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. 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...

Photo: 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...

Photo: 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...

Photo: 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...