Cooper Elliott
In The News
Our clients and their cases have been featured by prominent media outlets across the country, including leading national publications and widely respected news organizations. This coverage reflects the impact of our work and the significance of the matters we handle, as well as the trust journalists place in our firm to provide insight on complex and high-profile cases at both the national and local level.
Featured On
Local and National News
Appearances
JUNE 2026
From scholarship celebration to tragedy: Toledo freshman’s family files hazing lawsuit
Months after Scott HS grad Savanna Jones received a scholarship to Wilberforce University, her family is seeking answers about her death.
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JUNE 2026
Columbus officer charged with strangulation previously sued in DV case
A Columbus police officer who was recently sued for lack of action in a domestic violence case that turned fatal has been arrested and charged with strangling his girlfriend.
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MAY 2026
Former trauma surgeon sues UToledo for alleged forced retirement
A former trauma surgeon is suing the University of Toledo and its top leadership, alleging he was wrongly forced into retirement over unproven billing irregularities without due process.
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APRIL 2026
Dayton activist sues county over death threat claim
Dayton activist and congressional candidate David Esrati has filed a federal lawsuit against Montgomery County and its clerk of courts, alleging officials violated his First Amendment rights.
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APRIL 2026
Fired OH.io CEO denies improper spending, reaffirms vision for Columbus as tech hub
Jeff Schumann, the fired co-founder and CEO of OH.io Ventures, denied allegations of improper spending and maintained his belief that Central Ohio can become a major technology and AI hub.
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APRIL 2026
Rachel Tussey’s doctor files lawsuit. ‘This patient was taken from me’
Following the tragic death of an Ohio mother after a "mommy makeover" procedure, the operating physician has launched a lawsuit against the surgery center and its anesthesiology group
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MARCH 2026
Man’s death at Hamilton County jail ‘completely preventable,’ lawsuit says
Two days after being booked into the Hamilton County Justice Center for a probation violation, Jacob Grayson collapsed and his heart stopped beating.
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FEBRUARY 2026
After 35 years of fear, woman sues ex‑doctor now linked to brutal rape
A woman who was sexually assaulted in her Cincinnati home in 1989 and lived in fear as the case went unsolved for decades is suing her attacker, a now-former doctor who wasn’t identified until 2024 and has been sentenced to prison.
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FEBRUARY 2026
Columbus police missed chances to stop woman’s killing, lawsuit says
As Columbus works to reduce domestic violence murders, the family of a woman killed in 2024 says she would still be alive if police had taken her concerns and 911 calls seriously.
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NOVEMBER 2025
Attorney Sean Alto discusses hazing laws
Sean Alto, a personal injury attorney who specializes in hazing, helped get Collin's Law passed in Ohio.
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OCTOBER 2025
Our Top Lawyers 2025 List Features 613 Columbus-Area Attorneys Recommended by Their Peers
This year's directory features more than 600 Top Lawyers who are rated highly by their legal industry peers in 59 practice areas.
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OCTOBER 2025
A year after fatal dog attack, Ohio lawyer says case will lead to an historic verdict
A year ago, two pit bulls viciously attacked Jo Ann Echelbarger as she crouched over her garden plot, ripping her apart as her disabled husband helplessly watched from their screened in porch.
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OCTOBER 2025
Trial set against Pickaway Co. dog warden after deadly attack; family claims negligence
Friday marks one year since two pit bulls mauled a Pickaway County grandmother to death outside of her condo in Ashville.
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OCTOBER 2025
Columbus City Council OKs $1M settlement for wrongfully removing child from home
Columbus City Council on Monday night approved a $1 million settlement for a father and his son after a 2023 incident in which the father said two city police officers took his 7-year-old son and gave him to the mother,…
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AUGUST 2025
Settlement between SORTA and family of woman hit, killed by Metro driver includes new training requirements
A $10 million settlement between the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority and the estate of an 87-year-old woman hit and killed by a Cincinnati Metro bus driver last year includes new training requirements for all Metro drivers.
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JULY 2025
$27M verdict for ‘physical, emotional anguish’ in Short North wrongful death suit
In July 2025, a Franklin County jury delivered a resounding $27 million verdict on behalf of the estate of Gregory Coleman Jr., a 37-year-old father and bartender who died following a brutal attack by security guards outside Julep Bar in…
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JUNE 2025
Columbus Business First’s 40 Under 40 Class of 2025
Columbus Business First's 40 Under 40 Class of 2025 Abby Chin Attorney, Cooper Elliott
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MAY 2025
Bench warrant issued for defendant in Stone Foltz hazing case for failure to appear in court
A bench warrant was issued for a defendant in the deadly 2021 hazing case of a Bowling Green State University student for failure to appear in court.
