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Michael L. Forte

Partner
Tampa Office
813.472.7529
Email

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Practices

  • Casualty Litigation
  • Product Liability
  • Trucking
  • Construction
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    Profile

    Mike Forte practices in the areas of trucking, casualty and product liability.   He defends clients in trucking accidents involving negligence, catastrophic injury and wrongful death in both state and federal courts. A large portion of his practice involves defending Canadian drivers in lawsuits stemming from Florida accidents. Mike has written and lectured extensively on cross-border issues important to Canadians. He also defends manufacturers of medical equipment and exercise equipment, as well as automobile and airplane manufacturers in product liability matters, and represents retail companies across the state in matters involving negligent security and premises liability.

    Details

    Obtained a final summary judgment on judicial estoppel grounds in Polk County on behalf of Coke Florida.  Plaintiff claimed he was injured at a grocery store. Shortly after the alleged incident took place, Plaintiff filed a “no asset bankruptcy” representing to the bankruptcy court he had no potential claims or assets despite the fact that he was simultaneously pursuing claims for alleged damages against Coke Florida and the grocery store.  The Circuit Court held judicial estoppel applied because Plaintiff used intentional self-contradiction to obtain an unfair advantage in litigation, entering final summary judgment in Coke Florida’s favor.

    • Retail and Hospitality
    • Transportation

    • Risk Insurance Management Society, Executive Board Member
    • Florida Defense Lawyers Association
      • Automotive/Transportation Committee, Chair
      • Trial Advocate Quarterly, Chair of Editorial Board

       

    • The Florida Bar
      • Florida Bar Journal, Past Editorial Board Member
      • Thirteenth Circuit Unlicensed Practice of Law Committee A, Past Chairperson
      • Small Claims Rules Committee, Past Member
      • Trial Lawyers Section
    • Hillsborough County Bar Association
      • Young Lawers Division Professionalism and Ethics Committee, Past Member
      • Trial Lawyers Section

    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

    • Ohio — 2008
    • Florida — 2002

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

    • Named a "40 under 40 Up & Comer" by the Tampa Bay Business Journal, 2014
    • Florida Defense Lawyers Association Trial Advocate Quarterly Award, 2014
    • AV-Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
    • Florida Super Lawyers Rising Star, Personal Injury Defense-General, 2009-2017
    • Listed in Best Lawyers in America, Litigation-Insurance, 2022-2025

