Michael V. Baxter
Partner
Michael V. Baxter is a partner with Lesser, Landy, Smith and Siegel, PLLC who works in the West Palm Beach office and focuses his practice on representing those who have been catastrophically injured due to medical negligence.
Michael began his career as an Assistant State Attorney in Miami-Dade County. During his time as a prosecutor, Michael tried over 70 jury trials and prosecuted some of the county’s most dangerous criminals while serving in the career criminal unit.
Michael then spent the next 16 years defending hospitals and health care providers in medical negligence cases. In 2015, Michael joined a local Plaintiff’s personal injury firm where he headed up the firm’s medical malpractice department representing individuals and families who suffered catastrophic injuries as a result of medical malpractice. In the 10 years he spent as the firm’s lead medical malpractice attorney, Michael obtained the two largest settlements in the firm’s 47-year history. He also obtained a favorable verdict on behalf of every medical malpractice client he represented at trial, including multiple seven-figure verdicts.
Michael has received numerous awards including the National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Lawyers; Florida Super Lawyers; Top Attorney in Medical Malpractice and South Florida Legal Guide’s Top Attorney. He obtained a Top 5 Medical Malpractice Verdict in Florida in 2024. In 2020, Michael obtained the 7th largest medical malpractice in the United States (2nd largest in Florida in 2020). In 2017, he obtained the 20th largest medical malpractice verdict in Florida.
A native of Miami, Florida, Michael attended Florida State University and graduated with a degree in finance. He earned his Juris Doctorate from Nova Southeastern University and was admitted to The Florida Bar in 1996.
Michael is married to his wife of 22 years, Helene, with whom he has identical twin daughters, Madisen and Maysen.
Admitted
- The Florida Bar (1996)
- United State, Southern District of Florida (2015) (Inactive)
Honors
- “AV” rated by Martindale-Hubbell for the highest level of legal ability and ethics (2009-2025)
- Florida Super Lawyers (2014-2025)
- The National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Attorneys (2020-2025)
- Jupiter Magazine Top Medical Malpractice Attorney (2024)
- Top Verdict Top 10 Medical Malpractice Verdict in Florida (2024)
- Million Dollar and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum
- Florida Legal Elite, Civil Trial, Florida Trend Magazine (2012-2021)
- Top Verdict Top 10 Medical Malpractice Verdict in the United States (2020)
- Top Verdict Top 20 Medical Malpractice Verdict in Florida (2017)
Professional Memberships
- American Association for Justice
- Florida Justice Association
- Palm Beach County Justice Association
- Palm Beach County Bar Association
- American Board of Trial Advocates
- Â Florida Justice Association, Medical Malpractice Committee (2023-2025)
Community Leadership
- Jupiter United, Former Volunteer Soccer Coach
- Diego 1K4L, Director and Sponsor
- Keyser Women’s Soccer, Sponsor
- Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Sponsor
Seminars Presented
- The Difference Between General Negligence and Medical Negligence
- The Three Cs of Medical Negligence: Communication, Continuity of Care and Competency
- Russell Caughey vs. Donald Wood, DO and Paragon Contracting Services, LLC Trial Presentation
- Gwendolyn Rouse v. Lawnwood Regional Medical Center Non-Binding Arbitration Presentation
Notable Settlements, Verdicts, & Judgments
- $9,000,000 settlement for wrongful death caused by medical negligence (2024)
- $3,205,250 verdict for an above the knee amputation due to failure to diagnose an infection. This was the largest medical malpractice verdict in Martin County in over 20 years. (2024)
- $4,086,000 verdict for wrongful death. Highest offer was $25,000. (2020)
- $494,000 verdict for fall in hospital. Highest offer was $10,000. (2017)
- $500,000 verdict against the United States for medical malpractice for a delay in diagnosis of bladder cancer.
- Confidential eight-figure settlement for child injured from lack of oxygen.
- Confidential eight-figure settlement for child injured from jaundice.
- Multiple seven-figure settlements for children injured due to birth trauma.