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MAY 2025
Judge to decide fate of man accused of causing I-70 bus crash that killed 6
Sixty-one-year-old Jacob McDonald is facing more than 31 years in prison if he is convicted on all felony charges. The crash killed six people, including students, a teacher, and chaperones with the Tuscarawas Valley High School band traveling to Columbus…
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APRIL 2025
147 hazing incidents since 2018: The state of hazing in Ohio
Across Ohio's 68 colleges and universities, there were 147 reported incidents of hazing since 2018, according to a new HazingInfo.org investigation.
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APRIL 2025
Mother, son sentenced to at least 14 years in prison in Ohio dog attack that left woman dead
Susan and Adam Withers were each found guilty in February of several charges related to the death of Jo Echelbarger. They were sentenced to 11 to 16.5 years in prison for involuntary manslaughter.
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MARCH 2025
Family sues after 3-month-old son suffers brain injury daycare responds
A daycare accused of negligence after a 3-month-old suffered a brain injury is speaking out for the first time.
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MARCH 2025
Family sues Pickaway County Dog Warden and others after fatal pit bull attack
The family of a Pickaway County grandmother killed in a vicious pit bull attack is calling for justice. Her son and daughter sat next to their attorney Wednesday after filing a wrongful death lawsuit against the dog owners, their mother's…
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FEBRUARY 2025
Columbus settles with ATF agent for $1.8 million
Columbus City Council approved a $1.8 million settlement with a former Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) agent stemming from an encounter between him and Columbus Police officers more than four years ago.
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FEBRUARY 2025
Mother, son found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in dog mauling case
A jury convicted Susan Withers and her son, Adam Withers, of that most serious charge, as well as other counts related to a failure to confine their dogs and a failure to keep dogs under reasonable control.
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JANUARY 2025
‘Never been about the money,’ Stone Foltz’s family reacts to $6.5M judgment in hazing
The family of a Delaware teen who died in a fraternity hazing incident was granted a judgment of $6.5 million by a Franklin County judge in a wrongful death lawsuit against the president of the fraternity.
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JANUARY 2025
Former BGSU fraternity president to pay $6.5M to family of Stone Foltz, judge rules
An Ohio judge ruled the family of Stone Foltz, a Bowling Green State University student who died from alcohol poisoning in 2021 after a fraternity hazing event, receive $6.525 million in damages in a civil lawsuit filed against the fraternity's…
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NOVEMBER 2024
Justice has been served: federal jury awarded more than $1.6 million to a former ATF agent
A federal jury awarded more than $1.6 million to a former ATF agent. The jury determined he was unlawfully detained and subjected to excessive force by two Columbus police officers during a 2020 incident.
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OCTOBER 2024
Sexual assault victims of Franklin County therapist seek answers in court
Victims of sexual abuse by a local therapist are seeking accountability. In July, Dennis Quigley, a practicing therapist for more than 40 years, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for sexual battery in a Franklin County court.
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OCTOBER 2024
Mass shootings upended their lives. Now survivors are making the gun industry pay
In the absence of political change to tackle the US's epidemic of gun violence, survivors of mass shootings have been launching multimillion-dollar lawsuits against gunmakers, gun dealers, tech companies and the federal government.
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AUGUST 2024
Ohio State Fair accident still haunts survivor 7 years later
Keziah Lewis wanted a different answer. But no matter how many times she asked, she didn't get one.
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AUGUST 2024
Columbus Ransomware Attack: Law firm says it’s hearing from more city workers whose personal data may have been hacked
The City of Columbus is now facing a class-action lawsuit over its handling of the Rhysida ransomware attack.
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AUGUST 2024
Calls to mandate automatic safety systems on semi trucks after deadly I-70 crash
Those behind a series of wrongful death lawsuits filed in connection to a deadly interstate crash in Licking County say the massive tragedy needs to be a wakeup call for state and federal lawmakers.
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AUGUST 2024
Ohio couple accuses state agency of negligence in 10-year-old boy’s death
A Lithopolis couple has filed a lawsuit against a state agency after they say their 10-year-old son died after drinking urine and feces infected shower water for hours on end.
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JUNE 2024
Family files wrongful death suit against Metro, driver
The suit seeks a jury trial on counts that include wrongful death, negligence and recklessness. It also asks Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority to complete an audit of how Metro hires and trains drivers.
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APRIL 2024
Foltz family seeks $88M in damages in hazing death
Attorneys for the family of Stone Foltz have urged a Franklin County Common Pleas Court magistrate to recommend $88 million in damages against the chapter president of the fraternity he was pledging.
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APRIL 2024
Family of man killed by officer files federal lawsuit against Columbus police
The lawsuit, filed by law firms Cooper Elliott and Wright & Schulte, accuses the Columbus Division of Police of systemic excessive force and racial issues.
