Michael is an Arizona native and grew up in the copper mining town of Bagdad. Michael attended the University of Arizona and earned an undergraduate degree in political science. Later, Michael received a Patricia Roberts Harris Fellowship and attended Creighton University Law School in Omaha, Nebraska. For over 30 years, he has represented serious injury claims in various states, including Arizona, California, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Texas, and Louisiana. These claims involve wrongful death, product liability, including major auto and tire manufacturers, and complex medical negligence cases. Michael has extensive experience with trials, arbitrations, and mediations. Michael has given numerous seminars on product liability cases and trends, as well as serious injury claims.

Michael has also performed appellate work and argued before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and the Arizona Court of Appeals. Several of Michael’s appellate cases have been published, including the following: Nelson v. Pima Community College, 83 F.3d 1075 (9th Cir. 1996); Nelson v. Cyprus Bagdad Copper Corp., 119 F.3d (9th Cir. 1997), cert. denied, 523 U.S. 1072 (1998); Philadelphia Indemnity Ins. Co. v. Barrera, 200 Ariz. 9, 21 P.3d 395 (2001); and Parra v. Continental Tire North America, Inc.; 222 Ariz. 212, 213 P.3d 361 (App. 2009).

Michael has taught catechism and continues to volunteer at his local parish and other charitable organizations. Michael has supported St. Vincent DePaul, Wounded Warrior Project, Toys for Tots, Feed the Children, Emerge Center Against Domestic Abuse, the Arthritis Foundation, and other charitable organizations.