Current Employment Position(s)

Managing Partner

Lawyer Overview

Michael is one of the two co-founders of Weiss & Hiller, PC. A part of the firm's general practice, Michael's work focuses on commercial litigation, insurance law, and land-use litigation. He has achieved extraordinary success in each area. 

In 2001, Michael obtained the first verdict against an insurance company for bad faith denial of disability benefits.  At the time, the verdict was the largest ever in New York.  Michael was also among the first to pioneer use of the Racketeering Influenced Corrupt Organizations Act, often referred to as the RICO statute, to investigate and prosecute claims against insurers and their affiliates throughout the United States.  Drawing on his work for insurance companies earlier in his career, Michael brings a formidable breadth of experience and knowledge to this complicated area of the law, representing policyholders only.

Outside the context of insurance litigation, Michael has also distinguished himself as a leader in the field of land-use and environmental litigation.  Along with Arnold Weiss, Michael was successful in preventing the Metropolitan Museum of Art from expanding into Central Park.  His efforts to avoid the elimination of precious greenspace played a vital role in ensuring the continuity of one of New York's most valuable landmarks.  More recently, Michael spearheaded the successful effort to stop a $100 Million residential condominium project which would have destroyed Red Hook's last great manufacturing district.  In a case that went all the way to New York's highest court, Michael helped change the law to ensure that community groups and business organizations receive a fair opportunity to protect their interests against out-of-control development projects.

Michael's experience in commercial litigation has also led to his involvement in a series of high-profile cases, both inside and outside the corporate context.  Among these was Michael's work against Sex and the City and HBO, leading them to change an episode within 24 hours of the firm's retention .  Michael's ability to proceed from intake to injunction distinguishes him as among the most efficient lawyers in this area of the law.

In addition to his work for the firm, Michael is an Adjunct Professor of Law at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and a standing mediator for the New York State Supreme Court, Commercial Division.  He frequently publishes and lectures around the country on issues relating to his areas of practice.

Michael attended Union College (Schenectady, New York), where he graduated with Honors.  A member of the Delphic Honor Society and the Dean's List, Michael played wing forward for the College Rugby team and also served as Student Body President until he graduated in 1988.  Following his graduation from Union, Michael attended American University, Washington College of Law (Washington, DC), where he graduated cum laude.  While attending law school, Michael worked at night as a professional musician in clubs throughout Washington, DC, Virginia and Maryland.

Areas of Practice

• Litigation
• Mediation & Arbitration
• Insurance (Policyholders only)
• Business & Corporate
• Land-Use, Zoning and Environmental Litigation
• Family and Matrimonial Law

West Practice Categories

Arbitration, Mediation, Deceptive Trade Practices, RICO Act, Unfair Competition, Business & Commercial Law, Contracts, Debtor/Creditor, Joint Ventures, Business Organizations, Business Successions, Closely Held Businesses, Corporate Governance, Directors' & Officers' Liability, Dissolution, Formation & Business Planning, Limited Liability Companies, Partnerships, Shareholders' Rights, Construction Contracts, Construction Liens, Private Schools, Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) -- Employee, Pensions, Benefits & Compensations -- Employee, Disability, Insurance Law, Commercial Insurance, Life & Health, Bankruptcy Litigation, Complex Litigation, State Appellate Practice, State Trial Practice, Legal Malpractice, Other Professionals Malpractice, Condominiums & Cooperatives, Land Use & Zoning

Bar Admissions

• New York, 1992
• U.S. District Court Southern District of New York, 1993
• U.S. District Court Eastern District of New York, 1993
• New Jersey, 1999
• U.S. Court of Appeals 2nd Circuit, 1999

Professional Associations and Memberships

• Association of Trial Lawyers
• Brooklyn Bar Association

Classes and Seminars

• Criminal Law, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, Adjunct Professor, 2005 - Present
• ERISA- Insurance, Stern School of Business, New York University, Guest Lecturer, 2004
• Bad Faith Insurance Litigation Group, Disability Insurance Litigation-Obtaining Attorney's Fees for Insurance Bad Faith, Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Featured Speaker, 2002

Pro Bono Activities

• Mediator, New York State Supreme Court, 2005 - Present

Past Employment Positions

• Wilson Elser Moskewitz Edelman & Dicker, Associate, 1991 - 1993
• Kurzman Karelsen & Frank, LLP, Associate, 1993 - 1995
• Power, Weiss & Kurnit, LLP, Associate, 1995 - 2001

Education

• American University, Washington College of Law, Washington, District of Columbia
  J.D.
  Honors: cum laude
• Union College, Schenectady, NY, USA
  B.A.
  Honors: With Honors
  Honors: With Distinction
  Honors: Dean's List
  Honors: Delphic Honor Society
  Major: History

Fraternities/Sororities

• Phi Sigma Kappa

Published Works

• Aggrieved Disability Policyholders in New York are Not Limited to Past Benefits as Remedy, 74 NYSBAJ 6 at 32, July/August, 2002
• Acts of War Exclusions Do Not Apply in Tragedy, 226 N.Y.L.J. 56 at p.1, col.1, September 19, 2001
• Application of the Statute of Limitations for Rent Overcharge Claims Under the Loft Law, 221 N.Y.L.J. 106 at p.1, col.1, June 4, 1999

Address

600 Madison Avenue
22nd Floor
New York, NY 10022-1615

Phones

(888) 402-0668

Faxes

(212) 753-4530

Emails

Contact Us

Websites

http://www.weisshiller.com