    • Author, "A Quick Note Regarding Surveillance Reports in Florida," October 2024
    • Panelist, "Auto & Transportation Committee Roundtable," Florida Defense Lawyers Association, April 2024
    • Author, "Additur for Future Pain and Suffering Damages," FDLA Trial Advocate, March 2024
    • Co-Presenter, "Investigating the How and Why of Motorcycle Accidents," Florida Defense Lawyers Association, February 2024
    • Author, "A Quick Note about Removal with Less Than $75,000 in Medical Specials," November 13, 2023
    • Author, "Tips for Young Lawyers: CME Location," Trial Advocate, November 18, 2021
    • Co-presenter, "Claims Management Challenges and Settlement Strategies," CEU Institute, November 11, 2021
    • Co-Author, "A Quick Note about Pain and Suffering Disclosures in Federal Court," November 2021
    • Co-Host, "Automotive and Trucking Accidents in the U.S. with Foreign Defendants: What Insurers Need to Know," Legally Qualified Podcast, August 2021
    • Presenter, "The Seven Privileges: Protecting Confidentiality of Florida Defendants," Celesq Virtual Webinar, June 1, 2021
    • Author, "Landowner’s Duty of Care in Florida, and the Special Case of Contractors," April 2021
    • Author, "A Quick Note About Florida PIP Setoffs Without PIP Insurance," March 2021
    • Author, "The Seven Privileges: Protecting Confidentiality of Florida Defendants," Daily Business Review, March 17, 2021
    • Co-Author, "Florida Car Accident Lawsuits: How to Apply the Brakes on Plaintiffs," Without Prejudice, Official Journal of the Ontario Insurance Adjusters Association, Vol. 85. No. 7. March 2021
    • Co-Presenter, "COVID-19 Business Interruption Claims and Bad Faith," RIMS, The Risk Management Society, November 18, 2020
    • Author, "Using Vicarious Liability to Defeat Employer Negligence Claims," The Trial Advocate, a publication of The Florida Defense Lawyers Association, Volume 39. Number 2., June 2020
    • Author, "Combating Permanency Without a Defense Medical Expert," Trial Advocate Quarterly, Vol. 37, No. 1, Winter 2018
    • Co-Presenter, "Defense Strategies Giving You the Most Bang for Your Buck," Claims Education Conference, May 2018, New Orleans
    • Author, "Removal: An Important Defense Tool in U.S. Lawsuits against Canadians," Ontario Insurance Adjusters Association, Without Prejudice, September 2017
    • Co-Author, "Punitive Damages: When Are They Available in Premises Liability Lawsuits?," Trial Advocate Quarterly, Vol. 33. No.1, Winter 2014
    • Presenter, "Public Records and Sunshine Law," Tampa Bay Area Chiefs of Police Association, September 2014
    • Co-Author, “Rodriguez v. Miami-Dade County: The Florida Supreme Court Clarifies Certiorari Review in Sovereign Immunity Cases," Florida Bar Journal, Vol. 88, No. 1, January 2014
    • Author, “Admissibility of High-low Agreements in Multi-defendant Litigation,” Florida Bar Journal, Vol. 87, No. 1, November 2013

    Mike's News and Insights

    See All News See All Insights Read Beyond the Bio
    Drag
    10.18.2024
    Casualty Litigation

    A Quick Note Regarding Surveillance Reports in Florida

    In Florida, if you want to use surveillance footage at...

    Photo: Shutterstock/Aleksandrkozak
    08.15.2024
    Firm News

    Best Lawyers in America® 2025 Edition Recognizes 24 RumbergerKirk Attorneys

    Two Named  “Lawyer of the Year” and Two Named “Ones...

    04.08.2024
    Casualty Litigation

    Additur for Future Pain and Suffering Damages

    When a jury’s verdict is unreasonably low, the presiding judge...

    Shutterstock.com/sebra
    01.16.2024
    Media Mentions

    DRI Members Share Their Victories, The Voice

    DRI, the leading organization of civil defense attorneys and in-house...

    11.13.2023
    Casualty Litigation

    A Quick Note about Removal with Less Than $75,000 in Medical Specials

    Removing a case to federal court requires diversity of citizenship...

    Photo: Shutterstock.com/Andrey_Popov
    08.17.2023
    Firm News

    Best Lawyers in America© Recognizes 24 RumbergerKirk Attorneys with Managing Partner Frank Sheppard Named Lawyer of the Year

    ORLANDO, FL – August 17, 2023 – Best Lawyers has...

    08.19.2022
    Firm News

    23 RumbergerKirk Attorneys Named to Best Lawyers in America© 2023

    Orlando, Fla., August 18, 2022 – RumbergerKirk is pleased to...

    11.18.2021
    Casualty Litigation

    Tips for Young Lawyers: CME Location

    You have analyzed the medical records, retained a medical expert...

    Photo: Shutterstock.com/JOKE_PHATRAPONG
    11.01.2021
    Casualty Litigation

    A Quick Note about Pain and Suffering Disclosures in Federal Court

    In federal court, personal injury plaintiffs are required to disclose...

    Photo: Shutterstock/JRC-Stop Motion
    08.19.2021
    Firm News

    Eighteen RumbergerKirk Attorneys Named to Best Lawyers in America© 2022

    ORLANDO – August 19, 2021 – RumbergerKirk is pleased to...

    See All News See All Insights Read Beyond the Bio

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