Shelley, Michael
SHELLEY, Michael
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MICHAEL SHELLEY 500 South Pointe Drive, Suite 140
Miami Beach Florida 33139
305-898-8244 (office)
Michael@ShelleyLawFirm.com
www.ShelleyLawFirm.com
MEMBERSHIPS
The Florida Bar (#999016) U.S. Northern District Florida
U.S. Northern Dist. Illinois (pro hac) U.S. Middle District Florida
U.S. Eastern Dist. New York (pro hac) U.S. Southern District of Florida
U.S. Northern Dist. Ohio (pro hac) 11th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals
State of North Carolina (pro hac) State of Ohio (pro hac)
Martindale-Hubbell AV Rated (since 2012) Florida Trend Legal Elite (2014)
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE (Since admission to Florida Bar)
The Shelley Law Firm, LLC Miami Beach, Florida 2014-now
I am an AV-rated trial and appellate lawyer
representing commercial transportation companies for
comprehensive transactional, regulatory, labor and
employment, and insurance issues. A sizeable section of
this practice includes representing commercial
transportation companies and other contractors with the
federal government, in tort and contract claims in both
state and federal courts, and before federal
departments and agencies. Another significant element
of my practice is representing lawyers and other
professionals in the defense of malpractice claims. I
frequently publish and lecture through various
professional associations about the issues and trends
involved in my practice areas.
Klein Glasser Park Lowe & Miami, Florida 2009-2014
Pelstring, P.L. I was a partner of this multi-office Florida law firm
(formerly known as Stephens Lynn Klein) where I was I
represented lawyers, physicians, accountants, and other
professionals in the defense of malpractice claims. I
also defended corporations, including commercial
transportation companies and contractors with the
federal government, against tort and contract claims in
both state and federal courts.
Alvarez Sambol Winthrop & Miami, Florida 2006-2009
Madson, P.A. I was the managing attorney of the South Florida office
of a statewide law firm representing commercial
transportation, construction, health-care and insurance
companies in litigation (especially catastrophic loss
claims from inception through trial). I helped open this
office from one lawyer and temporary staff person into
a full-service office with five lawyers and 10 staff
employees.
The David Singer Law Firm Miami, Florida 2005-2006
I represented Plaintiffs in medical negligence, nursing
home abuse, extra-contractual, products liability, and all
other tort-based actions.
Wicker Smith, P.A. Miami, Florida 2001-2005
I represented hospitals and physicians in defense of
medical negligence cases from inception through trial. I
also represented insurers in complex coverage analyses
in construction litigation and represented governments
and corporations in labor and civil rights litigation.
Butler Burnette & Pappas, P.A. Tallahassee, Florida 1998-2001
I helped open the North Florida office of this statewide
insurance defense firm, and defended complex liability
cases for insurers and corporations including: class
actions, mass torts, medical negligence, construction,
labor, civil rights, bad-faith and extra-contractual
actions. I also investigated and prosecuted insurance
fraud, and prosecuted and defended complex
subrogation cases.
Barrett Hoffman & Hall, P.A. Tallahassee, Florida 1994-1998
I represented hundreds of clients in actions based on
medical negligence, bad-faith, extra-contractual,
products liability, environmental tort, employment
discrimination, and automobile negligence.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE (Prior to admission to Florida Bar)
Slepin & Slepin, P.A. Tallahassee, Florida 1991-1994
I drafted briefs in appeals to Florida Supreme Court and
District Courts of Appeal in administrative, medical
negligence, and workers compensation actions.
The Miami Herald Miami, Florida 1987-1991
I reported and edited professional, collegiate and high
school athletics, including the Miami Dolphins, Miami
Heat, FIU and the University of Miami.
EDUCATION
Florida State University Tallahassee, Florida
Juris Doctorate, May 1993
Honors: Book Awards: Complex Litigation / Advanced Civil
Procedure, Spring of 1993; Advanced Criminal
Procedure, Fall of 1992
Oxford University Oxford, England
St. Edmund Hall, Summer 1992
Florida International University Miami, Florida
B.S., Journalism and Communications, May 1990
Honors: Outstanding Graduate
Sigma Delta Chi (Journalism) Scholarship
Faculty Scholar
Extra-Curricular: Advisor to President Modesto Maidique (1986-1988)
Advisor to VP of Biscayne Bay campus (1988-1990)
Senator, College of Arts & Sciences, Stud. Govt. Assoc.
