Overview
Michael represents corporate clients in a wide variety of complex litigation matters, including employment, trade secrets, product liability, premises liability, contract disputes, and real estate. In addition, Michael has been repeatedly trusted and appointed as a Receiver by Courts in various jurisdictions to protect and secure a variety of business and other assets.
Michael also has extensive first chair trial and appellate experience before state and federal courts throughout Ohio. Clients turn to Michael for his innovative and effective skills managing corporate and commercial litigation matters.
Michael is active in the local legal community, contributing as an Executive Committee Member and Master Bencher in the John M. Manos Inn of Court and a Life Member of the Judicial Conference of the Eighth District. Michael has also served on the Supreme Court of Ohio’s Commission on the Rules of Practice & Procedure and was the Chairman of The Supreme Court of Ohio’s Commission on the Rules of Evidence. Michael was also elected to Rocky River City Council for ten years from June 2012 to 2021.
Representative Experience
- Appointed by multiple courts to act as a Receiver for various types of organizations and properties including a large-scale mixed use property located in downtown Cleveland and a suburban property consisting of three commercial buildings including a shopping mall with a vast array of tenants.
- Represented local manufacturer against worldwide recycling conglomerate for breach of non-disclosure agreement and trade secret violations.
- Represents long term nursing care facility in insurance coverage action against the carrier for various employment and whistleblower-related claims.
- Served as national discovery counsel for international appliance manufacturer involving product-liability claims.
- Represented plaintiff in jury trial relating to plaintiff’s membership interest in company and related valuation issues.
- Represented national title insurance company on wide variety of claims ranging from civil forfeiture actions by the United States government to lawsuits involving allegations of errors and/or omissions on the title search resulting in claims being made pursuant to the title insurance policy.
- Defended organization in wrongful death action.
- Represented national title insurance company in case of first impression holding that additional property taxes levied against real property by the Board of Tax Appeals after the date of closing were not a lien on the property at closing.
- Defended manufacturing client against claims alleged by the United States EPA before an Administrative Law Judge.
- Represented holder of Right of First Refusal in declaratory judgment action by property owner.
Education & Admissions
Education
- Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, D., summa cum laude, 2004
- John Carroll University, B.S.B.A., Finance, 2001
Bar and Court Admissions
- State of Ohio
- Ohio Supreme Court
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
Involvement
Professional Affiliations
-
- Federal Bar Association, Member
- Ohio State Bar Association, Member
- Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association (CMBA), Member
- Supreme Court of Ohio Commission on the Rules of Practice and Procedure, Former Member
- John M. Manos Inn of Court, Master Bencher
- The Judicial Conference of the Eighth District, Life Member
- Republican Party of Cuyahoga County, Legal Counsel
Community Involvement
- Blue Coats (2024 – Present)
Catholic Lawyers Guild for the Diocese of Cleveland, President (2023 and 2024) - Rocky River City Council, Councilperson (2012 – 2022)
Awards & Honors
- Named to Ohio Super Lawyers Rising Stars (2014-2018)
Representative Experience
- Appointed by multiple courts to act as a Receiver for various types of organizations and properties including a large-scale mixed use property located in downtown Cleveland and a suburban property consisting of three commercial buildings including a shopping mall with a vast array of tenants.
- Represented local manufacturer against worldwide recycling conglomerate for breach of non-disclosure agreement and trade secret violations.
- Represents long term nursing care facility in insurance coverage action against the carrier for various employment and whistleblower-related claims.
- Served as national discovery counsel for international appliance manufacturer involving product-liability claims.
- Represented plaintiff in jury trial relating to plaintiff’s membership interest in company and related valuation issues.
- Represented national title insurance company on wide variety of claims ranging from civil forfeiture actions by the United States government to lawsuits involving allegations of errors and/or omissions on the title search resulting in claims being made pursuant to the title insurance policy.
- Defended organization in wrongful death action.
- Represented national title insurance company in case of first impression holding that additional property taxes levied against real property by the Board of Tax Appeals after the date of closing were not a lien on the property at closing.
- Defended manufacturing client against claims alleged by the United States EPA before an Administrative Law Judge.
- Represented holder of Right of First Refusal in declaratory judgment action by property owner.
Education & Admissions
Education
- Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, D., summa cum laude, 2004
- John Carroll University, B.S.B.A., Finance, 2001
Bar and Court Admissions
- State of Ohio
- Ohio Supreme Court
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
Involvement
Professional Affiliations
-
- Federal Bar Association, Member
- Ohio State Bar Association, Member
- Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association (CMBA), Member
- Supreme Court of Ohio Commission on the Rules of Practice and Procedure, Former Member
- John M. Manos Inn of Court, Master Bencher
- The Judicial Conference of the Eighth District, Life Member
- Republican Party of Cuyahoga County, Legal Counsel
Community Involvement
- Blue Coats (2024 – Present)
Catholic Lawyers Guild for the Diocese of Cleveland, President (2023 and 2024) - Rocky River City Council, Councilperson (2012 – 2022)
Awards & Honors
- Named to Ohio Super Lawyers Rising Stars (2014-2018)