Michael Forte is a litigator who practices in the areas of retail and hospitality, government and product liability. He also has significant experience litigating construction defect and casualty cases. 

Michael's retail and hospitality clients include national retailers and property management companies. He and his team were recognized in 2012 as Sears Holdings Corporation's "Go-To Firm for Litigation" in a survey conducted by American Lawyer and Corporate Counsel magazines. He has first-chaired trials in Hillsborough, Pinellas and Palm Beach Counties.   

On many occasions, Michael has prevailed on summary judgment, obviating the need for a trial. One such case was Hall v. Sunjoy Industries Group, Inc., 764 F. Supp. 2d 1297 (M.D. Fla. 2011), which involved injuries from an allegedly defective product displayed within a retail store. The Hall opinion has been cited by more than 30 other courts and mentioned in more than 20 secondary sources. 

Michael has defended law enforcement officers in civil rights and negligence lawsuits throughout Florida in both state and federal courts. He has written extensively on these issues, and several of his articles have been published in Florida Police Chief magazine.

In his construction law practice, Michael represents contractors and subcontractors sued for commercial and residential construction products. He has defended against claims of alleged construction defects, as well as related mold claims allegedly resulting from water intrusion.   

His product liability work includes the defense of automobile and aviation manufacturers, as well as the defense of automobile and boat manufacturers in breach of warranty matters. His written work appears in national and regional publications such as the Stetson Law Review, National Law Journal and Trial Advocate Quarterly.

• Education

  Stetson University, College of Law - J.D. , cum laude, 2002
  

  • Notes and Comments Editor, Stetson Law Review 
  • Intern to the Honorable Magistrate Jenkins, Middle District of Florida
  • Stetson University Teaching Fellow
  • Stetson University Research Assistant
  • Elizabeth M. Leeman Award for best student article published in the Stetson Law Review, 2001-2002
  • First place in Stetson Law Review Write-On Competition for “Zadvydas v. Underwood: How to Ignore Substantive Due Process Rights in Two Easy Steps,” 2001

  University of Florida - B.A., English and Political Science, high honors, 1999
  

• Honors

  • Florida Super Lawyers Rising Star 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012

• Bar Admissions

  • Florida (2002)
  • Ohio (2008)

• Court Admissions

  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit
  • U.S. District Courts of Florida (Middle)

• Notable Cases

  • Chery v. Haines City >>
  • Mason v. Peabody & Arnold, LLP >>
  • Hall v. Kmart Corporation >>
  • Thorne v. Temples >>
  • Messing v. Mazda Motor of America, Inc. >>
  • Austin v. Sears Home Improvement Products, Inc. >>
  • Ciporkin v. Irwin Contracting, Inc. v. Mark 1 Contracting, Inc >>
  • May v. Kmart >>

• Professional & Civic Activities

  • The Florida Bar
    • Thirteenth Circuit Unlicensed Practice of Law Committee
    • Small Claims Rules Committee
    • Trial Lawyers Section
  • Hillsborough County Bar Association
    • Professionalism and Ethics Committee, Past Member 
    • Trial Lawyers Section
  • Risk Insurance Management Society
  • Florida Defense Lawyers Association
  • Defense Research Institute

• Articles & Presentations

  • "Police Chief Named in Lawsuit: What Now?," Police Chief Magazine, Vol. 37, No. 2, Spring 2013, Author
  • "Lessons Learned from a Close Call: Releasing Intoxicated Persons from Custody," Police Chief Magazine, Vol. 36, No. 3, Summer 2012, Author
  • “The Expanding Safety Responsibilities of Crane Operators,” Greater Constructor Magazine, Q1, P15, 2005, Co-Author
  • "DUI Crashes & Officer Liability: The Sovereign Immunity Doctrine Is Limited," Law Officer Police & Enforcement, lawofficer.com/article/patrol/dui-crashes-officer-liability, August 16, 2011, Author
  • "DUI Crashes: Officer Liability," Police Chief Magazine, Vol. 25, No. 4, Summer 2011, Author
  • "Mold: Why the Lawsuits Have (Almost) Disappeared," Bay Area Apartment Association Bayline Magazine, P. 12, July 2011, Author
  • "Sexual Assaults at Work: When Can the Employer Be Held Liable?" Florida Underwriter Magazine, Vol. 28, No. 7, August 2011, Author
  • "Defending against Res Ipsa Loquitur in Personal Injury Lawsuits," Florida Apartment Association Multifamily Florida Magazine, P. 19, Summer 2011, Author
  • "Protecting Yourself against a Personal Injury Lawsuit," Florida Apartment Association E-Connect Newsletter, http://www.naylornetwork.com/fap-nwl/articles/index-v4.asp?aid=144538&issueID=23471, May 2011, Author , 5/1/2011
  • "Sunshine Auto Coverage," Canadian Underwriter Magazine, P. 66, August 2011, Author
  • "DUI Crashes: Trooper Liability," Florida Association of State Troopers Fast Forward Newsletter, Vol. 24, No. 8, August 2011, Author
  • "Sliding Glass Doors: Defending against Claims of Excessive Pull Forces," DRI Critical Path Newsletter, Vol. 16, No. 2, July 2012, Author
  • "Balcony Puddles," Concrete Construction Magazine, http://www.concreteconstruction.net/concrete-flatwork/balcony-puddles.aspx, February 2012, Author
  • "Drafting Wills for Clients Who Move to Florida: How Long Is Florida's Long Arm Statute for Legal Malpractice?," The Underwriter's Insider, Vol. 9, Issue 1, January 2012, Author
  • "Out-of-State Incapacitated Plaintiffs: Are They Really 'Parties' for the Purposes of Florida Rule of Civil Procedure 1.380(d)?," Trial Advocate Quarterly, Vol. 31, No. 1, January 2012, Author
  • “Misreading the Recipe: How the Court in Santa Fe Independent School District v. Doe Failed to Appreciate the ‘Ingredients’ of Equal Access and Student Choice in a Policy Providing for After-School Religions Speech,” Stetson Law Review, Vol. 31, No. 2, Winter 2002, Author
  • “Exception to Rule Allows Employees to Sue in Tort,” National Law Journal, Vol. 25, No. 48, July 2003, Co-Author
  • “Corporate Clients in Explaining Excusable Neglect," Lawyer Magazine, Vol. 19, No. 8, May 2009, Author
  • "Are Salespeople Responsible for Their Customers' Injuries?," Sales & Marketing Magazine, www.trainingmag.com, June 2009, Co-Author

• Community Involvement

  • All Children's Hospital, Voice4AllKids Advocate