Mike Galasso joined Robbins, Kelly, Patterson & Tucker in 1999 and became a partner in 2005. He is a member of the firm’s litigation practice group and his practice is devoted almost exclusively to litigation. Mike has tried numerous cases to verdict including bench trials, jury trials, arbitrations, appeals, contested bankruptcy matters, and adversary proceedings.
Admitted to practice in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana, Mike’s practice extends to a wide range of civil litigation matters such as business and contract disputes, real estate disputes, land use and zoning, employment litigation, non-compete agreements, trade secret claims, franchise litigation, consumer claims, and creditor’s rights. His creditor’s rights practice regularly involves representing banks, credit unions, loan servicers, private equity, and other financial institutions in foreclosures, bankruptcies, receiverships, loan workouts, Article 9 sales, surrender and deed in lieu transactions, and related default matters. Mike also represents outdoor advertising clients in land use, zoning, permit, appropriation, and contract matters. He has significant experience in personal injury matters representing both plaintiffs and defendants.
Mike is currently representing multiple financial institutions in commercial foreclosures, receiverships, and bankruptcies involving distressed multi-family, office, and mixed use properties and has successfully concluded hundreds of cases involving the judicial sale of real estate. Mike has defended multiple class action claims and litigated cases in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, Georgia, Florida, Texas, and New Jersey.
Mike is a member of The Million Dollar Advocates Forum in which membership is limited to attorneys who have won million and multi-million dollar verdicts, awards, and settlements. He has made several presentations to professional organizations relating to foreclosure, real estate, and outdoor advertising issues.
Mike was named an Ohio Super Lawyer in 2022, 2023, and 2024 based on peer recognition and professional achievement.
Prior to law school, Mike was a police officer in Knoxville, Tennessee. During college, Mike was a military police officer in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve serving on active duty in Operation Desert Storm in Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Kuwait.
Honors
Ohio Super Lawyers, 2022 - 2024
Professional Associations
Ohio Bar Association
Cincinnati Bar Association
Kentucky Bar Association
Indiana State Bar Association
Indiana Trial Lawyers Association
American Bankruptcy Institute
Outdoor Advertising Association of America
Independent Billboard Operators
Tri State League of Financial Institutions
Representative Matters
Represented outdoor advertising company in appeal reversing trial court’s issuance of summary judgment in First Amendment case.
Obtained summary judgment in favor of outdoor advertising company challenging local government sign ordinance.
Obtained bench trial judgment in favor of outdoor advertising company in property dispute which was affirmed on appeal.
Obtained jury verdict in favor of minority shareholder in dispute with majority shareholder.
Obtained a preliminary injunction in favor of technology company prohibiting duplicative litigation and compelling arbitration which was upheld on appeal.
Represented outdoor advertising company in appeal by municipality of denial of immunity.
Represented an outdoor advertising company in a successful challenge to municipal tax and permitting fees ordinances which was affirmed by the Supreme Court of Ohio.
Represented outdoor advertising companies in successfully challenging regulations promulgated by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet for outdoor advertising devices.
Represented outdoor advertising company in challenge to the revocation of zoning permits by municipality.
Obtained a judgment after bench trial awarding our client a prescriptive easement over disputed real estate.
Represented financial institution in connection with multiple cases stemming from a $59,000,000 check kiting scheme.
Obtained summary judgment in favor of a bank where borrower fraudulently transferred collateral to a successor business entity.
Obtained a favorable jury verdict in the representation of a construction restoration company in a contract/mechanic’s lien dispute.
Successfully represented a client in opposing certification of a nuisance class action which was upheld on appeal.
Represented a financial institution in defending consumer class action which was settled with the withdrawal of the motion for class certification.
In representing a mortgage broker, obtained summary judgment on eight of ten claims, then obtained a bench trial judgment on the remaining claims which was later upheld on appeal.
Obtained summary judgment in representing an automobile dealership in consumer claims.
Successfully defended a financial institution in claims asserted by a corporate customer relating to a deposit account; the outcome was subsequently upheld on appeal.
Successfully defended an automobile warranty company in claims brought by a consumer under a warranty.
Obtained a judgment in favor of an outdoor advertising company in an administrative appeal which reversed the denial of a sign permit by a local zoning authority.
Obtained a bench trial judgment in favor of an employer in a wrongful discharge claim.
Obtained summary judgment in favor of an employer against claim of age discrimination.
Successfully defended a nonprofit organization against claims of gender discrimination.
Obtained a temporary restraining order and injunction in favor of an employer against a former employee arising from a non-compete agreement and trade secret claim.
Obtained summary judgment for an employer in an employee claim under the Family Medical Leave Act.
Lead counsel for the plaintiff in a personal injury claim in which the jury awarded in excess of $1,100,000 where the last defense settlement offer was $60,000.
