Gus Lazares - Lebanon, OH

When a serious injury or the loss of a loved one changes everything, the outcome often depends on how thoroughly the case is prepared from the very beginning. Gus approaches every case with a simple belief: there are no shortcuts, and every detail matters.

Gus is a trial lawyer known for his intense, focused, and detail-driven approach to litigation. He represents clients in serious injury and wrongful death cases, often against large corporations and insurance companies that expect cases to resolve quietly. Gus’s relentless, leave-no-stone-unturned style has resulted in seven- and eight-figure recoveries, including $12 million, $7 million, and $6 million results, in cases where defendants aggressively tried to hide evidence and avoid accountability.

Gus believes complex cases demand meticulous preparation. A lawyer who fails to fully investigate the facts and law has little chance of obtaining fair value for their client. Every shortcut costs real money. In cases involving well-funded defendants, even a small lapse in preparation can allow the defense to distort the law, bury evidence, or apply pressure to force an unfair result. Gus works to ensure that does not happen.

He is known for fighting—and winning—the battles that often decide a case long before trial. These include forcing corporate decision-makers to testify, uncovering internal documents the defense fought to keep hidden, and securing rulings that remove artificial limits on damages. In one wrongful death case, Gus successfully compelled the production of internal emails revealing that a company knowingly over medicated his client before abandoning him. That discovery increased the value of the case by more than ten million dollars.

In another case, a company claimed violent incidents were isolated to a single location—until Gus’s deposition work revealed the problem was widespread nationwide, leading to a high seven-figure resolution. In yet another case, an insurance company insisted it was justified in offering only a few thousand dollars for a serious injury. Under Gus’s questioning, a company executive admitted there was no factual basis for that position, and the jury returned a verdict more than thirty-five times greater than the settlement offer.

Gus’s commitment to his clients does not end when a case becomes difficult. When necessary, he has taken cases through appeal—including to the Ohio Supreme Court—to protect his clients’ rights and hold defendants accountable. He also believes clients deserve clear communication and honest answers at every stage of the case.

For Gus, success means knowing that every necessary battle was fought. He believes injured people and grieving families deserve a lawyer who will prepare relentlessly, stand firm under pressure, and pursue justice with integrity from start to finish.