Linda A. Michler, Esquire

Professional Dispute Resolution, LLC

Professional Experience

Since 1997, owner of Law Offices of Linda A. Michler ( ), and owner of Professional Dispute Resolution, LLC. ( ) From July 1991 to September 1997, served as Assistant District Counsel, and Special Assistant United States Attorney with the US Small Business Administration. Former Instructor for Robert Morris University and other colleges in Western PA. Licensed as an attorney in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and New York. Admitted to Practice in all Pennsylvania, North Carolina and New York Courts, US District Courts for Western, Middle and Eastern Districts of Pennsylvania, US District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, and US Supreme Court.

Professional affiliations include American Bar Association, PA Bar Association, NY State Bar Association, Mortgage Bankers Association, American Bankruptcy Institute, Association of Attorney Mediators, FINRA Mediator and Arbitrator, State of NC Dispute Resolution Certified Mediator for the Superior Court, International Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution Panel of Neutrals, MWI Franchise Panel, Better Business Bureau arbitrator, US Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of PA Mediation Panel Member.

Prior to forming Law Offices of Linda A. Michler, served as Special Assistant US Attorney and Assistant District Counsel for the US Small Business Administration.Attended Duquesne University School of Law evening program while working as a legal assistant for a large law firm whose focus was on healthcare.

Primary Practice Areas

ADR, Mediation, Arbitration, Early Neutral Evaluation, Business, Government and Employment Contracts, Mortgages, Real Estate, Title, and Construction Law, Bankruptcy, Creditor Rights - Predatory Lending Defense, and Personal Property, Franchise Law, Insurance, General Counsel Services.

Dispute Resolution Experience and Training

Over 25 years’ experience on ADR matters, serving as an arbitrator, mediator, and early neutral evaluator. Extensive training and speaking engagements in both ADR and primary practice areas.

Selected Honors, Awards, Publications, and/or Professional and Civic Associations

  • International Institute for Conflict Prevention & Resolution - Panel of Distinguished Neutrals (2013), Member Arbitration Committee, Mediation Committee, Banking and Finance Committee
  • MWI Franchise ADR Panel (2013)
  • ABA Dispute Resolution Section Newsletter , I Knew You Were Trouble – Real Estate and ADR (July 2013)
  • ABA Dispute Resolution, Women in Dispute Resolution, Government Liaison and Regional Co-Chair
  • United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania – Mediation Panel Member (1998 to present), Special Advisor to the Mediation Rules Subcommittee (1998)
  • US District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania – Mediator and Arbitrator (2006 to present)
  • State of North Carolina Dispute Resolution Commission – Certified Mediator (2010 to present)
  • Special Assistant US Attorney, Assistant District Counsel, Pittsburgh Office, US Small Business Administration (1991-1997)
  • Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA, formerly NASD) – Mediator and Arbitrator (1999 to present)
  • Better Business Bureau – Mediator and Arbitrator (1998 to present)
  • Federal Bar Association’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Section – Vice President (2006-2007), Western PA Chapter – Vice President (2006-2007)
  • National Arbitration Forum – Mediator and Arbitrator (2005-2007)
  • Financial Women’s International – President of Western Pennsylvania Chapter (2000 to 2001), Secretary of Western Pennsylvania Chapter (1998 to 1999)
  • Southwinds Incorporated – Board Member, Chair of the Budget and Finance Committee (1998 to 2008)
  • Family Services of Western Pennsylvania – Board of Trustees Member (2000 to 2006)
  • Pittsburgh Legal Journal – Editorial Board Committee (1997 to 2000)

Education

B.S. University of Pittsburgh, 1977; J.D., Duquesne University School of Law; 1988

