David John Betras
Areas Of Practice
- Personal Injury — Defense
- Personal Injury — Plaintiff
- Business Organizations
- Criminal Law
- Contracts
Certification Specialties
Criminal Trial Advocacy, National Board of Trial Advocacy, 1999
Court Admissions
- Pennsylvania
- Ohio
- U.S. District Court Northern District of Ohio
- U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit
- U.S. Supreme Court
Education
- Juris Doctor, Cum Laude. Honors: Order of the Curia. Capital University Law School, Columbus, Ohio,1985.
- Bachelor of Science, Cum Laude. Major: Applied Science. Youngstown State University, Youngstown, Ohio,1982
Classes/Seminars Taught
- Guest Lecturer, National and Statewide Seminars
- Former Professor, Youngstown State University
Honors & Awards
- American Jurisprudence Awards, Torts and Wills and Estates
- Super Lawyer, Personal Injury and Criminal Law
Professional Associations & Memberships
- Member, Mahoning County Bar Association
- Member, Trumbull County Bar Association
- Member, American Bar Association
- Member, Ohio Bar Association
- Member, Ohio Association for Justice
- Member, American Association for Justice
- Former President, Mahoning-Trumbull Counties Academy of Trial Lawyers
Past Employment Positions
- Founding Member, Betras & Dann, 1992
- Founding Partner, Betras, Maruca & Kopp, L.L.C., 1998
- Founding Partner, Betras, Kopp & Harshman, 1999
- Special Prosecutor, Mahoning County Fraud Probe
- Interim Director, Mahoning County Child Support Enforcement Agency
- Compliance Officer, Mahoning County Child Support Enforcement Agency
- Professor, Youngstown State University
- Member, Mahoning County Board of Elections
Attorney David John Betras
Managing Partner David Betras directs BK&M’s Criminal Law Practice Group and directs the firm’s non-litigation activities. Along with representing clients charged criminally in state and federal court his primary responsibilities include resolving clients’ personal injury and medical malpractice claims before a lawsuit is filed.
David graduated Cum Laude from Youngstown State University in 1982 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Applied Science. He attended law school at Capital University, where he was elected to the Order of the Curia. He graduated Cum Laude and earned a Juris Doctor degree in 1985. While in law school, David won American Jurisprudence Awards for demonstrating excellence in the subjects of Torts and Wills and Estates.
David began his legal career as an attorney with Betras & Betras in 1985. David was actively involved in case management, research and drafting opinions and orders. In 1992, David became a founding member of Betras & Dann. In 1999 he and his first cousin Brian Kopp founded Betras, Kopp & Harshman continuing a family tradition that began in 1929 when their Uncle Pete opened a small law office in downtown Youngstown. When David’s father Joe returned from serving in World War II, he used the GI Bill to go to law school and began practicing with his older brother. Following Mike Harshman’s decision to step away from the daily practice of law in 2021 Brian and David’s cousin Justin became a partner in the firm which is now known as Betras, Kopp, and Markota.
David’s reputation, integrity, and ability led to his appointment as the Special Prosecutor of a sweeping probe of corruption in Mahoning County. That investigation, which began in October of 1998, resulted in numerous convictions and government reforms.
Among many professional and civic honors he has received during his distinguished career, David’s peers in the legal community nominated him to receive the prestigious designation of “Super Lawyer” in the areas of personal injury and criminal law. After careful vetting by the Super Lawyer selection committee, he was named a “Super Lawyer” in 2018.
David is the host of Legally Speaking, which is broadcast on WKBN 570 Radio and Facebook Live each Thursday at 5:00 PM. He also appears on a Legally Speaking segment broadcast during the WFMJ Today newscast each Friday morning.
David and his spouse, Dr. Pamela Barkett, DDS, have three children, Rose, Joseph, who is currently serving in the U.S. Army, and Alexander.