Michael W. Gabel

Michael W. Gabel is based in Rubinton and Laufer’s Hollywood office. As Senior Associate, he brings his extensive background in first and third party trial litigation and first party property. He is also experienced in providing consultation and expert witness services in the area of bad faith litigation for general and casualty litigation in the areas of automobile, premises, slip and fall, products, security, and construction defect.

Mr. Gabel received a B.A. in Psychology from Queens College in New York, graduating cum laude. He received his J.D. from the New York Law School in 1981. He is admitted in Florida to the Supreme Court and the U.S. District Court, Middle District, and to the Supreme Courts of New Jersey, New York, and Nevada.

Mr. Gabel began his career as a Staff Attorney for the District Council 37 Municipal Employees Legal in New York City. His career has included positions of In House Counsel for the American States Insurance Company, Managing Attorney for SAFECO Insurance Company, Senior Associate for a New York-based firm, and principal of his own law firm.

As Managing Attorney for SAFECO, Mr. Gabel was responsible for creating and growing an efficient staff counsel operation, overseeing a combined staff of 17 litigators and support personnel in Orlando and Atlanta. His responsibilities included management and budget, supervision of all attorneys’ bad faith litigation, policy coverage litigation, liability/PIP and workers’ compensation litigation, and involvement with efficiency of operations development. He also maintained his own substantial caseload in the areas of general and casualty liability (automobile, premises, slip and fall, products, security, construction defect, etc.) He also acted as liaison/consultant to regional and home office senior claims management.

As House Counsel for America States Insurance Company, Mr. Gabel held a large caseload involving all aspects of insurance defense matters. His specific experience included bad faith litigation, policy coverage litigation, PIP litigation, and general and casualty liability litigation (automobile, premises, slip and fall, products, security, etc.) in all phases of case management through trial.