Chairperson, Student Union Board of Governors
Resident Assistant, Biscayne Bay campus residence hall
Sports and News Editor, The Sunblazer
Men’s Tennis Team
TRIAL EXPERIENCE / ADR
First chaired 18 trials, second chaired six trials. All trials involved complex medical, liability, and/
or insurance issues in state or federal courts. Successfully litigated to conclusion, either through
trial, arbitration, or mediation dozens of multi-million dollar cases involving catastrophic injuries,
and hundreds of others.
Since 2016, I have been certified by the Florida Supreme Court as Circuit-Court Civil Mediator.
REPORTED DECISIONS
Atlantic Marine Florida, LLC. v. Evanston Ins. Co., 2015 WL 12839134
(M.D. Fla. Nov. 24, 2015)
Hilliard v. Akal Security, Inc., 2014 WL 12599825 (N.D. Ohio Oct. 21, 2014)
Rodriguez v. Akal Security, Inc., 534 Fed.Appx. 921 (11th Cir. 2013)
Offen v. Intercontinental Hotels, 141 So.3d 571 (Fla. 3d DCA 2013),
2012 WL 12893732 (Miami-Dade Cir. Ct. June 12, 2012)
Francis v. Silva, 2013 WL 1334549 (S.D.Fla., Mar. 29, 2013)
Rodriguez v. Akal Security, Inc., 2013 WL 435947 (S.D.Fla. Feb. 4, 2013)
Suarez v. Benihana, 88 So.3d 349 (Fla. 3d DCA 2012)
Delgado v. Prudential Ins. Co. of America, 2012 WL 668147
(S.D.Fla., Feb. 29, 2012)
Denis v. Commerce Ins. Co., 2010 WL 374769 (S.D.Fla. Feb. 3, 2010)
Wilson v. DollarThrifty, 286 Fed.Appx. 640 (11th Cir. 2008)
Ibarra v. Izaguirre, 985 So.2d 1117 (Fla. 3d DCA 2008)
Am. Surety & Casualty v. Lake Jackson Pizza, 788 So.2d 1096 (Fla. 2001)
Morrison v. Allstate Indemnity Co., 228 F.3d 1255 (11th Cir. 2000)
Carnesi v. Ferry Pass United Methodist Church, 770 So. 2d 1286
(Fla. 1st DCA 2000)
Peznell v. Doolan, 722 So. 2d 881 (Fla. 2d DCA 1998)
PUBLICATIONS / PRESENTATIONS
Without Caps, Will Medical Malpractice Daily Business Review, May 23, 2014,
Claims Rise? Board of Contributors
Insurance of Last Resort? Can a Florida Defense Lawyers Association, Trial Advocate
Carrier Sue Its Assigned Defense Quarterly, Winter 2014
Counsel When a Case Settles Above
Policy Limits?
Geometric Anomalies in the Tri-Partite Florida Liability Claims Conference, Orlando, 06/13
Relationship
Jury Verdicts Daily Business Review: Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm
Beach, July 26, 2012
Gaining the Best Settlement in NBI Seminar, Miami, 07/08
Automobile Injury Cases
Commercial Premises: New Legislation PCCP Claims Conference, Orlando, 11/06
to Help Protect Your Business
Jury Verdicts Daily Business Review: Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm
Beach, March 6, 2006
Unfair Settlement Practices Mealey’s Litigation Report, Insurance Bad Faith, 12/00
Ethics for Special Investigations Mealey’s Litigation Report, Insurance Bad Faith, 09/00;
Awareness (SIU magazine), Summer 2000
Insurance Fraud Lorman Educational Systems, 12/00
Fraudulent PIP Claims DIF-SIU Annual Conference, 06/00
Diminution of Property Value Lorman Educational Systems, 09/99
Comparison of Injury Law, FL & GA Florida Association of Paralegals, 11/97
Collateral Sources Florida Association of Paralegals, 05/97
REFERENCES
Available upon request
Michael Shelley
The Shelley Law Firm LLC
500 South Pointe Drive, Suite 140
Miami Beach, FL 33139
Office: 305-898-8244
Mobile: 305-798-5522
Michael@ShelleyLawFirm.com
www.ShelleyLawFirm.com
December 20, 2018
VIA EMAIL: RafaelGranado@miamibeachfl.gov
Rafael E. Granado
City of Miami Beach
Office of the City Clerk
1700 Convention Center Drive, First Floor
Miami Beach, Florida 33139
RE: Application for City Commission Group IV vacancy
Dear Mr. Granado:
Please accept this as my application for the vacancy for the City Commission, Group
IV. I have enclosed the Application, Oath, my current CV, and a photograph.
I also want to take this opportunity to further explain to you, and to all who will
consider my application, my desire and my qualifications to serve on the City Commission.
