Michael represents California’s largest health plan payors in high-stakes litigation and regulatory matters often involving reasonable value disputes, breach of contract lawsuits, and bad faith actions brought by medical providers and health plan members.
His practice focuses on disputes arising from complex healthcare payment and coverage frameworks, where regulatory requirements, reimbursement methodologies, and commercial obligations intersect.
Michael litigates healthcare matters from case inception through trial, managing all phases of litigation strategy, pleadings, discovery, dispositive motions, and pre- and post-trial proceedings. As a trial attorney, Michael has taken cases to verdict in jury and bench trials, including recently second chairing a team to a jury verdict in favor of a health plan client in a bad faith and breach of contract dispute.
Michael brings a deep understanding of California healthcare law and the regulatory framework governing health plan payors. He develops litigation strategies tailored to client objectives and provides candid, practical guidance on early resolution, dispositive motion practice, mediation, and trial strategy, helping clients evaluate risk and position matters effectively for early resolution or through trial, depending on the client’s objectives and the case strengths and weaknesses. While Michael and his team have taken cases to trial, he is also experienced in securing pre-trial wins for health plan clients, including early dismissal, summary judgment victories and defeating class certification.
Prior to joining Husch Blackwell, Michael litigated in the Los Angeles office of a large national law firm. In addition to his deep knowledge of the healthcare space, Michael has litigated high-stakes commercial litigation disputes, and lawsuits arising in the white collar, entertainment, technology, government, and employment industries. This background enables him to develop creative legal strategies for health plan clients.
Clients value Michael’s responsiveness, attention to detail, and disciplined management of complex litigation dockets. He is known for sound judgment, the ability to think critically as issues evolve, and for keeping matters organized and moving efficiently in high-volume environments, including through and after trial.