Michael Defibaugh joined the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office in January, 2026, where he serves in the office’s Civil Division.  There he assists in advising all the civil clients for whom the county prosecuting attorney is the statutory legal advisor.  Mike began his legal career with the City of Akron Law Department in 2000 as an Assistant Prosecutor in the Criminal Division, where he prosecuted criminal cases on behalf of the City of Akron and the State of Ohio.  In 2002, Mike joined the Civil Division as an Assistant Director of Law. His practice primarily focused on representing the City of Akron in complex civil litigation involving constitutional claims, EMS medical claims, personal injury, and employment discrimination claims in state and federal courts.  He has conducted several jury trials and has handled appeals before the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, the Ninth District Court of Appeals, and the Supreme Court of Ohio.  He also provided day-to-day legal advice to City departments on a wide variety of labor and employment matters, including labor contract interpretations, union grievances, employee disciplines, City policies, leave management, employment laws and served as Counsel for the Human Resources Commission. 

Mike is a graduate of Kent State University and the University of Dayton School of Law.  He is admitted to practice law in the State of Ohio, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the U.S. Supreme Court.

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