Principal of Michels & Watkins, Phil Michels A.P.L.C. specializes in medical malpractice, catastrophic personal injury and sexual abuse of children.

Philip Michels visit superlawyers.com

Areas of Practice:

Medical Malpractice Law

Personal Injury Law

Sexual Abuse

Bar Admissions:

California, 1973

Education:

University of California at Los Angeles School of Law, Los Angeles, California
J.D.

University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
B.A.
Major:  Mathematics

University of California at Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California
M.A.
Major:  English

Published Works:

The Rich and the Rest, Advocate - Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles, March, 2011

Political Influence in Judicial Selection, Advocate, February, 2011

Patient Safety vs. Corporate Profits, Advocate, January, 2011

Thirty-five years experience with MICRA , Advocate - Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles, October, 2010

Development and Resolution of Medical Malpractice Cases, Advocate - Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles, September , 2010

Preparing for and Taking a Defense Expert Deposition, Advocate - Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles, September, 2010

Marshalling Medical Evidence for Trial , Advocate - Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles, Septemeber, 2009

Medical Issues in Discovery, Advocate - Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles, August, 2008

Finding and Effectively Using Experts in a Professional Negligence Case, Advocate - Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles, April, 2007

Deposition Strategies , Advocate - Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles, December, 2005

Finding and Retaining Experts in a Professional Negligence Case, Advocate - Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles, September, 2005

Presenting the Best Case with An Unsympathetic Client , Advocate - Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles, September , 2003

The Psychology of Depositions, Advocate - Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles, April, 2003

Common Mistakes You Should Avoid in Medical Malpractice, Advocate - Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles, August, 2002

Motions in Limine, Advocate - Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles, December, 2001

Opening Statement, Advocate - Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles, 2001

Strategies for Dealing with the Statute of Limitations in Medical Malpractice Cases, Advocate - Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles, September, 1999

Strategies for Dealing with the Statute of Limitations in Medical Malpractice Cases , Advocate - Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles, September, 1999

Liability of Pre-paid Health Plans for the Medical Malpractice of their Subcontracting Providers , Los Angeles Trial Lawyers Association , Advocate, August, 1982

Attacking the Doubling Time Defense in Breast Cancer Cases (Co-Author with Dr. Joseph Mirra), Medical Trial Technique Quarterly and California Trial Lawyers Association Forum, Winter, 1981

How to Obtain and Use Experts in Medical Malpractice Cases , California Trial Lawyers Association Journal v. 19, #1

Classes/Seminars Taught:

"Deposition Strategies," Trial Lawyer Skills for the New Attorney, March 19 and 20, 2010

Malpractice Cases, Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles, Las Vegas Convention, 2010

"Taking Depositions", Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles New Lawyer Seminar, 2009

"Psychology of Depositions & Marketing Tips for Your Practice", CAALA New Lawyers Section, 2009

Techniques to Prepare and Take the Defense Experts Deposition, Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles, Las Vegas Convention, 2007.

"Dealing with Unsympathetic Clients", Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles, Las Vegas Convention, 2004

"Advanced Trial Skills", Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles, Las Vegas Convention, 2003

Moderator, Medical Malpractice Panel, Consumer Attorneys of California, San Francisco Convention Chair of Subsection, 2002

"Deposing Defendants Physician", Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles, Las Vegas Convention, 1999

"Use of Videotaped Child Interviews in Civil Trials: Innovative Techniques, Technology and Trial Presentation", Children's Center for Child Protection, San Diego Conference on Responding to Child Maltreatment Syllabus, 1998

"Finding and Retaining Experts in a Professional Negligence Case", Consumer Attorneys of California, Las Vegas Convention, October 17, 1997

"Selected Issues in Medical Malpractice", With David Corwin, MD, California Trial Lawyers Association, San Francisco Convention Syllabus, November, 1995

"Opening Statements in Medical Malpractice Cases", Consumer Attorneys of California, San Francisco Convention, 1991

"Selection and Aggressive Management of Cancer Cases", California Trial Lawyers Association Convention Syllabus, 1986

"Finding Experts in Medical Malpractice Cases", Consumer Attorneys of California, Newport Beach Convention, 1986

"Recreational Accidents: Liability and Immunity of Public Entities", California Trial Lawyers Association Forum, 1984

Honors and Awards:

Best Lawyers/US News - Best Law Firm - Los Angeles Tier 1, - Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs (2006 - Present)

       

Best Lawyer in America, 2012

  

Los Angeles Best Lawyers Professional Malpractice Law Lawyer of the Year, 2012

 

Southern California Super Lawyer (2006 - Present)

AV Rated by Martindale-Hubbell

Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles Trial Lawyer of the Year (2003)

California Business Journal, Litigator Profile

Los Angeles Daily Journal, Litigator Profile, 2011

Certified in Professional Negligence, American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys

The American Trial Lawyers Association Top 100 Trial Lawyers in California

The State Bar of California Legal Specialist: Medical Professional Liability (American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys)

 

Professional Associations and Memberships:

Los Angeles County Bar Association

State Bar of California, Litigation Section - Committee on Rules and Procedures of Court (1982 1985)

Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles - Board of Governors (2001 2004), Treasurer (2007), Second Vice President (2008), First Vice President (2009), President-Elect (2010), President (2011)

American Board of Trial Advocates

American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys

American Association for Justice

Consumer Attorneys of California

Association of Trial Lawyers of America

Pro Bono Activities:

"Crusading Against Medical Malpractice - With or Without Legal Fees", Los Angeles Daily Journal, 2009