Michael J. Drahos Attorney At Law

Michael focuses his practice defending maritime medical malpractice claims, including cases of catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death.

Michael possesses deep experience relating to claims asserted against the passenger vessel and cruise industry, having defended shipboard doctors and nurses for over 15 years. He regularly represents shipboard doctors and nurses located throughout every region of the world, and has been instrumental in developing jurisdictional defenses for foreign defendants facing claims in the United States. Michael also frequently lectures on numerous topics relating to maritime medical malpractice litigation at various cruise line industry seminars and conventions.

Michael practices in state and federal courts throughout Florida and brings valuable insight to the defense of litigation relating to medical devices from his experience handling medical negligence claims on behalf of health care providers. He has defended a diverse array of product liability claims ranging from tractors, all-terrain vehicles, and amusement park rides to household appliances, automobile component parts, scaffolding equipment, and heating and cooling systems. He has also defended claims asserted against manufacturers of dietary and herbal supplements and currently serves as regional counsel to one of the world's largest sports equipment and apparel companies.

• Background

  Active in the Wellington community, Michael was recently re-elected unopposed to a new four year term as a city councilman on the Wellington Village Council, after having previously been elected to serve his first four year term in 2016. In 2018 he served as the Vice Mayor of Wellington. He previously spent six years on the Wellington Planning, Zoning and Adjustment Board from 2010 to 2016 and two years on the Wellington Education Committee from 2008-2010. Michael is also the founder of the Young Professionals of Wellington, a community advocacy group dedicated to increasing community awareness and promoting the social and economic interests of Wellington.

  Michael is a graduate of the prestigious International Association of Defense Counsel's (IADC) Trial Academy hosted by Stanford Law School. In 2013 he was invited to join the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel (FDCC), a highly selective group of attorneys whose peers have judged them to have achieved extraordinary professional distinction. He also maintains an AV Preeminent peer review rating with Martindale-Hubbell.

• Education
  • Florida State University, B.A. (1999)
  • Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad Law Center, J.D., with honors (2002)
    • Pro Bono Gold Honors, 2002
• Admissions
  • Florida
  • U.S. District Courts for the Middle and Southern Districts of Florida
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
• Professional Associations and Memberships
  •  The Florida Bar
  •  Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel (FDCC), Membership Committee
• Civic
  • City of Wellington
    • Councilman, 2016-present
    • Vice Mayor, 2018 - 2019, 2022 - present
  • Wellington Planning, Zoning, and Adjustment Board, 2010-2016
  • Wellington Education Committee, 2008-2010
  • Young Professionals of Wellington, Founder
• Awards and Recognitions
  • AV Preeminent® rated by Martindale-Hubbell
  • Best Lawyers in America, Admiralty and Maritime Law, Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants, 2023-2025
  • Florida Super Lawyers, Rising Stars, 2012-2017
  • South Florida Business and Wealth Magazine, Up and Corners Finalist, 2016
  • Lifestyle Magazine, "Leaders in the Law" Finalist, 2015
  • Florida Trend, Up and Coming Legal Elite, 2007
• Articles and Publications
  • Co-Author, "Danger Ahead: The Changing Face of Failure to Warn Claims," Florida Defense Lawyers Association, Winter 2014
  • Author, ALFA International Product Liability Practice Group, Florida Section, 2011
  • Co-Author, "Applying Punitive Damages under Federal Common Law," Defense Research Institute, 2009
  • Author, "The Adequacy of Product Warnings Written Only in English," Defense Research Institute, November 2009
  • Co-Author, ALFA International Product Liability Practice Group, Florida Section, 2009
  • Co-Author, "The Viability of the Critical Self Analysis Privilege," ALFA International, Fall 2008
  • Author, "Florida Compendium on Product Liability Failure to Warn Issues," Defense Research Institute, 2007
• Presentations and Seminars
  • "Litigation Trends," American College of Emergency Physicians Cruise Ship Medicine Section Annual Meeting, September 29, 2024
  • Co-Presenter, "The Opioid Crisis and the Blame Game," FDCC Annual Meeting, Maui, Hawaii, July 29, 2018 - August 4, 2018
  • Co-Presenter, "Admiralty and Maritime Law," Berkley One, Wilmington, DE, May 16, 2018
  • Co-Presenter, "Jurisdictional Issues Associated with Shipboard Doctors and Nurses," Cruise Lines International Association, 2013
• Media
  • "Carnival Prevails in Lawsuit Over Passenger’s Dining Area Mishap," Law360, January 26, 2024
  • "Carnival Door Injury Suit Can Be Refiled, Florida Judge Says," Law360, March 24, 2023