Donielle S. Willis

Associate

    Donielle is an associate focusing her practice in the areas of premises and retail liability, school leaders’ liability, property damage, product liability and insurance coverage.  She handles personal injury matters related to commercial and passenger motor vehicle cases and on behalf of retail establishments. Additionally, Donielle defends claims on behalf of companies for miscellaneous issues filed with the Ohio Department of Insurance and/or Ohio Civil Rights Commission.

    Donielle has a diverse civil litigation practice with extensive experience briefing dispositive motions and achieving favorable decisions in numerous cases. Donielle's background of working for a plaintiff's firm allows her to be one step ahead of opposing counsels and anticipate their position in cases.  

    Donielle values strong attorney-client relationships built on trust and responsive communication. She enjoys working with her clients to better understand their individual and specific needs to return a successful resolution for each matter. With these fundamentals, Donielle offers practical guidance while empowering her clients to identify and work towards their litigation goals.  

    In 2014, Donielle earned her a B.A. in Criminal Justice from Northern Kentucky University. She received her juris doctor degree from University of Cincinnati - College of Law in 2017. She is admitted to practice in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. 

    In her free time, Donielle enjoys being a mother to her toddler and two golden retrievers. She also loves teaching at a local barre studio. 

    She is admitted to practice in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. 

    Significant Representative Matters

    Successfully argued in Motion for Summary Judgment that Plaintiffs' claims were precluded by law because the general grant of immunity pursuant to R.C. §2744.01 applied to them as a political subdivision and no exception to immunity existed. Plaintiffs, a minor student and parent, filed suit against the school district, school board, supervising teacher, and principal alleging they were negligent when an afterschool science project (through the STEM program) caught fire causing burn injuries to the student. This included the exception that allows for negligence claims when there is a physical defect within or on the grounds of the entity.  Further, the individual employees were also granted immunity because they were acting in their official capacities and thus the same analysis afforded to the school applied to the individuals. The Judge ultimately granted our Motion and dismissed Plaintiffs' claims.  

    Admissions
    Ohio
    2017
    U.S. District Court Southern District of Ohio
    2017
    Indiana
    2020
    Kentucky
    2024
    U.S. District Court Southern District of Indiana
    2024
    Education
    University of Cincinnati College of Law (J.D., 2017)
    Northern Kentucky University (B.A., cum laude, 2014)
    Honors & awards
    Ohio Super Lawyers Rising Star
    2020-2021
    Associations & memberships
    Cincinnati Bar Association
    Indiana State Bar Association
    Ohio State Bar Association
    Year joined
    2021