Reported Decisions

  • Bantumv. Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, et al, 2012 US Dist. LEXIS 102477, 2:2011-cv-04431 (E.D. Pa. 2012)
  • Ocasiov.Ocwen Loan Servicing LLC, 2009 US Dist LEXIS 20260, 2:2007-cv-05410 (E.D. Pa. 2009)
  • Wainwright v. Bank of America, 2010 US Dist LEXIS 99100, 3:2010-cv-1637 (M.D. Pa. 2010)
  • White v. JP Morgan Chase Bank NA, 2011 US Dist LEXIS 81924(M.D. Pa. 2011)
  • Whitev. JP Morgan Chase Bank NA, 2010 US Dist LEXIS 85440 (M.D. Pa 2011)
  • Ezekoyev.Ocwen Fed Bank, 179 FedAppX 111 (2006) US App. LEXIS 10393(3rd Cir. PA 2006)
  • Clugstonv. McGinnis, et al, 2011 US Dist LEXIS 58210, 1:11-cv-455 (M.D. Pa. 2011)
  • Barnes v. Wells Fargo Bank, 2007 US Dist LEXIS 111831, 1:11-cv-438 (W.D. Pa. 2011)
  • Parker v. Long Beach Mortgage Co., 2006 US Dist LEXIS 72683, 534 F.Supp. 528 (E.D. Pa. 2008)
  • Gray v. Buonopane, et al, No. 1403, 1434, and 2394 EDA 2011 2012 PA Super 174 53A.3d 829 (2012)
  • Lynch v. US Bank, Case No. 11-0143 (Carbon County, PA, March 6, 2012)

Professional Dispute Resolution Training/Speaking

  • ABA – Employees in the Digital World: The Employer’s Best Line of Defense and Greatest Threat to Data Security (April 2014)
  • CPR – Global Conflicts and Theories (February 2014)
  • National Business Institute, Mortgage Foreclosures and Alternatives to Mortgage Foreclosures, August 2013 - Presenter (2013)
  • Published in American Bar Association, Just Resolutions E- Newsletter, July 2013, I Knew Your Were Trouble: Real Estate and ADR
  • First American Financial Corporation, Title Issues from Beyond the Grave - 2013
  • First American Financial Corporation, ALTA Best Practices – 2013
  • Bargaining Best Practices: Contract Negotiations in the Board’s New Age (Labor and Employment Law) - 2013
  • ABA – Disability Issues in Employment Law - 2013
  • First American Title Insurance Company, ALTA’s Best Practices
  • ABA – Ethical Tools to Diffuse Incivility - 2013
  • E-Discovery and Information Governance -2013
  • Lloyd’s Market Structure and Use of ADR - 2013
  • Ethical Issues in Bankruptcy Cases - 2012
  • American Bankruptcy Institute Advanced Bankruptcy Mediation Training – 2011
  • FINRA Suspicious Account Reporting and Anti Money Laundering - 2011
  • The Intersection of the Public’s Right to Access with a Party’s Right to Privacy – The Mediation 2011
  • 2011 Selected Ethical Issues in Mediation and Settlement Negotiations
  • US District Court, Middle District of PA, Let’s Make a Deal – Negotiation Approaches in Mediation – 2010
  • US District Court, Middle District of PA, Ethical Considerations in Client Perjury – 2010
  • FINRA Motion to Dismiss Training - 2009
  • FINRA Expungement – 2008
  • North Carolina Superior Court Certification (40 hour training) – 2008
  • Labor and Employment Law Briefing – 2008
  • Advanced Attorney Mediator Training - 2008
  • NASD now FINRA New Chairperson Training – 2007
  • NASD now FINRA Revised Code of Arbitration -- 2007
  • Association of Attorney Mediator’s Annual Meeting and Advanced Attorney Mediator Training – 2007
  • Western Division of US District Court Neutral Evaluation Training – 2006
  • NASD now FINRA Civility Training – 2005
  • NASD now FNRA New Panel Member Training -- 2005
  • Allegheny County Bar Association Bench-Bar “Who Files for Bankruptcy”: Conference -- Presenter (2004)
  • American Bar Association Section of Dispute Resolution Securities Training – 2003
  • Federal Bar Association Securities Training -- 2002
  • Federal Bar Association Western Pennsylvania Chapter and the Social Security Section Conference on Social Security Law – Moderator (2001)
  • Washington County Bar Association Winter Bench-Bar “Court Mediation” Conference Presenter (2001)
  • American Bar Association Section of Dispute Resolution Securities Training – 2001
  • Washington County Bar Association Mediation Training -- 2001
  • Federal Bar Association Western Pennsylvania Chapter The Mediation/Arbitration Section “Mediation In The Millennium” Conference – Presenter (2000)
  • Advanced Mediation Training – Presenter (2000)
  • United States Bankruptcy Court Mediation Training – 2000
  • Better Business Bureau Securities Training – 2000