August 15, 2024
Plakas Mannos Attorney & Partner, Megan J. Frantz Oldham, Earns ABOTA Membership
Attorney and Partner
Megan J. Frantz Oldham
Areas of Practice
- Personal Injury
- Wrongful Death
- Medical Malpractice
- Products Liability
- Nursing Home Negligence
- Trucking Negligence
- Qui Tam/Whistleblower
Attorney Bio
Megan Frantz Oldham has been certified as a Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy since 2020, and is only one of five females in the State of Ohio certified in Civil Trial Advocacy. This certification requires testing and peer review and is only bestowed upon trial attorneys who have been involved in numerous major jury trials and whose special civil trial expertise has been confirmed by judges and opposing attorneys who have been involved in jury trials with Ms. Frantz Oldham, and have observed her trial skills.
Born in Akron, Ohio, Ms. Frantz Oldham is a partner with Plakas Mannos. Ms. Frantz Oldham was admitted to the Ohio Bar and United States District Court in 2005. She is a member of Ohio, Stark County, and Akron Bar Associations and the American, Ohio, Stark County, and Summit County Associations for Justice.
Ms. Frantz Oldham’s practice focuses on litigation, primarily in the areas of personal injury, wrongful death, medical malpractice, nursing home negligence, trucking negligence, products liability, and Qui Tam/Whistleblower cases.
She has been recognized since 2021 by The Best Lawyers in America©️ in the field of Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs, and has been recognized among Ohio’s most highly rated attorneys from 2019 – 2025 by Super Lawyers Magazine. She was also listed by Super Lawyers Magazine as 2023 and 2025 Top 50: Women Ohio Super Lawyers and Top: 25 Women Cleveland Super Lawyers. No more than 5% of lawyers in Ohio are selected to the Super Lawyers list.
She has an AV Preeminent rating by Martindale – Hubbell and a 10.0 rating by Avvo.com. Ms. Frantz Oldham was also named a Rising Star Attorney by Super Lawyers Magazine from 2010 to 2018. Rising Stars are Ohio’s best attorneys who are 40 or under or who have been practicing for 10 years or less. Representing just the top 2.5% of Ohio Lawyers, Rising Stars are selected through a rigorous nomination and selection process.
Ms. Frantz Oldham was raised in Mansfield, Ohio. Graduating valedictorian from Mansfield Senior High School, she went on to graduate in 2002 from Miami University, receiving a Bachelor of Science in both Finance and Decision Sciences (business statistics).
In 2005, Ms. Frantz Oldham graduated cum laude from the University of Akron School of Law. While in law school, she was an associate editor for the law review. She additionally was involved in moot court and was a member of the University of Akron’s trial team, participating on the 2005 ATLA National Student Trial Advocacy Competition quarter-finalist team.
Professional Certifications
Recognition & Awards
- Board Certified as a Civil Trial Specialist, National Board of Trial Advocacy
- Only one of five women in the State of Ohio with such certification
- Only one of five women in the State of Ohio with such certification
- Rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell
- Super Lawyers Listing
- 2010 – 2018 – Ohio Rising Stars
- 2019 – 2025 – Super Lawyers
- Super Lawyers Top Lists
- Top Rated Medical Malpractice Attorney
- Top 50: Women Ohio Super Lawyers
- 2023
- Top 25: Women Cleveland Super Lawyers
- 2023 & 2025
- Best Lawyers Listing
- 2021 – 2025
- Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs
- Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs
- 2021 – 2025
- Rated 10.0 by Avvo.com
- Voted in as member of International Society of Barristers, 2024
- Voted in as member of American Board of Trial Advocates, 2024
Representative Cases
Medical Malpractice/Wrongful DeathClient v. Hillside Rehabilitation Hospital
Nature of Case:
Claim that rehabilitation hospital failed to properly treat and prevent fecal impaction and failed to timely notify doctor of patient’s declining condition.
Result:
Verdict in favor of client in the amount of $3,000,000.00.
