Catherine M. Michael is a nationally recognized attorney known for her relentless advocacy on behalf of injured children, vulnerable adults, and families whose lives have been devastated by negligence, abuse, and systemic failure. With over two decades of experience, she is a trusted and formidable legal force in the areas of personal injury, wrongful death, education law, special education issues, and institutional accountability.
Licensed in Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Texas, and before the United States Supreme Court, Catherine represents clients in some of the most emotionally charged and high-stakes legal battles involving children and individuals with disabilities. Her work spans personal injury, including wrongful death, sexual abuse in daycare, churches, and schools, and school-based misconduct, bringing clarity, compassion, and courtroom strength to families when they need it most.
Catherine has successfully led cases against public and private schools, group homes, daycares, residential facilities, and other institutions that have failed in their duty to protect. Her legal victories include multimillion-dollar settlements and groundbreaking litigation that has driven policy reform and brought national attention to the systemic mishandling of abuse and neglect in school environments.
Catherine is frequently featured by national media outlets and invited to speak on syndicated television and radio programs due to her extensive experience and thought leadership in both education and injury law. She has served as lead counsel in some of the nation’s most sensitive cases, including representing survivors of school shootings, children with special needs subjected to restraint and seclusion, and families grieving the wrongful death of loved ones in institutional care.
More than an attorney, Catherine is a fearless advocate who understands the legal, emotional, and practical challenges families face after trauma. She brings not only decades of legal experience, but deep personal commitment to the clients she serves.
