Like each of the three partners in the Warshauer Law Group, Michael Warshauer enjoys taking on difficult legal challenges – those that require analyzing complex data and developing creative approaches that are not evident to others. This ability to see what others don’t see is often what attracts clients and referrals to the firm.
Michael’s background as one of the premiere, nationally known railroad injury lawyers for victims of railroad accidents has prepared him for the complex litigation that he handles every day. Michael continues to handle railroad and FELA claims, but spends most of his time helping people who have been injured by defective products, medical malpractice, and fires and explosions. He has shown that being able to win consistently in cases against large railroads well-prepares him to take on other powerful interests, including international manufacturers and health care conglomerates.
Michael regularly teaches continuing legal education courses and leads seminars for non-lawyers seeking to learn about the law. He has presented seminars sponsored by organizations that include the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association, the National College of Trial Advocacy, the American Association for Justice, the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association and the American Board of Trial Advocates. Michael is also one of only a handful of Board Certified Civil Trial Advocates in Georgia who limit their practice to the representation of catastrophically injured plaintiffs.
Education:
- University of South Carolina School of Law, Columbia, South Carolina, 1983
- J.D.
- Law Review: South Carolina Law Review, Member
- University of South Carolina, 1980
- B.S., cum laude
Bar Admissions:
- Georgia, 1983
- Tennessee, 1996
- United States Supreme Court, 1997
Professional Associations and Memberships:
- Georgia Trial Lawyers Association
- President, 2010-2011
- Vice President, Atlanta Judicial District, 1998
- American Association for Justice (formerly ATLA)
- Academy of Trial Advocacy
- National Board of Trial Advocacy
- Academy of Rail Labor Attorneys
- American Bar Association
- American Board of Trial Advocates
- Southeastern American Board of Trial Advocates
- American Civil Liberties Union
- Lawyers Club of Atlanta
- Civil Justice Foundation
- Georgia Consumer Justice Foundation
- National Crime Victim Bar Association
- Trial Lawyers for Public Justice
- United Transportation Union
- Georgia Bar Association
- Tennessee Bar Association
- Atlanta Bar Association
Honors and Certifications:
- Recipient of the 2009 Wiedemann & Wysocki award (given by the American Association of Justice)
- AV-Rated by Martindale Hubbell
- Board Certified in Civil Trial Advocacy by the National Board of Trial Advocacy
- American Board of Trial Advocates
- Georgia SuperLawyer 2005-2013
- Best Lawyers in America
- Top 100 Lawyers in Georgia
- 10.0 AVVO Rating
- Certified Advocate of National Board of Civil Pretrial Practice
Publications:
- "Railroad, Maritime Lawyers See Victor in US Supreme Court's FELA Decision," Lawyers USA, July 2011
- "High-Tech Testing," Trial, Volume 47, No. 6, June 2011
- "Recognition of a Products Liability Claim," Verdict, 1999
- "Surfing for Lawyers", Verdict, Spring, Fall, Winter, 1998
- "Annual Survey of South Carolina Law," 34 South Carolina Law Review 125, 137 (1982)
- Chapter: "Railroad Law and Defenses," Georgia Jurisprudence-Personal Injury and Torts, §37:1-43-11, Volume 15, Chapter 40, West Publishing, 1994, updated 1998
- "Proper Pleadings Prevent Preemption Problems," Trial Magazine, Volume 43, No. 5. pp 68-70.
