Michael Goetz

Attorney
  • Attorney Michael Goetz Martindale-Hubbell Preeminent lawyer 2018
  • Attorney Michael Goetz Florida Legal Elite 2020
  • Attorney Michael Goetz America's Top 100 High Stakes Litigations 2018
Biography

Biography Overview

Michael Goetz was born in St. Petersburg, Florida on December 28, 1966. In 1989, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with high honors in political science from Emory University. And In 1992, he earned his law degree with honors from the University of Florida.

After graduating law school, Mr. Goetz joined the international law firm of Holland & Knight LLP where his practice focused on the defense of claims involving product liability, medical negligence, and general liability, as well as complex commercial litigation matters. He became a Partner in the firm on January 1, 2000.

In 2002, Mr. Goetz joined Morgan & Morgan, where his practice shifted to the prosecution of personal injury and wrongful death claims on behalf of individuals and consumer classes. He has represented hundreds of clients in cases involving automobile and premises liability, nursing home abuse and neglect, and environmental torts.

Since 2008, Mr. Goetz has served as head of the Mass Tort Section of the Morgan & Morgan Complex Litigation Group. In this capacity, he handles mass tort actions for the firm nationwide, including product liability claims involving dangerous drugs and defective medical devices. Mr. Goetz has been appointed to Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee (“PSC”) positions in federal Multi-District Litigation including: Zostavax (MDL 2848, Co-Lead Counsel); Pradaxa (MDL 2385); Transvaginal Mesh (MDLs 2187, 2325, 2326, and 2327); and Total Body Formula (MDL 985). He has also served on standing PSC subcommittees including Chinese Drywall (MDL 2047, Co-Chair of Public Relations Subcommittee); Yaz (MDL 2100, Discovery Subcommittee); and Depuy ASR (MDL 2197, Science Subcommittee).

Mr. Goetz was admitted to The Florida Bar in 1992. He holds the highest rating awarded to lawyers for legal ability and ethics (“AV”) by Martindale-Hubbell. Additionally, in multiple, successive years he was designated by Florida Trend’s Magazine as a “Florida Legal Elite” in the field of Civil Trial, and by Law & Politics Magazine as a Florida “Super Lawyer” in the field of Class Action / Mass Torts.

In 2018, Mr. Goetz was selected to membership in America’s Top 100 High Stakes Litigators, a designation received by less than one-half percent of active attorneys in the United States.



Practice Areas


Education

Education
  •  
  • Emory University, B.A., Magna Cum Laude, 1989
    • Phi Beta Kappa
  • University of Florida, J.D., with Honors, 1992
    • Board Member, Justice Campbell Thornal Moot Court Team, 1990-1992
    • Finalist and First Place Brief, Jerome Prince National Moot Court Competition, 1992
  •  

Memberships

Memberships
  • The Florida Bar
  • American Association for Justice
  • Florida Justice Association
  • Hillsborough County Bar Association
  • American Trial Lawyers Association


Bar Admission

Bar Admission
  • The Florida Bar


Locations