Practice Areas: Medical Malpractice, Personal Injury, Products Liability; view more
Licensed in New York since: 2004
Education: Syracuse University College of Law
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2013 - 2024 Details
Michael is a member of Bottar Law, PLLC, where he applies more than 20 years of experience to the pursuit of medical malpractice, wrongful death, construction accident, and other complex personal injury actions throughout New York and the northeastern United States, with a focus on claims for birth injuries, neonatal/pediatric negligence, heart attack, stroke, brain damage, spine/nerve injuries, and liability under the Federal Tort Claims Act.
Michael is president elect of the New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers, the largest state trial bar in the nation. He has provided continuing legal education on nearly 50 occasions to thousands of attorneys throughout the State of New York, and has been invited to speak by the Association of Justices of the Supreme Court of the State of New York.
Michael is a graduate of Colgate University and is a summa cum laude graduate of Syracuse University College of Law. He is listed in The Best Lawyers In America® for plaintiff's medical malpractice, product liability and personal injury, and has repeatedly been named its "Lawyer of of the Year." Michael holds an AV Preeminent® rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the organization's highest rating for legal ability and ethical standards, and is a fellow in the Litigation Counsel of America. Since 2013, Michael has been recognized annually by The National Trial Lawyers as one of the "Top 100" trial lawyers in New York State, and has earned life membership in the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum.
AV®, AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished and Martindale-Hubbell Notable are certification marks used under license in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Martindale-Hubbell® is the facilitator of a peer review rating process. Ratings reflect the anonymous opinions of members of the bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Rating™ fall into two categories – legal ability and general ethical standards.
Practice areas
Personal Injury - Medical Malpractice: Plaintiff, Personal Injury - General: Plaintiff, Personal Injury - Products: PlaintiffFocus areas
Birth Injury, Brain Injury, Construction Accident, Delayed or Incorrect Diagnosis, Medical Malpractice, Motor Vehicle Accidents, Motor Vehicle Defects, Personal Injury - Plaintiff, Pharmaceutical, Trucking Accidents, Wrongful Death
- 80% Personal Injury - Medical Malpractice: Plaintiff
- 10% Personal Injury - General: Plaintiff
- 10% Personal Injury - Products: Plaintiff
First Admitted: 2004, New York
Professional Webpage: https://www.bottarleone.com/michael-a-bottar.html
Bar/Professional Activity:
- Member, Judicial Screening Committee, New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers
- Member, New York State Bar Association
- Member, Onondaga County Bar Association
- Member, New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of California (pro hac vice)
- U.S. District Court, District of Arizona (pro hac vice)
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio (pro hac vice)
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois (pro hac vice)
- U.S. District Court, District of New Hampshire (pro hac vice)
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of New York
- U.S. District Court, Western District of New York
- New York, 2004
- Regional Vice President, New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers
Verdicts/Settlements (Case Results):
- $6,000,000.00 recovery: medical malpractice, birth injury., 2018
- $3,000,000.00 recovery: medical malpractice., 2018
- $1,850,000.00 recovery: medical malpractice., 2018
- $1,650,000.00 recovery: medical malpractice., 2018
- $2,250,000.00 recovery: motor vehicle accident., 2017
- $1,850,000.00 recovery: medical malpractice., 2017
- $3,200,000.00 recovery: medical malpractice, surgical error., 2016
- $2,600,000.00 recovery: medical malpractice, birth injury., 2016
- $1,250,00,000.00 recovery: motorcycle accident., 2016
- $1,100,000.00 recovery: medical malpractice., 2016
- $3,800,000.00 recovery: medical malpractice, birth injury, 2015
- $2,200,000.00: medical malpractice, failure to diagnose., 2015
- $4,000,000.00 recovery: medical malpractice, birth injury., 2014
- $1,500,000.00: medical malpractice, failure to diagnose., 2014
- $1,585,000.00 recovery: medical malpractice, birth injury., 2013
- $4,500,000.00 recovery: medical malpractice, birth injury., 2012
- $2,100,000.00 recovery: medical malpractice, failure to diagnose., 2012
- $1,700,000.00 recovery: construction accident., 2011
Pro bono/Community Service:
- Past Member, Advisory Board, Arthritis Association of Central New York
- Past Member, Board of Directors, Onondaga Historical Association
