Amy Papuga
Amy Papuga has built her career around standing up for victims of negligence.
She is a leader in the firm’s trucking litigation, personal injury, and workers’ compensation litigation practice and a passionate advocate for Plevin & Gallucci clients.
Recognized as one of Ohio’s most knowledgeable and experienced attorneys in commercial motor vehicle litigation, Amy brings a combination of courtroom skill and real-world expertise few lawyers in the country can match. Before becoming an attorney, she spent more than 15 years in the legal field, developing the foundation that would later fuel a successful trial practice. She has represented numerous individuals and families throughout Ohio whose lives have been forever altered by serious and fatal truck crashes.
When a commercial truck causes a devastating crash, the difference between an ordinary attorney and the right attorney can be measured in lives changed, families protected, and justice achieved. negligent truck drivers and holding trucking companies and commercial drivers accountable when safety rules are ignored.
What truly sets Amy apart is her first-hand understanding of the trucking industry. She holds a Class A Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) with endorsements for tankers, doubles, and triples, and has taught safe driving practices to professional truck drivers at a local truck driving school. Unlike most attorneys who study trucking regulations from a desk, Amy has experienced the practical realities of operating commercial vehicles herself.
That unique perspective allows her to quickly identify driver error, regulatory violations, and unsafe company practices. Whether investigating driver fatigue, hours-of-service violations, cargo issues, vehicle maintenance failures, or training deficiencies, Amy understands both the legal and operational side of trucking. Her ability to view a collision through the eyes of a professional truck driver provides critical insight into how a crash occurred, why it happened, and what should have been done to prevent it.
Amy earned her Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and her Master of Science in Criminal Justice from the University of Cincinnati. She later received an academic scholarship to the Cleveland State University College of Law, where she graduated cum laude with her Juris Doctor.
Amy is licensed to practice in Ohio and the District of Columbia and has earned recognition from both her peers and the legal community. Amy has been selected as an Ohio Super Lawyers® Rising Star from 2023 through 2026 and was named to the National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40 in 2024. She is a sought-after speaker who presents at legal conferences and educational programs focused on advocacy and trucking litigation.
Amy is an active member of numerous professional organizations, including the American Bar Association, Ohio State Bar Association, and Lorain County Bar Association.
Away from the courtroom, Amy enjoys training her Belgian Malinois, working in her garden, and spending time at local short-track racing events.
