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.

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1 (800) 355-6446

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

Tusky Valley Bus Crash Litigation

Jay serves on the plaintiffs’ leadership committee in litigation arising from the November 2024 Tusky Valley bus crash and was appointed as liaison to defense counsel in this complex multi-party case involving multiple fatalities and serious injuries.

University Hospitals Fertility Clinic Litigation

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.

Jay Kelley Lawyer of the Year in Cleveland 2026

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.

Jay M. Kelly III

Jay M. Kelley III - Managing Partner

Meet Jay M. Kelley III, a top medical malpractice and catastrophic personal injury attorney in Ohio with over 30 years of experience and a proven track record of securing millions in verdicts and settlements. He leads Elk + Elk’s comprehensive litigation strategy across state, federal, and appellate courts, drawing on a unique background as a former felony prosecutor and hospital defense lawyer. Jay focuses on high-stakes, complex cases, including birth injuries and wrongful death, and is widely recognized by Best Lawyers and ranked among the Super Lawyers Top 10 in Ohio.

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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

Trial War Stories Podcast: The Search for the Truth with Jay Kelley – July 9, 2026

The Game Changing Attorney Podcast: Jay Kelley’s $100M Branding Playbook – February 25, 2025

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

The Game Changing Attorney Podcast: Jay Kelley Evolving a Beloved Brand While Honoring Its Legacy – September 29, 2020

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

Notable Settlements & Verdicts

Jay Kelley has secured millions 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 a 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.

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.

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!

 

About Elk + Elk: Leading Personal Injury Attorneys

Elk & Elk Co., Ltd. is a premier personal injury law firm dedicated to seeking justice and maximizing recovery for accident victims and their families. With a legacy spanning decades, our firm has grown from its Ohio roots to serve clients across multiple states, including Ohio, Kentucky, and Seattle, Washington. Our extensive network of offices ensures local representation backed by powerful, multi-state resources and a proven record of recovering $2+ billion in settlements for our clients.

Experienced Legal Representation Across Key Regions

Ohio Personal Injury Lawyers: With numerous locations throughout Ohio, Elk + Elk is one of the state’s most recognized and successful personal injury firms. We handle cases in major cities like Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, and Toledo, fighting for the rights of injured Ohioans in courtrooms across the state.

Kentucky Accident Attorneys: Our commitment extends to Kentucky, providing skilled legal advocacy for victims of negligence throughout the Commonwealth.

Seattle, WA Injury Law Firm: In Seattle, Washington, we bring our aggressive approach and deep resources to complex personal injury claims, offering the focused attention clients deserve.

A Proven Track Record of Success

The dedicated attorneys at Elk + Elk have built a formidable reputation by consistently delivering exceptional results for our clients. We have successfully protected the rights of thousands of injury victims and are proud to have secured some of the state’s largest verdicts and settlements in complex litigation cases. Our proven track record of recovering significant compensation underscores our commitment to holding negligent parties and corporations accountable.

Comprehensive Personal Injury Practice Areas

Elk + Elk assists clients with a wide variety of serious personal injury claims, ensuring comprehensive legal support no matter the cause of the injury. Key practice areas include:

  • Auto Accidents: Representation for victims of car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, and pedestrian accidents.
  • Medical Malpractice: Fighting for justice in cases involving surgical errors, misdiagnosis, hospital negligence, and other forms of medical negligence.
  • Birth Injuries: Advocating for families affected by injuries sustained during childbirth due to medical error.
  • Workers’ Compensation: Assisting injured employees with workplace injury claims and appeals to secure lost wages and medical benefits.
  • Product Defects: Pursuing claims against manufacturers for injuries caused by dangerous or defective products (product liability).
  • Wrongful Death: Providing compassionate yet aggressive representation for families who have lost a loved one due to another party’s negligence.

If you or a loved one has been injured due to another party’s negligence, contact the seasoned personal injury attorneys at Elk + Elk for a free, confidential consultation.

Call 1 (800) ELK-OHIO and let us put our experience and resources to work for your financial recovery and peace of mind.