Michael J. Watt practices all forms of insurance defense litigation including the handling of claims involving general liability, commercial litigation, first- and third-party motor vehicle cases, general liability, premises liability, insurance coverage, construction defects, wrongful death, agent errors and omissions, and property, fire, and casualty. Mike frequently sits as a defense arbitrator and serves as a facilitative mediator on request.
During the past twenty years, he has tried more than 100 cases to verdict in a variety of matters including wrongful death, catastrophic injury, and substantial property damage. An experienced litigator, Mike has represented clients in complex civil cases in state, federal and appellate courts. He is highly respected for his wide range of knowledge and record of success in the courtroom.
Mike is a first chair trial attorney experienced in handling cases as the sole trial attorney or coordinating trial teams for complex cases involving multiple layers of primary and excess coverage.
Mike is a frequent speaker throughout the country for various insurance companies and trade organizations concerning claims handling, practice issues, and trial strategy. He is often requested by clients to provide training on claim representative depositions and trial preparation. Mike’s prior experience was as a process engineer, quality control manager, and plant manager in the food industry where he frequently presented updates on engineering and processing design, as well as food processing biological safety. He presented to a national gathering of Food and Drug Administration and State Food Safety Regulators on the control of foodborne pathogens in manufacturing facilities. He was a member of committee composed of industry stakeholders and state regulators that wrote amendments to Michigan’s food regulatory and safety statutes.
When Mike is not preparing for trial, he and his wife are avid world travelers and enjoy exploring new countries and cultures. Mike enjoys staying active with outdoor activities such as a snorkeling, cycling, hiking, and gardening.
- State Bar of Michigan
- Alternative Dispute Resolution Section
- Insurance and Indemnity Law Section
- Litigation Section
- Negligence Law Section
- “Claim File Production in the Age of Initial Disclosure,” ICLE No-Fault Summit (May 2020)
- “What Happens When Something Goes Wrong During Trial (And How to Fix It),” Michigan Defense Trial Counsel Winter Meeting (2018)
- “Anatomy of a Lawsuit”
- “Update on Recent Appellate Decisions”
- “Food Processing Plant Control of Food Borne Pathogens”
- “Food Safety Regulations”
- Clark v. Jones, (Saginaw County Circuit Court | 2023)
- Kapsokavathis PLLC v. Auto Owners, (Macomb County Circuit Court | 2023)
- Layher v. Sorensen, (Jackson County Circuit Court | 2021)
- Katto v. GEICO, (Wayne County | 2019)
- Total Toxicology LLC v. Auto Owners, (44th District Royal Oak | 2018)
- Prilipp v. Home Owners, (Lenawee County, 2018)
- Hearns v. State Farm, (Oakland County, 2017)
- Darnell Mandy & VHS v. John Doe and State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, (Wayne County | 2017)
- Carla Torongo v. Pienta and Farm Bureau General Insurance Company, (Oakland County | July 24, 2017)
- Asima Khan v. Prashant Patel, (Oakland County | April 13, 2017)
- Jesus Moreno v. City of Detroit, (Wayne County | 2016)
- Penfil v. Home Owners Insurance Co, (Oakland County | December 14, 2016)
- Sonny Homasi v. State Farm, (Wayne County | 2016)
- Darla Dane v. Michael Umfress, (Monroe County | 2015)
- Donald Quick v. Joel Wallinga, (Washtenaw County | 2015)
- Mallory-Bey, Losonbey, Hammound, P.C. v. State Farm, (Wayne County | 2014)
- Hensley-Panicaccia v. State Farm, (Washtenaw County | 2014)
- Allen v. State Farm, (Washtenaw County | 2013)
- Perry v. Robinson, (Wayne County | 2013)
- Maye v. State Farm, (Wayne County | 2013)
