Overview
Michael is a trial attorney whose diverse practice currently includes medical malpractice, personal injury, police misconduct, and civil rights litigation. Michael joined Spangenberg, Shibley & Liber LLP in 2020 after practicing in Los Angeles, California with the nationally recognized plaintiff’s firm, Engstrom, Lipscomb & Lack.
Michael has a history of obtaining large, seven-figure recoveries for his clients on a wide variety of cases, such as medical malpractice, personal injury, police misconduct, insurance bad faith, construction defect, and traumatic brain injuries. He has tried many cases to verdict and has represented his clients in state and federal courts around the country, as well as in appellate courts in both Ohio and California.
Employment
- 2025-present: Spangenberg, Shibley & Liber LLP, Cleveland, Ohio, Partner
- 2020-2024: Spangenberg, Shibley & Liber LLP, Cleveland, Ohio, Associate
- 2014-2020: Engstrom, Lipscomb & Lack APC, Los Angeles, California, Member Attorney
- 2013-2014: Douglas / Hicks Law, Beverly Hills, California, Law Clerk
- 2013: Waters, Kraus & Paul – El Segundo, California – Law Clerk
- 2009-2010: United States Fulbright Commission, Dresden, Germany
Education
- 2014: Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, California, Juris Doctor
- 2009: Wake Forest University, B.A., Winston-Salem, North Carolina
- German Major, Chemistry Minor
- Graduated cum laude
- 2009-2010: United States Fulbright Scholar, Dresden, Germany
Admissions
- California
- Central District of California
- Ohio
- Northern District of Ohio
- Southern District of Ohio
- Northern District of Indiana
Leadership and Professional Memberships
- Ohio Association for Justice
- American Association for Justice
Awards and Honors
- Top 40 under 40 – National Trial Lawyers
- Robinson Trial Advocacy Scholar (2014)
- ABOTA Award for Excellence in Trial Advocacy (2014)
- NTC National Finalist – placed 2nd in the Nation out of 300+ teams (2014)
- NTC Regional Champion –1st in the Southern California Region (2014)
- TOC National Finalist –2nd out of the top 16 trial teams in the Nation (2013)
- Loyola Scholar (2011)
- James O’Flaherty Award for Excellence in German (2009)
- Delta Phi Alpha, German Honor Society
Case Results
- $1.5 million medical malpractice verdict in Cuyahoga County in 2024.
- $7 million medical malpractice wrongful death verdict in Mahoning County in 2023.
- $17 million wrongful death verdict in Cuyahoga County in 2022.
- $5.85 million wrongful death verdict in Allen County in 2022.
- $3.25 million settlement for Insurance Bad Faith.
- $2.4 million settlement for Traumatic Brain Injury.
- $3 million settlement for Construction Defect/Landslide.
- $2.5 million settlement for Police Shooting.
- $1.7 million settlement for Police Shooting.
Outside of the Courtroom
Like several of his colleagues at Spangenberg, Michael came to the Cleveland area to raise his two children with his wife, Robyn, who is originally from Chagrin Falls.
Michael comes from Huntsville, Alabama, but landed in Cleveland by way of California. It was in Redondo Beach, California where Michael and Robyn started their family. Michael and Robyn met by chance in Dresden, Germany while watching the United States play during the 2010 World Cup.
In his free time, Michael enjoys running, the outdoors, playing soccer, and attending live music performances.