When people ask me how I got my start in personal injury, they aren’t expecting to hear that it’s because I witnessed a plaintiff die in the court of law. But that’s exactly what happened.
Mike was the head of litigation at the largest firm in Stockton and represented the insurance companies. One case he was in charge of was where a sewage tank leaked into a home. The owner was unhappy because his insurance company would not pay for the damage, and his attorney went after all of the problems with the house in trial as opposed to having the insurance company fix the damage. Mike successfully proved that the other problems were not there, and the sewage malfunction was swept ‘under the rug’. When the judge announced that he had won the case, the plaintiff had a stress-induced heart attack. The jury attempted CPR, but he did not survive. Deep down, Mike knew that he shouldn’t have won that case. It was in that moment that he realized he was on the wrong side of the courtroom. In 2002, Mike opened his own firm to help the victims of personal injury cases rather than their insurance providers.
Past Reflecting on the Future
Mike Dyer gained a lot of knowledge from his experience and his past is invaluable in his practice today. From working with a large law firm, Mike gained insider knowledge and he also goes up against large law firms and insurance companies without fear or hesitation. Mike has a reputation for being tough and tenacious in trial, and for this reason, he always prefers to open in court. However, many do not realize that he is a true ‘bleeding heart’. His son, Dustin, says that his father isn’t always aware of a case’s profitability, which is both a blessing and a curse. To see it from Mike’s perspective, you have to understand his early adult life.
When Mike’s first child was born, he had been working as an x-ray technician. He knew he wanted to provide a better life for his wife and daughter. After he helped settle estate matters for a family member, he realized that he could do what the lawyers were doing. He then enrolled in law school, where he went to class during the day, while working full-time at night plus helping to raise his child.
Mike knows what it’s like to struggle, and he has made it his life’s mission to represent the underdog, whether it’s a victim who has suffered an injury; a small business owner who is facing trial against a large organization, or an everyday citizen who has been taken advantage of by the legal system.
“I work to legally empower the powerless.”
Family and Community
Mike is a long-term resident of San Joaquin County, and he always tries to help the residents of his community — inside and outside of the courtroom.
He has spent time speaking with students about higher education and the legal system and has donated legal services to youth in need. He was also a little league coach for 20 years, and he is honored by the role he played in the lives of hundreds of kids throughout the years.
To those who know Mike personally, this is not a surprise, as he achieved fulfilling success in both high school and college baseball, a skill that he passed down to his three children, all of whom were all-conference players.
Today, his kids are all graduates from well-known universities, and he and his family get together to travel, whenever possible. He is also enjoying being a grandparent and doting on his grandson.
Education
- Juris Doctor – Martin Luther King Jr. School of Law at the University of California, Davis
- Bachelor of Arts – California State University, Sacramento
Have other questions? Please contact Dyer Law Firm to schedule your FREE consultation and to discuss your specific case.