J. David Brittingham

Partner

The former co-chair of the firm’s nationwide Tort Practice Group, David is a trial attorney with the ability to see the big picture, enabling him to handle a variety of product liability, mass tort, toxic tort, health care and commercial matters for clients. His legal counsel has broadly guided manufacturers of food flavorings, food supplements, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, chemical packaging, manufactured housing, bicycles and recreational equipment, as well as healthcare providers and hospitals. He has extensive litigation experience in both state and federal courts, including the management, discovery, resolution and trial of individual and multi-party suits, mass tort claims, class actions and multi-district litigation.

He has represented a variety of clients in product liability cases, including an international manufacturer of food flavorings in multi-plaintiff cases involving the coordination of hundreds of claims in eight states, as well as multiple jury trials to verdict. Understanding such cases requires a high level of coordination with other counsel and plaintiffs. David is adept at crafting strategies that incorporate his clients’ goals into the overall picture, relying on a detailed, communication-oriented approach to find an efficient resolution. He has handled product liability and toxic tort cases in both state and federal courts, and is adept with arbitration and mediation as alternative means for resolving disputes. David places a premium on learning his client’s operations and processes, enabling him to tailor an approach that meets each client’s unique objectives.

David is also counsel to one of the top nationally and internationally recognized children’s hospitals in the U.S., defending its physicians and others against claims of professional negligence, and advising it on a broad range of risk and liability matters. He serves as lead trial counsel in state and federal courts, including trial courts, appellate courts, juvenile court and probate court, handling and advising on all matters related to claims of professional negligence, liability, risk, and insurance. Such matters include complex claims related to individuals, class actions and multi-plaintiff claims, including claims made under the Federal False Claims Act. David’s ability to offer precise and focused legal insight to in-house counsel, while maintaining a big-picture outlook, affords his clients the benefit of both short and long-term perspectives on mitigating risk and reaching resolutions, as well as preparation for trial.

David also lends his expertise and experience to help others resolve their disputes by alternative means. He completed the Harvard Mediation Intensive training program through Harvard Law School’s Program on Negotiation, and is available for mediation services.

Credentials

Education

Northern Kentucky University, Chase College of Law (J.D., cum laude, 1993)

University of Mississippi (B.F.A., 1988)

Harvard Law School

  • Harvard Mediation Intensive – Program on Negotiation

Bar admissions

  • Ohio
  • Kentucky
  • Missouri

Court admissions

  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky
  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky

Affiliations and memberships

  • Cincinnati Bar Association
  • Ohio State Bar Association
  • Kentucky Bar Association
  • Missouri Bar Association
  • Defense Research Institute

Distinctions

  • Best Lawyers®
    • ​​​​​​Lawyer of the Year” in Cincinnati for Product Liability Litigation-Defendants (2018)
    • “Lawyer of the Year” in Cincinnati for Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants (2024)
    • Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants; Product Liability Litigation – Defendants (2006 – present)
  • Ohio Super Lawyers® 
    • For Civil Litigation: Defense (2018 – present)
  • Ohio Rising Star®
  • Peer Review Rated AV in Martindale-Hubbell

Publications
  • May 4, 2020

    Investigations against Health Care Facilities and Nursing Homes on the Rise

  • March 19, 2020

    Tort-Focused Legal Considerations for Health Care Providers and Product Manufacturers in the COVID-19 Landscape

News
  • August 21, 2025

    260 Dinsmore Attorneys Listed as 2026 Best Lawyers®, Ones to Watch

  • August 15, 2024

    250+ Dinsmore Attorneys Named 2025 Best Lawyers ®, Ones to Watch

  • August 17, 2023

    200+ Dinsmore Attorneys Named 2024 Best Lawyers®, “Ones to Watch”

  • August 17, 2023

    26 Dinsmore Attorneys Named Best Lawyers® 2024 “Lawyer of the Year”

  • August 18, 2022

    2023 Best Lawyers® List Recognizes 190 Dinsmore & Shohl Attorneys

  • December 30, 2021

    44 Dinsmore Attorneys Named Ohio Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

  • August 19, 2021

    Best Lawyers® Recognizes 191 Dinsmore & Shohl Attorneys

  • December 8, 2020

    44 Dinsmore Attorneys Named Ohio Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

  • August 20, 2020

    Best Lawyers® Recognizes 180 Dinsmore & Shohl Attorneys