Length of Trial:
2 weeks
Case Identification:
Client v. Hillside Rehabilitation Hospital
Venue:
Trumbull County Common Pleas Court
Date:
April, 2017
Client v. The Landing of Canton
Nature of Case:
Claim that defendant/assisted living facility’s medication error caused client/resident’s brain damage, fifteen months of pain and suffering, and death.
Result:
Verdict in favor of client in the amount of $680,000 compensatory, $1,250,000 punitive, and attorney fees and costs over $550,000.
Length of Trial:
2 weeks
Case Identification:
Client v. The Landing of Canton
Venue:
Northern District of Ohio
Date:
September, 2011
Client v. City Yellow Cab; 2010
Nature of Case:
Client/taxi cab driver was murdered while responding to fare. Claim that defendant/taxi cab company did not warn client of known dangerous situation.
Result:
Verdict in favor of client in the amount of $2,500,000; reduced to $627,500 for fault attributable to murderer.
Length of Trial:
1-1/2 weeks
Case Identification:
Client v. City Yellow Cab
Venue:
Summit County Common Pleas Court
Date:
June, 2010
Client v. Cutler
Nature of Case:
Claim that defendant/real estate company recommended to client/homebuyers a home inspector despite knowledge that the home inspector was incompetent and uninsured.
Result:
Verdict in favor of client in the amount of $50,000 compensatory, $20,000 punitive, and over $126,00 attorney fees and costs.
Length of Trial:
1-1/2 weeks
Case Identification:
Client v. Cutler
Venue:
Stark County Common Pleas Court
Date:
December, 2007
Client v. William Wallick
Nature of Case:
Claim that defendant/home seller did not disclose defects with house and concealed such defects to client/home buyer.
Result:
Judgment in favor of client in amount of $50,250 compensatory, $15,000 punitive, and over $2,800 prejudgment interest.
Length of Trial:
2 days
Case Identification:
Client v. William Wallick
Venue:
Tuscarawas County Common Pleas Court
Date:
August, 2010
Client v. Heather Knoll
Nature of Case:
Claim that defendant/nursing home failed to properly attend to client/nursing home resident, causing client’s fall and resulting death.
Result:
Verdict in favor of client in amount of $1,001,540, plus prejudgment interest in the amount of over $147,000.
Length of Trial:
1-1/2 weeks
Case Identification:
Client v. Heather Knoll
Venue:
Summit County Common Pleas Court
Date:
January, 2011
Client v. PSC Metals
Nature of Case:
Claim that client driver was rear ended by a large truck and suffered traumatic fibromyalgia as a result of the collission.
Result:
Verdict in favor of client in the amount of $125,000
Length of Trial:
1 week
Case Identification:
Client v. PSC Metals
Venue:
Stark County Common Pleas Court
Date:
April, 2009
Client v. Westfield Insurance Company
Nature of Case:
Claim that client/small business owner was injured as a result of hit and run. In addition to suffering personal injuries, business was negatively impacted through client no longer being able to work extended hours.
Result:
Settled for $710,000
Case Identification:
Client v. Westfield Insurance Company
Venue:
Stark County Common Pleas Court
Date:
January, 2011
United States v. Mohammed Aiti, MD
Nature of Case:
Claim by client that former employer was charging Medicare and Medicaid for unnecessary medical services.
Result:
Client awarded $175,000
Case Identification:
United States v. Mohammed Aiti, MD
Venue:
Northern District of Ohio
Date:
April, 2009
Client v. Custom Assembly, Inc.
Nature of Case:
Client riding new motorcycle when handlebars shifted and caused client to lose control and crash motorcycle.
Result:
Verdict in favor of client in the amount of $2,448,189.29.
Length of Trial:
2-1/2 weeks
Case Identification:
Client v. Custom Assembly, Inc.
Venue:
Tuscarawas County Common Pleas Court
Date:
May, 2016
Griffith v. Aultman Hospital
Nature of Case:
Hospital refused to provide family the entirety of deceased’s medical records.
