Michael D. Swor

Mike retired in 2015

Location: St Paul, Minnesota
Phone Number: 651-454-3600
Toll Free: 651-454-3600
Fax Number: 651-454-4827
Email Address: MikeS@localhost

Shareholder

Mike is a major shareholder of Swor and Gatto, P.A. and co-founded the law firm with Paul Gatto in 1981.  At that time Mike and Paul chose to limit their practice to Personal Injury and focus their attention on the representation of injured victims.

Experience

Mike has extensive experience practicing in the area of Personal Injury.  Prior to co-founding Swor and Gatto, P.A. Mike devoted most of his practice to Personal Injury on behalf of injured victims.  He also practiced in the area of Worker’s Compensation and has handled cases involving extremely severe and tragic injuries, many of which resulted in loss of life and limb.   He has tried and arbitrated hundreds of cases and has litigated over 1000 cases which were successfully resolved prior to trial.  Mike zealously and vigorously advocates on behalf of his clients.  His passion and dedication to his clients is drawn from his background as a child growing up on the Iron Range in Northern Minnesota.  “As a boy I saw families that were financially destroyed because of horrible injuries and death suffered by their sole breadwinner.  I am humbled to now be in a position to help these families.”

Noteworthy Cases

Mike has handled many cases involving severe injuries and has obtained extraordinary settlements and awards for his clients.  Some examples are:

• A 2.1 Million Dollar verdict in the wrongful death of a 71 year old woman killed in a car accident.
• A 900,000 Dollar settlement in a wrongful death case for a worker killed on the job.
• A 500,000 Dollar settlement for a 19 year old man who was burned by hot water from a hotel showerhead.
• Mike is also currently involved in the Toyota “unexpected acceleration” cases and is pursuing damages for the wrongful deaths of three family members tragically killed in one of the many Toyota crashes.

Mike enjoys the highest ratings from Martindale – Hubble and has been invited and nominated for membership by many organizations in recognition of his passionate advocacy on behalf of his clients.  He has respectfully declined.  “This is not important for me or our clients.  What is important is that I work as hard as I can to achieve the best possible results for our clients.  The trust and satisfaction of our clients is my only concern and the mission of our firm.”

Additional Work Experience

Prior to entering the practice of law Mike was employed as an insurance adjuster/investigator and worked on cases for many of the nation’s largest insurance companies.  He is familiar with and understands the insurance industry hierarchy.  This has given him valuable insight and advantage when dealing directly with insurance company representatives and their attorneys.  He is keenly sensitive to the need of the average citizen to have a well informed and well prepared advocate on his side.

Community Involvement

Mike is concerned and involved with the issue of Hunger facing our nation and actively participates in serving meals to the poor and disadvantaged.  He and his wife Gail, who is a nationally recognized Elementary School Principal, are strong advocates of education.  Mike regularly provides free legal representation for people who are unable to afford legal assistance. He and his wife, Gail, have also been actively involved members of theirs church.

Education and Memberships

Mike received his B. A. from Hamline University where he majored in economics.  He received his law degree from William Mitchell College of Law.  He is an ardent supporter of legal education and has mentored young attorneys.  He is a Supporting Member of the American Association for Justice (formerly the ATLA) and also is a Member of the Minnesota Association for Justice.  “These two associations have a genuine interest in protecting the rights of the average citizen.”

Special Interests

Mike is an outdoors enthusiast.  He is an accomplished skier and has skied extensively in the U.S. and Canada.  He has even flown to remote areas of British Columbia by helicopter to enjoy more challenging skiing terrain.   Mike is also a gun owner and hunter and has hunted big game in Canada and Alaska.  He is an experienced boater and snowmobiler and enjoys his “relaxation time” at Lake Vermillion in Northern Minnesota, close to where he spent his childhood years.

Court Admissions

• Minnesota Supreme Court
• United States District Court for the District of Minnesota
• United States Supreme Court