Jay Kelley is the Managing Partner of Elk + Elk and one of Ohio’s most respected medical malpractice attorneys, with more than 25 years of courtroom experience. Based in Cleveland, Jay has handled high-profile birth injury, maternal death, surgical error, and wrongful death cases across the state.

Jay’s legal career began as a felony prosecutor, followed by a role defending major Ohio hospital systems. This rare dual background gives him a unique advantage in medical negligence litigation, allowing him to anticipate defense strategies and advocate effectively for injured clients and their families.

In 2002, Jay joined Elk + Elk. He became a Partner in 2011 and was named Managing Partner in 2017, where he now leads the firm’s litigation strategy and case development in state, federal, and appellate courts.

Practice Areas

Jay focuses exclusively on civil trial work involving serious injury and medical negligence, including:

  • Birth injuries and neonatal brain damage (HIE/CP)

  • Maternal deaths and OB/GYN malpractice

  • Surgical complications and hospital errors

  • Cancer misdiagnosis and delayed treatment

  • Cardiac care mismanagement

  • Pharmaceutical errors and toxic exposure

He has tried cases in more than 30 Ohio counties and appeared before appellate courts and the Supreme Court of Ohio.

Notable Case Leadership

Jay served as Lead Counsel and Court Liaison in litigation against University Hospitals after a catastrophic fertility clinic failure in 2018. The incident rendered thousands of embryos and eggs non-viable, impacting dozens of families. Jay managed and resolved claims on behalf of 65 plaintiffs, coordinating litigation strategy and achieving significant results in one of Ohio’s most complex medical negligence cases.

Awards & Recognition

Jay’s work has earned consistent recognition from peers, clients, and national publications:

Leadership & Memberships

Jay remains active in professional legal organizations and community leadership:

Speaking Engagements & Publications

Jay regularly speaks at national and international medical-legal conferences, sharing insight on trial strategy, risk management, and medical negligence law. His contributions help shape best practices for both attorneys and medical professionals.

Publications & Contributions:

  • Comprehensive Gynecology – Contributing author (medical-legal issues, birth injury litigation)

  • Fetal Monitoring: A Multidisciplinary Approach – Reviewer, Sixth Edition

  • Pocket Guide to Fetal Monitoring – Reviewer, Ninth Edition

Outside of his legal work, Jay values spending quality time with his family, reminding us that life’s greatest treasures are found in our personal connections.

Read more about Attorney Jay Kelley of Elk & Elk Co., Ltd.

Client Testimonials

Child Suffered Catastrophic Brain Injuries During Birth

Mother Injured During the Birth of Her Son

Podcast & Media Features

Crain’s Cleveland Business: Elk & Elk among best employers in Ohio for 2023 – July 5, 2023

Fox 8 Cleveland: Lawsuit: Workers at local burger eatery robbed customer – May 2, 2023

Authority Magazine: Top Lawyers: Jay Kelley of Elk & Elk On The 5 Things You Need To Become A Top Lawyer In Your Specific Field of Law – Jan. 30, 2023

Crain’s Cleveland Business: Elk & Elk preps for formal transition in leadership – May 20, 2018

The Game Changing Attorney Podcast: Jay Kelley Evolving a Beloved Brand While Honoring Its Legacy

Notable Settlements & Verdicts

Jay Kelley has secured over $200 million in verdicts and settlements for clients across Ohio, including cases involving birth injuries, maternal deaths, surgical complications, explosions, and delayed diagnoses. His results span more than 30 counties and include some of the largest medical malpractice verdicts in Ohio.

Birth Injury & Neonatal Negligence

  • $9.88M – Birth injury (Portage County, 2006)

  • $9.75M – Neonatal brain injury

  • $5.45M – Birth injury (2015, Southwest Ohio)

  • $5.4M – Labor mismanagement resulting in HIE/CP

  • $5.3M – Intrapartum mismanagement of twins, Twin A suffered HIE (2008)

  • $4.75M – Fetal monitoring failure, HIE/CP in newborn

  • $4.55M – Birth injury (2019)

  • $4.5M – Hypoxic injury during delivery (2011)

  • $4M – Birth injury (2019)