Co-counsel to plaintiffs in a product liability claim where the jury awarded over $4,000,000 in punitive damages and the court awarded attorney’s fees and costs exceeding $2,000,000.
Negotiated settlement on behalf of a hotel in a premises liability claim.
Obtained a defense judgment for a transportation company in a personal injury claim in Indiana.
Represented stallion managers in Australia and Kentucky in claims brought by fractional owners of a thoroughbred racing stallion.
Represented franchisor in claims brought by a franchisee in arbitration.
Represented a financial institution in claims relating to underwriting of commercial loans.
Represented financial institutions in class action claims made under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Represented a commercial lender in connection with automobile floor plan financing.
Represented the majority owners of a limited liability company in a claim for breach of fiduciary duties and an accounting.
Represented a minority shareholder of a corporation in a breach of fiduciary claim against the majority owners.
Represented a marketing company in obtaining dismissal of claims made under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act.
Represented multiple owners of commercial properties in challenging real estate tax valuations.
Represented a commercial mortgage holder in a disputed receivership involving a 500,000 square foot mixed use office/hotel/retail property and connected bankruptcy proceedings.
Represented seller of commercial property in dispute relating to right of first refusal.
Represented seller of commercial property in dispute arising from sale agreement.
Represented a court-appointed receiver appointed at the request of a municipality to abate a nuisance at a 100 unit multi-family property.
Represented a court-appointed receiver appointed to reverse fraudulent transfers and effectuate judicial sales of multi-family real estate properties.
Represented a court-appointed receiver in an action seeking to reverse the judicial sale and distribution of proceeds from the sale of multi-family property.
Represented outdoor advertising companies in connection with multiple eminent domain proceedings initiated by state department of transportation.
Represented an outdoor advertising company in commercial lease dispute.
Represented a condominium unit owners association challenging the attempted sale of property in Colorado by a Chapter 7 bankruptcy trustee.
Represented a creditor in obtaining dismissal of a Chapter 11 bankruptcy case.
Represented a creditor in obtaining dismissal of a Chapter 13 bankruptcy case.
Represented a creditor in obtaining denial of bankruptcy discharges sought by two debtors in Chapter 7 cases based upon fraud and pre-petition misconduct.
Represented a creditor in a Chapter 13 case challenging dischargeability of debt.
Represented a creditor in obtaining conversion of a Chapter 13 case to Chapter 7.
Obtained summary judgment in favor a mechanic’s lien claimant in action by bankruptcy plan administrator which sought to reclassify claims from secured to unsecured and to determine liens as subordinate to first mortgage.
Represented a creditor in successfully challenging fraudulent transfer of assets by the borrower and claims for successor liability against the transferee.
Represented the assignee in an assignment for the benefit of creditors involving over $25 million in assets.
Represented purchaser of assets in Section 363 Bankruptcy Code sale.
Represented lessors in the assumption and sale of multiple leases in bankruptcy.
Represented tenants in common as commercial real estate investors in successfully challenging claim of secured lender over pre-default property income on appeal.
Represented lender in foreclosure and receivership of franchised restaurant.
Represented lender in foreclosure and receivership of pet hotel.
Represented secured creditor in receivership sale of industrial properties.
Areas of Practice
Civil Litigation
Commercial Litigation
Consumer Law
Creditor’s Rights
Bankruptcy
Foreclosure, Receivership, and Assignment for the Benefit of Creditors
Employment Law
Franchise Litigation
Land Use and Zoning Litigation
Real Estate Litigation
Personal Injury
Vaccine Injury Claims
Bar Admissions
Ohio, 2000
Kentucky, 2001
Indiana, 2002
U.S. District Court Southern District of Ohio, 2001
U.S. District Court Northern District of Ohio, 2001
U.S. District Court Eastern District of Kentucky, 2001
U.S. District Court Western District of Kentucky, 2001
U.S. District Court Northern District of Indiana, 2002
U.S. District Court Southern District of Indiana, 2002
U.S. Court of Appeals Sixth Circuit, 2002
U.S. Court of Appeals Seventh Circuit, 2003
U.S. District Court Western District of Michigan, 2004
U.S. Supreme Court, 2004
U.S. Tax Court, 2005
U.S. District Court District of Colorado, 2016
U.S. Court of Appeals Federal Circuit, 2017
U.S. Court of Appeals Tenth Circuit, 2017
U.S. Court of Appeals Federal Circuit, 2017
U.S. Federal Court of Claims, 2017
U.S. District Court Eastern District of Missouri, 2020
U.S. District Court Southern District of Texas, 2023
U.S. District Court Central District of Illinois, 2025
U.S. District Court Northern District of Illinois, 2025
Education
Northern Kentucky University, Salmon P. Chase College of Law, J.D., cum laude, 2000 Northern Kentucky Law Review, Member, 1998 - 1999;General Editor, 1999 - 2000
Eastern Kentucky University, B.A., Political Science, 1996
Norton Outdoor Advertising, Inc. v. Village of St. Bernard, 2025 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 53768 (S.D. Ohio) (First Amendment).
