Akron attorney Warner Mendenhall lost the biggest fight of his political life in 2009 when his attempt to recall longtime Mayor Don Plusquellic failed.
Mendenhall, though, didn’t let this dissuade him, turning this defeat that had made him a household name in Akron into decades of legal work that involved fighting City Hall and battling for the little guy.
“He was a fighter,” said Marco Sommerville, a former longtime Akron City Council president and member of Plusquellic’s administration who became friends with Mendenhall. “Fighting for his causes and the people he thought got wronged – he tried to make it right. He went to law school so he could do that. At the end of the day, I think he did a great job.”
Mendenhall, 64, died on June 8 after a months-long battle with cancer.
His death has prompted many people to share tributes and memories on social media and his obituary page.
“He leaves an impactful legacy with greater purpose than we will ever begin to understand,” said a woman who Mendenhall represented in a COVID-19 employment vaccination case. “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
“This man stood in the gap, alone, for so many others when they couldn’t in places or situations nobody would,” a man posted on Mendenhall’s obituary page. “He was truly an honorable man.”
Mendenhall serves on council, becomes an attorney then leads a recall effort
Mendenhall got his start in the public eye when he served on Akron City Council from 1992 to 1995.
Sommerville, who at that point was an adversary of Mendenhall’s, recalled telling him that he couldn’t get a resolution passed for Mother Theresa if he introduced it.
So, Mendenhall did just that.
“I couldn’t believe it,” Sommerville said, chuckling.
Sommerville made sure Mendenhall’s resolution didn’t advance so he couldn’t prove him wrong.
Mendenhall earned his law degree from the University of Akron in 1998, establishing his own law firm that would eventually come to be known as the Mendenhall Law Group.
In 2009, Mendenhall led an effort to recall Plusquellic, pointing to issues like the city’s debt level and how much Plusquellic was spending on travel. This was the first time a recall attempt had been made against an Akron mayor.
“It’s an election like any other,” Mendenhall said at the time. “The only difference is that Don Plusquellic will face Don Plusquellic. If he can make a case, then more power to him. I don’t think we have time to waste.”
Plusquellic, who had a powerful coalition that backed him, prevailed. He later told former Beacon Journal writer Steve Love in an interview for his biography that he might have left office sooner if it hadn’t been for the recall attempt. Plusquellic ultimately resigned in 2015.
“It was like waving a red flag in front of a bull,” Plusquellic told Love. “No [expletive] way are you going to drive me out of my town.”
Mendenhall leads ‘fight for justice’ in law practice
Mendenhall’s law firm’s website says, “fight for justice” on its front page and then promises, “No opponents too big, no client too small. We hold companies, government and other institutions accountable.”
Over the years, Mendenhall has lived up to this mantra by representing people who were controversial or unpopular and taking on big government entities and institutions. His opponents have included the city of Akron, Summit County Sheriff’s Office, Akron Children’s Hospital and the Pfizer drug company, which made one of the COVID-19 vaccines.
Mendenhall represented Heather Nagel, the co-founder of the Heaven Can Wait animal shelter who was convicted of not properly caring for her animals, and Julio Pino, a retired Kent State University professor who was convicted of lying to federal investigators about a Facebook friend who had threatened violence.
During and after the COVID-19 pandemic, Mendenhall found a niche by representing people who disagreed with the response to the pandemic.
Tom Connors, one of the attorneys in Mendenhall’s office, said Mendenhall started small in this area but then amassed more cases on the state and national levels.
Mendenhall represented a group of Hudson parents who weren’t happy about their children being required to wear masks and employees at Akron Children’s Hospital who were fired after they refused to be vaccinated for COVID.
In 2023, Mendenhall founded Freedom Counsel, a group with a goal of fighting mandates, shutdowns, medical interference and other perceived attacks on rights because of the pandemic.
“There were donors, lawyers, activists, doctors, experts,” Connors said. “He loved talking to people. He had a way of reaching out and making people feel comfortable. He was good at bringing people together.”
George Johnson, a former city of Akron union leader who’s worked with Mendenhall since 2021, described him as a nice guy who was generous with his employees, friends and family. He said Mendenhall hardly ever got mad.
“He was tough when he needed to be,” Johnson said.
Mendenhall fights final battle against cancer
Mendenhall found out he had cancer in December ‒ and the prognosis wasn’t good.
Connors, though, said his colleague remained upbeat even through chemotherapy and experimental treatments that were difficult.
“He was always hopeful,” Connors said. “It was a good example of his character. He never really complained.”
Shortly before he died, Connors said, Mendenhall was still talking about things he wanted to do.
Connors said thinks people will remember Mendenhall for different reasons – his fights with City Hall, as a family man with a wife and three children, and as a friend, including in local adult soccer leagues where he played for many years. That’s where Connors first met him and was impressed with his swiftness and skill when he led their team to a victory over their arch-rival by scoring five goals.
Connors said one soccer friend recently recalled Mendenhall knocking him down but smiling while he did it.
Mendenhall’s law firm, which has offices in Akron and Boston, will continue without him, though the attorneys are still figuring out what the name will be. Thomas Mendenhall, Warner’s son, is considering getting a law degree and – possibly – one day joining his father’s firm, Connors said.
Along with his son, Thomas, Mendenhall also is survived by his wife, Kelly, their two daughters, Britney and Lilly, and two grandchildren. The family is planning a private ceremony to honor Mendenhall’s life.
“He fought bravely and loved deeply,” the family said in his obituary.
Those who were fond of Mendenhall, though, have found their own ways to remember him. Sommerville had talked to Mendenhall about taking him boating on Lake Erie, but they didn’t manage to do this before he died.
Sommerville planned to go boating on June 15 and to say a prayer for his rival-turned-friend who once visited him in the hospital and brought him a book on the mafia and a bottle of Jameson. He said he will toast Mendenhall with that same Jameson.
“That’s the way politics is supposed to be – you’re supposed to fight and argue but still have respect and move to the next issue,” Sommerville said, noting that he still didn’t always agree with Mendenhall’s political views. “Me and Warner got to that point.”
Stephanie Warsmith can be reached at swarsmith@thebeaconjournal.com or 330-996-3705.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: ‘Impactful legacy.’ Akron attorney remembered for fights big and small
Reporting by Stephanie Warsmith, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
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By Stephanie Warsmith, Akron Beacon Journal | USA TODAY Network
