RumbergerKirk
  • People
    • Robert H. Adams
    • Georgeta Onciu Aguiar
    • Nicholas A. Aguirre
    • Craig A. Alexander
    • Robert P. Barton
    • Rebecca A. Beers
    • Michael D. Begey
    • Reed Blair
    • Robert L. Blank
    • Blake Bonsack
    • Ryan Brown
    • Alyxandra Buhler
    • Jason F. Bullinger
    • Lori J. Caldwell
    • J. Richard Caldwell, Jr.
    • Brett M. Carey
    • Kaitlyn Chomin
    • Fred Clarke
    • Ligianette Cordova
    • Sally Rogers Culley
    • Bradley Davis
    • Patrick M. Delaney
    • Leonard J. Dietzen, III
    • Samantha Duke
    • Derek M. Dzwonkowski
    • Douglas E. Ede
    • Linda Bond Edwards
    • Ernest “Skip” H. Eubanks, Jr.
    • Robert V. Fitzsimmons
    • Michael L. Forte
    • Darryl L. Gavin
    • Daniel J. Gerber
    • Richard A. Greenberg
    • Jeffrey J. Grosholz
    • Justin M. Guido, CIPP/US
    • Reginald Guillaume
    • Carie Hall
    • Chase Hattaway
    • Suzanne Barto Hill
    • Michael R. Holt
    • LaShawnda K. Jackson
    • Sara Lewis Kallop
    • Jacey Kaps, CIPP/US
    • Freddy Kasten
    • Lan Kennedy-Davis
    • Meghan Kennedy
    • Jessica Kerbel
    • Bud Kirk
    • J. Scott Kirk
    • Steven I. Klein
    • Loren M. Korkin
    • Meredith Jowers Lees
    • Joshua D. Lerner
    • Paul Lipton
    • Jonathan Marcelo
    • Graham Marcus
    • J. David Marsey
    • Samendio Mathieu
    • Stephanie McNeff
    • Alexander A. Melvin
    • Candy L. Messersmith
    • Madison Miller
    • Charles P. Mitchell
    • Damien A. Orato
    • Pedro M. Ortiz
    • Brittney Polo
    • Julie Potts
    • Kayla E. Platt Rady
    • J. Michael Rediker
    • Jaime Reitz
    • Abigail Roberts
    • Allan J. Rotlewicz
    • Jens C. Ruiz
    • E. Thom Rumberger
    • Scott M. Sarason
    • David B. Shelton
    • Francis H. Sheppard
    • Suzanne A. Singer
    • Connor Smedberg
    • Nicole Sieb Smith
    • M. Stephen Smith
    • Larry D. Smith
    • Melissa I. Softness
    • E. Berton Spence
    • Peter J. Tepley
    • Jennifer Smith Thomas
    • Phoebe Thomas
    • Devin M. Topper
    • Assita Toure
    • Joseph M. Tracy
    • James F. Walsh
    • Erin Weinstock
    • John “Jack” Weiss
    • R. Scott Williams
    • David C. Willis
  • Practices
    • Appellate
    • Aviation
    • Bankruptcy and Restructuring
    • Casualty Litigation
    • Class Actions
    • Commercial Litigation
    • Construction
    • Consumer Defense
    • Corporate and Tax
    • Criminal Defense
    • Cyber & Technology
    • Education
    • Employment and Labor
    • Estates and Trusts
    • External General Counsel Services
    • Family Law
    • Government and Administrative
    • Insurance Coverage and Bad Faith
    • Intellectual Property
    • Product Liability
    • Professional Liability
    • Real Estate
    • Securities and Financial Services
    • Toxic Torts
    • Trucking
    • Warranty and Lemon Law
  • Careers
    • Summer Associate
    • Summer Associate Blog
    • Associate College
    • Career Openings
  • Insights
    • Articles
    • Podcasts
  • News
  • About
  • Industries
  • Diversity
  • Contact
  • Legal
Facebook LinkedIn Twitter
Rumberger Kirk
We use cookies to enhance your experience and improve our services and our website’s functionality. By continuing to use our website, including remaining on the landing page, you consent to our use of cookies. For more information see our Cookie Notice.
LinkedIn Facebook Twitter

Michael L. Forte

Partner
Tampa Office
813.472.7529
Email

Download vCard

Practices

  • Casualty Litigation
  • Product Liability
  • Trucking
  • Construction
  • ?
    Tags will open in a new tab

    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

    • Retail and Hospitality
    • Transportation

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

      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

    • 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
    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...

    08.18.2021
    Casualty Litigation

    Automotive and Trucking Accidents in the U.S. with Foreign Defendants: What Insurers Need to Know

    Attorneys Mike Forte and Vince Saccomando discuss defense strategies for...

    06.01.2021
    Events

    The Seven Privileges: Protecting Confidentiality of Florida Defendants

    A defendant’s privacy is often infringed upon, to varying extents,...

    04.19.2021
    Casualty Litigation

    Landowner’s Duty of Care in Florida, and the Special Case of Contractors

    In a premises liability case, the landowner’s standard of care...

    Photo: Shutterstock/Standret
    03.29.2021
    Casualty Litigation

    A Quick Note About Florida PIP Setoffs Without PIP Insurance

    Generally, Florida drivers are required to carry $10,000 in personal...

    03.23.2021
    Casualty Litigation

    The Seven Privileges: Protecting Confidentiality of Florida Defendants

    Litigation is intrusive. By filing a lawsuit, a personal injury...

    See All News See All Insights Read Beyond the Bio

    Offices

    Orlando

    300 South Orange Avenue
    Suite 1400
    Orlando, FL 32801

    407.872.7300

    Miami

    80 Southwest 8th Street
    Suite 3000
    Miami, FL 33130

    305.358.5577

    Tampa

    100 North Tampa Street
    Suite 2000
    Tampa, FL 33602

    813.223.4253

    Tallahassee

    101 North Monroe Street
    Suite 120
    Tallahassee, FL 32301

    850.222.6550

    Birmingham

    2001 Park Place North
    Suite 1300
    Birmingham, AL 35203

    205.327.5550
    Start a conversation
    Search for an attorney
    Facebook
    LinkedIn
    Twitter
    ©2023 Rumberger, Kirk & Caldwell, P.A.
    All rights reserved.
    Legal
    Attorney Advertising A site by Big Vision.