Michael D. Tanner • Partner

Experience

Mike Tanner is a trial lawyer who resolves disputes, by trial, when it is in the best interest of his client. He specializes in cases involving allegations of sexual molestation of minors, other personal injury claims involving children, and wrongful death, dram shop, transportation and auto litigation, allegations of bad faith and insurance code violations,  and business litigation. He is AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell. Mike has successfully represented clients in numerous counties in Texas.

Areas of Practice

Defense of sexual molestation cases against minors
Insurance Law
UM/UIM cases
Personal Injury
Products Liability
Toxic Torts
Trucking Industry Liability

Professional Affiliations

State Bar of Texas
Children’s Cancer Fund of Texas, 1996 – 1997; President of the Board
Camp John Marc, Special Camps for Special Kids, 1999 – present; Director
Baylor University School of Nursing Advisory Council
Children’s Medical Center of Dallas Foundation Trustee
Children’s Medical Center of Dallas,Leadership Children’s Graduate
Children’s Medical Center of Dallas, Children’s Council Executive Leadership

Education

Baylor University School of Law, Waco, TX, J.D. 1992
Baylor School of Law Award – Outstanding Advocate
National Mock Trial Team
Order of the Barristers
Phi Delta Phi
Baylor University, Waco, Texas, B.A. with Honors 1989, Major: Political Science
Sigma Chi

Birth Information

Born July 29, 1967, Denver, Colorado.

Admitted

Texas, 1992
U.S. District Court Northern District of Texas

Personal Information

First and second grade Sunday School Teacher, St. Michael and All Angels Church Dallas.
Coach elementary age soccer and basketball.
Conversational in Spanish and Russian.
Avid sports fan.

Successful Results

Hopkins County: favorable resolution of sexual molestation lawsuit where alleged perpetrator admitted molestation, and was convicted of same. Upshur County: successful resolution of sexual molestation lawsuit involving several alleged victims, where alleged perpetrator had been convicted of multiple counts. Tarrant County: favorable resolution of sexual molestation lawsuit involing allegations against a teenage boy for molesting younger neighbor girl. Ellis County: successful resolution of sexual molestation lawsuit involving defendant who was convicted of indecency with a child, and where alleged perpetrator had prior allegations of molestations. Erath County: trial to verdict and jury finding of negligence on the plaintiff; no negligence, no breach of contract, no DTPA violation on defendant in dairy equipment installation and maintenance case with jury demand exceeding $400,000. Dallas County: no negligence jury verdict in case where defendant’s truck struck a child on a bicycle. Denton County: favorable jury verdict in rear-end auto accident case. Fannin County: take-nothing jury verdict in motor vehicle accident case in which defendant turned left in front of the plaintiff. Jury determined plaintiff driver was 80% negligent. Grayson County: motion for summary judgment granted in suit where adolescent girl was partially blinded by paintball shot by teenage client. Tarrant County: favorable settlement of falling merchandise case against a prominent national retailer where plaintiff underwent multiple back surgeries, alleged permanent impairment, and permanent loss of earning capacity of approximately $2 million. Dallas County: negotiated small settlement of trucking case involving prominent produce distributor, where accident resulted in brain damaged plaintiff. Wise County: successful settlement of fire case where restaurant kitchen fire suppression system did not activate; involved allegations against client of negligent maintenance, breach of contract, breach of warranty, violations of DTPA, and defective product. Collin County: take-nothing jury verdict, 100% negligence on the plaintiff in auto collision case. Dallas County: take-nothing jury verdict, 100% negligence on plaintiff in trucking collision case. Kaufman County: jury trial to verdict with no negligence finding and $0 damages awarded in under-insured motorist case of a tractor-trailer collision on the interstate. Kaufman County: motion for summary judgment granted in case where personal water craft hit plaintiff resulting in brain injury. Bowie County: nuisance value settlement in land owner’s liability case where plaintiff’s ATV crash resulted in amputated leg.

Presentations

•  2006 Continuing Education Lecture: “Tort Reform & Wrongful Death Update” to Texas Farm Bureau claims representatives;
•  2006 Continuing Education Lecture: “Tort Reform & Wrongful Death Update” to 21st Century Insurance Company claims representatives;
•  2006 Continuing Education Lecture: “Locating the Responsible Third Party and Efficient and Effective Case Management and Resolution” to Texas Farm Bureau Insurance Company claims representatives;
•  2009 Continuing Education Lecture: “Tort Reform and Wrongful Death Update, and Efficient and Effective Case Management Resolution” to Texas Farm Bureau Insurance Company claims representatives;
•  2009 Continuing Education Lecture: “Equine Law, Animals Roaming, Recreational Use & Attractive Nuisance” to Texas Farm Bureau Insurance Company claims representatives;
•  2011 Continuing Education Lecture:  “Adjuster’s Guide to Recognizing & Preventing Insurance Fraud” and “Update of Recent Texas Supreme Court Insurance Cases” to Western World claims representatives;
•  2012 Continuing Education Lecture:  “Comparative Negligence” and “Tort Reform and Wrongful Death Update” to Texas Farm Bureau claims representatives.
•  2012 Camp John Marc staff training video “Keeping Campers Safe from Inappropriate Contact”.

Pro Bono

North Texas Housing Crisis Center
Camp Esperanza/Bridewell Foundation

Honors and Awards

Rated AV Preeminent by Martindale Hubble
Selected for inclusion in Super Lawyers by peers 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021.