Biography
Michael specializes in prosecution of personal injury claims involving complicated medical issues and theories of liability. He handles industrial accidents, premises liability, products liability, exceptions to workers' compensation, medical malpractice, motor vehicle accidents, toxic tort and maritime cases. Michael is dedicated to protecting the rights of the catastrophically injured.
For over 20 years, Michael has handled catastrophic personal injury and medical malpractice cases. Michael began his Civil Law Career representing doctors and hospitals in medical malpractice actions. Michael now uses his extensive medical knowledge and complex litigation experience to benefit his clients in personal injury matters exclusively. In 2014, he was lead counsel in a medical malpractice trial that ended in a jury award for his client in excess of $12 million, which is believed to be the largest medical malpractice verdict in the history of Contra Costa County.
Michael gained tremendous courtroom experience as a Deputy County Attorney in Pima County (Tucson), Arizona, where he represented the State in criminal prosecutions, from arraignment to sentencing, on cases ranging from simple misdemeanors to attempted murders. As a prosecutor, he handled nearly 100 jury trials and more than 150 bench trials.
Michael has served as both a Discovery Referee and a Settlement Mentor for Contra Costa County Superior Court. As a Discovery Referee, Michael assisted the Court by hearing Discovery disputes. As a Settlement Mentor, Michael volunteers his time in an effort to resolve cases short of trial.
Education
- Golden Gate University School of Law, San Francisco, California
- J.D., Doctor of Jurisprudence
- University of Arizona, Tuscon, Arizona
- Major: Bachelors Degree in Business Administration
Published Works
- Maximizing Restitution Orders: How Cooperation Between Prosecutors and Civil Litigators Can Benefit All
- What Are You Doing Here? - Coverage counsel in third-party litigation: When to bring them in and what to expect, Plaintiff, September, 2016
- Damages: Thinking Outside the Box to Hit it Out of the Park - A case of severe disfigurement with Prop 51 liability issues reveals why damages are limited only by facts, imagination and tenacity, Plaintiff, April, 2016
- California's Million Dollar Verdicts, Verdict Search - The Recorder, January 26, 2015
- Workers' Comp Subrogation: Don't Allow Your Client to be Extorted - If you "settle around" the employer, you may find yourself at odds with the subrogation attorney, Plaintiff, May, 2012
- Don't Get Tripped Up in Your Next Fall Case - Defense verdicts are common and comparative fault is often substantial, but careful analysis of the venue and circumstances can lead to a convincing case for liability, Plaintiff, October, 2011
- Spinal Injuries 101 - Anatomy, spinal trauma, diagnostic testing, and rebuttal of common defense arguments, Plaintiff, November, 2010
- To Cross or Not To Cross? A former prosecutor offers advice on how to structure the cross-exam for maximum impact, Plaintiff, April, 2013
Professional Associations
- Alameda Contra Costa Trial Lawyers Association - President 2018
- Consumer Attorneys of California
- Contra Costa County Bar Association
- Western Trial Lawyers Association
Bar Admissions
- California
- Arizona
Honors
- Best Lawyers in America
- Super Lawyers
- National Association of Distinguished Counsel