Jerome A. Galante

A partner at Plunkett Cooney since 1986, Jerome A. Galante represents product manufacturers, suppliers, general contractors, construction managers, subcontractors, design professionals and owners both directly and through insurance carriers in personal injury and commercial contract litigation. 

Mr. Galante concentrates his practice in the areas of product liability and construction litigation and also represents a wide range of clients involved in many different types of complex, general litigation in both state and federal courts. Additionally, Mr. Galante serves as a mediator and arbitrator.

Representative Client Work

• National trial counsel for a leading woodchipper manufacturing company. Mr. Galante works closely with this client to assure its woodchipper product line exceeds every safety design standard and are the safest tree care products available. 
• National trial counsel for a national security and investigative services company.
• Tried over 100 cases to jury verdict.
• Defended a large general contractor in a suit for breach of contract and ethnic discrimination by electrical subcontractor involving claims in excess of $2,000,000; defended to jury verdict of no cause for action after six-week trial.
• Defended a bridge and road improvement contractor in a personal injury suit where a road worker lost both legs and numerous other injuries, including 65 surgeries; defended to jury verdict after five-week trial.
• Defended a Michigan township in binding arbitration involving claims by a general contractor for equitable adjustment exceeding $2,000,000.
• Defended a demolition contractor to jury verdict of no cause for action in a $1,500,000 property loss case.
• Defended to jury verdict of no cause for action six different personal injury construction cases for a local excavating and road-resurfacing contractor.

Notable Cases

• Woods v Bacharach Instrument Co., 89-CV-70405-DT (E.D. Mich.) [One plaintiff died and another suffered burns to 60 percent of his body. Claim for defective manufacture of a combustible gas/oxygen meter used to measure fumes inside a large paint tank.  No cause for action as to both plaintiffs. Case published in The National Law Journal as one of the top 10 defense verdicts in the country in 1992.]
  
• Rupersburg v Connelly Crane, et al C/A No. 02-045346 NO, consolidated with C/A No. 00-023553 NO (6^th Cir. 2004) [Construction accident involving a large crawler crane.  Electrician working at ground level hit by falling 22-pound guardrail, which fell from ninth floor of high-rise building.  Plaintiff awarded $8,200,000 against general contractor and sub-contractor. Mr. Galante’s client, Connelly Crane, received a no cause for action.

Professional Affiliations

• Oakland County Bar Association
• State Bar of Michigan (Litigation Section)
• American Bar Association (Litigation Section)  
• American Board of Trial Advocates
• Defense Research Institute
• International Association of Defense Counsel (Board of Directors, 2004-2007)
• International Association of Defense Counsel Foundation Board (President, 2001-2003)

Community Involvement

• Detroit College of Law Alumni Association
• Michigan State University Alumni Association
• Oakland County Young Lawyers Association (Chairperson, 1986-87; Member 1981-87)
• National Arbitration Forum, Arbitrator

Publications and Lectures  

• Contributing Editor, “Privacy Project” vols. I, II and III, IADC 2004-2007
• “Legal Issues and Strategies Every Contractor Should Know” Lecturer and Author, Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants, November 17, 2006
• “Accident Reconstruction Experts; Defense Use of Biomechanical and Human Factors Experts,” lecturer and author, Michigan Law Update seminar for Chicago based insurance claim representatives, 2003
• “The Professional as a Witness” (Architects, Engineers and Contractors), lecturer, International Association of Defense Counsel, La Quinta, CA (2001)
• “ Expert Discovery: What Is and Isn’t Protected by the Attorney Client Work Product Privilege,” lecturer and author, International Association of Defense Counsel, La Jolla, CA (1998)
• “Keeping the Lid on the Liability Case in Construction Disputes,” lecturer, Michigan Concrete Association (1994)
• “Defense Damage Experts - Helpful Hints for Preparing and Using Vocational Rehabilitation Specialists and Economists as Defense Experts in Personal Injury Claims,” lecturer, Michigan Defense Trial Counsel Annual Winter Meeting (1995)
• “Issues to Consider Before and After Agreeing to Alternative Dispute Resolution in Construction Cases,” lecturer and author, International Association of Defense Trial Counsel, Denver, Colorado (1994)
• “Practicing Law in a Large Law Firm,” lecturer, University of Detroit School of Law (1984)
• “Practicing Law in a Large Law Firm,” lecturer, Detroit College of Law (1982)

News

• Plunkett Cooney attorneys among Michigan ‘Super Lawyers’ 2011
• Plunkett Cooney attorneys among Michigan 'Super Lawyers' 2010
• Plunkett Cooney attorneys named Among ‘Best' in America' 2011
• Plunkett Cooney attorneys among ‘Best’ in America 2009
• Plunkett Cooney attorneys among Michigan ‘Super Lawyers’ 2009
• Plunkett Cooney attorneys named among ‘Best’ in America 2010
• Plunkett Cooney attorneys among Michigan 'Super Lawyers' 2008
• Plunkett Cooney attorneys among ‘Best’ in America 2008
• Plunkett Cooney Attorneys Named 2007 Michigan 'Super Lawyers'