Michael E. Gatto
Super Lawyers®Free ConsultationLaw Office of Michael E. Gatto PC
Personal Injury Lawyers in Walnut Creek, CA in Walnut Creek, CA
About Michael E. Gatto
Michael specializes in prosecution of personal injury claims involving complicated medical issues and theories of liability. He handles industrial accidents, premises liability, products liability, exceptions to workers' compensation, medical malpractice, motor vehicle accidents, toxic tort and maritime cases. Michael is dedicated to protecting the rights of the catastrophically injured. For over 20 years, Michael has handled catastrophic personal injury and medical malpractice cases. Michael began his Civil Law Career representing doctors and hospitals in medical malpractice actions. Michael now uses his extensive medical knowledge and complex litigation experience to benefit his clients in personal injury matters exclusively. In 2014, he was lead counsel in a medical malpractice trial that ended in a jury award for his client in excess of $12 million, which is believed to be the largest medical malpractice verdict in the history of Contra Costa County. Michael gained tremendous courtroom experience as a Deputy County Attorney in Pima County (Tucson), Arizona, where he represented the State in criminal prosecutions, from arraignment to sentencing, on cases ranging from simple misdemeanors to attempted murders. As a prosecutor, he handled nearly 100 jury trials and more than 150 bench trials. Michael has served as both a Discovery Referee and a Settlement Mentor for Contra Costa County Superior Court. As a Discovery Referee, Michael assisted the Court by hearing Discovery disputes. As a Settlement Mentor, Michael volunteers his time in an effort to resolve cases short of trial. Awards and Honors Super Lawyers® Selectees Michael E. Gatto included in a Super Lawyers® list Honors Best Lawyers in America Super Lawyers National Association of Distinguished Counsel Other Sources of Feedback About Michael E. Gatto Included on the 2026Northern California Super Lawyers list Past Lists 2025 Northern California Super Lawyers list 2024 Northern California Super Lawyers list 2023 Northern California Super Lawyers list 2022 Northern California Super Lawyers list 2021 Northern California Super Lawyers list 2020 Northern California Super Lawyers list 2019 Northern California Super Lawyers list 2018 Northern California Super Lawyers list 2017 Northern California Super Lawyers list 2016 Northern California Super Lawyers list 2015 Northern California Super Lawyers list 2013 Northern California Super Lawyers list
Education
Legal Education
- Golden Gate University School of Law, San Francisco, California
- J.D., Doctor of Jurisprudence
Non Legal Education
- University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona
- Bachelor’s degree
- Major: Business Administration
Published Works
Articles
- Maximizing Restitution Orders: How Cooperation Between Prosecutors and Civil Litigators Can Benefit All
- What Are You Doing Here? - Coverage counsel in third-party litigation: When to bring them in and what to expect, Plaintiff, September, 2016
- Damages: Thinking Outside the Box to Hit it Out of the Park - A case of severe disfigurement with Prop 51 liability issues reveals why damages are limited only by facts, imagination and tenacity, Plaintiff, April, 2016
- California's Million Dollar Verdicts, Verdict Search - The Recorder, January 26, 2015
- Workers' Comp Subrogation: Don't Allow Your Client to be Extorted - If you "settle around" the employer, you may find yourself at odds with the subrogation attorney, Plaintiff, May, 2012
- Don't Get Tripped Up in Your Next Fall Case - Defense verdicts are common and comparative fault is often substantial, but careful analysis of the venue and circumstances can lead to a convincing case for liability, Plaintiff, October, 2011
- Spinal Injuries 101 - Anatomy, spinal trauma, diagnostic testing, and rebuttal of common defense arguments, Plaintiff, November, 2010
- To Cross or Not To Cross? A former prosecutor offers advice on how to structure the cross-exam for maximum impact, Plaintiff, April, 2013
Bar Admissions
- California
- Arizona
Other Affiliations
- Alameda Contra Costa Trial Lawyers Association - President 2018
- Consumer Attorneys of California
- Contra Costa County Bar Association
- Western Trial Lawyers Association
Attorney Details
| Full Name | Michael E. Gatto |
| Firm | Law Office of Michael E. Gatto PC |
| Address | 2540 Camino Diablo, Suite 201, Walnut Creek, CA 94597 |
| Phone | 925-401-5596 |
| Website | www.gattopc.com |
| New Clients | ✓ Currently accepting |
| Consultation | ✓ Free initial consultation |