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Professional Statement:

Michael Bonasso concentrates his civil litigation practice in the areas of products liability and commercial litigation. He has extensive experience in defending American, Japanese and German manufacturers of automobiles, as well as industrial equipment, agricultural machinery, recreational equipment, and consumer and commercial tools and equipment. In the area of products liability, he has represented numerous industrial equipment manufacturers in mass/class product defect cases.

Mr. Bonasso also focuses his practice on litigation and legal counsel for clients in the areas of commercial, contract, and business law. He has handled numerous commercial litigation matters involving coal royalties, oil and gas supply contracts, business interruption claims, business interference claims, equipment leasing claims, among others.

He has served as the Managing Member of Flaherty, Sensabaugh & Bonasso, P.L.L.C., since the inception of the firm in 1991. He has overseen and managed the Firm's growth from six lawyers to over forty lawyers in three offices across the State of West Virginia. Additionally, he serves as Chairman of FSB's Product Liability Section.

Practice Concentrations:

• Automotive Products Liability
• General Products Liability
• Commercial Litigation
• Commercial and Business Counsel
• Chairman of Firm's Products Liability Group

Education:

• J.D. West Virginia University College of Law (1978)
  Order of the Coif
• B.S. West Virginia University College of Business and Economics
  Business Administration - (Accounting) (1975)
  Magna Cum Laude
  Outstanding Business School Graduate (1975)

Court Admissions:

• United States Supreme Court
• West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals
• United States Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals
• United States District Court for Southern District of West Virginia
• United States District Court for Northern District of West Virginia

Professional Involvement:

• Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel (FDCC)
• Committees
• Corporate Counsel Symposium - Vice-Chairman
• Law Firm Management Conference - Vice-Chairman
• Substantive Law Sections
• Product Liability Section
• Commercial Litigation Section
• Product Liability Advisory Council (PLAC)
• Defense Trial Counsel of West Virginia (DTCWV)
• President (1997-1998)
• Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer (1994-1997)
• Board of Governors - two terms (1989-1994)
• Substantive Law Sections
• Product Liability Section
• Commercial Litigation Section
• Defense Research Institute (DRI)
• Eastern Mineral Law Foundation (EMLF)

Community Involvement:

• Civil Justice Committee of DTCWV (2002-2006)
• Commission on the Future of the Judiciary in West Virginia (1997-1998)
• Appointed by Chief Justice of West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals
• Charleston, West Virginia Police Civil Service Commission (1981-1984)
• Soccer Coach in Kanawha Valley
• Middle Schools and recreational leagues

Awards & Honors:

• Listed, The Best Lawyers in America, 2003 - Present
• Listed, West Virginia Super Lawyers, 2007 - Present
• Martindale-Hubbell Peer-Review Rated AV®
• Distinguished Service Award - DTCWV

Representative Legal Work and Trial Experience:

• Obtained defense verdict for U.S. automobile manufacturer in federal court trial alleging handling and stability defect and resultant permanent insanity of plaintiff
• Obtained dismissal of multiple fire claims against automobile manufacturer arising out of alleged defects in electrical system
• Obtained defense verdict for U.S. automobile manufacturer in trial alleging defect in mini-van rollover case
• Obtained dismissal based on federal preemption in case for automobile manufacturer alleging defective vehicle restraint system
• Obtained dismissal of claims against automobile manufacturer arising out of alleged defect in axle on sports utility vehicle
• Represented manufacturer of large electrical motors in business interruption claim involving operation of steel rolling mill
• Favorably settled claim against manufacturer of German industrial machine alleging defect in silica-bagging machine
• Obtained numerous dismissals and favorable settlements for manufacturer of sports utility vehicles in cases alleging defects in handling and stability, glass, roof and tires
• Successfully managed and resolved national litigation for manufacturer of engine components both in claims by end-user customers and claims against sub-component supplier
• Represented Japanese sports utility vehicle manufacturer in defense of claim alleging failure of airbag to deploy
• Obtained dismissal of Japanese motorcycle manufacturer in defense of warning claim involving minor operators
• Obtained dismissals of hearing loss mass litigation against manufacturer of heavy construction equipment
• Obtained favorable settlement for corporate plaintiff, after three weeks of trial, in coal royalty contract dispute
• Obtained favorable settlement for oil and gas producer in claim arising out of natural gas supply contract
• Represented manufacturer of large trucks in defense of claim alleging defective fire suppression system on mine construction site
• Obtained favorable settlement for Japanese tractor manufacturer in wrongful death case involving brakes and lever design
• Represented German manufacturer of long-wall coal mining machine in defense of wrongful death case alleging defective design of conveyor system
• Successful trial result for mining equipment manufacturer in business interruption case involving alleged defective electrical and mechanical systems
• Favorably settled numerous claims and suits involving injuries on amusement park rides
• Favorably settled hundreds of hearing loss lawsuits against major railroad
• Obtained defense verdicts in multiple railroad crossing, premises liability and automobile consumer warranty cases

