About
OFFICE LOCATION: Mobile, AL & Tallahassee, FL
Michael is a Partner with the firm's Mobile, Alabama and Tallahassee, Florida offices. He practices in the areas of General Liability Defense, Subrogation, and Property/Casualty Coverage with an emphasis on first-party claims. He has litigated several matters throughout his career, serving as both lead and co-counsel in trials taking place in both Alabama and Florida. Michael graduated from Auburn University, magna cum laude, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and received his Law Degree from the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University.
Prior to joining the firm, Michael engaged in the practice of law with a mid-sized firm in Mobile, Alabama, focusing primarily on coverage and general liability defense litigation with an emphasis on product and construction defect claims. He has published articles in both legal and trade magazines, and is a frequent speaker on a wide variety of topics that include insurance coverage issues, mediation strategies, and solving complex construction-related problems.
A native of Huntsville, Alabama, Michael is licensed to practice in Alabama, Mississippi and Florida, as well the United States District Courts for the Northern, Middle and Southern Districts of Alabama, and the Northern District of Florida. He is also licensed to practice before the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. Michael is an active member of the Mobile Bar Association, the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel, the Paul W. Brock Chapter of the National Inns of Court, the Alabama Defense Lawyers Association, and the Defense Research Institute. Michael is also a member of the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM) where he is the President of the Alabama Chapter.
Admissions
- Alabama
- Florida
- Mississippi
Education
- Auburn University
Bachelor of Arts
- Cumberland School of Law at Samford University
Doctor of Jurisprudence
Memberships
- Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM)
- Defense Research Institute (DRI)
- Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel (FDCC)
Experience
Publications
April 12, 2012
PUBLICATIONLearning from the 2011 Tornado Season: A Historic Year of Coverage Lessons for Insurers in 2012
A publication of CLM
As natural disasters go, the tornado season of 2011 was one of the worst on the books. The National Weather Service reported that a record number of tornadoes touched down during the April-May 2011 tornado season, with the state of Alabama having more tornadoes reach the ground than in any other state.
February 26, 2009
PUBLICATIONIs Abnormal Becoming The New Normal In Alabama?
This is one of a series of articles originally published in Mealey's Litigation Report: Insurance Bad Faith, Vol. 22, #20 (February 26, 2009).
October 01, 2007
PUBLICATIONAlabama Limits Subrogation Rights Under Wrongful Death Statute
The Supreme Court of Alabama recently limited the rights of a workers' compensation insurer seeking to recover medical expenses paid on behalf of a worker who later died as a result of his injuries. Alabama's unique wrongful death statute, which allows for the recovery of punitive damages only, precludes an insurer from recovering medical expenses incurred prior to the worker's death.