Michael P. McDonald

PROFILE

Michael P. McDonald is the principal of the Lancaster law firm of McDonald At Law which limits its practice to serious personal injury cases.

Mr. McDonald has been a trial lawyer practicing plaintiffs’ personal injury law for 35 years.  His first 10 years of practice were in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  His last 25 years of practice have been in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

Mr. McDonald was born in Detroit, Michigan and moved to Lancaster, Pennsylvania in 1971.

Michael McDonald is a member of the American Association for Justice, American Bar Association, Lancaster Bar Association, Pennsylvania Association for Justice – Champion of Justice, Pennsylvania Bar Association, Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association, Bar Association for the Third Federal Circuit, and a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation.

CERTIFICATIONS AND CREDENTIALS

National Board of Trial Advocacy

ABOUT MICHAEL MCDONALD

Admitted: 1985, Pennsylvania

Professional Webpage: www.mcdonaldatlaw.com/attorneys/#michael

Honors and Awards:

• Attorney McDonald is certified as a Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy, originally in 2002, re-certified in 2007, re-certified in 2012, and re-certified in 2017 through 2022.
•   As a result of his trial record, he has received national certification to the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, certification and multiple citations to the national Million Dollar Advocates Forum.
• Mr. McDonald was originally named to Pennsylvania Super Lawyers in 2011 and continues in 2014 through 2020.
• Mr. McDonald has been named to the National Trial Lawyers – Top 100 Trial Lawyers in December 2011 through 2020.
•  Mr. McDonald has been named to the National Association of Distinguished Counsel from 2015 through 2021.
• He was named to Trial Masters in 2015.
• Mr. McDonald has obtained one of the largest non-death trial verdicts in a personal injury case in the history of Lancaster County.  This trial verdict has led to precedent-setting, third party excess/bad faith liability litigation.  Mr. McDonald has also obtained one of the largest arbitration awards in Lancaster County history.
• He is also a long standing author and lecturer of automobile insurance law to attorneys within the Commonwealth.
• Mr. McDonald possesses Martindale-Hubbell’s highest rating, AV-Preeminent.  .

Special Licenses/Certifications:

• Trial Masters, 2015 Lifetime Member
• National Association of Distinguished Counsel, 2015 through 2020
• Michael McDonald was named a charter member to The American College of Board Certified Attorneys, 2013
• McDonald received Martindale-Hubbell’s highest rating, AV-Preeminent.
• Michael McDonald was named to The National Trial Lawyers – Top 100 Trial Lawyers, 2011-2020.
• Michael McDonald was approved for membership to the Million Dollar Advocates Forum on April 15, 1996.  His original qualifying jury trial verdict was in the amount of $1,515,821.00. Since 1996, Mr. McDonald has received multiple citations from the National Million Dollar Advocates Forum. Mr. McDonald is a Life Member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum.
• Michael McDonald was awarded national Certification to the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum on October 5, 2007. Mr. McDonald is a Life Member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum.
• Bar/Professional Activity:
  • Arbitrator for Civil Arbitrations in the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County, 1985 through 1991.
  • Arbitrator for Civil Arbitrations in the Court of Common Pleas of Lancaster County, 1991 through the present.
  • Author for the Lancaster Bar Association Civil Practice Manual, Lancaster Bar Association, 1998.
  • Member of Committee to revise Lancaster County Civil Rules, 2014.
  • Member of Commission for the Revision of Lancaster County’s Civil Rules, 2015
  • Participant Lancaster County’s Mock Trial program, 2013, 2014
  • Michael McDonald board certified as Civil Pretrial Practice Advocate by the National Board of Legal Speciality Certification, April 25, 2012.

  Pro bono/Community Service:

  • Volunteer Author of Lancaster Bar Association Civil Practice Manual, Lancaster Bar Association, 1998
  • Served as volunteer arbitrator for Civil Arbitrations in the Court of Common Pleas of Lancaster County , 1991
  • Served as a voluntary arbirtator for Civil Arbitrations in the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County, 1985
• Scholarly Lectures and Writings:
• 2017 Writer/Lecturer “How to Get Social Media, Email and Text Evidence Admitted (and Keep Theirs Out), Expert Witness Evidence, National Business Institute, Harrisburg, Pa.
• 2009 – “Winning Your First Auto Accident Case”, Writer and Lecturer,, National Buisness Institute, 2009
  • 2008 – “Winning Your First Civil Trial”, Writer and Lecturer, National Business Institute,2008
  • 2006 – “Successfully Litigating Motor Vehicle Accident Case”, Writer and Lecturer,Pennsylvania Bar Institute, WITF-TV, 2006
  • 2004 – “Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Law in Pennsylvania”, Writer and Lecturer,National Business Institute, 2004
  • 2003 – “Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Law in Pennsylvania”, Writer and Lecturer,National Business Institute, 2003
  • 1998 – Lancaster Bar Association Civil Practice Manual, Author, Lancaster Bar Association, 1998
• Verdicts and Settlements:
• Verdict, 2.6 million dollar verdict for injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident. (2000)
• Verdict, 2.5 million dollar verdict for injuries sustained in an automobile accident. (1998)
• Settlement, 1.6 million dollar total settlement for injuries sustained during a trucking accident, including verdict requiring insurance company to provide coverage. (2014)
• Verdict, 1.5 million dollar verdict for injuries sustained in a police excessive force case. (1996)
• Settlement, 1.4 million dollar settlement for injuries sustained in a trucking accident. (2009)
• Arbitration award, 1.3 million dollar arbitration award for injuries sustained in an automobile accident. (2009)
• Arbitration award, 1 million dollar arbitration award for injuries sustained in an automobile accident. (2012)
• Verdict, $320,000 Lancaster County auto accident. (2016)

Representative Clients:

• Plaintiff Personal Injury Clients and Claimant Workers’ Compensation Clients

Educational Background:

• Bucknell University, B.A., 1980
• Temple University Beasley School of Law, J.D., 1985
• National 1-AA American Football Coaches Association, First Team Athletic – All American, 1980
• Associated Press 1-AA First Team Athletic Football All-American, 1980
• National District COSIDA Academic-All American, 1980
• Top Male Scholar – Athlete Bucknell University, 1980
• McDonald has been inducted into the Bucknell University Athletic Hall of Fame, 2002
• McDonald has been inducted into the Lancaster Catholic High School Hall of Honors, 2005
• Mr. McDonald received the Alumni Citation Award for Professional Achievement, Lancaster Catholic High School, 2018

Admitted: 1985, Pennsylvania; 1986, United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania;            1989, United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit; 2019, United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania

• Bucknell University, B.A., 1980
• Temple University Beasley School of Law, J.D., 1985
• National 1-AA American Football Coaches Association, First Team Athletic – All American, 1980
• Associated Press 1-AA First Team Athletic Football All-American, 1980
• National District COSIDA Academic-All American, 1980
• Top Male Scholar – Athlete Bucknell University, 1980
• Mr. McDonald has been inducted into the Bucknell University Athletic Hall of Fame, 2002
• Mr. McDonald has been inducted into the Lancaster Catholic High School Hall of Honors, 2005

• Michael McDonald was named a Charter Fellow of The American College of Board Certified Attorneys, 2013
• Mr. McDonald received Martindale-Hubbell’s highest rating, AV-Preeminent.
• Michael McDonald was named to The National Trial Lawyers – Top 100 Trial Lawyers, 2011-2020.
• Michael McDonald has been certified as a Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy since 2002.Mr. McDonald has been named to the National Association of Distinguished Counsel from 2015 through 2021.
• Michael McDonald was approved for membership to the Million Dollar Advocates Forum on April 15, 1996.  Since 1996, Mr. McDonald has received multiple citations from the National Million Dollar Advocates Forum. Mr. McDonald is a Life Member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum.
• Michael McDonald was awarded national Certification to the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum on October 5, 2007. Mr. McDonald is a Life Member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum.

• Attorney McDonald is certified as a Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy, originally in 2002, re-certified in 2007, re-certified in 2012 and recertified in 2017 through 2022.    As a result of his trial record, he has received national certification to the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, certification and multiple citations to the national Million Dollar Advocates Forum .  Mr. McDonald was originally named to Pennsylvania Super Lawyers in 2011 and continues in 2020.  Mr. McDonald has been named to the National Trial Lawyers – Top 100 Trial Lawyers in December 2011 through the present.  Mr. McDonald has obtained one of the largest non-death trial verdicts in a personal injury case in the history of Lancaster County.  This trial verdict has led to precedent-setting, third party excess/bad faith liability litigation.  Mr. McDonald has also obtained one of the largest arbitration awards in Lancaster County history.  He is also a long standing author and lecturer of automobile insurance law to attorneys within the Commonwealth.  Mr. McDonald possesses Martindale-Hubbell’s highest rating, AV-Preeminent.

