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Jon J. Saia

  • Managing Partner

Practice Areas:

  • OVI/DUI Defense
  • Criminal Defense
  • Traffic Defense
Best Lawyers | Lawyer of the year Jon J. Saia | DUI/DWI Defense Columbus, OH 2021
Rated by Super Lawyers | Jon J. Saia | 15 Years
Rated by Super Lawyers | Top 100 Ohio | Superlawyers.com
Rated by Super Lawyers | Top 50 Columbus | Superlawyers.com
Rated by Super Lawyers | Top 5 Columbus | Superlawyers.com

Biography

Attorney Saia's years of experience and knowledge of the law ensures that every client receives excellent legal representation in the defense of OVI, criminal and traffic offenses. Mr. Saia shares his legal experience and knowledge through seminar speaking engagements and is often consulted by other lawyers and the media with regard to certain legal issues relating to OVI, as well as criminal and traffic offenses.

Attorney Saia is certified by The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration as an instructor in the administration of standardized field sobriety tests and is certified by National Patent Analytical Systems, Inc., the manufacturer of the BAC Datamaster, in the operation, diagnostic verification, and calibration of the BAC Datamaster Breath Alcohol Testing Instruments. The BAC Datamaster is the most commonly used breath alcohol testing instrument in Ohio.

Attorney Saia was featured on the cover of the 2014 Super Lawyers Magazine for Ohio & Kentucky.

Attorney Saia also serves as an expert witness. Please see CV for a complete list of his experience.

Education

  • Capital University Law School, Columbus, Ohio
    • J.D. - 1986
  • University of Copenhagen , Copenhagen
  • Kings College, Wilkes-Barre
    • B.A. - 1983
  • University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
    • B.A. - 1983

Bar Admission

  • Ohio, 1987
  • Pennsylvania, 1998
  • U.S. District Court Southern District of Ohio, 1988
  • U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit, 1991

Published Works

  • Co-authored with Dr. Alfred Staubus Aspatore Publishing, Inside the Minds – Understanding DUI Scientific Evidence, “What Is 50 Pounds Overweight?”
  • "The Inconvenient Truth about the Intoxolyzer 8000" , OACDL Vindicator
  • Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Law You Can Use , Ohio State Bar Association, “Ohio’s New OVI Law”, 2006
  • “What is an Administrative License Suspension?” Law You Can Use, Ohio State Bar Association, 2007
  • “Regaining You Driving Privileges After a DUI” Law You Can Use, Ohio State Bar Association, 2006
  • (Co-authored with Darrell M. Cosgrove) “Constitutional Rights Limited in OVI Cases” Law You Can Use , Ohio State bar Association, 2006
  • “Field Sobriety test Predict BAC” Law You Can Use, Ohio State Bar Association, 2006
  • “Signs of Impaired Driving” Law You Can Use, Ohio State Bar Association, 2006
  • “Being Stopped for DUI” Law You Can Use, Ohio State Bar Association, 2006
  • “Understand Drinking and Driving Risks” Law You Can Use, Ohio State Bar Association, 2006
  • “Know OVI Laws” Law You Can Use, Ohio State Bar Association, 2006
  • “Know Your Limits” Law You Can Use, Ohio State Bar Association, 2006
  • “Ohio’s New CDL Disqualification Law” Bar Briefs, Columbus Bar Association, 2005

Honors

  • The Best Lawyers in America
  • American Society of Legal Advocates
  • AV Preeminent® Rating by Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™(5/5)
  • Avvo Superb 10.0 Rating
  • Ohio State Bar Association College
  • Super Lawyers Top 5 Columbus, OH 2021
  • Top 50: Columbus Super Lawyers, 2013-2021
  • Top 100: Ohio Super Lawyers, 2014-2021
  • Ohio Super Lawyer (OVI/DUI Defense)
  • Columbus CEO Magazine's Top Lawyers (DUI/DWI Defense), 2015

Classes & Seminars

  • March 9, 2023 – Advanced OVI Law “Preparing for Motion Hearings” , Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Columbus, Ohio
  • October 6, 2017 – Mayor’s Court Training “Annie’s Law – Defense Perspective”, Ohio Municipal League, Columbus, Ohio
  • August 11, 2017 – Mayor’s Court Training “Annie’s Law – Defense Perspective”, Ohio Municipal League, Dublin, Ohio
  • June 16, 2017 – DUI Update “Blood and Urine Discovery”, Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
  • May 19, 2017 – OACL Seminar and Retreat Cross – Examination of Santa Claus, Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Myrtle Beach, SC
  • May 5, 2017 – Voir Dire – “Relating to a Jury and Securing an Acquittal in Voir Dire”, Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Sylvania, Ohio
  • May 4, 2017 – Fairfield County Bar Meeting “Annie’s Law”, Fairfield County Bar Association, Lancaster, Ohio
  • April 28, 2017 – Advanced Criminal Defense “Annie’s Law”, Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Athens, Ohio
  • April 21- 23, 2017 – "DWI Detection and Standardized Field Sobriety Testing Instruction", National Highway Traffic Safety Administration/ International Association of Chiefs of Police Cleveland, Ohio
  • March 10, 2017 – Advanced OVI Law “Annie’s Law”, Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Columbus, Ohio

