accountability to county government. When I kept my word, I was harassed, assaulted, and ultimately arrested, but I would not be intimidated. Today’s ruling both vindicates what I have done in the past and gives me the strength to continue fearlessly doing the people’s business in the months and years ahead.”
“I said at the time that this incident was a scene out of Russia and other dictatorships where despots like Vladmir Putin and Syria’s Bashar al-Assad routinely arrest and jail their political opponents,” Atty. Betras said. “But there it was, live on Facebook, an elected official arrested and silenced by her political enemies for exercising her First Amendment rights. It was absolutely chilling and I and Commissioner Frenchko are truly grateful that those who committed these vile acts are now being held accountable. This decision sends a loud and clear message: political oppression is not acceptable in the United States.”
Check out media coverage of the case on these outlets: