Profile
Robert S. Galbo concentrates his practice on class actions, as well as a wide range of complex commercial and real estate litigation matters in federal and state courts. Mr. Galbo has broad experience in representing clients in putative class action lawsuits involving an array of consumer and commercial products across various industries. He has litigated class action claims relating to breach of warranties, deceptive and unfair trade practices, negligence, and alleged product failures.
Mr. Galbo has deep experience representing commercial and residential developers and landlords in disputes involving, among other things, purchase and sale agreements, rescission, leasing, and disputes with tenants. Mr. Galbo also represents clients in a wide array of complex disputes involving commercial transactions, breaches of contract, business torts, and fraud.
Robert also provides defense counsel and consulting in claims brought under disability rights laws including Titles II and III of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Fair Housing Act and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. He has consulted on a multitude of projects regarding the ADA, FHA, and similar state and local laws, rules and codes. In addition, Robert provides defense counsel and consulting in matters involving auxiliary aids and services such as website accessibility, sign language interpreting and captioning.
Concentrations
- Class action litigation
- Commercial and business litigation
- Real estate and construction litigation
- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) counsel and defense litigation
- Fair Housing Act (FHA) counsel and defense litigation
Capabilities
Experience
- Defended a financial institution in the Southern District of Florida against a putative nationwide class action alleging RICO and other statutory violations by obtaining dismissal with prejudice after two rounds of motion to dismiss briefing.
- Represented food manufacturer in a series of putative class actions alleging false labeling. Prevailed on summary judgment in several actions and defeated class certification in others.
- Represented HVAC manufacturer in a putative nationwide class action alleging the subject hearing product is unreasonably dangerous, unfit for its intended use, and not compliant with applicable safety standards. Prevailed on Motion to Dismiss.
- Defeated a motion to certify class in Florida federal court and obtained dismissals in California, Georgia and Arizona on behalf of an HVAC manufacturer in a series of putative class actions alleging product defects and asserting warranty breaches and violation of consumer protection laws including FDUTPA.
- Representing water heater component manufacturer in putative class action lawsuit alleging various defective product claims and violations of consumer protection statutes.
- Representing contact lens retailer in putative class action lawsuit brought under the Lanham Act alleging deceptive pricing and hidden fees.
- Representing residential developer in dispute relating to buyer’s failure to close on penthouse unit.
- Representing condominium developer in dispute with neighboring parcel owner relating to use of boat basin that divides the properties.
- Represented condominium developer in litigation relating to the sole remaining condominium unit that developer did not previously own. Prevailed on Motion Practice which allowed developer to close eight figure transaction.
- Represented residential developer in dispute with condominium board relating to commercial parcel. Case settled.
- Represented commercial developer in dispute involving sellers’ alleged breach of purchase and sale agreement relating to hotel transaction. Prevailed on liability on summary judgment. Awarded damages and attorneys fees at trial.
- Representing landlord in dispute relating to former tenant alleging that landlord’s development of property caused closure of tenant’s business.
- Represented landlord in dispute with former commercial tenant involving the condition the former commercial tenant left the property. Obtained settlement.
- Second chaired Bench Trial premised on alleged violations of the ADA.
- Represented Fortune 50 retailer in first of its kind lawsuit alleging its self-service checkout machines failed to comply with the ADA. Prevailed on Summary Judgment.
- Provided defense counsel, litigation support, and other related consulting services to clients in more than 500 Title II and III of the ADA lawsuits including hospitals, hotels, restaurants, retail stores, shopping centers, office buildings, and municipalities.
- Representing municipality in putative class action alleging the sidewalks throughout the municipality fail to comply with the ADA.
- Consulted on multiple multi-family residential projects, time shares and condo-hotels on Fair Housing Act Accessibility.
- Defended arenas and stadiums, theaters, amphitheaters and other performing arts venues from claims they violate Title III of the ADA and similar state and local laws in judicial and administrative forums.
- Attained a “Letter of Understanding” finding no violation of the ADA for a Broadway theater in U.S. Attorney investigation.
- Defended clients from ADA compliance reviews and investigations brought by the Department of Justice (D.C.) and by US Attorney’s Offices in S.D.FL., S.D.NY., E.D.LA., N.D.GA., E.D.VA.
- Defended multifamily housing developers and owners from numerous administrative complaints before HUD (in several regions).
- Defended large investment banks, major department stores and numerous other retailers, health care providers, fashion designers, watch manufactures, multifamily housing providers, real estate developers and sellers, and others against claims brought against them alleging violations of Title III of the ADA for the alleged inaccessibility of their websites and mobile apps.
- Representing multiple school boards involving allegations relating to the payment of referendum funds to charter schools
- Representing multiple investors alleging investments wrongfully withheld in a foreign exchange currency fraud.
- Represented hospital in jury trial on negligence claim seeking seven figures in damages. Full defense verdict.
- Represented a public company and its private equity investor in a high exposure securities fraud case in Orlando brought by a European investor stemming from a private placement and involving alleged misrepresentations related to restatements of past financial statements.
- Representing numerous entities in litigation involving allegations of breaches of fiduciary duties involving nine figures in trust assets.
Recognition & Leadership
- Listed, The Best Lawyers in America, "Ones to Watch," Commercial Litigation, 2024
- Listed, Super Lawyers magazine, Florida Super Lawyers, "Rising Stars," 2021-2023
- Team Member, a Law360 “Product Liability Practice Group of the Year,” 2021
- Graduate, Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Miami Class 41
- Board Member, Habitat for Humanity Young Professionals
- Board Member, Multiple Sclerosis Society Young Professionals
- Member, American Bar Association
- Member, Dade County Bar Association Young Lawyers Division
Credentials
Education
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J.D., University of Chicago Law School, 2013
- Member, Hinton Moot Court, 2011-2012
- Recipient, Clinton Family and Douglas G. Baird Scholarship
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B.A., cum laude, University of Florida, 2010
- Full Academic Scholarship
Admissions
- Florida
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida
- U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
- U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit