Michael A. Saltzer

A Board Certified Civil Trial Advocate (NBTA) with over 20 years of trial experience, Michael has extensively litigated cases involving: truck accidents, boating accidents, motorcycle accidents, car accidents, construction accidents, railroad grade accidents, drowning accidents, defective products, municipal liability, premises liability, wrongful deaths, legal malpractice, accounting malpractice, medical malpractice, employer intentional torts and traumatic brain injuries. As lead counsel, Michael has personally handled over 2,500 personal injury cases resulting in tens of millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts. In the past, Mr. Saltzer has consistently achieved jury verdicts above insurance company final offers for his clients, and has more recently attained several verdicts in excess of insurance company policy limits.

In addition, Michael served on the Grievance Committee of the Akron Bar Association and the Unlicensed Practice of Law Committee. He successfully presented a case before the Board of Commissioners on the Unauthorized Practice of Law, resulting in a favorable ruling by the Ohio Supreme Court in Akron Bar Association v. Bojonell (2000), 88 Ohio St. 3d 154, 724 N.E.2d 401.

My Story:

There is nothing like a good drama to grab Mike Saltzer's attention. Whether he is performing in local theater productions or arguing his case in a court of law, Mike enjoys the theatrics.

"I'm actually a frustrated doctor, but medical school wasn't an option because I can't stand the sight of blood," says Mike. "I enjoy reading medical reports and talking to doctors. That's why handling personal injury, medical malpractice and nursing home neglect cases have such great appeal to me."

 A native Clevelander, Mike is a big hometown booster. "I learned to be tough in this city," he says. "We Clevelanders are always fighting against bullies who perceive us as the underdog. But I'm convinced this hard working town will turn around soon."

It is this fighting spirit that Mike brings to his practice as a trial lawyer at Seaman Garson LLC. "I'm doing my best 24/7 to help our clients win the settlements they deserve," he says. "I'm proud that I have earned their trust by being honest and fair. My father taught me if you practice integrity you'll always have a good night's sleep."

A family man, Mike is involved with his twin daughters' activities and is even a leader of their Indian Princess group. He has shared the stage with them in many musical theater productions.

But he has some big productions of his own right at home. "Our home is filled with two dogs, two cats, a hamster, twin girls and a wife," says Mike. "It's a lot of fun. All I need is a Brown's championship to make my life complete!"

Representative Cases:

Motorcycle Cases:

Represented a 19 year-old double amputation victim, who was riding a motorcycle when struck by another vehicle resulting in a policy limits settlement of one million dollars.

Represented a 35 year-old husband and wife who were struck on a motorcycle while stopped at a light at an intersection, resulting in multiple pelvic, leg, and arm fractures. The case settled for $650,000.

Represented a 26 year-old male who was struck on a motorcycle by a motorist making an illegal left turn, resulting in severe traumatic brain injury, requiring occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech therapy. The case settled for $250,000 policy limits.

Represented the estate of a 16 year old girl killed in a railroad grade crossing accident involving a lack of active warning devices. The case settled for 1 million dollars.

Trucking Cases:

Settled a quadriplegic truck accident for damages in excess of $1,000,000 liability insurance limits.

Have litigated and tried to verdict several cases involving trucks stopped on roadways without adequate warning.

Settled improper loading and failure to secure load cases.

Litigated and settled many truck vs. auto cases resulting in over one million dollars in settlements.

Motor Vehicle Cases:

Achieved a 1.8 million dollar settlement in a wrongful death case against The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority for the death of a 66 year old pedestrian struck and killed in a cross-walk.

Achieved a 1.5 million dollar settlement in a motor vehicle accident case involving a transected aorta where the defendant driver was intoxicated.

Achieved a 1.1 million dollar settlement in a motor vehicle accident case involving multiple claimants who suffered severe injuries in a head on collision. There were four injured claimants who split 1.5 million in insurance proceeds.

Achieved a $250,000 policy limit settlement in a motor vehicle accident case involving a closed head injury that resulted in mild residual cognitive impairment.

Nursing Home Cases:

Litigated and settled numerous medication administration error and overdose cases, decubitus ulcer cases, fall and drop cases, and abuse cases against nursing homes, resulting in over one million dollars in settlements and verdicts.

Medical Negligence Cases:

Litigated and settled numerous cases involving negligently performing various surgeries, the failure to timely diagnose and/or properly treat infections, the failure to timely diagnose and/or treat cancer, the failure to properly read radiographs, tests and films resulting in over one million dollars in settlements and verdicts.