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JANUARY 2024
Columbus Business First’s 40 Under 40 Class of 2024 – Kaela King
Kaela King Attorney, Cooper Elliott - Columbus Business First's 40 Under 40 Class of 2024.
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JANUARY 2024
Former South-Western teacher pleads guilty to sexually abusing student for years
A former South-Western City School District teacher and coach admitted to sexually abusing a student beginning when she was 14 years old in 2013. Benjamin Rutan pleaded guilty to two counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor.
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JANUARY 2024
In unrelated but similar murder cases, woman exonerated, man sees charges dropped
In 2003, two people were convicted in separate, unrelated murder trials in Franklin County for allegedly shaking a baby based on science that experts are increasingly questioning.
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DECEMBER 2023
Young man fatally shot at negligent Sunoco gas station in Columbus
The family of Andrew Combs, who was fatally shot while stopping a robbery at a Columbus gas station, is suing Sunoco for alleged negligence, claiming the company failed to provide adequate security measures.
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AUGUST 2023
Teen paralyzed after fight inside detention center sues Franklin County
Employees of the Franklin County Juvenile Detention Center failed Damarion Allen. A complaint was filed to hold the staff accountable and ensure no other child faces lifelong pain and suffering.
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JUNE 2023
Family can sue Walgreens for 260 opioids given former Dublin football player, court rules
After suffering an injury playing high school football, Walgreens dispensed nearly 300 opioid pills to Stephen Mehrer in a very short period of time, causing him to develop a crippling addiction which ultimately led to his death.
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APRIL 2023
Columbus City Council expected to settle 2 separate wrongful death lawsuits totaling $1.7M
Our client's husband was suffering a medical emergency. The responding paramedics did not properly assess him or take him to the hospital, and he tragically died overnight. The City ultimately agreed to settle the case for $1.1 million.
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FEBRUARY 2023
Youngster’s severe injury at Seltzer Park prompts civil lawsuit
While on a school field trip to Seltzer Park in Shelby, Ohio, a 6-year-old had several fingers impaled by a defective hand dryer. A suit was filed against Seltzer Park and its contractor for reckless actions that led to this…
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FEBRUARY 2023
South-Western schools accused of not protecting former student from teacher’s sexual abuse
Madison Sparks and her family accused the South-Western City School District of failing to protect Sparks from her teacher's sexual abuse while she was a student.
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JANUARY 2023
Family of man killed in sucker-punch assault in Short North sues accused security guards, bars
In September 2022, two assailants savagely beat 37-year-old Gregory Coleman to death in front of the bar Julep in the Short North area of Columbus, Ohio. A lawsuit was filed against Julep to hold it accountable for its role in…
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DECEMBER 2022
Family of man fatally hit by police cruiser announces lawsuit
We represent the family of Eric Cole, who was hit and killed by a Springfield Police Department cruiser in June 2021.
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SEPTEMBER 2022
Penn State fencing head coach placed on administrative leave amid controversy, lawsuit
We represent Zara Moss, a former fencer at Pennsylvania State University, who was verbally, emotionally, and physically abused by former head fencing coach Wes Glon.
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SEPTEMBER 2022
Body camera video shows a Columbus, Ohio police officer fatally shooting an unarmed 20-year-old Black man
We represent the family of Donovan Lewis, who was killed by police officers in Columbus, Ohio in late August 2022. Donovan was an unarmed, 20-year-old Black man shot in his bed less than one second after officers opened his bedroom…
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AUGUST 2022
Family settles lawsuit over Stone Foltz’s hazing death in ‘largest payout’ by a public university in Ohio history
We represent the Foltz family, who tragically lost their son Stone following a hazing ritual at Bowling Green State University in March 2021. The family settled with the university for nearly $3 million.
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AUGUST 2021
Opinion: Fraternities, sororities that do not fight ‘senseless’ hazing rituals should permanently and immediately close doors in Ohio
"To every Ohio student and parent, please join in the effort to eliminate hazing and do not let one more kid die or suffer serious injuries due to archaic and senseless rituals."
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AUGUST 2021
Families of Dayton shooting victims file suit against manufacturer of large-capacity magazines
We represent five families that lost loved ones in the 2019 Oregon District mass shooting in Dayton, Ohio. The shooter used a 100-round magazine. The families have sued the company that made and distributed the magazine.
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MAY 2021
A major retailer used to sell muskets online. It stopped after a shooting death in Ohio.
We represented the family of Bryan Galliher, a 21-year-old murdered in 2016. The family sued Cabela's for illegally selling the black powder gun that killed Bryan, resulting in a seven-figure settlement and new company policies.
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MARCH 2021
Liberty Township in Delaware County settles free speech lawsuit for $99,000
We represented a township medical director who spoke out against a plan that would have disrupted EMS services. When trustees retaliated, we filed a federal lawsuit and obtained an order finding they had violated the medical director's First Amendment rights.