  • $3.9M – Labor/delivery mismanagement, neurologic injury (2007)

  • $3.5M – Birth injury in premature child (2012)

  • $3.5M – Injury to neonate following PEG tube placement (2011)

  • $3.3M – Neonatal injury after PEG tube placement

  • $3.25M – Birth injury (Franklin County, 2020)

  • $3M – Minor injured during birth trauma (2017)

  • $3M – Neurologic injury, minor (2016, Southeast Ohio)

  • $3M – Minor birth injury/death (2014)

  • $2.875M – Birth injury/resuscitation error (2017)

  • $2.875M – Medical malpractice, minor (2017, Northeast Ohio)

  • $2.6M – Wrongful death of minor (2016)

  • $2.5M – Stillbirth from mismanaged preterm labor (2006, Miami County)

  • $2.3M – Birth injury (2018)

  • $2.3M – Medmal involving minor (2018, Northeast Ohio)

  • $2M – Maternal death from amniotic fluid embolism (2015)

  • $1.75M – Birth injury/death (2015)

  • $1.47M – Neurologic injury/wrongful death, minor (2017)

  • $1.375M – Medical malpractice/wrongful death (2018)

  • $950K – Wrongful death (2019, Summit County)

  • $750K – Stillbirth (2016)

Maternal Deaths & Obstetric Negligence

  • $2.4M – Maternal death from postpartum hemorrhage

  • $2M – Failure to respond to postpartum arrest, multiple defendants

  • $1.8M – Wrongful death of minor (2015)

Surgical Errors & Hospital Negligence

  • $10M – Spinal surgery complication (2004, Lucas County)

  • $7.3M – Surgical complication leading to global brain injury

  • $6M – Minor neurologic injury (2022)

  • $6M – Paralytic agent error, resulting in ICU arrest/death (2003, Federal Court)

  • $5.05M – Recovery room brain injury from drug interactions (2009, Montgomery County)

  • $3.5M – Surgical error, pregnant female

  • $1.9M – Epidural complication caused subdural hematoma

  • $1.8M – Sinus surgery error resulting in neurologic issues

  • $1.5M – Surgical error (2011)

  • $1.5M – Herniated disks after accident with city truck

  • $725K – Medical malpractice (2020)

  • $750K – Ortho surgery complication (2014)

  • $800K – Dental malpractice (2016)

Cancer & Diagnostic Delays

  • $1.5M – Delayed breast cancer diagnosis

  • $1.5M – Delay in diagnosis of cancer (2014)

  • $1M – Prostate cancer misdiagnosis; advanced to Stage IV

  • $1.1M – Delay in diagnosis/treatment of tongue cancer

  • $950K – Delay in cancer diagnosis (2018)

Explosion Injuries & Wrongful Death

  • $4.6M – Wrongful death from explosion (2019, Eastern Ohio)

  • $4.375M – Explosion-related wrongful death (2019)

  • $4M – Neurologic injury (2019, Central Ohio)

  • $3M – Severe burns from explosion

  • $2.275M – Wrongful death (2018, Delaware County)

  • $980K – Wrongful death (2014, Holmes County)

  • $975K – Wrongful death (2015, Franklin County)

  • $400K – Wrongful death (2014, Summit County)

  • $750K – Wrongful death (2021, Northeast Ohio)

Confidential Results & Additional High-Impact Cases

  • Confidential – Cardiac catheterization error led to fatal re-occlusion

  • Confidential – Wrongful death of 21-year-old due to pyelonephritis mismanagement

  • Oversaw national claims for dangerous birth control patches causing blood clots

**All lawsuits are different and Elk & Elk makes no representation or promises that it can obtain the same results in other cases. These results do not guarantee, warrant, or predict the outcome of any future legal matter. You should consult an attorney for advice regarding your individual situation.

Client Reviews

Nicholas C. – May 2019

Attorney Jay Kelley and his law firm helped to navigate a very difficult part of our lives. Jay was very responsive to our needs and answered our questions through every step of the process. Jay is top notch and I would highly recommend him to anyone seeking representation.

Julie B. – May 2019

Jay and his team were very professional. They were efficient and always available to be reached for questions. We definitely felt comfortable having them represent us and would recommend to anyone who needs their services!