• Arbitrator for Civil Arbitrations in the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County, 1985 through 1991.
• Arbitrator for Civil Arbitrations in the Court of Common Pleas of Lancaster County, 1991 through the present.
• Author for the Lancaster Bar Association Civil Practice Manual, Lancaster Bar Association, 1998.
• Member of Commission for the Revision of Lancaster County’s Civil Rules, 2015
• Participant Lancaster County’s Mock Trial program, 2013, 2014
• Michael McDonald is a member of the American Association for Justice, American Bar Association, Lancaster Bar Association, Pennsylvania Association for Justice – Champion of Justice, Pennsylvania Bar Association, Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association, Bar Association for the Third Federal Circuit, and a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation.
• Charter Fellow of the American College of Board Certified Attorneys

5/16/2016  PRESS RELEASE – The National Association of Distinguished Council – Michael McDonald has been named a member of the Nation’s Top One Percent by The National Association of Distinguished Counsel 

5/22/15 PRESS RELEASE – Trial Masters – Michael McDonals Inducted into Trial Masters

4/1/15 PRESS RELEASE – The National Association of Distinguished Counsel – Michael McDonald has been named a member of the Nation’s Top One Percent by The National Association of Distinguished Counsel

2/2/15  The 2014 Litigator Award Winners were honored in a National CNN Media Campaign in which promos were aired across four of CNN’s most watched shows including Anderson Cooper 360,Erin Burnett Up Front, Wolf Blitzer (Special), and CNN Prime News.

1/15/15 PRESS RELEASE – McDonald At Law Wins Prestigious 2014 Litigator Award McDonald At Law named 2014 Litigator Award Winner. Having been conferred this prestigious National Award, the firm ranks among the Top 1% of all lawyers for: Personal Injury Litigation.  BELLEVUE, WASHINGTON: JAN. 15, 2015 – McDonald At Law, a trial law firm located in Lancaster, PA, was today awarded the prestigious 2014 Litigator Award for extraordinary achievement within the field(s) of Personal Injury Litigation.

7/2014 Michael McDonald became a Champion of Justice, Pennsylvania Association of Justice

5/2014 Pennsylvania & Delaware Super Lawyers Magazine published recognizing Michael P. McDonald as a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer and Christopher L. Scott as a 2014 Rising Star.  To access the archive of the Super Lawyers Magazine digital editions.

5/2014 Michael McDonald, Esq., received Martindale-Hubbell’s highest rating – AV Preeminent

2/2014 Michael McDonald, Esq., interviewed by The Legal Intelligencer “Outside of Phila., Are Pa.’s Counties Becoming More Plaintiff-Friendly?”

10/2013 Gonzalez v. Deverter named Featured Verdict in Verdict Search Pennsylvania Vol. 10 Issue 10

10/2010 Find McDonald At Law in Newsweek’s Top Attorneys in PA Section.

2/2010 Michael P. McDonald Selected for Membership in Superior Lawyers of America. “Membership is limited to these lawyers who have acquired at least one verdict of One Million Dollars, this demonstrating their abilities in Obtaining a Superior Verdict – Lifetime Member of Superior Lawyers of America.”

5/2009 Attorney Michael P. McDonald developed and lectured “Winning Your First Auto Accident Case” in Harrisburg, PA.

8/2008 Michael P. McDonald, Esq., Named Who’s Who Professional of the Year 2008 Civil Trial Lawyer.

6/2008 Michael P. McDonald, Esq. Inducted into The Verdict Club, Premier Litigators Group Honors Him for Million-Dollar Awards.

6/2008 Michael P. McDonald, Esq., Named Who’s Who Professional of the Year 2008 Legal Services.

9/2007 Michael P. McDonald, Esq., Named to Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum.

• 2.6 million dollar verdict for injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident.

• 2.5 million dollar verdict for injuries sustained in an automobile accident.

• 1.6 million dollar total settlement for injuries sustained in a trucking accident, including verdict requiring insurance company to provide coverage.

• 1.5 million dollar verdict for injuries sustained in a police excessive force case.

• 1.4 million dollar settlement for injuries sustained in a trucking accident.

• 1.3 million dollar arbitration award for injuries sustained in an automobile accident.

• 1 million dollar arbitration award for injuries sustained in an automobile accident.

• 2009 – “Winning Your First Auto Accident Case”, Writer and Lecturer,, National Buisness Institute, 2009
• 2008 – “Winning Your First Civil Trial”, Writer and Lecturer, National Business Institute, 2008
• 2006 – “Successfully Litigating Motor Vehicle Accident Case”, Writer and Lecturer,Pennsylvania Bar Institute, WITF-TV, 2006
• 2004 – “Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Law in Pennsylvania”, Writer and Lecturer,National Business Institute, 2004
• 2003 – “Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Law in Pennsylvania”, Writer and Lecturer, National Business Institute, 2003
• 1998 – Lancaster Bar Association Civil Practice Manual, Author, Lancaster Bar Association, 1998

• Volunteer Author of Lancaster Bar Association Civil Practice Manual, Lancaster Bar Association, 1998
• Served as volunteer arbitrator for Civil Arbitrations in the Court of Common Pleas of Lancaster County , 1991 – present
• Served as a voluntary arbitrator for Civil Arbitrations in the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County, 1985-1989
• Member of Commission for the Revision of Lancaster County’s Civil Rules, 2015
• Participant Lancaster County’s Mock Trial program, 2013, 2014