Winston Represents Former FirstEnergy Executive in Ohio Bribery Trial

A Winston team led by Steve Grimes represented former FirstEnergy Vice President of External Affairs Mike Dowling in an eight-week jury trial arising from what prosecutors described as the “largest bribery scandal in Ohio history.” Based on the defense put forward, the jury was unable to convict Mr. Dowling resulting in a hung jury.

Dowling had been charged with bribery-related offenses tied to an alleged scheme involving Ohio energy legislation and regulatory action. The case drew significant public and media attention throughout the investigation and trial.

 

Preparing the defense required the Winston team to develop a detailed understanding of the highly technical and complex electric utility industry and the regulatory framework governing it. After mastering the underlying facts and industry context, the team filed a series of motions in limine that limited the introduction of highly prejudicial material related to uncharged aspects of the broader alleged bribery scheme.

During trial, Winston’s lawyers conducted extensive cross-examinations of the State’s witnesses, at times eliciting testimony that undercut elements of the prosecution’s case. In one notable moment, the prosecution impeached its own key witness with her prior grand jury testimony.

The Winston team included partners Steve Grimes, Dan Webb, and Matt Durkin; associates Nick Matosian, Elayna Napoli, Elise LeCrone, and Alana Cohen; and paralegal Zach LaBomascus.

The case has been covered by the following media outlets:

• “Ex-FirstEnergy Execs' Bribe Trial Ends After Jury Hits Impasse,” Law360
• “Ex-FirstEnergy Executives’ Ohio Trial Ends With Hung Jury,” Bloomberg Law
• “Jury can’t reach verdict in corruption trial of 2 ex-FirstEnergy executives in $60M bribery scandal,” Associated Press News
• “FirstEnergy corruption case ends with hung jury,” ABC 5
• “Ex-FirstEnergy execs set for a new round in court following mistrial,” Akron Beacon Journal
• “Trial Of Former FirstEnergy Execs Ends In Hung Jury,” WTAM Newsradio
• “Hung jury in bribery and corruption trial of former FirstEnergy executives in Akron,” Statehouse News Bureau
• “FirstEnergy bribery trial ends in hung jury. State will seek retrial,” Akron Beacon Journal
• “Ohio’s FirstEnergy corruption case ends with hung jury,” Ohio Capital Journal
• “Jury can't reach verdict in corruption trial of 2 ex-FirstEnergy executives in $60M bribery scandal,” The Washington Post
• “FirstEnergy Trial Hung Jury Shows Keeping It Simple Isn’t Stupid,” Bloomberg Law
• “Sen. Husted Testifies for Ex-FirstEnergy Execs in Bribery Trial,” Bloomberg Law
• “FirstEnergy trial: Some charges nixed, Husted testifies and testimony ends,” Cleveland.com
• “Trial of ex-FirstEnergy executives charged in $60M Ohio bribery scheme begins,” Associated Press News
• “Prosecution concludes testimony, defense up next in FirstEnergy trial,” Akron Beacon Journal
• “Rare move reveals secret testimony of key witness in FirstEnergy bribery trial,” Cleveland.com