Practice areas
These are the cases Michael litigated for over 40 years, and the ones he now resolves as a mediator. Nothing here is new to him.
Types of disputes
Coverage cases between insurers and policyholders have been the core of Michael's practice. He handled them throughout his career in insurance defense, and his plaintiff-side injury work gives him command of the other side of the table. Policy questions get answered at the table, not set aside. In addition, he handles cases involving employee sexual misconduct and student sexual misconduct.
Michael has tried bodily injury cases to juries and has represented injured plaintiffs. His experience covers car accidents, premises liability, product liability, and asbestos cases. He looks at injury claims the way lawyers on both sides will.
Construction cases and site accident claims have been part of Michael's work for decades, including serious injury claims from construction, trucking, and oil and gas well accidents. He is fluent in both the technical details and the layers of insurance behind them.
Michael's commercial work includes complex litigation, fraud matters, and professional malpractice claims involving accounting, engineering, pharmacy, and real estate. His accounting background means he can follow the financial detail without needing an expert to walk him through it.
Contract and financing cases, including the defense of automobile dealerships, taught Michael how business relationships break down and how to value the loss. He keeps these mediations focused on the documents and the numbers.
Michael has handled uninsured motorist arbitration and no-fault coverage disputes throughout his career. As a mediator who already knows the law and the policy language, Michael moves these cases to resolution quickly.
Session formats
A good fit for focused disputes — a single coverage question, a one-plaintiff injury claim, or a contract dispute with a narrow set of issues. A shorter, well-prepared session is often all these cases need.
Better suited to cases with more moving parts — several parties, layered insurance, construction defect claims, or complex commercial disputes. A full day gives everyone room to be heard and gives the negotiation time to work.
When the parties want a decision rather than a negotiated agreement, Michael serves as an arbitrator — including in the uninsured motorist matters he has handled throughout his career.
Michael is available to be appointed as a special master when a court or the parties need someone neutral to manage discovery disputes or other assigned matters.
Background at a glance
A short summary of the experience Michael brings to the table.
Jury trials in bodily injury cases, car accidents, premises liability, product liability, and asbestos litigation.
Coverage disputes between insurers and policyholders, uninsured motorist arbitration, no-fault disputes, and insurance defense.
Contract and financing disputes, automobile dealership defense, fraud matters, and professional malpractice involving accounting, engineering, pharmacy, and real estate.
Construction cases and accidents involving construction sites, trucking, and oil and gas wells.
Ready to schedule
Half day and full day sessions · mmirabella@ckbrlaw.com