Douglas J. Suter, Esq.

Douglas Suter of New Albany, Ohio passed away on September 16, 2022 at the age of 59, after an extended illness. Doug was born on September 30, 1962 to Carol A. (Baker) and James “Jim” Suter in Wheeling, WV.

Left to cherish his loving memory are his parents, his sons Tyler and Hunter Suter, his brother Christopher (Amy) Suter, nephew Collin Suter, Uncles John (Sharon) Suter and Richard (Easer) Suter, Karen Kent, his friend and legal assistant for over 18 years, special friends Giddy Up, Chad Carey, Bill Peelle, the Rittgers family of Lebanon, his friends at Rose & Dobyns and so many more.

Preceded in death by his grandparents, Elwood and Francis (Heath) Suter and H. Earl and Freda (Wilds) Baker.

Doug was a tri-athlete and enjoyed long distance biking in his spare time. He was an avid cook with specialties such as crab cakes and lobster mashed potatoes. He also loved his Porsches. He refused to own any other brand. He loved traveling and spending time in Florida with family and friends.

Doug graduated from Wheeling Park High School, Class of 1980;West Liberty State College, B.S., Business, with honors, 1985: Honors and Activities: Dean’s List; Management Student of the Year, School of Business; President, Student Judiciary; and, Capital University Law School, J.D., cum laude, 1988: Honors and Activities: Dean’s List; Articles Editor, Law Review; Order of the Curia National Honorary Law Fraternity; Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity; Who’s Who Among American Law Students, 1987.

After law school, Doug made Columbus, Ohio his home.

At the time of his death, Doug was a Senior Litigation Partner with the law firm of Taft Stettinius & Hollister, LLP in Columbus, Ohio. Doug previously partnered with Isaac Brant Ledman & Teetor and Hahn Loeser & Parks.

Two years in a row, Doug was named one of the Top 100 Super Lawyers in Ohio, one of the Top 50 Super Lawyers in Columbus, Ohio and one of the Top 5 Columbus Super Lawyers 2011 and 2017. Doug has been named to the list of The Best Lawyers in America. In 2011 and 2017, Doug was singled out and featured in Ohio Super Lawyer magazine as one of the Top 100 trial lawyers in Ohio by the National Trial Lawyer.

Doug was a highly regarded trial lawyer, concentrating in commercial litigation, labor and employment litigation, patent litigation, governmental litigation and OSHA/MSHA litigation. In his 30-year career as a lawyer, Doug developed a broad based law practice providing legal counsel to many national companies.

Doug is known nationwide for his expertise in environmental, safety and health issues.

In the 15 or so years that Doug took on plaintiff’s cases, he recovered over $50 million dollars in verdicts, judgments, settlements and awards for his clients.

Through this work, Doug interacted extensively with the Food and Drug Administration Consumer Product Safety Commission and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and is often called upon by clients to guide them through these regulatory proceedings.

Along with his best friend, Captain John “Giddy Up” Bunch, Doug co-founded and sat on the Board of Directors of Operation Open Arms, Inc., a Florida 501(c)(3) not for profit organization that provides free benefits and services to members of the United States military and their families.

Operation Open Arms has received accolades from the Bush administration and the Obama administration and has been featured three times on NBC’s “Today Show” including an NBC story on OOA’s innovative program to provide mental health services to military members experiencing signs/symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.

In lieu of flowers, please make tax-deductible donations to Operations Open Arms in Doug’ name at: www.operationopenarms.org; or Operation Open Arms, P.O. Box 1, Easton, MD 21601. EIN#33-1205086. (100% Volunteer – no salaries or payroll)

Arrangements are being handled by Schoedinger Northeast, 1051 E. Johnstown Road, Gahanna, OH 43230. Visitation is September 24, 2022, 1–3 p.m. with funeral services immediately following.

The family thanks the staff at OSU and Johnstown Pointe for their loving care.