Molly Johnson
Molly’s primary practice is civil litigation with an emphasis in oil and gas a real estate matters. She has argued in this capacity in the Ohio Supreme Court numerous times. Molly frequently litigates in Mahoning, Columbiana, Carroll, Jefferson, Belmont, Monroe, Harrison and Guernsey Counties. She also handles appeals in the Fourth, Fifth, Seventh and Eleventh Districts. Molly has set important case law in the foregoing appellate districts. Among these accomplishments is a landmark case in the Fourth District in favor of landowners whose oil and gas leases contained minimum royalty clauses. Sims v. Anderson, 2015-Ohio-2727. Additionally, she achieved a landmark ruling on behalf of disabled individuals as against the City of Youngstown’s Zoning Code. Bianco v. City of Youngstown, 2020 Ohio 3584 (Ohio Ct. App. 2020). Molly also set important case law in the Seventh District and Supreme Court of Ohio relating to contractual indemnification agreements. Wildcat Drilling, L.L.C. v. Discovery Oil & Gas, L.L.C., 2018-Ohio-4015. Recently, Molly has defended numerous landowners against the threat of eminent domain proceedings.
Molly also commits a fair amount of her practice to transactional contract drafting. She represents landowners in negotiating oil and gas leases and drafting necessary protections therein. She represents landowners who are under the threat of eminent domain for oil, gas and natural gas liquid pipelines. She negotiates and drafts well pad agreements and water sale agreements on behalf of landowners.
Molly has served as an adjunct professor for the University of Akron School of Law and is an assistant coach of Youngstown State University’s Moot Court program. Molly serves in a mentorship capacity for three local high schools and the University of Akron School of Law. She also serves on the board of Trustees of the YMCA of Youngstown, bringing with her a passion for teaching inner city students to swim. She is a frequent blood donor through the American Red Cross.
In 2018, Molly was elected to the Mahoning County Court, and has since presided over thousands of civil, criminal and traffic cases. She is the youngest judge in Ohio to have been appointed to two Ohio Supreme Court Commissions. She proudly serves on the Commission on Professionalism and Commission on Language Services.
Education
- University of Akron School of Law
- Denison University
Languages
English (fluent), Spanish (fluent)
