Robert C. Gallo

Attorney At Law – Certified Mediator

Arbitration – General Law – Active Listening

Accomplished attorney, judge and mediator with more than 25 years of judicial experience, 15+ years of direct legal practice, and a pre-practice background in the steel, real estate, and finance industries.  Expertise in wide range of general law areas, including personal injury, product liability, construction, medical/professional malpractice, estate and probate, real estate, commercial, and criminal law.  Trustworthy, reliable mediator with superb people handling and active listening skills, as well as the ability to manage conflict and arbitrate disagreements.  Thrives in environments that involve direct interaction with people.

Key Skills

judicial Experience

Judge

Allegheny Court of Common Pleas – Civil Division & Criminal Division

Pittsburgh, PA

During a distinguished judicial career, heard, mediated and adjudicated a wide variety of criminal and civil cases ranging from personal injury, complex commercial matters, and medical malpractice to simple assault and homicide.

• Presided over criminal cases ranging from simple assault to homicide.
• Presided over, settled, and conciliated more than 2,000 civil cases (personal injury and product liability, medical malpractice, professional malpractice, partnerships, businesses, not to compete agreements, commercial construction and real estate).
• Most noteworthy cases include:

-          A $7M verdict in the case of a malfunctioning fire truck, where a defective part broke and jammed the transmission, which rendered the truck incapable of shifting gears as it careened down a hill, ultimately killing one person, permanently disabling another, and seriously injuring five others.

-          A $9M verdict with an additional $5M in delay damages on behalf of the victim of a prescription error, in which the pharmacist supplied a prescription drug that was similar to rat poison.

Legal & Related Experience

Adjunct Professor

Community College of Allegheny County, PA                                                                   

Taught Employee Benefits, Civil and Criminal Procedure, and Business Law.  Classes averaged 30 to 40 students.

Partner

Gallo & Weiner, Pittsburgh PA                                                                                               

As part of a two-attorney general law practice, handled cases involving estate and trust planning and administration, as well as commercial, employment, and probate law.  Argued cases before the Superior Court of Commonwealth of PA and the Commonwealth Court

• Appointments during this period included the following:

-          Solicitor for the Clerk of Courts, Allegheny County

-          Solicitor for the Allegheny County Sanitary Authority (ALCOSAN)

-          Solicitor for Hampton Township

• Tried, and won, six landmark wrongful termination/employee rights cases:

-          Sundo v. Kmart – verdict for plaintiff for wrongful discharge

-          Cashdollar v. Mercy Hospital – verdict in plaintiff’s favor for breach of implied contract

-          Blondi et al. v. USX – award to plaintiffs in reverse sexual discrimination case

-          Underwood v. Kmart – verdict for plaintiff for wrongful discharge

-          Kwiatek v. AT&T Technologies – verdict for plaintiff

-          Banas v. Matthew International – verdict in favor of plaintiff in landmark case involving employee handbook and defamation in the workplace

Early Career Experience includes service as Coordinator, Allegheny County Bureau of Community Development and Northern Regional Director of the Allegheny County Office of Economic Opportunity.

Certifications

Certified Civil Mediator (Active) – Alternative Group/Behrend

Mediation Services

Certified Judge for Land Use Cases – The National Judicial College

Honors and Awards

Proclamation for 26 Years of Dedicated Service and Judicial Excellence – Allegheny County

Proclamation Establishing Honorable Robert Charles Gallo Day – City of Pittsburgh

Legal Professional of the Year and Inductee – National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame

Man of the Year – Allegheny County Boroughs Association

Affiliations

Allegheny County Bar Association

Past Chairman, Allegheny County League of Municipalities

Past Chairman, Allegheny County Boroughs Association

Past Chairman, Municipal Risk Management

Court Admissions

U.S. Supreme Court

U.S. Court of Appeal for Third Circuit

U.S. District Court, Western Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Supreme Court 

Community Leadership & Involvement

Active Member – Sierra Club

Active Member – Knights of Columbus

Past Legal Advisor – Madonna of Jerusalem Catholic Church

Past Mentor of Sixth-Grade Students – Pittsburgh Public Schools

Past National Representative – Italian Sons and Daughters of America

Past Councilman – Borough of Sharpsburg