Mike's more than 20 years of litigation has focused on complex disputes in the insurance, commercial, and governmental liability areas. He has tried numerous cases to verdict in state and federal court as well as in arbitration, and has successfully taken matters through appeal to the Alabama Supreme Court and Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. Cases that Mike has tried to verdict have included construction, insurance, intellectual property, governmental liability, automobile, employment, and others.
Mike has been in private practice since 1996, and is admitted to practice before all State and Federal courts in Alabama, as well as the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. He presently serves as the chair of the Mobile Bar Association’s Federal Court Civil Practice Committee.
Most recently, Mike has tried two cases in the Southern District of Alabama which had allegations of intellectual property theft, and of religious discrimination. Also, Mike spearheaded an effort in which the Southern District of Alabama revised and updated its Introduction to Discovery Practice Guidelines, with said revision made effective in May of 2019. Mike also spoke to students in Spring Hill College’s pre-law program in the spring of 2019 about life as an attorney and about various aspects of his courtroom experience.
Mike’s practice also focuses on insurance coverage issues, particularly those affecting insurers and insureds on the Gulf Coast, particularly in the first-party property area. Mike has taken a lead role in assisting insurance carriers in handling claims arising from hurricanes and other catastrophic weather events, including issuance of coverage opinions and handling all aspects of litigation and trial. Mike is a member of the Insurance Law Committee of the Defense Research Institute (DRI), currently serving as chair of its Commercial General Liability (CGL) subcommittee. He has published and presented to DRI and to other groups on a wide range of insurance issues.
A native of Dallas, Texas. Mike received his Bachelor of Science degree in 1991 from Spring Hill College in Mobile. In 1995, Mike achieved magna cum laude honors in earning his J.D. from the University of Alabama. Following his time at the Capstone, Mike served as a law clerk to a judge in Mobile County Circuit Court before entering a defense practice.
Mike has been married to Mimi since 1993 and they have three children: Mary Cole, Annie, and Thomas. They are active members of Little Flower Catholic Church in Mobile.