Michael T. Blotevogel has devoted his career to fighting for the rights of injured individuals. He has helped his clients win jury verdicts and secure significant settlements across the United States. He has argued before the Fifth Circuit, Seventh Circuit, Eighth Circuit and Tenth Circuit within the United States Courts of Appeals. He has also argued before the Illinois Supreme Court, the Missouri Supreme Court, courts of appeals in Illinois, Missouri, Ohio and Florida, and the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation. He drafted the appellate briefing that led to victories in two cases before the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
He has an AV PreeminentTM Rating from Martindale-Hubbell®, which is the highest possible rating in both legal ability and ethical standards. He is a member of The National Trial Lawyers Top 100 and The National Trial Lawyers: Top 10 Railroad Accident Trial Lawyers Association. He has also been selected to the Illinois Super Lawyers.
After graduating from law school, Mike turned down a prestigious position in the U.S. Department of Justice Honors Program, opting instead to devote his career to fighting for the rights of injured individuals.
Mike earned his JD at Washington University School of Law in St. Louis in 2003, where he graduated in the top five percent of his class, was a member of its Order of the Coif, and was one of the editors of its top law review (Washington University Law Quarterly).
Prior to law school, Mike obtained a master's degree (MA, summa cum laude) in Public Affairs from the University of Minnesota and worked for the United Way of Minneapolis. He completed his bachelor's degree (BSBA, magna cum laude) at Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri in 1995.
Education
Washington University School of Law, St. Louis, Missouri
J.D.
Honors: Order of the Coif, Member
Honors: Top five percent of his class
University of Minnesota
M.A.
Honors: summa cum laude
Major: Public Affairs
Truman State University, Kirksville, Missouri
BSBA - 1995
Honors: magna cum laude
Bar Admission
U.S. Supreme Court
U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals 7th Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals 8th Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals 10th Circuit
U.S. District Court Southern District of Illinois
U.S. District Court Central District of Illinois
U.S. District Court Northern District of Illinois
U.S. District Court Eastern District of Missouri
U.S. District Court Western District of Missouri
U.S. District Court Eastern District of Oklahoma
U.S. District Court Northern District of Oklahoma
U.S. District Court Eastern District of Arkansas
U.S. District Court Western District of Arkansas
Illinois
Missouri
Representative Cases
Abernathy v. E. Illinois R.R. Co., 940 F.3d 982 (7th Cir. 2019) , Seventh Circuit
Walters v. CSX Transportation, Inc., 754 Fed.Appx. 394, Case No. 17-6508 (6th Cir. 2018), Sixth Circuit
Taylor v. Cottrell, Inc.., 795 F.3d 813 (8th Cir. 2015) , 8th Circuit
Bruntjen v. Bethalto Pizza, LLC, 2014 IL App (5th) 120245, Illinois Appellate
Campbell v. Autenrieb, 2018 IL App (5th) 170148, Illinois Appellate
In re: Teamster Car Hauler Products Liab. Litig., MDL 2339 , 856 F.Supp.2d 1343, U.S. Jud. Pan. Mult. Lit.
Yow v. Jack Cooper Transport Co., 2015 IL App (5th) 140006 , Illinois Appellate
Honors
Martindale-Hubbell® Client Review RatingSM, Preeminent™
The National Trial Lawyers Top 100
The National Trial Lawyers: Top 10 Railroad Accident Trial Lawyers Association
Illinois Super Lawyers
Past Positions
Lakin Chapman, LLC/The Lakin Law Firm, Attorney, 2004 to 2009
United Way of Minneapolis, Research & Writing, 1997 to 2000
Professional Associations
American Bar Association, Member
American Association of Justice, Member, Present
The Missouri Bar, Member, Present
Illinois State Bar Association, Member, Present
Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis, Member
Tri-City Bar Association, Member, Present
Alton-Wood River Bar Association, Member
Madison County Bar Association, Member
Practice Areas:
Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA)
Jones Act
Wrongful Death
Products Liability
Nursing Home Abuse And Neglect
Trucking Collisions
Premises Liability
Retaliatory Discharge
Medical Malpractice
Automobile Collisions
Whistleblower Claims
Federal Railway Safety Act