- Hall v. State Farm, (Wayne County | 2013)
- Asset Acceptance v. Bill Rann, (65A District Court | 2013)
- Jones, Springer, Holmes v. State Farm, (Wayne County | 2013)
- Kotovska v. State Farm, (Macomb County | 2013)
- Mutke (Miller) v. State Farm Strive Rec Therapy v State Farm, (Washtenaw County | 2012)
- Neufer v. State Farm, (Wayne County | 2012)
- Bobby White v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, (Wayne County | February 28, 2012)
- Johnson v. Robinson, (Wayne County | 2011)
- Ankawi v Hatch, (Oakland County | 2011)
- Gomez-Garrison v. Piper, (Jackson County | 2011)
- Lee v. State Farm, (Genesee County | 2011)
- Clardy v. Friedland, (Jackson County | 2011)
- Little v. Farm Bureau, (Genesee County | 2011)
- Anderson-Bennett v. State Farm, (Washtenaw County | 2010)
- Carignan v. State Farm, (Washtenaw County | 2010)
- Brown v. State Farm, (Wayne County | 2010)
- Burton v. Sherman, (Macomb County | 2010)
- State Farm/Brandon Gavin v. ABC Warehouse, (61st District Court | 2010)
- Robertson v. State Farm, (Wayne County | 2010)
- Mansoob v. Polidori, et al, (Wayne County | 2010)
- Elliott v. State Farm, (Shiawassee County | 2009)
- Walters v. State Farm, (Wayne County | 2009)
- Harding v. State Farm, (Jackson County | 2009)
- James v. State Farm, (Monroe County | 2009)
- Brown v. Farm Bureau, (Wayne County | 2009)
- Clark v. ABC Appliance, (Macomb County | 2009)
- Marszalek v. Skotzke, (Macomb County | 2009)
- Barbier v. Cosby, (Monroe County | 2009)
- Sackett v. State Farm, (Hillsdale County | 2008)
- Warnaar v. Davis, (Ingham County | 2008)
- Geovic V. State Farm, (Macomb County | 2008)
- Schwab v. State Farm, (Lenawee County | 2008)
- Staten v. State Farm, (Monroe County | 2008)
- Moore v. State Farm, (54-A District | 2008)
- Brewster v. State Farm, (Macomb County | 2008)
- Griffith v. Johnson, (22nd District Inkster | 2008)
- Progressive v. Mickey Shorr, (Oakland County | 2007)
- Ford v. Simons, (Wayne County | 2007)
- Brabbs v. Wallace, (Genesee County | 2007)
- Garner v. Callan, (Wayne County | 2007)
- Hughson v. State Farm, (Monroe County | 2007)
- Grobaski v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance, (Jackson County | August 28, 2007)
- Edwards v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance, (Genesee County | 2007)
- Msheik v. Johnson, et al, (Wayne County | December 3, 2007)
- Hope v. ABC Appliance, (Muskegon County | 2007)
- Angela Brooks v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance, (Genesee County | September 29, 2006)
- Beverly Snodgrass v. Susan Nielson and Roger Lajiness, (Monroe County | April 4, 2006)
- Lavack v. ABC Warehouse, (28th District Southgate | 2006)
- Ritter v. ABC Warehouse, (Genesee County | 2006)
- Foremost v. Mickey Shorr, (Livingston County | 2006)
- White v. Stockton, (Isabella County | 2006)
- Nash v. Smith, (Monroe County | 2005)
- Lee v. Teets, (Wayne County | 2005)
- Schultz v. Gross, (Livingston County | 2005)
- Kupiec v. State Farm, (23rd District Taylor | 2005)
- Waller v. ABC Appliane, (44th District Royal Oak | 2005)
- Citizens v. ABC Appliance, (Muskegon County | 2005)
Appellate Decisions
- Sarmad Asraeel v. Farm Bureau General Insurance Co., 1st District Court of Appeals (May 2018)
- Jennifer Cockrell v. Maria Locher, 1st District Court of Appeals (May 2015)
- Dianna Brooks v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co., 1st District Court of Appeals (February 2015)
- Cindy Beth Clardy v. Thomas Tannar Restrick Jr., 1st District Court of Appeals (May 2011)
- Lakebia Gossett v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co., 1st District Court of Appeals (May 2010)
- Lily Clark v. ABC Warehouse, 1st District Court of Appeals (April 2009)
- Linda Hanover-Brewster v. State Farm Mutual Auto Insurance Co., 1st District Court of Appeals (November 2008)
- Jacqueline Maness v. Carleton Pharmacy LLC, 1st District Court of Appeals (July 2008)