Stephen M. Darlington
Steve joined Ziegler, Metzger & Miller in 1971 after spending 3 1/2 years as an agent with the FBI. He became a partner in 1971 and served as the Managing Partner from 1991-1995. He specializes in Creditor's Rights matters and represents commercial lending institutions in commercial workouts, including foreclosures and bankruptcy matters. He also represents over nine hundred creditor grantors or their agents in commercial and retail litigation related activities. He was selected as a Super Lawyer in Ohio by bis peers in 2007-2008.
Steve has served as president of the Cleveland Athletic Club, Chairman of the Society of Former FBI Agents, Cleveland Chapter, Deacon and Trustee of Bay Presbyterian Church, Director and legal counsel for the Cleveland Jaycees, and is a former member of Westwood Country Club where he belonged for 27 years. He also chaired the Moot Court Board at Case Western Reserve University.
During Steve's service as an FBI agent in Memphis, Tennessee, he worked on the Dr. Martin Luther King case and received a Letter of Commendation from Director J. Edgar Hoover for his investigative work on that case.
Steve and his wife, Barbara, have been married since 1967 and reside in Bay Village, Ohio. They have four children and seven grandchildren, all of whom reside in Denver, Colorado.
Areas of Practice
- 100% Commercial Litigation
Litigation Percentage
- 100% of Practice Devoted to Litigation
Certified Legal Specialties
- Creditors' Rights Specialist, American Board of Certification, 1999
Bar Admissions
- Ohio, 1967
- U.S. District Court Northern District of Ohio, 1971
Education
- Case Western Reserve University Law School, Cleveland, Ohio
- J.D. - 1967
- Honors: Chairman of the Moot Court Board
- Denison University, Granville, Ohio
- B.A. - 1964
- Major: Government
Representative Clients
- Huntington National Bank
- Dollar Bank
- Western Reserve Bank
- Delage Landen
References
- Huntington NATL Bank
- Dollar Bank
- Western Reserve Bank
- Receivables Management Services
Classes/Seminars
- Fair Credit Reporting Act, Ohio State Bar, 1999
Honors and Awards
- Super Lawyer 2007, 2007 - 2008
Professional Associations and Memberships
- Commercial Law League of America, 1985 - Present
- Cleveland Bar Association, 1971 - Present
- National Association of Retail Collection Attorney, 2003 - Present
- International Association Commercial Collectors, 1971 - Present
- American Bar Association
- Ohio State Bar Association
- Society Former FBI Agents, Cleveland Chapter, 1971 - Present
Past Employment Positions
- Federal Bureau Investigation, Special Agent, 1967 - 1970
Pro Bono Activities
- Tutor Luis Munoz Marin Grade & Middle School, 2008 - 2009
- Tutor Kentucky Elementary School, 2000 - 2006
Languages
- English
Fraternities/Sororities
- Delta Upsilon









