Melissa A. Black

Partner Of Counsel

Melissa counsels employers in workers’ compensation matters, including Industrial Commission hearings, court appeals, retaliation claims, workplace safety, settlements, and post-injury investigations. Her clients include state-funded and self-insured employers.

She is familiar with the labyrinth of administrative systems employers must navigate when dealing with workers’ compensation matters, including the Industrial Commission of Ohio and the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation. She knows how to navigate businesses and companies through these and other processes while also ensuring they meet their professional goals. When a workers’ compensation matter proceeds to a court of common pleas, she utilizes her litigation and jury trial experience to vigorously defend against claims.

Credentials

Education

University of Dayton School of Law (J.D., 2004)

University of Massachusetts Amherst (B.A., 1996)

  • Communications

Bar admissions

  • Ohio

Court admissions

  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio

Affiliations and memberships

  • Ohio State Bar Association
  • Columbus Bar Association

Publications
  • September 30, 2021

    Cart before the Horse: Claimant Must Prove Condition Pre-existed Injury before Substantial Aggravation Can be Established

  • July 13, 2020

    Changes to Ohio’s Workers’ Compensation Statutes Expected to Benefit Employers

News
  • January 1, 2025

    Dinsmore Announces 16 Partner Promotions, New Board Members and Department Leaders

Events
  • April 1, 2021

    COVID-19 and the Workers’ Compensation Claim