Michael H. Galex
Of Counsel – Miami
Michael H. Galex is approaching 30 years’ experience as a trial and appellate general practitioner throughout Florida’s state and federal court system. Before joining Fields Howell, Michael was a partner at his previous firm for thirteen years. He brings to Fields Howell an extensive background in first-party property and third-party insurance coverage and liability matters.
Throughout his career, Michael has achieved many favorable outcomes and opinions for his clients. He handles dependency, criminal and civil cases and appeals across the state of Florida, including property, products liability, commercial general liability, commercial litigation, and more. Michael has been acknowledged by his peers, having earned an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell®.
Michael also has experience relating to matters of arts and antiques, such as disputes arising from appraisals and titles. In his article My View: Getting What You Bargain For: A Buyer’s Guide to Purchasing Art, he points out some of the important legal considerations in an art transaction.
Prior to joining private practice, Michael worked as an Assistant State Attorney with the Miami-Dade County State Attorney’s Office. In this role he investigated and prosecuted thousands of criminal trial and appellate matters while representing the State of Florida in a wide variety of cases ranging from minor traffic violations to serious felony offenses requiring life imprisonment.
Michael earned his Juris Doctor in 1995 with honors from Chicago-Kent College of Law after completing undergraduate studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Education
- Chicago-Kent College of Law/Illinois Institute of Technology, J.D., 1995
- Graduated with honors
- University of Wisconsin – Madison, B.S., 1991
Presentations and Publications
“Developments in Unfair Methods of Competition and Unfair/Deceptive Acts and Practices” Walton Lantaff et al. Liability Seminar (2019)
“Your Money AND Your Life – Avoiding bad faith with above-policy-limit demands” Walton Lantaff et al. Liability Seminar (2019)
Recent Developments in Florida Law – Negligence, Intentional Acts, Evidence and Jury Instructions, Walton Lantaff et al. Liability Seminar (2016)
Through the Looking Glass: Spoliation of Evidence and How Alice Came to Litigation, F.C.C.I., Sarasota, Fl. (November 1, 2016)
My View: Getting What You Bargain For: A Buyer’s Guide to Purchasing Art, Miami Herald (2015)
Reverse Bad Faith Claims, Twitter Chat (August 5, 2015)
Ethical Claims Negotiations, Walmart, Bentonville, Ar. (May 13, 2015)
Insurance Industry Regulation and Ethics, Walton Lantaff et al. Liability Seminar (2014-15)
Public Adjuster Liens in First-Party Insurance Litigation, Walton Lantaff et al. Liability Seminar (2014-15)
Advertising Regulation in the Insurance Industry, Belfor Property Restoration Seminar/Heritage Insurance Company (September 2014)
Insurance Fraud in Liability and Workers Compensation Cases, Walton Lantaff et al. Liability Seminar (2013-14)
Public Adjuster Liens, Walton Lantaff et al. Liability Seminar (2013)
Insurance Fraud Prosecutions: Ethical Implications & Mechanics, Walton Lantaff et al. Liability Seminar (2012)
Bad Faith & Property Claims, Walton Lantaff et al. Liability Seminar (2011)
Tips for Handling Property Claims, Walton Lantaff et al. Liability Seminar (2009)
Affirmative Defenses, Walton Lantaff et al. Liability Seminar (2007)
Admissions
State Bars
State Bar of Florida
Supreme Court
United States Supreme Court
Appellate Court
U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit
District Courts
United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida
United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida
United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida
Memberships
Volunteer attorney, Cannonball Miami Legallink Program, since 2013
Criminal conflict counsel, 11th Judicial Circuit, Miami, Fl., since 1999
State-certified lecturer for C.E.U. credits to insurance industry affiliates, since 2005
Past member, Legal Committee, W.I.N.D., 2011-13
Past member, Florida Bar Quality of Life and Career Committee, 2000-01
UCMS LLC d/b/a Universal Contracting of Florida v. Service Insurance Co., 2D19-4907, dism. on appeal (Fla. 2d Dist. Ct. App. 2020).
Duarte v. Ortiz, 271 So. 3d 104 (Fla. 3d Dist. Ct. App. 2019)
Wilson-Greene v. Miami, 208 So. 3d 1271 (Fla. 3d Dist. Ct. App. 2017)
State Farm Fla. Ins. Co. v. Hernandez, 172 So. 3d 473 (Fla. 3d Dist. Ct. App. 2015)
Bruce v. Sentinel Property Mgt., LLC, 53 So. 3d 1230 (Fla. 4th Dist. Ct. App. 2011), rev. dism.,65 So. 3d 515 (Fla. 2011)
S.S. v. Florida Dept. of Child & Fam. Servs.,976 So. 2d 31 (Fla. 3d Dist. Ct. App. 2008)
Collazo v. Hinkley, 837 So. 2d 984 (Fla. 3d Dist. Ct. App. 2003)
Cash v. Airport Mini-Storage, 814 So. 2d 1049 (Fla. 3d Dist. Ct. App. 2002)
Cash v. Airport Mini-Storage, 782 So. 2d 983 (Fla. 3d Dist. Ct. App. 2001)
Residential Prop. & Cas. Joint Underwriting Ass’n v. Boyce,779 So. 2d 667 (Fla. 3d Dist. Ct. App. 2001)