Michael R. Turco

• Location: Birmingham, Michigan
• Phone: 248-971-1713
• Fax: 248-971-1801
• Email: Turco@BWST-Law.com

Areas of Practice

• Business and Commercial Litigation
• Information Technology Litigation
• Construction and Real Property Litigation

Awards

• Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers
• Martindale Hubbell AV peer-review rating since 2008
• Top 10 Michigan Super Lawyer in 2024
• Top 100 Michigan Business Super Lawyer since 2015

Some lawyers like to tell prospective clients what they can do, citing vaguely defined experience in reportedly substantial or complex matters. But I would like prospective clients to know what I have actually done so they can make an informed decision about whether my experience is a good fit for a potential matter.

In that spirit, I have spent over 30 years solving problems in courtrooms and arbitration forums throughout the United States. I have tried or arbitrated cases ranging from disputes over lake access rights to over $100,000,000 in alleged damages. My area of specialty is trial work. I love learning about new technology, business transactions, trade secrets, construction projects, or supply-chain issues and working with clients to build a persuasive, easy to understand case to prove the client’s position is right.

Actual trial work is a rush, and it is what drives my passion as a lawyer.

Below I provide examples of cases I have handled, several ending with a trial or arbitration hearing. As a result of my actual jury trial experience, I received fellowship in the American College of Trial Lawyers, an accomplishment less than 1% of practicing lawyers in any state have achieved. And I was recently recognized as a Top 10 Michigan Super Lawyer.

Results

• International arbitration involving a consumer good supply-chain dispute where the cross-plaintiff alleged damages in excess of $100,000,000
• Prevailed in two-week federal court jury trial by securing a defense verdict in multi-million dollar business dispute
• Secured $5,300,000 jury verdict for client in state court trade secret dispute
• Obtained summary disposition on behalf of firm client in a contract dispute with potential exposure in excess of $10,000,000 and argued before the Michigan Court of Appeals, which affirmed the trial court’s decision
• Settled commercial contract arbitration in client’s favor for projected royalty payments in excess of $13,000,000
• Secured $3,000,000 judgment for automotive client in state court trade secret dispute
• Secured a jury verdict for no cause for action while defending a Fortune 500 client in $4,000,000 federal court race discrimination trial
• Obtained jury verdict for no cause for action while defending hospital client in $3,000,000 wrongful death state court trial
• Successfully defended industrial general contractor in $3,000,000 contract dispute
• Successfully represented public university in dispute to replace a varsity athletic stadium playing surface
• Successfully represented property owners in case of first impression involving lake access dispute; case established new state law upholding easement rights
• Resolved and secured dismissal of $2,000,000 in motor carrier claims against automotive client
• Won summary judgment of a trade secret claim against firm client in dispute involving a world-leading membrane sail manufacturer
• Successfully represented international information technology company in contract and misappropriation dispute with alleged damages in excess of $10,000,000, plus a demand for exemplary damages
• Represented Michigan healthcare system in dispute challenging Constitutionality of Michigan’s Brain Death Statute

Education, Professional Associations, and Awards

• University of Detroit School of Law (J.D., cum laude, 1993)
• Michigan State University (B.A., cum laude, 1989)
• Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers (Inducted 2020)
• AV Peer-Review Rated: very high to preeminent ability from Martindale Hubbell (2008 to present)
• Michigan Super Lawyer (2007, 2010 to present)
• Top 50 Michigan Business Super Lawyer (2015 to 2018)
• Top 10 Michigan Super Lawyer (2024)
• Top 100 Michigan Super Lawyer (2015 to present)
• Member, State Bar of Michigan
• Member, Eastern District of Michigan
• Member, Western District of Michigan
• Member, Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals
• Board of Director, Aqua Clara Foundation (2008 to 2018)
• Board of Director, Tricia Myers Foundation (2007 to 2020)
• Board of Director, International Design Clinic (2023-present)
• American Inns of Court, Oakland County Bar Association (2014 to 2017)
• Board of Trustees, Oakland County Bar Foundation (2016 to present)
• Vice President, Oakland County Bar Foundation (2023)
• President, Oakland County Bar Foundation (2024)

Speaking Engagements

• Program Organizer and Presenter, Advanced Trial Skills Program, Eastern District of Michigan (2024)
• Program Organizer and Presenter, Anatomy of a Trial Program, Eastern District of Michigan (2023)
• Program Organizer and Presenter, Anatomy of a Trial Program, Western District of Michigan (2023, 2024)
• Guest Lecturer, University of Michigan, Biology Seminar, Brain Death in Michigan, January 2020
• Presenter at Michigan Judicial Institute, Non-Compete And Trade Secret Litigation, May 2018
• Guest Lecturer at Western Michigan University, Cooley School of Law, State Of Mental Health In The Legal Profession, February and June 2016
• Presenter at Oakland County Bench-Bar Conference, Business Litigation, January 2012
• Presenter at Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants, Use Of Experts At Trial, 2010
• Panel Member ICLE Arbitration Forum, Best Practices For Commercial Arbitration, 2009
• Presenter on Commercial Arbitration at State Bar Paralegal Section Meeting, 2008