Memberships/Distinctions:

• Governor, Board of Governors, Maine Trial Lawyers Association
• Chair, Maine Trial Lawyers Association Legislative Committee
• American Association for Justice
• Maine State Bar Association
• Former Commissioner, Maine Commission on Governmental Ethics and Elections Practices (2005-2006)
• Former Law Clerk, Maine Supreme Judicial Court Justice Jon D. Levy
• Former Chief of Staff to Senate Majority Leader Chellie Pingree
• Former Managing Editor, Maine Law Review
• Former Member, Richmond, Maine Planning Board (1995-2003); Chair (2000-2003)

Admitted to the following bars:

All Maine Courts

Profile:

Michael mostly handles complex personal injury cases, many with difficult liability.  He works with forwarding attorneys as a team to put clients’ interests first. 

Before joining Berman & Simmons, Michael clerked with the Maine District and Supreme Judicial Courts. When Michael served as Chief of Staff to former Senate Majority Leader Chellie Pingree, he helped pass and write early drafts of Maine’s prescription drug negotiation and pricing law, known as “Maine Rx,” which the U.S. Supreme Court upheld with modifications.

Among other legislative staff positions, he staffed  an Ad hoc committee that investigated DeCoster Egg Farms in 1995, which led to a major government crackdown on deplorable working conditions and an industry-wide boycott of DeCoster eggs across New England. His passion to work hard and fight for people is part of his work ethic.

Michael is a "go-to" leader for civil justice issues by serving as a Governor and Legislative Chair of the MTLA.  He is a frequent speaker on legislative affairs and political advocacy for injury victims and safety policies.  Please e-mail Michael if you have an inquiry or suggestion to improve civil justice in Maine.
 
Mike has experience fighting for seriously injured persons including those involving:

• Traumatic Brain Injury
• Fractures
• Permanent Disability and Impairment
• Wrongful Death
• Drunk Driving Accident Victims
• Insurance Coverage Disputes
• Insurance company bad faith
• Worksite and Construction Accidents
• Burn Victims

Published Articles:

• Revisiting the Voluntariness of Confessions After State v. Sawyer, 54 Me. L. Rev. 412 (2002)
• Maine Considers the Uniform Mediation Act, 18 Me. Bar.J. 222 (2003)
• Co-Author of the Chapter “Security of Supply and Control of Terrorism” in the book “Energy Security” (Oxford University Press, 2004)
• The Reasonable Value of Medical Services, part II: MaineCare Equals Unreasonable Value, 23 Me. Bar J. 140 (2007)