Geralyn M. Passaro

Overview Experience Credentials Insights Honors and Awards Geralyn practices primarily in the area of commercial and complex business litigation with an emphasis on representation of directors and officers, agents and brokers, lawyers and other professionals in liability and community association matters. Geralyn has handled numerous class action cases, including a trial in a class action arbitration case. She has tried more than 50 cases to verdict, and is an Arbitrator for consumer and commercial dispute matters through the American Arbitration Association. She also handles complex personal injury, trucking accident, toxic tort defense and wrongful death actions in addition to construction and employment liability matters. After 23 years of practice as a partner/shareholder in two different multi-office insurance defense practice firms, Geralyn was recruited by Litchfield Cavo LLP to open the Firms new Fort Lauderdale office in February 2009. Since then, she served as Local Office Managing Partner and a Chair of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, and is also a Capital Partner. Practices Business Litigation Employment and Labor Law Professional Liability: Non-Medical Real Estate and Title Claims Toxic Tort Representative Matters Gerald Waldman, Appellant, v. Waterview Towers Condominium Association, Inc., et al., Appellees. No. 4D22-2453 (Fla DCA July 2023) Stevenson v. Cyprus Amax Minerals Co., et al., 6:17-cv-417-Orl-40DCI (Fla. 2018) Reamco Development Corp. v 499 Corp., 992 So.2d 431, (Fla. 4th DCA 2008) Dade County School Board v Radio Station WQBA, 731 So.2d 638 (Fla. 1999) Bonica v Dade County School Board, 549 So.2d 220 (Fla. 3d DCA 1989) Representative Experience Granted summary judgment for our credit union client that repossessed Claimants vehicles after they failed to make payments and who then alleged that our client violated Pennsylvanias Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) by failing to provide proper notice of repossession; the Court granted Motion for Summary Judgment for our client and denied Claimants class action certification motion. Prevailed at arbitration against Claimants allegation that our client violated Section 559.72(17) of the Florida Consumer Collection Practices Act after receiving our clients email during prohibited hours; the arbitrator ruled in our favor, agreeing that our client did not violate state code, and denied Claimants request for relief and damages. Obtained affirmative of a trial courts decision to disallow punitive damages in an action for defamation involving a condominium association Prevailed in a final arbitration hearing on behalf of a new and used car dealership client in a case involving the sale of a truck wherein Claimant filed a claim of common law fraud and a claim under Floridas Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act Prevailed on a summary judgment motion in a products liability case against our talc supplier client wherein Plaintiff claimed that Decedents mesothelioma was caused by regular exposure to baby powder; the Court granted summary judgment in favor of our client finding insufficient s and held that the Florida Court lacked specific personal jurisdiction over our client Obtained Motion for Judgment Notwithstanding the Verdict claim on behalf of condominium association client, wherein the Plaintiff filed a derivative action against our client alleging it and its former president acted negligently and breached his fiduciary duty; the case was tried and the jury returned a verdict of $5 million Education University of Miami School of Law, JD, 1986 Inter-American Law Review, member Deans List Florida Atlantic University, BA, 1983 Admissions Florida Georgia United States District Courts: Southern District of Florida, Middle District of Florida United States Court of Appeals: Eleventh Circuit United States Supreme Court Affiliations Broward County Fair, Former Director and President Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida, Troop Leader Professional Memberships American Arbitration Association© Arbitrator Florida Defense Lawyers Association Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel (FDCC): former Chair of the Life, Health and Disability Committee (2010-2012), former Vice Chair (2006-2009) Florida Bar, Civil Rules Committee, appointed member (2006-2010) Languages English Related News Litchfield Cavo Prevails for Client and Defeats Potential Class Action in Pennsylvania (October 1, 2024) Florida Attorneys Prevail in Consumer Collection Practices Act Arbitration (September 10, 2024) Litchfield Cavo Celebrates 15 Years in Fort Lauderdale (February 16, 2024) Florida Attorneys Prevail in Final Arbitration Hearing (January 19, 2022) Litchfield Cavo Recognizes Global Diversity Awareness Month (October 30, 2021) Celebrating Womens History Month on International Womens Day (March 10, 2021) Litchfield Cavo Diversity & Inclusion Committee and Subcommittees Announced for 2020-2021 (August 13, 2020) Litchfield Cavo Co-Sponsors Center Force Summit (October 30, 2019) Two Litchfield Cavo Partners to Speak at Women, Diversity & Change Summit (October 22, 2019) Florida Attorneys Win Summary Judgment in US District Court (July 10, 2018) Fort Lauderdale Attorneys Win Post-Trial Motion to Set Aside $5 Million Dollar Jury Verdict (September 22, 2015) Show More Presentations/Publications Presenter, Text and Email Marketing Solicitation Violations Related to the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), Keller Williams, Miami, Florida (August 22, 2019) Presenter, Claims Against Appraisers, American Society of Appraisers, Miami Chapter (November 12, 2009) Presenter, Subprime Effect: Foreclosure and Claims Against Professionals, Florida Defense Lawyers Association, Orlando, Florida (May 29, 2009) Presenter, Taking and Defending Depositions, Florida Defense Lawyers Association, Fort Lauderdale, Florida (April 16, 2009) Presenter, Representing the Insurance Professional in the Sale of Unauthorized Insurance Products, Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel, Sun Valley, Idaho (June 2007) Presenter, Claims of Exploitation of the Elderly in the Sale of Financial Products, Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel, San Diego, California (June 2005) Author, Bailing Out Medicare: Defense Counsels Medicare Reporting and Set-Aside Obligations, Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel Quarterly, Volume 61, No. 3 (Spring 2011) Author, Claims of Exploitation of the Elderly in the Sale of Financial Products, The Florida Bar Journal (October 2006) Author, Sanctuary Reconciling Immigration Policy with First Amendment Rights, Inter-American Law Review (1983) Recognition Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rated™ attorney, recognized since 2009 for the highest level of professional excellence