Wesley Matthew Nakajima - Lebanon, OH
Attorney at Rittgers Rittgers & Nakajima
Personal Injury - General Lawyers in Lebanon, OH
12 East Warren Street Lebanon, OH 45036
- Free Consultation
- 1 Super Lawyers®
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17
Years
Experience
Lebanon Personal Injury - General Lawyer
Updated: 05/21/2026
Areas of Practice
- Personal Injury - General 20%
- Personal Injury - Truck Wrecks 50%
- Personal Injury - Brain Injury 10%
- Personal Injury - Wrongful Death 10%
- Personal Injury - Car Accidents 10%
Litigation: 100%
Attorney Information
Overview
Matt Nakajima is a trial lawyer who stands with individuals and families touched by tragedy. After a catastrophic injury or the loss of a loved one, people are often left searching for answers, stability, and someone they can trust. Matt helps guide them through that uncertainty while holding those responsible accountable.
For nearly two decades, he has represented clients whose lives were permanently changed by negligence and corporate misconduct, taking on large corporations and insurance companies that refuse to accept responsibility. Matt understands that no amount of money can undo what has been taken—but he believes accountability and justice matter, both for his clients and for the safety of others.
Matt focuses his practice on catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases, including trucking and car collisions, defective products, insurance bad faith, and dangerous premises claims. He is known for meticulous preparation, creative trial strategy, and genuine, compassionate advocacy for the people he represents. Insurance companies know him as a lawyer who is prepared to take cases to trial when fairness is refused.
Throughout his career, Matt has secured more than forty-five verdicts and settlements of $1 million or more. Since 2025 alone, he has recovered over $120 million for his clients, including results of $28 million, $12 million, $11.25 million, $11 million, and $10 million. Several of these cases have resulted in nationwide safety changes, particularly in corporate negligence and trucking collision cases—helping prevent similar harm to others.
Many of Matt’s cases are ones others considered too difficult or unwinnable. When insurance companies refuse to make fair settlement offers, Matt is known for obtaining extraordinary results:
• $10,000,000 jury verdict (2026) in a medical negligence death case with a top offer of only $300,000;
• $6,000,000 jury verdict (2025) in a medical negligence case after the defense refused to make any settlement offer;
• $825,000 jury verdict (2021) in a disputed car crash case where the highest offer was $90,000;
• $3,000,000 jury verdict (2019) in a trip-and-fall case involving a fractured kneecap, after a pre-trial offer of $25,000;
• $1,028,317 jury verdict (2018) after rejecting a $20,000 offer for a serious shoulder injury.
Because of his courtroom experience and results, Matt is frequently invited to speak to trial lawyer organizations across the country on trial advocacy and litigation strategy. He has been recognized by his peers as a Super Lawyer and/or Rising Star every year since 2013.
Above all, Matt stands with his clients when it matters most—giving them a voice, standing up to powerful corporations, and securing results that help families move forward.
Awards and Honors
Honors
- Recipient of the prestigious “Rising Star” award, Super Lawyers every year since 2013
- Top 40 under 40 attorneys for Kentucky and Ohio, National Trial Lawyers
- 10/10 Superb Avvo rating
Other Sources of Feedback About Wesley Matthew Nakajima
Included on the 2026 Ohio Super Lawyers list
Past Lists
- 2025 Ohio Super Lawyers list
- 2024 Ohio Super Lawyers list
- 2023 Ohio Super Lawyers list
- 2022 Ohio Super Lawyers list
- 2021 Ohio Super Lawyers list
- 2020 Ohio Super Lawyers list
- 2019 Ohio Super Lawyers list
- 2018 Ohio Super Lawyers list
- 2017 Ohio Super Lawyers list
- 2016 Ohio Super Lawyers list
- 2015 Kentucky Super Lawyers list
- 2014 Kentucky Super Lawyers list
- 2013 Kentucky Super Lawyers list
Education
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Legal Education
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Northern Kentucky University, Salmon P. Chase College of Law,
Highland Heights,
Kentucky, 2008
J.D.
Honors: magna cum laude
Law Review: N. KY L. Rev., Associate Editor, 2007 - 2008
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Northern Kentucky University, Salmon P. Chase College of Law,
Highland Heights,
Kentucky, 2008
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Non Legal Education
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Bellarmine University ,
Louisville,
Kentucky, 2004
B.A.
Honors: cum laude
Honors: Dean's List
Honors: With High Honors
Major: Economics -
Northern Kentucky University , 2008
LL.D.
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Bellarmine University ,
Louisville,
Kentucky, 2004
Current Employment Position(s)
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Trial Attorney
Past Positions
- O'Connor Acciani & Levy, Attorney, 2014 - 2019
- The Sanders Law Firm, Attorney, 2009 - 2014
Languages
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English
Representative Cases
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Ollberding v. Kentucky Farm Bureau - A jury verdict of $1,028,317.17
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Drame v. Irby – 7,500,000.00 judgment
- Citation: https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2015/11/05/pit-bull-mauling-lawsuit/75216558/
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Product liability - 1,000,000.00 settlement
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Roberts v. Boehl
- Citation: 2018 WL 1468734
- Court: Court of Appeals 12th Dist OH
Bar Admissions
- Ohio, 2009
- U.S. District Court Southern District of Ohio
- Kentucky, 2009
- U.S. District Court Southern District of Indiana
- U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit
- Federal Claims Court
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Kentucky
- U.S. District Court Western District of Kentucky
Other Affiliations
- The Ohio Association of Justice, 2009 - Present (Member)
- The Kentucky Justice Associations (Board of Governor 2009-2016)
- American Association of Justice , 2009 - Present (Member)
- Ohio Trial Lawyers Association, 2014 - Present (Member)
- The Kentucky Justice Associations, 2009 - Present (Member)
Reviews
Customer Reviews for Wesley Matthew Nakajima
Highlights
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5.0 Value
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5.0 Quality of Service
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5.0 Professional Competence
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Hired Attorney 2019-2020Matt was extremely helpful and professional throughout his handling of my case. I am extremely happy with the result of his representation and would highly recommend Matt and Suzie !
Photo
Contact
12 East Warren Street
Lebanon, OH 45036
Phone: 513-496-0134
Fax: 513-934-2201
Email: Send a message
Hours: Mon - Fri:7AM - 10PM, Sat - Sun:7AM - 5PM
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