FBB IP, LLC v. Big Boy Rest. Grp., LLC, 2025 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 41605 (S.D. Ohio) (trademark infringement temporary restraining order).
Norton Outdoor Advertising, Inc. v. Village of St. Bernard, 2024-Ohio-5286 (1st Dist.) (zoning appeal).
In re Village Gate, LLC, 2024 Bankr. LEXIS 2176, (Bankr. S.D. Ohio) (Chapter 11 bad faith dismissal).
In re Village Gate, LLC, 2024 Bankr. LEXIS 1099 (Bankr. S.D. Ohio) (Chapter 11 Subchapter V eligibility).
Norton Outdoor Advertising, Inc. v. Village of St. Bernard, 99 F.4th 840 (6th Cir.) (First Amendment).
Mundy v. Centrome, Inc., 2024-Ohio-1001 (12th Dist.) (sanctions).
In re Murray Energy, 2024 Bankr. LEXIS 452 (Bankr. S.D. Ohio) (reconsideration of claims reclassification).
North Side Bank and Trust Co. v. Trinity Aviation, LLC, 2024-Ohio-590 (1st Dist.) (breach of contract).
Platinum Real Estate Holdings, Inc. v. Slabakis, 2024-Ohio-537 (1st Dist.) (satisfaction of judgment).
GigSmart, Inc. v. AxleHire, Inc., 2023-Ohio-3807 (1st Dist.) (arbitration, forum selection clause, anti-suit injunction).
In re Murray Energy, 654 B.R. 136 (Bankr. S.D. Ohio 2023) (objection to mechanic’s lien).
In re Murray Energy, 654 B.R. 110 (Bankr. S.D. Ohio 2023) (reconsideration).
In re Murray Energy, 654 B.R. 279 (Bankr. S.D. Ohio 2023) (objection to mechanic’s lien).
Summit Locations v. Board of Trustees, Sheffield Twp., Oh., 2023 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 166173 (N.D. Ohio) (challenge to local zoning ordinance).
Norton Outdoor Advertising v. Village of St. Bernard, 2023 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 12579 (S.D. Ohio) (First Amendment).
Mundy v. Centrome, Inc., 2023-Ohio-1321 (12th Dist.) (sanctions).
Cincinnati Development III, LLC v. Cincinnati Terrace Plaza, LLC, 2023 U.S. App. LEXIS 6132 (6th Cir.) (contract dispute).
In re Murray Energy Holdings Co., 2022 Bankr. LEXIS 2897 (Bankr. S.D. Ohio) (lien priority and claim classification dispute).
H. H. Franchising Sys., Inc. v. CareSmart Solutions, Inc., 2022 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 167798 (S.D. Ohio) (preliminary injunction on covenant of noncompetition).
In re Murray Energy Holdings Co., 638 B.R. 588 (Bankr. S.D. Ohio 2022) (dispute as to the scope and extent of mortgage as to subsurface estate).
Norton Outdoor Advertising, Inc. v. Village of St. Bernard, Oh., 2022 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 108120 (S.D. Ohio) (constitutionality of municipal ordinance).
Foreclosure, Receivership, and Assignment for the Benefit of Creditors
Employment Law
Franchise Litigation
Land Use and Zoning Litigation
Real Estate Litigation
Personal Injury
Vaccine Injury Claims
Bar Admissions
Ohio, 2000
Kentucky, 2001
Indiana, 2002
U.S. District Court Southern District of Ohio, 2001
U.S. District Court Northern District of Ohio, 2001
U.S. District Court Eastern District of Kentucky, 2001
U.S. District Court Western District of Kentucky, 2001
U.S. District Court Northern District of Indiana, 2002
U.S. District Court Southern District of Indiana, 2002
U.S. Court of Appeals Sixth Circuit, 2002
U.S. Court of Appeals Seventh Circuit, 2003
U.S. District Court Western District of Michigan, 2004
U.S. Supreme Court, 2004
U.S. Tax Court, 2005
U.S. District Court District of Colorado, 2016
U.S. Court of Appeals Federal Circuit, 2017
U.S. Court of Appeals Tenth Circuit, 2017
U.S. Court of Appeals Federal Circuit, 2017
U.S. Federal Court of Claims, 2017
U.S. District Court Eastern District of Missouri, 2020
Education
Northern Kentucky University, Salmon P. Chase College of Law, J.D., cum laude, 2000 Northern Kentucky Law Review, Member, 1998 - 1999; General Editor, 1999 - 2000
Eastern Kentucky University, B.A., Political Science, 1996
