Ryan M. Gembala
Top rated Business Litigation attorney in Sheffield Village, Ohio
Dooley Gembala McLaughlin Pecora Co., LPA
Practice areas: Business Litigation, Food & Drugs, Schools & Education; view more
Licensed in Ohio since: 2005
Education: The University of Toledo College of Law
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2023 - 2025 
Selected to Rising Stars: 2012 - 2019 Call today:
440-930-4001
Dooley Gembala McLaughlin Pecora Co., LPA
5455 Detroit RoadSheffield Village, OH 44054 Visit website
Details
A shareholder at the law firm of Dooley Gembala McLaughlin Pecora Co., LPA, in Sheffield Village, Ohio, attorney Ryan M. Gembala serves clients throughout Northeast Ohio. He focuses on business and general litigation, primarily assisting food and farming industries, energy and utility corporations and public/private schools with their legal necessities.
Mr. Gembala has handled matters related to the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act, the Packers and Stockyards Act, the Food Safety Modernization Act and other regulations and rules, aiding his clients in the food service industry with premises responsibility and other issues. He takes action on behalf of his clients in federal tribunals across the U.S. and at hearings before the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
In the education field, Mr. Gembala has aided school districts during the unparalleled COVID-19 pandemic and provided for the necessities of the staff, pupils and other associated members. He has advocated on behalf of educational institutions throughout contracting talks with unions, tending to labor disputes and arbitrations, covering disciplinary problems, and advising school directors and boards.
In addition to these industries, Mr. Gembala has considerable experience representing a broad selection of clients ranging from Fortune 500 firms to townships and individuals in universal business and commercial matters, labor/employment issues and dispute resolution.
Mr. Gembala graduated cum laude with his B.S. in business administration from The Ohio State University in 2002 followed by his Juris Doctor from the University of Toledo College of Law in 2005. During law school, he was the highest-ranking student in both labor law and practical legal writing and a recipient of the dean’s scholarship and Dennis C. Jackson Scholarship Award.
First admitted to practice in the state courts of Ohio in 2005, Mr. Gembala has appeared before the Supreme Courts of Ohio and Minnesota, the U.S. District Court for the Northern and Southern Districts of Ohio, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern and Southern Districts of Ohio and the Western District of New York, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado, and the U.S. District Court for the Northern and Western Districts of New York.
A dedicated professional, Mr. Gembala contends that communication with clients is necessary and stakes his reputation on promptly returning customer phone calls and messages. He allocates time to comprehending his clients’ predicaments and goals and creates a plan to attain favorable outcomes as promptly as possible.
Practice areas
Business Litigation, Food and Drugs, Schools & Education, General LitigationFocus areas
Agriculture Law, Litigation, Schools
- 40% Business Litigation
- 30% Food and Drugs
- 20% Schools & Education
- 10% General Litigation
First Admitted: 2005, Ohio
Professional Webpage: https://www.dooleygembala.com/ryan-m-gembala/
- Admitted to practice in the U.S. District Court, Northern District of New York, 2015
- Admitted to practice in the U.S. District Court, District of Colorado, 2012
- Admitted to practice in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Western District of New York, 2012
- Admitted to practice in the U.S. District Court, Western District of New York, 2012
- Admitted to practice in the State of Minnesota (currently inactive), 2007
- Admitted to practice in the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio, 2007
- Admitted to practice in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Northern District of Ohio, 2005
- Admitted to practice in the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio, 2005
- Admitted to practice in the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, 2005
- Admitted to practice in the State of Ohio, 2005
- Successfully defended the Lorain Metropolitan Park District in labor arbitration where my client's termination of union employee was upheld by arbitrator., 2021
- Obtained a class action settlement of $550,000.00 in favor of a class of plaintiffs in the case styled Humphrey v. Stored Value Cards, et al., Case No. 18-cv-01050 un the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio., 2021
- Obtained a judgment of $231,484.27 in favor of the plaintiff in the case styled Dave's Specialty Imports, Inc. v. Produce For Less, Inc. et al., Case No. 19-cv-7136 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York., 2020
- Successfully defended the Avon Local School District Board of Education in labor arbitration brought by Avon Teachers Association, resulting in complete dismissal of the claim against my client., 2020
- Obtained a judgment of $62,027.09 in favor of my client and against three defendants, jointly and severally, in the case styled Economy Produce & Vegetable Co., Inc. v. Giglio Produce, Inc. et al, Case No. 18-cv-00328 in the U.S District Court for the Northern District of Ohio., 2018
- Successfully defended the City of Wickliffe, Ohio in case brought by motel operator alleging Constitutional violations. Jury verdict returned for defendant in the case styled Mosley et al. v. City of Wickliffe, et al., U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio Case No. 14-cv-00934., 2016
- Obtained a judgment of $837,346.85 in favor of my client and against four defendants jointly and severally in the case styled Federal Fruit & Produce Co. v. Liborio Holding Co, et al., Case No. CV13-4119 in the U.S District Court for the Central District of California, 2014
- Obtained a judgment of $449,152.79 in favor of my client in the case styled Castellini Co. LLC v. Staunton Fruit & Produce Co., Inc., Case No. 13-cv-00117 in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia., 2014
- Obtained a judgment of $118,755.69 in favor of my group of plaintiffs and against defendant Jeffrey G. Pfaff in the case styled Pacific Triple E, Ltd. et al. v. Top Tomato Co., Inc. et al., Case No. 11-cv-62523 in the U.S District Court for the Southern District of Florida
- Obtained a judgment of $61,310.49 for my client in the case styled J.R. Simplot Co. v. Bestbuy Food Service, Inc. et al., U.S. District Court District of New Jersey, Case No. 13-cv-04713.
