N. Jeffrey Blankenship is admitted to practice in all state and federal courts in Kentucky and Ohio; also, he is admitted before the United States Supreme Court. Jeff has handled all areas of personal injury and commercial litigation, including car wrecks, premises liability (slip and fall), employment law, Kentucky Workers’ compensation, family law, probate law, and social security disability cases. Jeff’s practice also encompasses representation of a significant number of small local businesses, such as restaurants, churches, and other nonprofit organizations, retailers, and service providers, whom he advises on both employment and contractual aspects of their businesses, having negotiated numerous mergers and acquisitions, real estate purchases, noncompete, and nondisclosure agreements. Jeff has published or co-published numerous papers on various aspects of legal issues, such as hedonic (loss of enjoyment) damages, the use of child witnesses, a law review article on juvenile-status offenders, and premises liability. Jeff has served terms on the Northern Kentucky Bar Association Board of Directors, the nonprofit organizations of Potter's Ranch and Master Provisions, the Union Fire Protection District Board of Trustees, and was recently elected by his peers to Super Lawyers/Kentucky 2020. Jeff holds degrees from NKU Chase College of Law (Juris Doctor, top 10 of graduating class), and Northern Kentucky University (BA, cum laude), and has also worked toward a master’s degree in Church Music at Southern Baptist Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. Jeff holds copyrights on numerous, published Christian songs and has also recorded and performed music throughout northern Kentucky, as well as Ohio and Indiana. Over the course of 40 years in personal injury law, Jeff has successfully tried many cases, achieving verdicts well over $1,000,000. In addition to his trial successes, he has secured many settlements that also exceed $1,000,000.

Erica graduated from University of Louisville in 2010, summa cum laude, with degrees in English, Humanities (Literature & Religious Studies), and Music. She then decided to attend law school at NKU Chase College of Law (the same law school where both her father, N. Jeffrey Blankenship, and uncle, Randy Blankenship, graduated). She graduated in 2014, summa cum laude, in the top 5% of her class. Erica began her legal career as a felony prosecutor in Boone County at the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office. She prosecuted various cases including drug possession, drug trafficking, child abuse, theft, burglary, robbery, and more. In 2017, she left for the opportunity to clerk for Justice Michelle Keller with the Kentucky Supreme Court. With Justice Keller, Erica had the opportunity to see the legal process from the judicial angle. She assisted Justice Keller in drafting opinions, helped to organize presentations, and attended oral arguments and conferences in Frankfort before the entire Kentucky Supreme Court. In 2019, Erica was called back to the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office in Boone County to supervise the “Rocket Docket” program, which aimed to fast-track cases in a way beneficial to both the criminal defendants, as well as the County. Erica supervised over 100 Rocket Docket cases at any time, assisting many defendants to find treatment for substance abuse issues and a second chance at making a clean, fresh start. Erica has also worked in private practice as both a law clerk, as well as an Associate Attorney at Biller & Kimble, LLC. There, Erica worked primarily on class actions relating to under-reimbursement of delivery drivers. Erica gained valuable experience and knowledge related to employee rights under federal and state law. Erica has also published many different articles in legal publications on various topics including suppression of evidence, Rocket Docket programs in the County and State, criminal restitution, child witnesses, and juvenile law. Erica looks forward to continuing her practice at Ziegler & Schneider in multiple areas of law. Erica is also involved in her community. She lives in Boone County, attends church, spends time with her family and friends, and enjoys the opportunity when she can to sing and participate in various Christian music ministries.

Attorney Julius M. Blattner is the owner and founder of JM Blattner, LLC. He understands the complexities of the legal process and works very hard to produce the best possible outcomes for his clients. Mr. Blattner is also a military attorney and currently serves part time as an Assistant Staff Judge Advocate in the Army JAG Corps. He serves all his clients with the same hard work and attention to detail that has characterized his years of dedicated military service. He earned his B.S. from Salisbury University before attending University of Baltimore School of Law, where he earned his J.D.

ttorney David Bliven graduated with honors from Syracuse University in 1993 with a B.A. in Sociology. He went on to serve as a statistician with the NYS Commission on City Court Judicial Reallocation with the Office of the Deputy Chief Administrative Judge. David Bliven then attended law school at New York Law School, where he graduated in 1997 with honors and ranked within the top 15% of his class. Upon graduation, he worked in private practice for a year, doing mostly matrimonial work, before serving as a Family Court Prosecutor for nearly 3 years with the NYC Administration for Children’s Services. There he prosecuted child support, child abuse/neglect and foster care cases on behalf of the City of New York. After leaving the prosecutor position, Mr. Bliven opened his present practice in 2000. With extremely rare exceptions, the only cases Mr Bliven handles are matrimonial and family law matters. Lawyers are expected to keep abreast of changes in the law, through reading

EDUCATION: Columbia University Law School • LL.B. 1967, Queens College • B.A. 1964. As general counsel to the Uniformed Firefighters Association, Michael Block provides daily legal representation for New York City’s 8,000-member firefighters labor union. He helped gain passage of the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund, which provides compensation for first responders and the families of first responders who were injured or killed at the World Trade Center disaster site. And in a groundbreaking pro bono effort, successfully represented 362 firefighters and their families in recovering $260 million from the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund.