Phone: 216.736.7220 CLE | 614.427.5740 COL Fax: 216.621.6536 Connect: LinkedIn

Overview

Susan is co-chair, along with Kristina Supler, of KJK’s Student & Athlete Defense/Title IX Practice Group. She and Kristina also co-chair the firm’s Criminal, Cyber & White-Collar Practice Group.

Susan’s life work is to help students in crisis and to meet their legal needs. Recognizing the need for legal services dedicated to protecting students, professors and individuals with disabilities, Susan handles matter ranging from special education issues, student disciplinary matters and Title IX investigations. Susan has the knowledge and experience required to navigate due process complaints and shaping of 504 Plans and Individualized Education Programs. She also handles student matters involving hazing, bullying and social media.  

Susan has gained a national reputation for representing student and professors in Title IX cases. She is routinely hired as a student advisor for the campus investigation and hearing phase of proceedings and is also retained to handle subsequent university level appeals. Susan has also guided students through informal resolution, including mediation and restorative justice. Her talent as a student advisor has led to her representing Greek organizations and athletes, as well as other professionals accused of sexual harassment and misconduct. When cases do not resolve at the university level, she has experience fighting in state and federal courts around the country to obtain favorable outcomes for her clients.  

Susan’s background in public relations and crisis communication led to her co-creation of the Reputation Management Practice. This practice assists clients in the rebuilding of their reputation on various social media platforms. Susan has also instituted defamation actions when necessary to stop her client’s professional and academic futures from being harmed by libelous postings on the internet.  

Susan has a deep understanding of mental health and neurological disorders. She is particularly experienced working with individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (“ASD”), which allows her to formulate creative defenses for those individuals with ASD and other co-morbidities facing discipline at school or being investigated by law enforcement. Susan is sensitive to the multiple challenges facing this growing population.  

Given her experience representing individuals with mental health issues and the rise in students facing parallel criminal charges, Susan’s skills are frequently called upon in the criminal justice system. Susan partners with Kristina to represent adults and juveniles charged with crimes in the state and federal systems. Their clients have faced a variety of charges ranging from misdemeanors to high-level felonies.  

Susan is a nationally published author, and blogger, on topics related to education law. She has lectured on subjects that vary from Twice Exceptional Students, FERPA and the handling of educational records, and how to determine when behavioral issues arise of disabilities of students. She has also spoken throughout the country at conferences on Title IX. In addition, Susan proudly co-hosts the podcast Real Talk with Susan and Kristina to discuss with outside guests cutting edge issues affecting students. Susan is regularly called upon by families and outside therapists to consult on legal matters affecting children. 

 

“My life passion is helping students in crisis and dedicating myself to meeting their needs.” – Susan Stone

Education

  • Skidmore College, Certificate of Completion, Restorative Justice Training
  • Case Western Reserve University School of Law, J.D., 1991
  • Miami University, B.A., Speech Communication, Political Science, 1988

Professional Affiliations

  • Ohio State Bar Association, Member
  • American Bar Association, Member
  • Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, Member
  • Cleveland Academy of Trial Attorneys, Member
  • Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, Member
  • Families Advocating for Campus Equality, Member
  • Stop Abusive & Violent Environments, Member
  • Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, Member

Bar/Court Admissions

  • Ohio State Courts
  • New Jersey State Courts
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio
  • United States Court of Appeals, First Circuit

Presentations & Publications

SELECTED SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

  • Healthy Sex Lives in College: How to Deal with Impulsivity, The 2020 Virtual International Conference on ADHD, November 7, 2020
  • Title IX: What Due Process Looks Like Now, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, May 27, 2020
  • Consent When the Bee Stings, Indiana University, March 26, 2020
  • Avoiding Title IX Allegations During Internships; Coronavirus, Kent State University, March 19, 2020
  • College Concerns: Helping Students With Disabilities Transition to College and Navigate Campus Disciplinary Proceedings, COPAA National Conference, (Baltimore, MD), March 8, 2020
  • Don’t Rush In: The New Conversation Around Sex and Consent On Campus, Fraternal Law Conference (Cincinnati, Ohio), November 7, 2019
  • Changing the Conversation Around Sex & Consent, KJK College Kick-Off (Columbus, OH), September 12, 2019
  • 504 Plan Eligibility and Accommodation Best Practices, National Business Institute (Cleveland, OH), September 12, 2019
  • College Concerns: Helping Students with ASD Navigate Campus Discipline Issues, 2019 Milestones National Autism Conference (Cleveland, OH), June 12, 2019
  • Defending Students in Title IX Proceedings, LACDL’s Jazz Fest (New Orleans), April 25, 2019
  • Cyberbullying and Threats: School Authority and Liability, National Business Institute (Westlake, OH), February 2019
  • The 8th Annual FACE Meet and Greet Private Weekend Event, FACE – Families Advocating for Campus Equality(Cincinnati, OH), November, 2018
  • Title IX and Affirmative Action, Chief Justice Thomas J. Moyer Inn of Courts (Columbus,OH), November, 2018
  • Parallel Proceedings in Sexual Assault Cases: Finding Evidence and Avoiding Incrimination, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, November 2018
  • How #MeToo and Title IX have Changed Campus Culture, Meritas Webinar, September 2018
  • Forum on Higher Education: Crisis on Campus (Statesville, NC), The National Coalition for Men Carolinas, August 2018
  • Title IX for Criminal Defense Lawyers – Common Mistakes and Creative Strategies, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, July 2018
  • Handling the School Investigative Process, Fourth Annual Symposium on Representing Students Accused of Sexual Assault, March 2018
  • Manifestation Determination Reviews (MDRs): Did the Disability Cause the Behavior?, Special Education Law: The Ultimate Guide, March 2018
  • National Business Institute, School Law: Social Media and Apps, Cyberbullying, Privacy and other Technology Issues, February 2018
  • National Business Institute, Student Records: Legal Requirements You Need to Know (FERPA), December 2017
  • Restorative Justice – a better alternative to the Title IX Hearing Process, Title IX ExecuSummit, July 2017
  • A School of Options: How an attorney and advocate can open doors to new services for your child, International Dyslexia Association of Northern Ohio, Notre Dame College, November 2016
  • How to Prevent a Title IX Lawsuit, Title IX ExecuSummit, July 2016
  • Women in Leadership, Cleveland Jewish News, Eton, February 2016
  • Wrongful Imprisonment Settlement Interview, WEWS, February 2016
  • Top 10 Tips for Parents, Ohio Coalition for the Education of Children with Disabilities, Independence Civic Theater, November 2014
  • IEP Process – Protecting your Child’s Rights in School, Protecting your Special Needs Child, South Pointe Hospital, October 2012

SELECTED ARTICLES AND PUBLICATIONS

Representative Experience

“Susan and Kristina are great lawyers. They helped me resolve an extremely difficult academic dishonesty accusation case against me at the university level. They had helpful ideas and were persistent in making sure my defense was the best it could be. They were creative in their way of utilizing outside resources that helped achieve a positive outcome. Good, prompt responses to my questions. I highly recommend them!”

“Kristina and Susan are very competent and experienced attorneys in Title IX and higher education law who treat their clients with integrity and compassion. Highly recommend this team!”

“The team that Susan Stone put together for me and my son was strong, passionate, knowledgeable and determined. Together, they helped us build a strong IEP and gain one-on-one tutoring during school, all of which I am confident will help my son reach his full potential and then some! I could not be more thankful for my time with Susan, Kirsten and Vivian.” 

“We are very grateful for all the hard work that Susan, Kristina and her team put into a rather difficult case. Our son was put in a very difficult situation while playing sports at the College level. His strength and conditioning coach recommended a pre-workout substance that he said was NCAA approved to use before working out. After submitting to a random drug test, he tested positive for that exact substance and was then suspended. Susan and Kristina represented our son during the NCAA appeal process. Ultimately, his suspension was overturned and he returned to the sport he loves. Thank you again.”

“Thank you for always working to understand the full situation and for exploring the entirety of issues at hand. Thank you for always being supportive and for providing a productive, positive environment for working with us and most importantly, my son. I’m sure that he learned a lot from this situation, and we would not have been able to navigate without the help of both of you. Thank you for being tirelessly committed and for pursuing the best possible outcome.”

“I am very grateful for all of the hard work Susan and her team put into defending me against a difficult situation with the school. They had very helpful opinions and were very tenacious in making sure my defense was the absolute best it could be. Susan and her team are very satisfactory and experienced, and they treated us with such compassion and integrity. They were very creative in helping find resources to help achieve a favorable outcome. They are very professional and always have informative responses to my questions. I highly recommend this team!!”

  • Working with our client and our team of mental healthcare professionals, Melissa, Susan, and Kristina were able to help a student with ADHD, who had never before received accommodations on a standardized test, successfully appeal the denial of her disability accommodation request for the MCAT. Our client will now receive the extra time she deserves on this important professional entrance exam.
  • Successfully prevailed in an expulsion hearing and kept student in school after serious allegations of misconduct.
  • Obtained reversal of discipline sanction in housing misconduct matter.
  • Successfully defended a pre-med undergraduate student for alleged cheating on a physics lab report and showed that the professor had made a critical error in basic mathematics.
  • Won an appeal with the NCAA to allow a student to remove restriction on eligibility to play football

Media Mentions

Stone & Supler Discuss LSU Case With USA Today, USA Today, June 19, 2020

A suspended LSU football player files a federal lawsuit against the university, Louisiana Radio Network, June 19, 2020

Former LSU football player suing to be reinstated to team, 24/7 Sports, June 18, 2020

Stone & Supler Discuss LSU Player’s Case With ESPN, ESPN, June 18, 2020

Stone & Supler Speak With The Advocate Regarding LSU Football Player’s Case, The Advocate, June 18, 2020

Susan Stone and Kristina Supler interviewed about the future of education in the COVID-19 era and beyond, For the Defense With Brad Koffel, May, 17, 2020

Susan Stone and Kristina Supler interviewed about #MeToo showdown at Harvard, Law & Crime Network, Jan. 17, 2020

Susan Stone interviewed about “unfair” process her client went through with Harvard, Harvard Crimson, Nov. 7, 2019

Susan Stone and Kristina Supler interviewed for “Brian Ross Investigates” piece, “Has ‘MeToo’ Gone Too Far?”, Law & Crime Network, Sept. 26, 2019

Susan Stone and Kristina Supler interviewed about the “Red Zone” and sexual assault on campus, Fox 8 News, Sept. 6, 2019

Susan Stone and Kristina Supler interviewed regarding investigation into UNC women’s basketball program, CNN.com, April 2, 2019

Susan Stone and Kristina Supler interviewed about plea bargaining in sexual assault cases following plea deal in Baylor University rape case, CNN.com, Dec.18, 2018

Susan Stone and Kristina Supler interviewed regarding Urban Meyer suspension at The Ohio State University, 97.1 The Fan Sports Radio, Columbus, Aug. 23, 2018

Susan Stone and Kristina Supler interviewed related to case obtaining TRO for client to play football in college, Associated Press coverage, Sept. 15, 2017

Related Practices