Representative Clients

  • Columbus, Ohio State v. Franklin, Case No. 2014TRC128828, Judge Carrie Glaeden, September 23, 2014
  • Cincinnati, Ohio State v. Heffner, Case No. C/13/TRC/27999, Judge Melissa Powers, November 27, 2013
  • Fairfield Municipal Court Fairfield, Ohio State v. Levine, Case No. 2012TRC01099, Judge Joyce Campbell, January 2013
  • Mt. Vernon Municipal Court Mt. Vernon, Ohio State v. Clark, Case No. 12TRC00437, Judge Paul E. Spurgeon, December 6, 2012
  • Clark County Municipal Court Springfield, Ohio, State v. Reckner, Case No. 2012 TRC 1204518, Judge Thomas E.Trempe, July 10, 2012
  • Franklin County Municipal Court, Columbus, Ohio, State v. Hood, Case No. 2010TRC193018, Judge Mark Hummer, March 14, 2011
  • Summit County Court of Common Pleas, Akron, Ohio, State of Ohio v. Vitaly Simin, Case No. 2009-04-1047, Judge Judith Hunter, November 13, 2009
  • Fayette County District Court, Lexington, Kentucky, Commonwealth of Kentucky v. Paul Haney, Case No. 09-T-13968, Judge Julie Muth Goodman, October 8, 2009
  • Delaware County Municipal Court Delaware, Ohio, State of Ohio v. Jennifer McIntyre, Case No. 08TRC12732, Judge David Sunderman, June 30, 2009
  • Municipal Court of Mansfield, Ohio Mansfield, Ohio State of Ohio v. Shari Robertson, Case No. 2008TRC9711, Judge Jerry E. Ault, May 27, 2009
  • Delaware County Municipal Court Delaware, Ohio State of Ohio v. Jennifer McIntyre, Case No. 08TRC12732, Judge David Sunderman, February 26, 2009
  • Auglaize County Municipal Court Wapakoneta, Ohio State of Ohio v. Larry Elsass Case No. 2007-TRC-5554, Judge Gary W. Herman, May 23, 2008
  • Fayette County District Court Lexington, Kentucky, Commonwealth of Kentucky v. Michael Bruno, Case No. 07-T-14615, Judge Hayse, September 27, 2007
  • Franklin County Municipal Court Columbus, Ohio State of Ohio v. Melissa Shaffer, Case No. 2006-TRC-215930, Judge Julia L. Dorrian, May 2, 2007
  • Berea Municipal Court Berea, Ohio City of Berea v. Robert Key, Case No. 05-TRC-04823, Magistrate Lazzaro, September 18, 2006
  • Medina Municipal Court Medina, Ohio State of Ohio v. Reuben Droughns, Case No.05-TRC-09600, Judge Dale H. Chase, March 13, 2006
  • Fairfield County Municipal Court Lancaster, Ohio State of Ohio v. Jeremiah Ross, Case No. 2005-TRC-05502, Judge David A. Trimmer, October 28, 2005
  • Auglaize County Municipal Court Wapakoneta, Ohio State of Ohio v. Lonnie Heitkamp, Case No. 2005-TRC-1526, Judge Gary W. Herman, August 30, 2005
  • Warren County Municipal Court Lebanon, Ohio State of Ohio v. Gary Hancock, Case No. 05-TRC-1616, Judge Joseph Kirby, August 23, 2005
  • Warren County Municipal Court Lebanon, Ohio State of Ohio v. Ted Kissell, Case No. 04-TRC-1080, Judge Joseph Kirby, August 23, 2005
  • Rowan District Court Morehead, Kentucky Commonwealth of Kentucky v. Todd Pratt, Case No. 04-M-01295, Judge William Lane, June 8, 2005
  • Delaware County Municipal Court Delaware, Ohio State of Ohio v. Donald Kenney, Case No. 2005TRC 14527, Judge David P. Sunderman, March 29, 2005
  • Franklin County Municipal Court, Columbus, Ohio State of Ohio v. Laura Reitz, Case No. 2004 TRC 210336, Judge Carrie E. Glaeden, March 1, 2005
  • Court of Common Pleas, Green County, Ohio State of Ohio v. Randall Knox, Case No. 2004 CR 798, Judge J. Timothy Campbell, February 28, 2005
  • Franklin County Municipal Court Columbus, Ohio State of Ohio v. Stephen Beaver, Case No. 2004 TRC 117887, Judge Julia Dorrian, September 30, 2004
