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Michael W Pearson
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About Michael
Biography
Michael W. Pearson is a partner with Curry, Pearson & Wooten PLC. His practice is devoted largely to complex litigation including aviation accidents, aviation regulation, severe personal injury, wrongful death, commercial litigation and defamation matters. In addition, he often consults with clients regarding Federal Aviation Regulation compliance. Michael is one of Arizona's Finest Lawyers, AV rated, is a member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum and has achieved the highest rating possible by "AVVO." He has also been honored by the National Trial Lawyers Association as one of the "Top 100 Trial Attorneys" and has been selected by his peers as a "SuperLawyer."
Michael teaches aviation law and regulation classes at Arizona State University and is the author of "Foundations of Aviation Law" a textbook used in graduate and undergraduate courses.
Mr. Pearson has successfully handled matters, as Arizona litigation counsel, for such international firms as Gosschalks Solicitors, Stewarts Law, Air France, S.A. (formally Société Air France) and Zest Airways. Among his many domestic cases he represented various family members in the deaths of 19 firefighter "hotshot" crew members who perished in a wildfire near Yarnell, Arizona in 2013. He is currently litigating a 2014 class action lawsuit on behalf of FAA- CTI (collegiate training institution) students, who were "purged" from the preferred applicant register due to racial discrimination, by the Federal Aviation Administration. Pearson is also lead counsel in an additional class action lawsuit, filed in 2018, alleging that the FAA’s 2014 use of a biographical assessment during the air traffic control hiring process resulted in disparate treatment as well as impact based on race.
Specialties: Aviation law including airplane and helicopter accidents, wrongful death, personal injury, FAA enforcement action cases, and complex litigation.
Expert regarding air traffic control.
Top rated litigation lawyer with 25 years experience....
Practice Areas
4
Practice Areas
Litigation
45%
31 years
Aviation
20%
31 years
Personal Injury
20%
31 years
Wrongful Death
15%
31 years
Fees and Rates
Cost
Hourly Rates
$ 350-450 per hour
Contingency
25%-40%
Payment Methods
- Cash
- Check
- Credit Card
Awards
Licenses
Licensed in Arizona for 30 years
State: Arizona
Acquired: 1995
No misconduct found
Licensed in Wyoming for 5 years
State: Wyoming
Acquired: 2020
No misconduct found
Licensed in District of Columbia for 15 years
State: District of Columbia
Acquired: 2010
No misconduct found
Licensed in Colorado for 28 years
State: Colorado
Acquired: 1997
No misconduct found
Location
Gallery
Michael W Pearson's Reviews
Showing 1 - 3 of 3 client reviews from Avvo
Posted by Robert | February 22, 2018 | Hired Attorney
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Incredible aviation knowledge
Michael Pearson has handled a number of aviation issues for our Part 135 charter company. His aviation experience is so vast that there was never any time wasted on training our lawyer on our industry specific regulations. Our biggest case involve a hostile takeover attempt involving a fraudule...
Posted by anonymous | December 7, 2010
Injury lawyer
Mr. Pearson made me feel comfortable and at ease even when I was very concerned about my injury case. He was very involved in my case and showed a high level of ethics and professionalism while he was representing me. My results were outstanding. I recommend him without reservation.
Posted by anonymous | July 20, 2009
Great knowledge - excellent results
I have worked with many attorneys over the years. He was by far the most professional. I will always use him for my personal and business issues.
Michael W Pearson's Lawyer Endorsements
"Michael is a highly skilled trial lawyer. He is a dedicated, thorough, and knowledgeable. I endorse this lawyer."
"I endorse this lawyer. I have worked with Mike for over a decade and he is one of the most dedicated lawyers that I know. He works tirelessly for his clients and he has an incredible grasp of legal issues."
"Mike is a very knowledgable trial lawyer. His legal acumen is unrivaled, and he combines excellent litigation skills with a common sense, practical approach to cases that served his client well. He's a great attorney to work with."
"I endorse Michael. He is a highly skilled attorney that is well respected in the legal community."
"Top-notch attorney. Highly respected in the legal community."
"I endorse this lawyer. Mike is a very good aviation lawyer with not only great knowledge of the aviation law field, but also vast experience both as a lawyer and professor, but also as an air traffic controller. As a fellow lawyer and pilot, I have often called upon his expertise when legal aviation issues have me stumped. I highly endorse Mike."
"I endorse Mike Pearson. Mike was my professor at Arizona State University for, among other courses, Aviation Law. After a career flying professionally at a national airline, I decided that aviation law was more my passion. Mike was instrumental in providing me guidance and encouragement throughout law school and now in practice."
"Michael is a great lawyer, and very devoted to his clients."
"Mike is the type of attorney another attorney, like myself, would hire. He's not just hardworking and smart, he's so well-grounded it takes people by surprise. This is the guy you want in your corner. Period."
