Wife of Berlin Industries founder files suit against attorneys, firm

YOUNGSTOWN -- The wife of the deceased founder of Berlin Industries, a company which produces the popular Zim's Crack Creme skin remedy, has filed a malpractice lawsuit against two local attorneys and the law firm they represent.
Deborah Roth of Berlin Center filed suit Friday in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court against McLaughlin and McNally of Youngstown and attorneys Richard P. McLaughlin and Robert J. Herberger Jr.
The lawsuit claims a succession plan the attorneys prepared before the December 2002 death of her husband, Robert Roth, has deprived her of input on company decisions, forces her to pay taxes at an inflated rate and reduced by at least half the proceeds she will receive from the sale of the company.
The lawsuit asks for $50,000 in compensatory damages, court costs and unspecified punitive damages.
Herberger declined to comment Friday, saying he had not seen the lawsuit. Atty. McLaughlin could not be reached.