Mike Passella is a member of the Litigation Department. Mike focuses his practice on public and private construction law, commercial litigation and real estate law. He represents owners, architects, engineers, construction managers, general contractors, subcontractors, suppliers and sureties in a wide variety of construction-related disputes, including litigation, arbitration, mediation, and contract negotiations. Mike also counsels owners, lenders, landlords and tenants in foreclosure, receivership, and general litigation issues arising in commercial construction and real estate matters. He also has extensive experience in insurance coverage litigation on behalf of construction industry and other policyholder clients. Mike currently serves as the Chair of the Central Ohio Builders Exchange Law Group, and is a regular presenter at construction law seminars. Memberships & Affiliations · Federal Bar Association · American Bar Association, Forum on the Construction Industry · Ohio State Bar Association · Columbus Bar Association; Barrister Leader Program, 2003; Barrister Leader Program Planning Committee, 2004 · Judicial Conference of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, Life Member · Builders Exchange of Central Ohio; Chair, Law Group, 2008 - Present; Rising Leaders Institute, Class of 2007 · The Wellness Community, Young Professionals Group · Worthington A.M. Rotary · Worthington Community for Schools, Treasurer Distinctions · Selected for the Ohio Rising Stars® List Experience Subcontractor Defense
Masonry Contractor
Successfully defended our client in complex construction litigation arising from the construction of a large hotel in downtown Columbus. Subcontractor Defense
Concrete Contractor
Prevailed on a claim against a construction project owner on behalf of our client, an out-of-state concrete contractor. The project owner failed to pay our client the balance due under its contract, alleging numerous defects with our client's work. Project Manager Representation
Project Management and Construction Company
Defense of suit alleging breach of oral contract and promissory estoppel Subcontractor Representation
Voice and Cabling Contractor
Private and public construction disputes Subcontractor Representation
National Roofing Contractor
Obtained TRO and permanent injunction with respect to false information about client being circulated to client's customers by a competitor Subcontractor Representation
Structural Steel Fabricator
Commercial foreclosure action Design-Build Contractor Representation
Local General Contractor
Represented general contractor wrongfully terminated from design-build contract for nursing home Commercial / Real Estate Litigation
Large Public Company
Representation of a large public company in commercial and real estate litigation Administrative Proceedings
Fire Suppression Contractor
Represented a fire suppression contractor in appealing the denial of a certificate of compliance with the Equal Employment Opportunity Division of the Ohio Department of Administrative Services. Prime Contractor Representation
Industrial Contractor
Arbitration of dispute involving public water treatment plant construction project Prime Contractor Representation
General Contractor
Defense of suit alleging breach of contract, fraud and slander Mechanics' Liens
Multiple Clients
Mechanics' liens and general construction contract issues Publications May 11, 2011, Ohio's Budget, As Recently Passed By The House, Contains Key Changes To Public Construction October 26, 2010, Ohio Supreme Court Update: Preparing Mechanic's Liens on Behalf of Others Without Supervision of an Attorney is Unauthorized Practice of Law March 2, 2010, Ohio Supreme Court Enforces Prevailing-Wage Penalties December 28, 2009, Multi-Prime Contracting and Public Construction in Ohio: A Thing of the Past? May 21, 2009, Contractors and Subcontractors BEWARE: Ohio Court Rejects Perceived "Bid Shopping" Presentations September 19, 2011, Construction Defect Litigation: From A to Z - The Building Blocks of Defect Liability and Standards of Care," National Business Institute (NBI) June 10, 2010, "What Every Contractor Needs to Know in Order to Maximize Recovery," Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc. September 2, 2009, "Construction Defect Litigation: From A to Z - The Building Blocks of Defect Liability and Standards of Care," National Business Institute (NBI) February 27, 2009, "New ConsensusDOCS Construction Contract Documents," PESI - Cincinnati, Ohio February 27, 2009, "Design-Build: Contract and Insurance Considerations," PESI - Cincinnati, Ohio February 25, 2009, "Design-Build: Contract and Insurance Considerations," PESI - Cleveland, Ohio February 25, 2009, "New ConsensusDOCS Construction Contract Documents," PESI - Cleveland, Ohio March 17, 2008, "Making Construction Laws Simple," National Business Institute July 26, 2007, "Resolving Problems and Disputes on Construction Projects," National Business Institute March 20, 2007, "Construction Scheduling: Protecting the Bottom Line," National Business Institute March 1, 2007, "Ohio Construction Law for Architects, Engineers and Contractors," Half Moon, LLC |