Result:
Supreme Court held that the physical location of where data is stored is not relevant to the determination of whether that data qualifies as a medical record.
Case Identification:
Griffith v. Aultman Hospital
Venue:
Supreme Court of Ohio
Date:
March, 2016
Professional Presentations
Akron Law Review Symposium, Forging the Future on Healthcare, Spring 2025
Keynote Presentation: Technology in Litigation from the Patient’s Perspective
Ohio Association for Justice, 2024 Women’s Caucus Retreat, Winter 2024
Lecture Topic: When Your Client Has Been the Victim of Medical Gaslighting
The University of Akron Center for Constitutional Law 2023 Conference, Fall 2023
Lecture Topic: Medical Gaslighting
Stark County Association for Justice 2023 Trial Practice Law Seminar, Fall 2023
Lecture Topic: Patient’s Right to Know – Dangerous Medical Practices Hiding Behind the Peer Review Committee Curtain
Ohio Association for Justice, 2023 Annual Convention, Spring 2023
Lecture Topic: The Abuse of Peer Review Committee Privilege
Summit County Association for Justice, Spring 2023
Lecture Topic: Surviving Clawson
Scanlon Inn of Courts, Winter, 2021
Topic: Settlement Immediately Before/During Trial
Ohio Association for Justice, 2018 Winter Convention, Fall 2018
Lecture Topic: Aultman v. Griffith: What Constitutes a Medical Record?
Summit County Association for Justice, Winter, 2017
Lecture Topic: What’s Hidden in Your Client’s Medical Record
Ohio Association for Justice, 2016 Winter Convention, Fall 2016
Lecture Topic: Medical Records and Beyond
Summit and Stark County Associations for Justice, Voir Dire, Fall 2013
Lecture Topic: Research, Questions, Case Law & Common Practices
Ohio Association for Justice, 2012 Winter Convention, Fall 2012
Lecture Topic: Social Media: Wonderful Discovery, Great Pitfall
National Business Institute, Damages in Personal Injury, Fall, 2012
Lecture Topic: Types of Damages in an Injury Suit
Summit County Association for Justice, Fall, 2011
Lecture Topic: Voir Dire and Case Successes
National Business Institute, Personal Injury 101, Fall, 2011
Lecture Topic: Case Law Developments and Major Elements of Local Procedure
Ohio Association for Justice, Negligence/Insurance Law Seminar, Fall, 2008
Lecture Topic: Ohio State Supreme Court Update
Professional Publications
Ohio Trial, Summer 2014, Vol. 24, Issue 2, Ohio Association for Justice
Fifth District Court of Appeals: A Hospital Can Self-Define What is and What is Not a Medical Records Merely By Where the Medical Information is Maintained
Professional Associations
- American, Ohio, Stark and Summit County Associations for Justice
- American, Ohio, Stark County and Akron Bar Associations
Supreme Court of Ohio and Sixth Circuit Oral Arguments
- Stull v. Summa Health System, Supreme Court of Ohio, Case No. 2023-0352
- Giffith v. Aultman Hospital, Supreme Court of Ohio, Case No. 2014-1055
- Freudeman v. The Landing, Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, Case No. 2012 CV 03130
Community & Civic Associations
- Member, International Society of Barristers, 2024 - present
- Member, American Board of Trial Advocates, 2024 - present
- Summit County Association for Justice, member 2010 – present
- President 2023 – 2024
- Stark County Association for Justice, member 2006 – present
- Director, Akron Law Alumni Association: 2011 – 2020
- President 2016 – 2017
- Trustee, Ohio Association for Justice: 2014 – 2021
- Women’s Caucus Chair: 2017 – 2018
- Executive Committee: 2017 – 2018
- Fellow, Akron Bar Association Foundation: 2015 – present
- Mentor, University of Akron Diamond Leadership Program: 2023
- Member, Judicial Committee, Stark County Bar Association: 2011 – present
- Akron Bar Association/Akron School of Law’s Mentor Program: 2013 – 2019
- Member, Summit County Scanlon Inn of Courts: 2006 – 2016
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