- Past Member, Board of Directors, ARISE Foundation
Honors/Awards:
- Past Member, Syracuse University College of Law Moot Court Honor Society
- President's Award, NYS Academy of Trial Lawyers
- Fellow, Million Dollar Advocates Forum
- Fellow, Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum
- Upstate New York Super Lawyers, 2013 - Present
- Upstate New York Super Lawyers Top 50, 2016, 2018
- Best Lawyers in America® Lawyer of the Year, Syracuse Plaintiffs Product Liability, 2017, 2019
- The Best Lawyers in America, Product Liability, 2016 - Present
- The Best Lawyers in America, Personal Injury, 2015 - Present
- The Best Lawyers in America, Medical Malpractice, 2015 - Present
- Attorney of the Year, The Daily Record, 2016
- Class rank: 4 of 247, Syracuse University College of Law
- Best Lawyers in America® Lawyer of the Year, Syracuse Medical Malpractice Law, 2019
- The Best Lawyers in America©, Lawyer of the Year, Plaintiffs Medical Malpractice, Syracuse, New York, 2018, 2019
- The Best Lawyers in America©, Lawyer of the Year, Plaintiffs Product Liability, Syracuse, New York, 2018, 2019
- The Best Lawyers in America©, Lawyer of the Year, Plaintiffs Product Liability, Syracuse, New York, 2017, 2019
- The Best Lawyers in America© (2015-present)
- Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America - Trial Lawyer Honorary Society™ (2016-present)
- The National Trial Lawyers: New York's Top 100 (2013-present)
- The American Society of Legal Advocates: New York's Top 40 Under 40 (2014-present)
- Million Dollar Advocates Forum, The Top Trial Lawyers In America™
- Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, The Top Trial Lawyers In America™
- AV Preeminent™ Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review (2014-present)
Educational Background:
- The Order of Barristers, Syracuse University College of Law
- Colgate University, B.A., 2000
- Order of the Coif, Syracuse University College of Law
- Summa Cum Laude, Syracuse University College of Law
- Justinian Honorary Law Society, Syracuse University College of Law
Scholarly Lectures/Writings:
- Social Media, What's New?, Fall Conference, Association of Justices of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, CLE (Geneva 2018)
- Past Member, Syracuse Law Review
- Faculty Member, New York State Bar Association Advanced Trial Academy
- Medical Malpractice Litigation: Cross Examination, NYS Bar Association CLE (Syracuse 2019)
- Say What? Hearsay Rules In New York, NYS Academy of Trial Lawyers CLE (New York 2015)
- Hearsay, NYS Bar Association CLE (Syracuse 2017)
- Ethics of Social Media Discovery, NYS Academy of Trial Lawyers CLE (Syracuse 2016)
- Ethics of Social Media Discovery, NYS Academy of Trial Lawyers CLE (Rochester 2016)
- Ethics of Social Media Discovery, NYS Academy of Trial Lawyers CLE (Albany 2016)
- Ethics of Social Media Discovery, NYS Academy of Trial Lawyers CLE (New York 2016)
- Ethics of Social Media Discovery, NYS Academy of Trial Lawyers CLE (Long Island 2016)
- Medical Malpractice Litigation, Discovery: NYS Bar Association CLE (Syracuse 2016)
- Say What? Hearsay Rules In New York, NYS Academy of Trial Lawyers CLE (Syracuse 2015)
- Say What? Hearsay Rules In New York, NYS Academy of Trial Lawyers CLE (Rochester 2015)
- Say What? Hearsay Rules In New York, NYS Academy of Trial Lawyers CLE (Buffalo 2015)
- Say What? Hearsay Rules In New York, NYS Academy of Trial Lawyers CLE (Albany 2015)
- Trial Practice: After the Verdict, NYS Academy of Trial Lawyers CLE (New York 2013)
- Say What? Hearsay Rules In New York, NYS Academy of Trial Lawyers CLE (Long Island 2015)
- Federal Tort Claims Act: Fundamentals and Updates, Northern District of New York Federal Court Bar Association CLE (Albany 2015)
- Social Media In New York, Syracuse University College of Law CLE (Syracuse 2014)
- Federal Tort Claims Act II: Essential Elements for NY Practitioners, NYS Academy of Trial Lawyers CLE (Syracuse 2014)
- Federal Tort Claims Act II: Essential Elements for NY Practitioners, NYS Academy of Trial Lawyers CLE (Albany 2014)
- Federal Tort Claims Act II: Essential Elements for NY Practitioners, NYS Academy of Trial Lawyers CLE (Long Island 2014)
- Volunteering Is Best - Feel Better By Doing Good, NYS Bar Association CLE (New York 2014)
- Medical Malpractice Litigation: Technique, Strategy & Procedure, NYS Bar Association CLE (Syracuse 2014)
- Federal Tort Claims Act II: Essential Elements for NY Practitioners, NYS Academy of Trial Lawyers CLE (New York 2014)
- Trial Practice: After the Verdict, NYS Academy of Trial Lawyers CLE (Syracuse 2013)
- Trial Practice: After the Verdict, NYS Academy of Trial Lawyers CLE (Albany 2013)
- Trial Practice: After the Verdict, NYS Academy of Trial Lawyers CLE (Rochester 2013)
- Proving Damages to the Jury, NYS Academy of Trial Lawyers CLE, Buffalo, 2012
- Trial Practice: After the Verdict, NYS Academy of Trial Lawyers CLE (Long Island 2013)
- Litigating In The Digital Age, NYS Academy of Trial Lawyers CLE (Syracuse 2013)
