Michael Vincent

Experience

Identified a novel legal theory and developed it into a winning summary judgment motion in a $60 million multiparty lender liability case, ending years of litigation and saving the client from an expensive and uncertain trial. Michael then successfully defended the summary judgment on appeal.

Defeated multimillion dollar claims brought by a terminated subcontractor against the general contractor client. Following Michael’s cross-examinations of witnesses on the intricacies of sewage lift pumps and soil compaction specifications, the arbitrator ruled in favor of Michael’s client on all seven of the subcontractor’s claims (Miller Act, wrongful termination, Prompt Pay Act, etc.) and awarded the client its costs of hiring a replacement subcontractor, plus attorneys’ fees and costs.

Convinced the Arizona Supreme Court to reject all prior nationwide decisions on the statute of limitations for a veil piercing claim and to adopt a theory that affirmed the client’s summary judgment victory. Specialty Companies v. Meritage Homes, 248 Ariz. 434 (2021).

Obtained favorable clarification from the Arizona Court of Appeals of a personal representative’s obligation to notify the decedent’s known creditors of the time to present their claims, which affirmed the client’s trial court victory in a published decision. BMO Harris Bank v. Espiau, 495 P.3d 928 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2021).

Litigated a legal malpractice claim against one of the largest law firms in Detroit, obtaining a $5 million jury verdict that was upheld by the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Shut down a $30 million+ legal malpractice claim against one of the country’s largest law firms by obtaining summary judgment on theories of lack of damages and causation.

When an accredited investor in a closely-held business faced claims for breach of fiduciary duty and theft of trade secrets, Michael took the litigation from defense to offense, bringing securities fraud counterclaims and applying leverage that resulted in not only zero liability, but also a judgment in the investor’s favor for rescission of his entire investment.

Appointed pro bono counsel in an appeal of unemployment benefits and, advocating from a limited evidentiary record, wrote a brief that forced a confession of error, winning a reversal for his client at the Arizona Court of Appeals.

News

Speaking Engagements

"A New Frontier: Enforcing Waivers of the Implied Warranty of Good Workmanship and Habitability," Home Builders Association of Central Arizona, September 2019

Publications

"Forcing a Venue Change by Affidavit: Arizona's Little-Known Statute," Maricopa Lawyer, September 2022

"Fishy Statistics: In re Consolidated Salmonid Cases and the Problem of Autocorrelation," 53 Jurimetrics, 2013 

Comment, "Computer-Managed Perpetual Trusts," 51 Jurimetrics, 2011 

Co-author, "Can Your Disability Insurer Dictate the Terms of Your Care?," AzMedicine, 2011