- Obtained a judgment of $102,513.44 in favor of plaintiff and against defendant Joseph Kemetz in the case styled Federal Fruit & Produce Co. v. Duke City Produce, Inc. et al., Case No. 13-cv-00990 in the U.S District Court for the District of New Mexico
- Obtained a judgment of $47,516.70 in favor of my group of plaintiffs and against defendants Sheppard Produce, Inc., Stanley R. Sheppard, the Estate of Marilyn Sheppard, adn Sheppard Transportation, LLC in the case styled Produce Alliance LLC v. Sheppard Produce Inc. et al., Case No. CV-11-243 in the U.S District Court for the District of Idaho
- Avon Lake City School District Board of Education
- Avon Local School District Board of Education
- Bellevue City School District Board of Education
- Berry Fresh, LLC
- Blue Sky Innovation Group, Inc.
- Dave's Specialty Imports, Inc.
- Economy Produce & Vegetable Co., Inc.
- Great American Power, LLC
- H & A Farms, LLC
- Lorain County Metropolitan Park District
- Ohio School Pipeline Coalition
- Port Clinton City School District Board of Education
- Sheffield-Sheffield Lake City School District Board of Education
- Represented the plaintiffs pro se and obtained a preliminary injunction in their favor in the case styled Dowling et al. v. Ohio High School Athletic Association, Ottawa County, Ohio Court of Common Pleas Case No. 19-cv-348., 2019
- Lorain County Bar Association - Ethics & Grievance Committee Member
- Bachelor's of Science in Business Administration cum laude from The Ohio State University Fisher School of Business, 2002
- This course provided training required under federal law for Title IX Coordinators, Investigators, and Decision Makers in public schools., Presenter, Title IX Certification for Public School Employees, Educational Service Center of Lorain County, Schools, Education Institutions, 2021
- A how-to presentation for public schools on discipling students with behavioral issues, both those in general education programs and special education programs., Presenter, Disciplining Students with Behavioral Issues, National Business Institute, Schools, Education Institutions, 2021
- This webinar focused on special education rights for public school students with food allergies., Presenter, 504 Plans - Legal Rights and Requirements, Allergy & Asthma Network, Schools, Education Institutions, Food & Beverage, 2020
- A seminar on safety issues at public schools impacting staff, students, and visitors., Presenter, Student Safety - Laws and Liabilities, National Business Institute, Schools, Education Institutions, 2019
- A guide through the special education laws governing K-12 public schools., Presenter, Special Education Law - The Ultimate Guide, National Business Institute, Schools, Education Institutions, 2019
- A presentation on the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act and its protections for produce growers. , Know Your Rights - PACA Protections for Growers, Georgia Blueberry Growers Association, Agriculture, Food & Beverage, 2019
- A presentation on the special education laws governing public schools., Presenter, IEP and 504 Plan Legal Workshop, National Business Institute, Schools, Education Institutions, 2018
- Provided Chef Norman a discussion of important legal issues related to food allergies for use in his book., Contributor, Allergen Awareness, A Chef's Perspective, Chef Keith Norman, Food & Beverage, Restaurant, 2018
- A presentation for employers on how to protect themselves from employee discrimination claims., Speaker, Avoiding and Defending Discrimination Complaints, OMDP sponsored seminar, 2018
- A presentation on the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act and its protections for produce growers. , Presenter, Know Your Rights, PACA Protections for Growers, Florida Blueberry Growers Association, Summer Conference, Agriculture, Food & Beverage, 2018
- A discussion on the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act and its protections for produce growers., Presenter, Ohio Produce Growers & Marketers Association - Annual Conference, Agriculture, Food & Beverage, 2018
- Presentation on food allergy issues for industry., Presenter, Educational Series Food Allergen Webinar, Food & Beverage, Restaurant, 2017
- A discussion on the science of food allergies and legal implications., Speaker, Food Industry and Research Summit, FAACT (Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Connection Team), Food & Beverage, Restaurant, 2017
- An analysis of potential criminal liability arising from unsafe food products., Author, Ignorance is No Excuse, Criminal Liability in the Produce Industry, Food Online, Agriculture, Food & Beverage, 2016
- A discussion of the legal implications of food allergies on food service establishments., Speaker, Food Allergy Symposium for Industry, AllerTrain, Food & Beverage, Restaurant, 2016
- An analysis of the Sanitary Transportation Rule promulgated by the Food Safety & Modernization Act., Author, FSMA's Sanitary Transportation Rule: Compliance Guidelines and Avoiding Criminal Liability, Food Online, Agriculture, Food & Beverage, 2016
- Successfully negotiated a collective bargaining agreement with labor union on behalf of the Lorain Metropolitan Housing Authority., 2022
- Successfully negotiated a collective bargaining agreement with labor union on behalf of the Keystone Local School District Board of Education., 2022
- Successfully negotiated a collective bargaining agreement with teachers union on behalf of the Edison Local School District Board of Education., 2021
- Successfully negotiated a collective bargaining agreement with labor union on behalf of the Lorain Metropolitan Park District., 2021
- Successfully negotiated a collective bargaining agreement with a teachers union on behalf of the Avon Local School District Board of Education., 2021
- Successfully negotiated a collective bargaining agreement with labor union on behalf of the Lorain Metropolitan Housing Authority., 2019
- Agriculture
- Business Organizations
- Food & Beverage
- Public Schools
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2023 - 2025
- Rising Stars: 2012 - 2019