  • Franklin County Municipal Court, Columbus, Ohio State of Ohio v. Westley Smith, Case No. 2003 TRC 218435, Judge James Green, April 29, 2004
  • Franklin County Municipal Court, Columbus, Ohio State of Ohio v. Ivan Mounts, Case No. 2003 TRC 194554, Judge Paul Herbert, April 22, 2004
  • Marion County Municipal Court Marion, Ohio State of Ohio v. James C. Nutter, Jr., Case Number TRC0312844, Judge Finnegan, February 26, 2004
  • Delaware County Municipal Court Delaware, Ohio State of Ohio v. Mary B. Ramey, Case Number: 03TRC-07267, Judge David P. Sunderman, July 16, 2003
  • Fairborn Municipal Court Fairborn, Ohio State of Ohio v. Jon McClennan, Case Number: 02 TRC 08962, Magistrate Schaengold, December 23, 2002
  • Court of Common Pleas Delaware County, Ohio State of Ohio v. Tantarelli, Case Number: 02-CR-I-09-440, Judge Everett Krueger,December 6, 2002
  • Delaware County Municipal Court Delaware, Ohio State of Ohio v. Patrick Kuhlman, Case Number: 01 TRC 14874, Judge David P. Sunderman, February 13, 2002
  • Delaware County Municipal Court Delaware, Ohio State of Ohio v. Stephanie Grabowski, Case Number: 01 TRC 07456, Judge Michael C. Hoague, July 11, 2001
  • Delaware County Municipal Court Delaware, Ohio State of Ohio v. Bradford Salyer, Case Number: 01 TRC 06673, D. Richard Reeder (sitting by assignment), June 29, 2001
  • Delaware County Municipal Court Delaware, Ohio State of Ohio v. Christopher S. McGowen, Case Number: 00 TRC 10932, Judge Michael C. Hoague, October 19, 2000
  • Delaware County Municipal Court Delaware, Ohio State of Ohio v. Thomas E. Hoke, Case Number: 00 TRC 00360, Judge Michael C. Hoague, May 19, 2000
  • Lancaster Municipal Court Lancaster, Ohio State of Ohio v. Kasmer Jeffries Case Number: 98 TRC 13567, Judge McAuliffe, August 25, 1999
  • Delaware County Municipal Court Delaware, Ohio of Ohio v. Richard Warner, Case Number: 98 TRC00649, Judge Michael C. Hoague, July 2, 1999
  • Delaware County Municipal Court Delaware, Ohio State of Ohio v. John E. Cloud, Case Number: 98 TRC 08403, Judge Michael C. Hoague, December 8, 1998
  • Madison County Municipal Court London, Ohio State of Ohio v. Celeste L. Losego, Case Number: 98 TRC 03805, Judge R. David Picken, December 3, 1998
  • Franklin County Municipal Court Columbus, Ohio City of Grove City vs. Michael Hardin, Case Number: M9710TFC-150580, Judge Steven B. Hayes, May 4, 1998

Past Positions

  • Delaware County Municipal Court, Visiting Magistrate, 1998 to 2000
  • The Law Office of Jon J. Saia, General Practice Attorney, 1987 to 1995

Professional Associations

  • National Association for Criminal Defense Lawyers
  • National College for DUI Defense, Member
  • Ohio State Bar Association, Member
  • Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, (Life Member, President 2016-2017)
  • Central Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, President (2017-2018)
  • Columbus Bar Association, Member
  • Delaware Bar Association, Member
  • Athens County Bar Association
  • Thomas More Society
  • Morrow County Bar Association
  • Master Mind Group

Certified Legal Specialties

  • Analytical Laboratories, Inc. and America Chemical Society Forensic Chromatography Theory and Practice , Axion Training Institute, Inc., 2015
  • Technology, Theory and Operation of the Intoxilyzer 8000 Breath Alcohol Testing Instrument, 2011
  • Gas Chromatography and Basic Principles of Metrology , 2011
  • Operation, Diagnostic Verification and Calibration, 2004

Ancillary Businesses

  • Wine Import and Distribution