Meet Michael

DEPENDABLE EXPERIENCE BY YOUR SIDE

For more than 40 years, I have provided civil litigation services to residents of Chapel Hill, Raleigh, Durham and surrounding areas of central North Carolina. My reputation is based on proven results. Most of my work focuses on defending the rights of consumers in civil matters concerning defective products, such as airbags, machinery, and other items that put unaware consumers at risk for injury or death.

BAR ADMISSIONS

  • North Carolina, 1977
  • U.S. District Court Middle District of North Carolina
  • U.S. District Court Eastern District of North Carolina
  • U.S. District Court Western District of North Carolina
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit
  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • Cherokee Tribal Court

Education

  • J.D. University of North Carolina School of Law, 1977
  • M.A. Duke University, 1977
  • A.B. Duke University, 1972

Published Works



  • 2023-2024 Products Liability Update, NCAJ Annual Convention, North Carolina Advocates for Justice Education Foundation, Inc., 2024
  • 2022-2023 Products Liability Update, NCAJ Annual Convention, North Carolina Advocates for Justice Education Foundation, Inc., 2023
  • 2020-2022 Products Liability Update, NCAJ Annual Convention, North Carolina Advocates for Justice Education Foundation, Inc., 2022
  • 2018-2019 Products Liability Update, NCAJ Annual Convention, North Carolina Advocates for Justice Education Foundation, Inc., 2019
  • 2017-2018 Products Liability Update, NCAJ Annual Convention, North Carolina Advocates for Justice Education Foundation, Inc., 2018
  • 2016-2017 Products Liability Update, NCAJ Annual Convention, North Carolina Advocates for Justice Education Foundation, Inc., 2017
  • A Primer on Protective Orders and Sealing Records, Trial Briefs, North Carolina Advocates for Justice, July 2016
  • 2015-2016 Products Liability Update, NCAJ Annual Convention, North Carolina Advocates for Justice Education Foundation, Inc., 2016
  • 2014-2015 Products Liability Update, NCAJ Annual Convention, North Carolina Advocates for Justice Education Foundation, Inc., 2015
  • 2013-2014 Products Liability Update, NCAJ Annual Convention, North Carolina Advocates for Justice Education Foundation, Inc., 2014
  • 2012-2013 Products Liability Update, NCAJ Annual Convention, North Carolina Advocates for Justice Education Foundation, Inc., 2013
  • Products Liability Chapter Editor, Manual of Complaints, (Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth editions), North Carolina Advocates for Justice Education Foundation, Inc., 2006, 2008, 2011, 2013
  • 2010-2011 Products Liability Update, NCAJ Annual Convention, North Carolina Advocates for Justice Education Foundation, Inc., 2011
  • 2009-2010 Products Liability Update, NCAJ Annual Convention, North Carolina Advocates for Justice Education Foundation, Inc., 2010
  • 2007-2008 Products Liability Update, NCAJ Annual Convention, North Carolina Advocates for Justice Education Foundation, Inc., 2008
  • 2006-2007 Products Liability Update, NCATL Annual Convention, North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers Education Foundation, Inc., 2007
  • 2005-2006 Products Liability Update, NCATL Annual Convention, North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers Education Foundation, Inc., 2006
  • Recognizing and Evaluating Product Liability Claims In Auto Cases in North Carolina: 2006, Auto Torts, Seminar, NCATL Annual Convention, North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers Education Foundation, Inc., 2006
  • 2004-2005 Products Liability Update, NCATL Annual Convention, North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers Education Foundation, Inc., 2005
  • 2002-2003 Products Liability Update, NCATL Annual Convention, North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers Education Foundation, Inc., 2003
  • An Overview of the Products Liability Statutes: Understanding the Law and Putting It Into Practice, Products Liability, North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers Education Foundation, Inc., 2003
  • Picking Winners and Losers: Eleven Rules to Follow in Selecting Cases, Nuts and Bolts of Product Liability Litigation, North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers, 2002
  • The Products Liability Statute of Repose: Questioning the Constitutional Foundations, Trial Briefs, North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers, May, 2002
  • Recognizing and Avoiding Common Product Liability Defenses, Products Liability: Proving Companies Harm, Proving Companies Conspire, North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers, 2001
  • Defenses in Products Liability Actions: The State of the Art, Trial Briefs, North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers, 2000
  • The Product Liability Statute of Repose: Understanding and Avoiding Its Reach, Products Liability: Understanding and Winning under the New Legislation, North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers, 1996
  • North Carolina Statutes of Repose: Their Scope and Limitations, Damages and Remedies: New Theories, New Successes, New Defenses, North Carolina Bar Foundation, 1987
  • Toward a Codification of the Law of Evidence in North Carolina, 16 Wake Forest L. Rev. 669, 1980
  • Note, Golden v. Biscayne Bay Yacht Club: Preventing Discrimination by Private Clubs, 54 N.C.L. Rev. 685, 1976


Professional Associations and Memberships

  • North Carolina Advocates for Justice, 1980 – Present
  • Chair, Products Liability Section 2000-2003, 2005-06
  • American Association for Justice, 1980 – Present
  • American Bar Association, 1979 – Present
  • North Carolina Bar Association
  • Litigation Section Council, 2005 to present, Secretary, 2010-11, Vice-Chair 2011-12, Chair 2012-13
  • The North Carolina State Bar