John Michael Montevideo became a trial attorney to help people. He dedicates his practice to sharing his clients’ stories and bringing them justice for the wrongs committed against them. He is the Founder and Lead Trial Attorney of Montevideo Law, PC dba Dog Bite Law Group.
RIGHTING WRONGS
John Michael’s practice involves protecting the rights of those who have suffered harm as a result of another’s conduct. This most commonly includes personal and multi-plaintiff litigation for dog bites, brain injury, wrongful death, vehicle injury (including car, motorcycle, boat, bicycle, and pedestrian), construction injury, workplace injury, government liability, products liability, and real property water damage.
SUCCESS FOLLOWS HARD WORK AND GREAT CLIENTS
John Michael has handled countless cases with successful results on behalf of his clients. These results include eight, seven and six-figure verdicts and settlements. John Michael has been admitted to practice before all courts in the State of California, Washington, D.C., the United States Supreme Court, as well as the United States District Court for the Central District of California and Northern District of California. John Michael has also been an appointed and commissioned Notary Public of the State of California.
Being a Trial Lawyer is in John Michael’s blood. As an Orange County native, he comes from a strong family-line of trial attorneys in the area and has been widely recognized for his own accomplishments. He is a past Finalist for the prestigious state-wide CAOC Street Fighter of the Year Award in 2013 for a successful trial verdict in Orange County 9-times the amount of the last offer before trial, named a Super Lawyer Rising Star 2014-2017 (reserved for only the top 2.5% of lawyers) and is a Graduate of Gerry Spence’s Trial Lawyers College. John Michael has recently been named to the Up-and-Coming 100 Rising Stars in Southern California and Up-and-Coming 25 in Orange County. John Michael is also an active member in the local Orange County and state-wide California legal community as a Board of Director for Orange County Trial Lawyers Association (OCTLA), a Board of Governor of Consumer Attorneys of California (CAOC) and an Associate Board member of the Orange County Bar Foundation (OCBF).
John has just been named to the list of Top 100 Civil Plaintiff Trial Lawyers in CA. Click here to see a copy of the Press Release.
A WIDE RANGE OF LEGAL EXPERIENCE
Prior to founding Montevideo Law, PC, John Michael honed his legal skills in a variety of practices, including the largest business and litigation firm in South Carolina Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, P.A., three prominent Los Angeles, San Diego and Orange County plaintiff trial firms and public service in the government sector with the Department of Justice in their Environmental and Natural Resources Division; Environmental Enforcement Section in Washington, D.C. An additional interesting work history tidbit includes his work on the Major Motion Picture “American Gun” in Hollywood, CA where he was involved in casting, filming, and pre and post-production.
EDUCATION AND PUBLIC SERVICE
After earning his degree in Business Management and Marketing from Loyola Marymount University, John Michael dedicated a year of service to the Jesuit Volunteer Corps (JVC) in Houston, TX. He served full-time with Vita Living, Inc., a non-profit working with those with mental and physical developmental disabilities. It was during this time of service that he became inspired to pursue his legal career to help people vocalize and fight injustice. John Michael went on to earn his Juris Doctorate near the top of his class from Howard University School of Law in Washington, D.C.
FAMILY MATTERS
When John Michael isn’t in trial, he enjoys getting out for a run, laughing with his wife and two kids, being a “weekend warrior” with his home repairs, bodysurfing and backpacking. He is proud to join his family in living out their strong Italian heritage and maintaining their rich cultural traditions. Buona Fortuna!
Bar Admissions
California
District of Columbia in Washington D.C.
All state courts in California
United States District Court for the Central
and Northern Districts of California
United States Supreme Court
Education
Loyola Marymount University
Bachelor of Business Management and Marketing
Howard University School of Law
Juris Doctorate Law Degree
Bar Memberships and Awards
California State Bar
District of Columbia Bar
Consumer Attorneys of California (CAOC)
Orange County Trial Lawyer Association (OCTLA)
Orange County Bar Foundation (OCBF)
Finalist for Street Fighter of the Year Award in 2013
Super Lawyer 2019-2021
Super Lawyer Rising Star 2014-2018
National Trial Lawyers Top 40 under 40
National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Civil Plaintiff Trial Lawyers in CA
Up-in-coming Top 25 Orange County
Up-in-coming Top 100 Southern California
CAOC Presidential Award of Merit 2010, 2012, 2103
OCTLA Board Member of the Year 2016
Co-Founder of CAOC NLD
NLD Legacy Award 2016
NLD Chair Award of Merit 2013, 2014
CA Senate Certification of Recognition 2017, 2018
Riordan Service Award 2003
Fr. Kilp Service & Leadership Award 2002-2003
Volunteering
Jesuit Volunteer Corps
Second Harvest Food Bank
The Ecology Center
Boys and Girls Club of Capistrano Valley
