Michael E. Gatto

Michael specializes in prosecution of personal injury claims involving complicated medical issues and theories of liability. He handles industrial accidents, premises liability, products liability, exceptions to workers' compensation, medical malpractice, motor vehicle accidents, toxic tort and maritime cases. Michael is dedicated to protecting the rights of the catastrophically injured.

For over 20 years, Michael has handled catastrophic personal injury and medical malpractice cases. Michael began his Civil Law Career representing doctors and hospitals in medical malpractice actions. Michael now uses his extensive medical knowledge and complex litigation experience to benefit his clients in personal injury matters exclusively. In 2014, he was lead counsel in a medical malpractice trial that ended in a jury award for his client in excess of $12 million, which is believed to be the largest medical malpractice verdict in the history of Contra Costa County.

Michael gained tremendous courtroom experience as a Deputy County Attorney in Pima County (Tucson), Arizona, where he represented the State in criminal prosecutions, from arraignment to sentencing, on cases ranging from simple misdemeanors to attempted murders. As a prosecutor, he handled nearly 100 jury trials and more than 150 bench trials.

Michael has served as both a Discovery Referee and a Settlement Mentor for Contra Costa County Superior Court. As a Discovery Referee, Michael assisted the Court by hearing Discovery disputes. As a Settlement Mentor, Michael volunteers his time in an effort to resolve cases short of trial.