Michael rejoins the litigation department of Lackie, Dammeier & McGill, where he specializes in appeals, writs of mandate, and injunctions.  He is certified by the State Bar of California as an Appellate Specialist.  Michael previously represented the firm's clients, including police officers and their professional associations, in labor and employment, and disciplinary matters, where his work resulted in a number of published appellate and Supreme Court opinions, including Claremont Police Officers Ass'n v. Claremont (2006) 39 Cal. 4th 623 (test for when an employer must meet and confer under Meyers-Milias-Brown Act ("MMBA")); Rialto Police Benefit Ass'n v. City of Rialto (2007) 155 Cal. App. 4th 1295 (employer must meet and confer pursuant to MMBA prior to contracting out police services); Upland Police Officers Ass'n v. City of Upland (2003) 111 Cal. App. 4th 1294 (representational rights under Public Safety Officers Procedural Bill of Rights Act ("POBR")); and Otto v. Los Angeles Unified School Dist. (2001) 89 Cal. App. 4th 985 (what constitutes punitive action under POBR).

Prior to rejoining the firm, Michael worked for a municipal law firm where he served as an Assistant City Attorney for a number of cities and General Counsel for a joint powers authority, advising on and litigating personnel matters and other public employment issues, including employee discipline and investigations, wage and hour laws, leave time, employee discrimination claims, employment agreements, and labor relations and disciplinary issues under the Meyers-Milias-Brown Act, Public Safety Officers Procedural Bill of Rights Act, and Firefighters Procedural Bill of Rights Act.  He also provided advice on and litigated matters involving the Brown Act, Public Records Act, Political Reform Act, California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), Government Claims Act and municipal finance matters.

Michael also served as a Research Attorney for the Honorable David P. Yaffe of the Los Angeles Superior Court, Central District, who presides over one of only two Writs and Receivers departments in that court.  Michael researched and wrote detailed proposed rulings on literally hundreds of traditional and administrative mandate petitions involving public employee disciplinary and civil service matters, CEQA matters, Public Records Act disputes, corporate and public elections issues, and preliminary injunctions.

Michael was previously an associate attorney at an Orange, California firm specializing in representing small businesses in advisory and litigation matters.

Michael grew up in New York and moved to California in 1990.  After a career in deaf services, he attended Western State University College of Law in Fullerton, California.  He received his Juris Doctor, cum laude, in 1997, graduating sixth in his class.  Michael served as a Law Review editor for five semesters and published an article in the Western State Law Review (Peterson v. Superior Court:  California Supreme Court Overturns Becker v. IRM, Abandoning Strict Liability for Landlords, Spring 1996).  He received the American Jurisprudence Award for Excellence in Civil Procedure, Contracts, Property, and Torts.

Email Michael at Morguess@policeattorney.com