Atty. Michael Lewis Forte
Mike Forte practices in the areas of trucking, casualty and product liability. He defends clients in trucking accidents involving negligence, catastrophic injury and wrongful death in both state and federal courts.
Profile Summary
About Michael Lewis Forte at a glance
Michael Lewis Forte is a Partner based in Tampa, Florida, practicing at Rumberger, Kirk & Caldwell Professional Association. They have 24+ years of legal experience, licensed to practice since 2002. Their practice focuses on personal injury, class action, product liability, litigation, and government. Admitted to practice in Florida (2002). Educated at Stetson University, College of Law (J.D., 2002) and University of Florida (B.A. English, 1999). Recognitions include AV Preeminent. Serands clients in Tampa, FL and the surrounding metropolitan area.
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About
- Mike Forte practices in the areas of trucking, casualty and product liability
- He defends clients in trucking accidents involving negligence, catastrophic injury and wrongful death in both state and federal courts
- A large portion of his practice involves defending Canadian drivers in lawsuits stemming from Florida accidents
- Mike has written and lectured extensively on cross-border issues important to Canadians
- He also defends manufacturers of medical equipment and exercise equipment, as well as automobile and airplane manufacturers in product liability matters, and represents retail companies across the state in matters involving negligent security and premises liability
- Awards & Honors •Named a '40 under 40 Up & Comer' by the Tampa Bay Business Journal, 2014 •Florida Defense Lawyers Association Trial Advocate Quarterly Award, 2014 •AV-Rated by Martindale-Hubbell •Florida Super Lawyers Rising Star, Personal Injury Defense-General, 2009-2017 •Listed in Best Lawyers in America, Litigation-Insurance, 2022-2026 Articles & Presentations •Author, 'Strategic Considerations in Admitting Liability,' published in Florida Defense Lawyers Association's 'Trial Advocate,' April 2026 •Author, 'A Quick Note Regarding Surveillance Reports in Florida,' October 2024 •Panelist, 'Auto & Transportation Committee Roundtable,' Florida Defense Lawyers Association, April 2024 •Author, 'Additur for Future Pain and Suffering Damages,' FDLA Trial Advocate, March 2024 •Co-Presenter, 'Investigating the How and Why of Motorcycle Accidents,' Florida Defense Lawyers Association, February 2024 •Author, 'A Quick Note about Removal with Less Than $75,000 in Medical Specials,' November 13, 2023 •Author, 'Tips for Young Lawyers: CME Location,' Trial Advocate, November 18, 2021 •Co-presenter, 'Claims Management Challenges and Settlement Strategies,' CEU Institute, November 11, 2021 •Co-Author, 'A Quick Note about Pain and Suffering Disclosures in Federal Court,' November 2021 •Co-Host, 'Automotive and Trucking Accidents in the U.S. with Foreign Defendants: What Insurers Need to Know,' Legally Qualified Podcast, August 2021 •Presenter, 'The Seven Privileges: Protecting Confidentiality of Florida Defendants,' Celesq Virtual Webinar, June 1, 2021 •Author, 'Landowner’s Duty of Care in Florida, and the Special Case of Contractors,' April 2021 •Author, 'A Quick Note About Florida PIP Setoffs Without PIP Insurance,' March 2021 •Author, 'The Seven Privileges: Protecting Confidentiality of Florida Defendants,' Daily Business Review, March 17, 2021 •Co-Author, 'Florida Car Accident Lawsuits: How to Apply the Brakes on Plaintiffs,' Without Prejudice, Official Journal of the Ontario Insurance Adjusters Association, Vol. 85
- No. 7
- March 2021 •Co-Presenter, 'COVID-19 Business Interruption Claims and Bad Faith,' RIMS, The Risk Management Society, November 18, 2020 •Author, 'Using Vicarious Liability to Defeat Employer Negligence Claims,' The Trial Advocate, a publication of The Florida Defense Lawyers Association, Volume 39
- Number 2., June 2020 •Author, 'Combating Permanency Without a Defense Medical Expert,' Trial Advocate Quarterly, Vol. 37, No. 1, Winter 2018 •Co-Presenter, 'Defense Strategies Giving You the Most Bang for Your Buck,' Claims Education Conference, May 2018, New Orleans •Author, 'An Important Defense Tool in U.S