The City of Miami Beach is the home of my past, my present, and my future.
My grandparents lived in Miami Beach before World War II and they raised my
mother in their home on Flamingo Drive. They were committed to the future of this city and
donated to the construction of Mount Sinai Medical Center. Their names, Harold Michael and
Betty Shelley, are on a plaque in the lobby as one of the many charter life members of Mount
Sinai. Later, I would be born at that hospital. The wealth they once enjoyed evaporated over
the years, and I began working at age 14, and I have not stopped since.
One of my goals in life was to attain a level of personal and professional success that
would honor my family name. And I believe in that I have succeeded. As a lawyer, I am “AV”
rated by Martindale-Hubbell, which means I have been recognized by my peers and the
judiciary as being preeminent in legal abilities and ethical standards. I have assisted
individuals throughout my almost 25-year legal career, from obtaining fair compensation for
misfortune caused to clients by the selfish or negligent acts of others to protecting clients’
hard-earned assets from fraudulent claims. I am a product of public education, from
elementary school through graduate school, and having spent my entire life in Florida, I
embrace the diversity that is unique to our community and our state.
Rafael E. Granado
December 20, 2018
Page 2
After living in Miami Beach for a number of years, my wife, Cori, and I purchased our
dream home on La Gorce Drive in 2016 as we intend to keep Miami Beach our home for the
rest of our lives. Together, we have raised our son Alex, who will graduate in 2020 from
Florida State University. He, also, is interested in public service, and worked this summer on
Mayor Levine’s gubernatorial campaign. Our home is the biggest investment we have ever
made, and clearly we believe in the future of Miami Beach.
The City has had great leadership in the past, from preserving its rich architectural
history to investing in the infrastructure needed to keep it a top global destination. As
someone who lives and works in Miami Beach, I see where we need to continue honoring
our past while building toward the future. To me, public safety is the paramount
responsibility of City government. I commend our police department for always acting
promptly and professionally to my calls for assistance in the past. I believe that regardless of
the zip code or the price of a home, each and every resident and visitor should feel safe and
secure, whether inside their residence or walking on the sidewalk, at daytime and at
nighttime. So, ensuring our law enforcement agencies are not lacking for any resources, and
that streets are safe and well-lighted, is fundamental. Our government must protect from
environmental threats, also, and in that regard the City has taken the right step in building
pumping stations and reinforcing sea walls. But, additional steps must be taken to ensure the
City’s resilience to hurricanes, such as putting critical utility lines underground. I remember
vividly last year the Herculean efforts of the line workers in restoring power throughout our
City after Irma, but I also thought that we must find a way to make us less vulnerable to the
destructive power of these storms, which will come again and again.
The responsibility of City government is great, and I believe that our best leaders are
also our most invested leaders. Those who live in this City, work in this City, and have raised,
or are raising, their families in this City. These positions should not be sought out by persons
seeking gainful employment, or a pension, or other securities. These positions should be
sought by persons who wish to volunteer their time, their experience, and their expertise to
enriching the City, not themselves. I do not profess to know everything. In fact, I am quite
humble in my knowledge and pride myself on learning as much about an issue as I possibly
can before formulating any deep opinions. I believe keeping an open mind is critical in any
position of responsibility, whether it be parenting, lawyering, or serving in government. As I
stated in my application, I believe foremost in due process and equal protection under the
law. To me, these principles are my North Star. So, if I am afforded the privilege of serving on
the Commission, I will always ensure that all individuals are fairly recognized and
represented. This City has great wealth and great opportunities for those who seek wealth,
and the City Commission must continue to be a forum where people from all walks of life
know that they can be, and are, treated fairly and equally.
Rafael E. Granado
December 20, 2018
Page 3
I appreciate the opportunity to submit my candidacy for this position and welcome
any questions you may have for me.
Sincerely,
Michael Shelley
MICHAEL SHELLEY
MS/bks
Enclosures