Michele Lee McBride Simonelli

With more than two decades of experience practicing law in both the private and public sectors, Michele Simonelli has the knowledge necessary to handle highly personal client matters with honesty, discretion, and zealous advocacy. Her background as a Judicial Staff Attorney for the Ohio District Courts of Appeals for both the Eleventh and Seventh Districts as well as managing her private practice has provided her with unique experience and insight into the administration and practice of law in a broad scope of matters.

Michele’s experience includes researching, analyzing, and drafting judicial opinions for a three-judge panel in a variety of legal matters such as defamation, criminal menacing, and breach of contract disputes, which required her not only knowing the current law in these areas but where they may be headed. With the quickly changing laws and judgments addressing internet defamation, the ability to pivot quickly and cautiously anticipate future trends has been an invaluable skill. In her private practice, Michele has ten years of experience handling highly sensitive and emotionally charged matters including online defamation, revenge porn, highly contested divorces, custody matters as well as LGBTQIA issues.

Michele handles each client matter with careful skill and experience without judgment. She understands that her clients come to her during what may be a highly sensitive moment in their lives. Her background in psychology and counseling help her to effectively communicate with clients as well as with those whose harmful conduct has caused her clients emotional distress, financial burden, and issues with job and family relationships. In addition to practicing law, Michele teaches courses on First Amendment and Privacy Law at Kent State University.

Michele’s outside interests include cycling, kayaking, hiking and urban exploring.

Civic Involvement

League of Women Voters of Greater Youngstown, President

The Legal Creative, Board of Directors

Henry H. Stambaugh Auditorium, Board of Directors

Youngstown Film Festival, Founder & President

Kent State Poynter Media Symposium, Coordinator

Presentations

NPR: All Things Considered: “Man sues 27 women in an “are we dating the same guy” Facebook group”

facebook-group

• Unauthorized Use of Name or Likeness: Can I Sue if Someone Uses My Name?, Minc Law (Dec. 29,

2022),

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• Landmark Supreme Court Decisions on Privacy and Free Speech, Grey House Publishing,

Contributing author

• Landmark Supreme Court Decisions on Privacy and LGBTQ Issues, Grey House Publishing,

Contributing author

• A Scammer is Threatening to Post Pictures of Me: What Should I Do (Mar 2024)

• How to Stop Blackmail Online (Mar 2024)

• When Can You Sue For Defamation of Character? (Dec 2023)

• What to Do If You Are the Target of Twitch Defamation (Sept 2023)

• How to Get Your Personal Information Off the Internet (May 2023)

• How to Spot Fake Sugar Baby Scams (March 2023)

• Unauthorized Use of Name or Likeness: Can I Sue if Someone Uses My Name? (Dec 2022)

Publications

Landmark Supreme Court Decisions on Privacy and Free Speech, Grey House Publishing, Contributing author

Landmark Supreme Court Decisions on Privacy and LGBTQ Issues, Grey House Publishing, Contributing author

Bar Admissions

Ohio

Education

Notre Dame College (B.A. in Psychology)

Cleveland Marshall College of Law (J.D.)

Editor, Cleveland State Law Review
Awarded Outstanding Student in the Law of Evidence