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Steve Hulsman
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Cameron Cloar
Aviation lawyer
Geoffrey Trachtenberg
Personal injury lawyer
Sanford Gerber
Personal injury lawyer
Experience
Honors
2025
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2024
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2023
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2022
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2021
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2020
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2019
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2019
SuperLawyer, Thomson Reuters
2019
Million Dollar Advocate, Million Dollar Advocates Forum
2019
Arizona's Finest Lawyers, Arizona's Finest Lawyers
2019
Arizona's Finest Lawyers, Arizona's Finest Lawyers
2019
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2018
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2018
SuperLawyer, Thomson Reuters
2018
Million Dollar Advocate, Million Dollar Advocates Forum
2018
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2018
Arizona's Finest Lawyers, Arizona's Finest Lawyers
2017
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2017
Arizona's Finest Lawyers, Arizona's Finest Lawyers
2017
SuperLawyer, Thomson Reuters
2017
Million Dollar Advocate, Million Dollar Advocates Forum
2017
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2016
Arizona's Finest Lawyers, Arizona's Finest Lawyers
2016
Million Dollar Advocate, Million Dollar Advocates Forum
2016
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2015
Arizona's Finest Lawyers, Arizona's Finest Lawyers
2015
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell®
2015
Million Dollar Advocate, Million Dollar Advocates Forum
2014
Top 100 Trial Lawyers, National Trial Lawyers Association
2014
Arizona's Finest Lawyers, Arizona's Finest Lawyers
2014
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2014
Million Dollar Advocate, Million Dollar Advocates Forum
2013
Million Dollar Advocate, Million Dollar Advocates Forum
2013
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2013
Arizona's Finest Lawyers, Arizona's Finest Lawyers
2013
Top 100 Trial Lawyers, National Trial Lawyers Association
2012
Million Dollar Advocate, Million Dollar Advocates Forum
2012
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2012
Arizona's Finest Lawyers, Arizona's Finest Lawyers
2012
Top 100 Trial Lawyers, National Trial Lawyers Association
2011
Million Dollar Advocate, Million Dollar Advocates Forum
2011
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2011
Arizona's Finest Lawyers, Arizona's Finest Lawyers
2010
Million Dollar Advocate, Million Dollar Advocates Forum
2010
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2009
Million Dollar Advocate, Million Dollar Advocates Forum
2009
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2009
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2008
Million Dollar Advocate, Million Dollar Advocates Forum
2008
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2007
Million Dollar Advocate, Million Dollar Advocates Forum
2007
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2006
Million Dollar Advocate, Million Dollar Advocates Forum
2006
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2005
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
1994
Pedrick Scholar, Arizona State University
1994
Honors- Legal Writing and Research, Arizona State University
1994
Cum Laude Graduate, Arizona State University
1987
Summa Cum Laude Graduate- 4.0, University of Houston
Work Experience
2003 - Present
Managing Member, Curry, Pearson & Wooten, PLC
1993 - Present
Professor, Arizona State University
1995 - 2003
Managing member, Law Offices of Michael Pearson, PLC
1994 - 1996
Faculty, Embry-Riddle University
1992 - 1995
Quality Assurance Specialist, Federal Aviation Administration
1984 - 2010
Certified Professional Controller, Federal Aviation Administration
Associations
2014 - Present
United States Contract Tower Association (USCTA)Board Member
2010 - Present
District of Columbia BarMember
2009 - Present
Maricopa County Bar AssociationMember
1997 - Present
Colorado Bar AssociationMember
1996 - Present
National Transportation Bar AssociationMember
1996 - Present
Arizona Trial Lawyers Association
1994 - Present
State Bar of ArizonaMember
2007 - 2010
Arizona Call A Teen (ACYR)Board of Directors
Sample of Legal Cases
Rojas v. Fed. Aviation Admin., 927 F.3d 1046 (9th Cir. 2019)
Plaintiff prevailed on appeal to the 9th Circuit
Larue v. Brown, 693 Ariz. Adv. Rep. 18 (App. Div. I, August 19, 2014)
Favorable to client
Mitchell v. City of Flagstaff, 2011 WL 5826014 (D.Ariz.)
Favorable to client
Crawford v. Balderaz, et. al
Judgment- 1.8 million dollars
Gilding v. Carr, 608 F.Supp.2d 1147 (D.Ariz., 2009)
Favorable to client
Foley adv. Tanner, et. al.
Favorable to client- confidentiality agreement
Robertson v. State of Arizona, et. al.
Favorable to client- confidentiality agreement
Jones v. Planes of Fame, et. al.
Favorable to clients- confidentiality agreement
Education
1994
Arizona State University Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law
JD - Juris Doctor
1994
Arizona State University
MBA
1987
University of Houston
BBA
Speaking Engagements
2011
International Symposium on Aviation Psychology
Air Traffic Control
2009
International Symposium on Aviation Psychology
Human Factors in Air Traffic Control
2004
Arizona Aviation Conference
Aviation Accidents
2004
Arizona Aviation Conference
Aviation Enforcment Actions
Publications
2014
Textbook
Foundations of Aviation Law
2011
CPW Legal Guides
Aviation Law: What You Really Need to Know
2010
Journal of Air Transportation Worldwide
Reviewer
2010
CPW Legal Guides
When The FAA Investigates You
1999
The CRM Insight: The Aircrew Journal for Cockpit/Crew Resource Management.
Editorial Board
Activity
Legal Answers
Legal Guides