- Litigating In The Digital Age, NYS Academy of Trial Lawyers CLE (Albany 2013)
- Litigating In The Digital Age, NYS Academy of Trial Lawyers CLE (Rochester 2013)
- Litigating In The Digital Age, NYS Academy of Trial Lawyers CLE (Buffalo 2013)
- Networking Best Practices, NYS Bar Association CLE, Syracuse, 2012
- Article 50A and 50B, BS&K In-House CLE, Syracuse, 2006
- A Primer on the Federal Tort Claims Act, NYS Academy of Trial Lawyers CLE, Buffalo, 2012
- A Primer on the Federal Tort Claims Act, NYS Academy of Trial Lawyers CLE, Long Island 2012
- "Robbing Peter To Pay Paul: Medicaid Liens, Supplemental Needs Trusts and Personal Injury Recoveries on Behalf of Infants In New York State Following the Gold Decision," 53 Syr.L.Rev. 175, 2003
- Proving Damages to the Jury, NYS Academy of Trial Lawyers CLE, New York, 2012
- Proving Damages to the Jury, NYS Academy of Trial Lawyers CLE, Long Island, 2012
- Executive Editor, Syracuse Law Review, Syracuse University College of Law
- 2011-2012 Survey of New York Law: Civil Practice, Syracuse Law Review, 63 Syr.L.Rev. 593, 2013
- 2016-2017 Survey of New York Law: Civil Practice, Syracuse Law Review, 68 Syr.L.Rev. 748, 2018
- 2017 - 2018 Survey of New York Law: Civil Practice, Syracuse Law Review, 69 Syr.L.Rev, 2019
- CLE, Proving Damages To The Jury, New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers, Albany, NY (Chair and Presenter)
- Instructor, New York State Bar Association Advanced Trial Academy
- CLE, Proving Damages To The Jury, New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers, Syracuse, NY (Chair and Presenter)
- CLE, Proving Damages To The Jury, New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers, Rochester, NY (Chair and Presenter)
- Author, Michael A. Bottar, Robbing Peter To Pay Paul: Medicaid Liens, Supplemental Needs Trusts and Personal Injury Recoveries on Behalf of Infants In New York State Following the Gold Decision, 53 Syr.L.Rev. 175, 2003
- CLE, The "Nuts & Bolts" of a Trial: Essential Elements at the Core of Every Victory, New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers, Syracuse, NY (Presenter)
- CLE, The Ins and Outs of Article 50B, Syracuse, NY (Presenter)
- CLE, Did You Know Your Genes Are Patented? Emerging Law and Ethics On Genetic Counseling and Testing: What It Can & Cannot Do, and Medical Malpractice Issues The Community Foundation of Herkimer & Oneida Counties, Inc., Oneida County Bar Association and Ferre Institute, Inc. (Co-Presenter)
- CLE, A Primer on the Federal Tort Claims Act, New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers, Albany, NY (Chair and Presenter)
- CLE, A Primer on the Federal Tort Claims Act, New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers, Syracuse, NY (Chair and Presenter)
- CLE, A Primer on the Federal Tort Claims Act, New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers, Rochester, NY (Chair and Presenter)
- CLE, A Primer on the Federal Tort Claims Act, New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers, New York, NY (Chair and Presenter)
- CLE, A Primer on the Federal Tort Claims Act, New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers, Plainview, NY (Chair and Presenter)
- CLE, Proving Damages To The Jury, New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers, Buffalo, NY (Chair and Presenter)
- CLE, Proving Damages To The Jury, New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers, New York, NY (Chair and Presenter)
- Author, Michael A. Bottar & Kim Wolf Price, 2009-2010 Survey of New York Law: Civil Practice, Syracuse Law Review, 61 Syr.L.Rev. 631, 2011
- Author, Michael A. Bottar, 2010-2011 Survey of New York Law: Civil Practice, Syracuse Law Review, 62 Syr.L.Rev. 571, 2012
- Author, Michael A. Bottar, 2012-2013 Survey of New York Law: Civil Practice, Syracuse Law Review, 64 Syr.L.Rev. 601, 2014
- Author, Michael A. Bottar, 2013-2014 Survey of New York Law: Civil Practice, Syracuse Law Review, 65 Syr.L.Rev. 667, 2015
- Author, Michael A. Bottar, 2014-2015 Survey of New York Law: Civil Practice, Syracuse Law Review, 66 Syr.L.Rev. 805, 2016
- Author, Michael A. Bottar, 2015-2016 Survey of New York Law: Civil Practice, Syracuse Law Review, 67 Syr.L.Rev. 789, 2017
Other Outstanding Achievements:
- Adjunct Professor, Syracuse University College of Law (2011-present)
These comments were made by fellow attorneys during the annual nomination process.
“very smart and stays above the fray”
Selections
12 Years Super Lawyers
- Super Lawyers: 2013 - 2024
Top Lists
Top 50: Upstate New York Super Lawyers: 2016, 2018 - 2024- Top 50: 2024 Upstate New York Super Lawyers
- Top 50: 2023 Upstate New York Super Lawyers
- Top 50: 2022 Upstate New York Super Lawyers
- Top 50: 2021 Upstate New York Super Lawyers
- Top 50: 2020 Upstate New York Super Lawyers
- Top 50: 2019 Upstate New York Super Lawyers
- Top 50: 2018 Upstate New York Super Lawyers
- Top 50: 2016 Upstate New York Super Lawyers