Lectures, Classes & Seminars Taught:
- Plaintiff's Personal Injury Seminars (ICLE Georgia)
- *2010: "Preparation and Use of Demonstrative Evidence"
- 2009:
- *2008: "Creative Use of Demonstrative Evidence"
- *2007: "Getting the Small Car Wreck to Trial in an Efficient Manner"j
- 2002: "My Top Ten Tips on Presenting Evidence at Trial"
- 2001: "Effectiveness of Mediation from Plaintiff's Perspective"
- 2000, 1999: "Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire - Impeachment by Cross Examination""
- 1998, 1997: "Demonstrative Evidence: Exhibits for the Rich and the Poor"
- 1996: "Picking an Appeal Proof Jury (or the Dangers of Baston v. Kentucky)"
- 1995: "Trial Preparation"
- 1994: "Direct Examination of Expert Witnesses"
- 1993: "Jury Charges - Writing, Using and Preserving"
- GTLA Motor Vehicle / Auto Torts
- 2007: "Opening 'Argument'"
- 1995, 1994, 1993: "Trial Themes: A Trial Without a Theme is a Trial Without a Purpose and Without Hope"
- 1992: "So You Have to Try the Case - Basic Ideas and Themes on Presenting the Case ... Proven Ideas that Work"
- GTLA Annual Seminar
- 1998: "Are You the Steamroller or the Pavement? Five Things that Make a Difference"
- 1997: "Boilerplate Forms on Disk: How to Handle the Automobile Wreck Case Without Reinventing the Wheel"
- GTLA Holiday Seminar
- 2004: "Medicaid Liens"
- 2002: with Lyle Warshauer, "Medicaid & Medicare: Are The Liens Valid"
- 2001: "Jury Instructions and Law in Trucking Cases"
- 1999: "Posttraumatic Stress Disorder"
- GTLA Torts of Sorts
- 1999: "Trial Exhibits and Demonstrative Evidence"
- 1998: "Beating the Statute of Repose - New Ideas for Old Products"
- 1997: "Suing Railroads: The Train May Win the Battle, But You Can Win the War"
- Other GTLA Seminars
- Ultimate Discovery Workshop, Aug 2005, "The Curious Work of Depositions"
- Traumatic Brain Injuries, Jan 2004, "Opening 'Argument'"
- "Start to Finish" Plaintiff's Trial Marathon, Aug 2001, "Opening 'Argument'"
- "Start to Finish" Plaintiff's Trial Marathon, Aug 1996, "Examination - Direct, Cross and Objections'"
- ICLE Workshops
- Group Mentoring, May 2010, Mentoring Group Leader
- Winning Settlement Demand Packages, 2010, "Creating and Using Demonstrative Evidence and Technology"
- Jury Trial, Feb 2010, "Recent Findings on Relating to Jurors"
- Trial Skills, June 2010, "Demonstrative Evidence"
- Punitive Damages, Sept 2009, "Punitive Damages in Trucking Cases"
- Trial Skills, June 2005, "Cross Examination"
- Winning Brain Injury Cases, March 2003, "My Top Ten Tips on Presenting Evidence at Trial"
- *Technology at Trial, Dec 2000, "Use of PowerPoint in Direct and Cross Examination of Witnesses"
- *Torts of Sorts, 1997-1999, "Product Liability - A Basic Overview of Most of the Important Stuff"
- ATLA Annual Convention
- *2007, 2006: Railroad Grade Crossing Litigation Strategy Roundtable
- 2006: "Novel Yet Unconventional Trial Tactics That Worked"
- 2005:
- 2004: "The Train Usually Wins, The Crew Too Often Loses: A Multipronged Approach to Recovery For Crew Injuries Caused By Grade Crossing Collisions"
- 2002: "Case Evaluation and Selection: Can You Afford to Take the Case"
- 2001: "Daubert, Joiner, Kumho Tire & Weisgram: What These Cases Stand For"
- 1999: "Demonstrative Evidence in Railroad Cases From Cheap to Expensive"
- 1998: "How to Use a Daubert Challenge to Maximize the Plaintiff's Case"
- ATLA Conferences/Workshops
- Litigation @ Sunrise, 2005: "Combating the Intervening Negligence Defense in Product Liability Cases"
- *Railroad Grade Crossing Seminar, January 2005
- *Beyond Workers' Compensation: Maximizing Your Client's Recovery for On-the-Job Injuries
- June 2008, July 2007, March 2003: "An Overview of Georgia Product Liability Law"
- Medical Malpractice Institute
- 2002: with Lyle Warshauer, "Subrogation and Reimbursement: An Update"
- 2001: "Mediation of a Medical Negligence Case From the Plaintiff's Perspective"
- Middle Georgia Trial Lawyers Assocation
- 2001: "Technology in the Courtroom"
- Virginia Trial Lawyers Association
- 2002: "My Top Ten Tips on Presenting Evidence at Trial"
- Roscoe Pound Institute
- 2002: "Dynamic Demonstrative Evidence"
- Lorman Educational Services
- 2001: "Conducting an Effective Cross Examination in Georgia"
- 1999: "Personal Injury Law"
*Event chaired or co-chaired by Michael Warshauer