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DECEMBER 2020
Attorney for former Miami University student files civil lawsuit in hazing case
We represent Tyler Perino, who rushed Delta Tau Delta in the Spring of 2019 at Miami University and was subjected to hazing that included being beaten with a paddle and forced drug and alcohol ingestion.
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DECEMBER 2020
ATF agent accuses Columbus police officers of excessive force
Jim Burk, a federal agent, is pursuing civil rights claims against the Columbus Police Department for excessive force.
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NOVEMBER 2020
Virginia LeFever seeks justice after a dropped murder conviction and 20 years in prison
Ginny LeFever spent over two decades in prison for a crime she did not commit. She was freed after evidence of fabrication by the government's key witness was discovered.
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JULY 2020
Wrongfully convicted Huber Heights man and woman to split $1.9 million
In the 1980s, Jenny Reach and Bobby Aldridge were wrongfully convicted of alleged abuse crimes. Their convictions were overturned after it was discovered that the government concealed evidence that helped show their innocence.
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MAY 2020
Attorney for man slammed to jail floor says he may have some permanent injuries
Our client James Stewart was severely injured at the Ross County Jail when an officer slammed him to the ground, breaking his neck. The case settled favorably for Mr. Stewart.
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OCTOBER 2019
O’Connell victim wins his lawsuit
Patrick Baker was wrongfully convicted of a robbery based on the actions of a disgraced former Sandusky County Sheriff's Deputy. His conviction was overturned, and the state ultimately agreed he was wrongfully imprisoned.
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FEBRUARY 2019
Family files lawsuit in death of fraternity pledge at Ohio University
We represent the Wiant family, who lost their son Collin in a fraternity hazing ritual at Ohio University in November 2018. Collin was subjected to horrific hazing that culminated in his death after the forced ingestion of nitrous oxide.
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SEPTEMBER 2017
New discoveries as teams prepare to tear down Fire Ball
When a high-intensity ride failed at the Ohio State Fair in 2017, Keziah Lewis was among the folks severely injured. We represent Keziah in her ongoing effort to hold the people responsible accountable.
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MARCH 2017
Whistleblower records boss accused of racist remarks
Jason Hick worked for a property management group. After the company's owner told him to rent only to white people and evict tenants based on race, Jason refused and was fired. We filed a lawsuit on his behalf.
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DECEMBER 2016
Browns owner Jimmy Haslam questioned under oath over Pilot Flying J alleged fuel rebate fraud
We represented several trucking companies against Pilot Flying J. During the lawsuit, we forced Pilot's CEO, Jimmy Haslam, to give sworn testimony about his knowledge of the nationwide fraud scheme.
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MAY 2016
No Qualified Immunity for Excessive Force at Ohio Jail
William Harris was brutally taken to the ground by three white officers while his hands were cuffed behind his back, injuring his spinal cord. We sued the City of Circleville and the officers, obtaining a settlement of nearly $3 million.
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MAY 2016
World Harvest Church loses appeal over insurance coverage in boy’s beating
We filed a lawsuit on behalf of the Faieta family and proved their 3-year-old son had been beaten by a parent volunteer at a church-operated daycare. We obtained a jury verdict against the abuser and the church of approximately $6…
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JANUARY 1996
Dealer sues in connection with Hyatt diamond heist
We sued Hyatt Regency on behalf of Mopaz Diamonds after jewel thieves looted their safe deposit boxes containing nearly $1 million worth of diamonds and jewelry. We developed a creative legal theory to recover the full amount of our client's…
Read StoryPodcast Appearances
Our attorneys are sometimes invited to join podcasts across the country to discuss the work that we do.
Below are some of our favorite podcast features.
The Game Changing Attorney Podcast:
Featuring Rex Elliott (Part 1)
The Game Changing Attorney Podcast:
Featuring Rex Elliott (Part 2)
Podcast, Between the Lines:
“The Trial Lawyer Who Proved Mental Pain is Real to a Jury” (2026)
Podcast, Unfinished Business:
“The Athletic Mindset with Abby Chin” (2025)
Podcast, Between The Lines:
“A 27-Year-Old Died After an ER Missed Sepsis” (2026)
Testimonials
in the legal profession. That means everything to us.
I was involved in a serious car accident after just having welcoming our new son into the world.
When you are at your lowest, you remember with great detail how people treat you. Sean and his team treated me and my family with nothing but compassion, grace and care.
The stress, anxiety, and fear were only mitigated by the EXTRAORDINARY passion, care, and speed this firm operates at.
A huge thank you to Sean Alto with his incredible professionalism. I never once felt that Sean and the team at Cooper Elliot had anything other than my best interest.
Thank you Cooper Elliot for being a light during a very challenging time.