- Lawsuits against Canadians,' Ontario Insurance Adjusters Association, Without Prejudice, September 2017 •Co-Author, 'Punitive Damages: When Are They Available in Premises Liability Lawsuits?' Trial Advocate Quarterly, Vol. 33
- No.1, Winter 2014 •Presenter, 'Public Records and Sunshine Law,'Tampa Bay Area Chiefs of Police Association, September 2014 •Co-Author, 'Rodriguez v
Miami-Dade County
The Florida Supreme Court Clarifies Certiorari Review in Sovereign Immunity Cases,' Florida Bar Journal, Vol. 88, No. 1, January 2014 •Author, 'Admissibility of High-low Agreements in Multi-defendant Litigation,' Florida Bar Journal, Vol. 87, No. 1, November 2013 Mike's News and Insights 05.12.2026 Trucking Strategic Considerations in Admitting Liability This article was originally published by the FDLA in its
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- Shutterstock.com/Tricky_Shark 02.05.2026 Firm News Pinellas County Jury Rejects $2M+ Damages Claim in Trucking Accident Case In an admitted liability tractor-trailer accident case, a Pinellas County... 08.21.2025 Firm News 27 RumbergerKirk Attorneys Named to the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America Dan Gerber and Leonard Dietzen Named “Lawyer of the Year
- ”... 10.18.2024 Casualty Litigation A Quick Note Regarding Surveillance Reports in Florida In Florida, if you want to use surveillance footage at
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- Shutterstock/Aleksandrkozak 08.15.2024 Firm News Best Lawyers in America 2025 Edition Recognizes 24 RumbergerKirk Attorneys Two Named “Lawyer of the Year” and Two Named “Ones... 04.08.2024 Casualty Litigation Additur for Future Pain and Suffering Damages When a jury’s verdict is unreasonably low, the presiding judge
- Shutterstock.com/sebra 01.16.2024 Media Mentions DRI Members Share Their Victories, The Voice DRI, the leading organization of civil defense attorneys and in-house... 11.13.2023 Casualty Litigation A Quick Note about Removal with Less Than $75,000 in Medical Specials Removing a case to federal court requires diversity of citizenship
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Shutterstock.com/Andrey_Popov 08.17.2023 Firm News Best Lawyers in America Recognizes 24 RumbergerKirk Attorneys with Managing Partner Frank Sheppard Named Lawyer of the Year ORLANDO, FL - August 17, 2023 - Best Lawyers has... 08.19.2022 Firm News 23 RumbergerKirk Attorneys Named to Best Lawyers in America 2023 Orlando, Fla., August 18, 2022 - RumbergerKirk is pleased to
Practice Areas Explained
Michael Lewis Forte's Areas of Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Michael Lewis Forte handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.
Personal injury attorneys help accident victims recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain & suffering. Most work on contingency — no fee unless you win.
Michael Lewis Forte is one of 264,852 personal injury attorneys indexed nationally. Browse personal injury attorneys in Florida →
Michael Lewis Forte is one of 26,424 class action attorneys indexed nationally. Browse class action attorneys in Florida →
Michael Lewis Forte is one of 66,193 product liability attorneys indexed nationally. Browse product liability attorneys in Florida →
Civil litigation attorneys for breach of contract, business disputes, civil rights, and class action lawsuits.
Michael Lewis Forte is one of 454,532 litigation attorneys indexed nationally. Browse litigation attorneys in Florida →
Attorneys for administrative law, agency hearings, government contracts, licensing, and public benefits.
Michael Lewis Forte is one of 132,225 government attorneys indexed nationally. Browse government attorneys in Florida →
Jurisdictional Context
Why local counsel matters in Florida
Practicing law in Florida. Legal matters in Florida are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Tampa are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate Florida state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in Florida brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in Florida courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.
Looking for additional Florida attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Tampa or all attorneys in Florida.
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