Michael Sistrunk has received Martindale Hubbell's highest "AV" rating. Since 1976, he has been primarily responsible for major litigation of personal injury liability claims including claims of hotel-innkeeper liability, trucking liability, asbestosis, insurance coverage and fraud, intentional torts, alleged police misconduct, and medical malpractice cases with the value in excess of $100,000.  He has also served as trial counsel in matters involving wrongful denial of coverage and suits against public bodies, corporate officers and directors.

He recently obtained a jury verdict of no punitive damages against an employer for an intoxicated driver.  Mr. Sistrunk routinely represents defendants subject to punitive damage awards with great success.  He was retained immediately after an unexpected $4.5 million verdict when prior counsel asserted there were no appealable issues.  Mr. Sistrunk raised a preemption issue for the first time on appeal and forced the plaintiffs to settle for $3 million instead of the original $4.5 million judgment.

Mr. Sistrunk has served as a Louisiana Bar Examiner in Torts and is a frequent lecturer at various Continuing Legal Education Seminars.  He is a member of the exclusive Association of Defense Trial Attorneys, the Transportation Lawyers Association, the Defense Research Institute, and the Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel.  He is an active member of the USLaw Transportation Group.

Mr. Sistrunk became a founding director of McCranie, Sistrunk, Anzelmo, Hardy, McDaniel & Welch after serving as director and section head of casualty at McGlinchey, Stafford, Cellini & Lang.

Education

B.A., Louisiana State University, 1974.

J.D., Louisiana State University, Paul M. Hebert School of Law, 1976, at age 22.