Illinois

• Illinois State Courts
• U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois
• U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois

Missouri

• Missouri State Courts
• U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri
• U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri

U.S. Courts of Appeals

• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit

J.D.

St. Louis University School of Law

B.S.

St. Louis University

• Jane Doe v. Phoenix 4, LLC. Plaintiff was sexually abused by her two former softball coaches. Some of the abuse allegedly occurred at the defendant’s batting cage/training facility. Plaintiff requested $60 million in damages at trial. After a week-long trial, the jury returned a defendant’s verdict.
• Theisen v. Stoddard County. The plaintiffs contended they were beaten, subjected to excessive use of a taser, and sexually assaulted while inmates at the Stoddard County jail. Plaintiffs claimed millions of dollars in damages and punitive damages. After a week-long trial, the jury returned a unanimous verdict in favor of the defendant.
• Kline v. General Motors. The plaintiff contended that her daughter died from injuries resulting from a post-collision fuel-fed fire allegedly caused by a defect in the vehicle’s fuel system. At the conclusion of a three week trial, the plaintiff’s attorney asked the jury to award more than $10 million, and an additional award of punitive damages. The jury returned a verdict in favor of General Motors.
• Vivitoe v. Ferno-Washington. This wrongful death products liability case arose from an incident in which plaintiff’s decedent was being transported by hospital ambulance personnel. Michael represented the manufacturer of a foldable ambulance cot. The decedent was being transferred into the ambulance when the ambulance cot prematurely collapsed and rolled on its side. On the first day of trial, after successfully eliminating most of the evidence against the manufacturer, the manufacturer was dismissed.
• Wilson v. Union Pacific. This FELA case was brought by a railroad worker who slipped and fell while exiting a bus, sustaining a herniated disc in his low back. Michael represented the railroad and the hotel that leased the bus that was transporting plaintiff from the hotel to a training facility. The case was tried for three days. Towards the end of plaintiff’s case, a mistrial was declared based upon plaintiff’s counsel’s misconduct. The case was settled shortly thereafter. In a separate proceeding, Michael recovered the amount of the settlement paid on behalf of his clients and all attorneys’ fees incurred, from the co-defendant’s insurance company.
• Tenbarge v. Ames Taping Tool Systems. This products liability case arose from plaintiff’s use of an automatic taping tool used in the drywall industry. Michael represented the product manufacturer. Plaintiff claim his ten years of using the tool caused his carpal tunnel syndrome and lateral epicondylitis. The jury returned a unanimous verdict for the defendant.

• Missouri Organization of Defense Lawyers (MODL), member 1989 to present, board of directors 2004 to 2007.

• Number one defense Verdict, Missouri Lawyers’ Weekly, 2024
• Number three defense Verdict, Missouri Lawyers’ Weekly, 2007