Michael Leonard Fortney

As an attorney, maintains areas of expertise in construction law, employment and labor law, litigation, business disputes and ADR.  Has successfully litigated and served as an arbitrator and mediator in cases involving construction disputes, commercial business disputes, and employment disputes.  

Construction experience includes the representation of owners, general contractors and subcontractors and serving as a neutral in disputes involving competitive bidding, contract formation, unforseen and differing site conditions, scope of work disputes, changed or extra work disputes, quality of work issues, timeliness of completion, delay, acceleration, liquidated damage claims, completion of work, mechanic’s lien claims, and non-payment issues. 

Employment experience includes representation of parties or service as a neutral in disputes under age discrimination, race discrimination, sex harassment, disability discrimination, cases brought under state civil rights statutes, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the ADEA, the ADA, the NLRA, cases alleging wrongful discharge, cases seeking the enforcement of non-competition agreements, small business ownership issues, and disputes between shareholders in closely held corporations.

Extensive experience in alternate dispute resolution.  Member of the ADR Federal Court Panel for the Northern District of Ohio (1996 to present); Member of the panel of arbitrators for the American Arbitration Association,  serving as an employment (1996 to present) and construction and commercial arbitrator (1995 to present).  Member and former Chair of the Construction Advisory Council of the AAA (term ending in 2007).  Member of the panel of arbitrators for the NASD and National Arbitration Forum (2000 to present).  Has been an arbitrator and mediator for many employment, construction and business disputes and has been an advocate in numerous ADR proceedings.  Served as Arbitration Panel Chair for several large and complex cases.

Frequent lecturer on issues relating to construction law, ADR, and employment law.  

When not practicing law, I enjoy bicycle touring, skiing, farming and other outdoor activities.