“Our clients want results and they want efficiency. Our mission is to do both of these things exceedingly well.”
Michael B. McDonald is an experienced litigator and trial attorney representing clients in complex professional, employment, and premises liability matters throughout California. Having represented clients on both the plaintiff and defense side against some of the largest corporations and law firms in the nation, Michael has taken hundreds of depositions, has successfully resolved claims in excess of $50 million, and has helped obtain favorable defense verdicts in high exposure jury trials.
In recognition of his achievements, Michael has been selected for inclusion as a Super Lawyers “Rising Star” and Best Lawyers “Ones to Watch” since 2020. Bringing his unique experience and strategic insight to every case, Michael is committed to helping his clients efficiently achieve their legal objectives and in preparing his cases to “go the distance” if and when necessary.
Prior to partnering with Steve and Liam to create LMM, Michael began his legal career defending large public entities and design professionals before joining one of the preeminent plaintiff law firms in California, where he successfully recovered millions of dollars on behalf of his clients. Based in Newport Beach, Mr. McDonald is seeking to raise the bar in representing design professionals and businesses in high exposure negligence, breach of contract, and employment claims.
J.D. | Loyola Law School
B.A. | University of California Los Angeles
American Institute of Architects
American Council of Engineering Companies
California
Oregon
United States District Court, Northern District of California
United States District Court, Eastern District of California
United States District Court, Central District of California
Legal Malpractice Lawsuit Successfully Resolved at Trial. LMM Partner Mike McDonald recently represented a highly experienced attorney against a multimillion-dollar legal malpractice lawsuit. In what was a very challenging case involving admitted liability and significant claimed damages, Mike focused on attacking the plaintiff’s claims in expert discovery, through aggressive pre-trial motions to exclude key evidence and witnesses, and through effective jury selection to posture the case for a remarkably successful resolution on the third day of trial.
Favorable Defense Verdict Against Brain Injury Claim. Mike was part of the trial team defending a large public entity in a personal injury lawsuit involving an alleged traumatic brain injury sustained in a car accident. In a difficult case involving admitted fault and a multi-million-dollar claim, Mike tailored his opening statement, cross-examination of key witnesses and closing argument to successfully refute the opposing counsel’s damages contentions. The jury agreed with Mike and awarded the exact damages figure that he proposed at closing, which amounted to approximately 1% of Plaintiff’s alleged damages.
Successful Application of Design Professional “Completed and Accepted” Defense. In a successful application of the “completed and accepted” doctrine, Mike and the LMM team successfully defeated a contentious personal injury case involving professional negligence. Agreeing that the subject condition giving rise to the alleged injury was completed and accepted by the owner before the subject incident occurred, the court granted LMM’s Motion for Summary Adjudication and dismissed the plaintiff’s professional negligence cause of action. Mike was then able to leverage the successful ruling into a complete dismissal with prejudice of the plaintiff’s action against the client.
Dismissal of Cross-Complaint against Engineer. Mike represented a structural engineering client sued by the architect on a cross-complaint in a multi-million-dollar dispute related to a public works project in Santa Barbara County. After a multi-state investigation into the architect, LMM determined that the architect had failed to maintain its ability to transact business in California, had been dissolved in the state where it was formed, and thus had no standing to sue LMM’s client. Through novel motion practice, first to dismiss the architect’s cross-claims, then to dismiss the intervening insurer’s claims, LMM secured orders dismissing the case entirely as to their client.
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