Michael focuses his trial practice upon municipal litigation and defending Virginia insurers and their clients in general liability, automobile, and insurance coverage cases in state and federal courts. Michael serves as Agency Attorney for the Floyd County and Bland County Departments of Social Services and as Special Counsel to the Carroll County Department of Social Services. Michael is also currently serving as Town Attorney for the Town of Glen Lyn. He practices out of the firm's Blacksburg, Virginia, office.

Michael's experience includes:

• Obtaining a defense judgment after two-day federal jury trial in malicious prosecution action.
• Obtaining summary judgment before the trial court and affirmation before the Virginia Supreme Court on appeal of statutory conspiracy action.
• Obtaining dismissal of breach of contract action against major truck rental company.
• Obtaining favorable settlements in wrongful death, infant, and municipal cases.
• Representation of local social services agencies in child protective services, adult protective services, confidentiality, and liability matters.
• Defending a Virginia county against suit filed by town for breach of public utility agreements.
• Representation of a Virginia town in suit for breach of fiduciary duty against town clerk.
• Representation of a Virginia city in the abolition of a constitutional office.
• Representation of localities and corporations in state administrative proceedings before the Department of Environmental Quality; the Division of Motor Vehicles; and the Department of Housing and Community Development, State Technical Review Board.

Michael's diverse practice arises in part from his previous experience as a general practitioner. Prior to joining Sands Anderson PC, Michael practiced as a partner in the law firm of Caudell & Bedsaul in Galax, Virginia. While at Caudell & Bedsaul, Michael handled a diversity of substantive matters including civil litigation, criminal defense, real estate, and family law.