Reported Cases:

Teresa Estep v. Ford Motor Company, 2008 WL 5194570 (W.Va.)
Arroyo v. Ford Motor Co., 59 Fed.Appx. 524 (4th Cir. (W.Va.) 2003)
Beatty v. Ford Motor Co., 212 W.Va. 471, 574 S.E.2d 803 (W.Va. 2002)
Hawkins v. Ford Motor Co., 211 W.Va. 487, 566 S.E.2d 624 (W.Va. 2002)
Moser v. Ford Motor Co., 28 Fed.Appx. 168 (4th Cir. (W. Va.) 2001)
In re Hearing Losses I, 208 W.Va. 169, 539 S.E.2d 112 (W.Va. 2000)
Gamblin v. Ford Motor Co., 204 W.Va. 419, 513 S.E.2d 467 (W.Va. 1998)
Helmick v. Jones, 192 W.Va. 317, 452 S.E.2d 408 (W.Va. 1994)
Riffe v. Magushi, 859 F.Supp. 220 (S.D.W.Va. 1994)
Taylor v. Ford Motor Co., 185 W.Va. 518, 408 S.E.2d 270 (W.Va. 1991)
Farley v. Meadows, 185 W.Va. 48, 404 S.E.2d 537 (W.Va. 1991)
Melbourne Bros. Const. Co. v. Pioneer Co., 181 W.Va. 816, 384 S.E.2d 857 (W.Va. 1989)
Transamerica Ins. Co. v. Arbogast, 662 F.Supp. 164 (N.D.W.Va. 1987)
Crane & Equipment Rental Co., Inc. v. Park Corp., 177 W.Va. 65, 350 S.E.2d 692 (W.Va. 1986)
Burks v. Wymer, 172 W.Va. 478, 307 S.E.2d 647 (W.Va. 1983)
State ex rel. Yanero v. Fox, 163 W.Va. 222, 256 S.E.2d 751 (W.Va. 1979)

Slip Opinions/Unpublished Cases:

Bailey v. Ford Motor Co., Slip Copy, 2006 WL 3456698 (S.D.W.Va. 2006)
Johnson v. Ford Motor Co., 2005 WL 2353469 (S.D.W.Va., 2005)
Dravo Basic Materials Co., Inc. v. Cherry-Stone & Const., 47 F.3d 1164, 1995 WL 56698 (4th Cir. (W.Va.) 1995)
Miller v. Pacific Employers Ins. Co., 875 F.2d 315, 1989 WL 54022 (4th Cir. (W.Va.) 1989)
Transamerica Ins. Co. v. Arbogast, 835 F.2d 875, 1987 WL 24397 (4th Cir. (W.Va.) 1987)

Lecturing and Presentations:

Mike has participated in numerous seminars and presentations to state and national lawyer groups on issues related to law firm economics and law firm management, as well as seminars on pretrial and trial tactics and strategies.

Other Legal Experience:

• 1978-1991 - Kay, Casto & Chaney