Michael Leizerman

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Michael Jay Leizerman (born August 27, 1969) is an American attorney based in Toledo, Ohio, recognized for his specialization in trucking accident litigation. He is the founding chair of the American Association for Justice’s Trucking Litigation Group and co-founder of the Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys. Leizerman is board certified in Truck Accident Law by the National Board of Trial Advocacy (NBTA) and has litigated some of the largest trucking verdicts and settlements in the United States. He is also known for his writings on mindfulness and law, including The Zen Lawyer: Winning with Mindfulness.

Early Life and Education

Leizerman was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, on August 27, 1969. He grew up in Grosse Ile, Michigan, and as a teenager received a congressional appointment from Representative John D. Dingell to serve as a page for the United States House of Representatives from 1985 to 1986.

He graduated from Grosse Ile High School in 1987 before earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy and film & video studies from the University of Michigan in 1991.

Leizerman then attended the University of Toledo College of Law, where he earned his Juris Doctor in 1994. From 2001 to 2006, he served as an adjunct professor at the University of Toledo College of Law, teaching courses in jurisprudence, pretrial practice, and negotiations.

Career

Leizerman began working for his uncle E.J. Leizerman’s law office as a clerk while still in high school. After graduating from law school, he became an associate at the firm, eventually purchasing it from his uncle. He practiced under the names E.J. Leizerman & Associates and Leizerman & Associates until 2020, when he partnered with attorneys Rena Leizerman, Andy Young, and D.J. Young to form Leizerman & Young. The firm was later renamed The Law Firm for Truck Safety, where he serves as managing partner.

Leizerman has represented clients in catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases resulting from trucking collisions. His notable outcomes include:

• An $82.1 million verdict for an amputation case, the largest trucking verdict in the U.S. in 2025
• A $34 million settlement in 2014, the largest reported truck accident settlement in the United States that year
• An $18.5 million wrongful death verdict in Detroit in 2023
• Multiple jury verdicts and settlements exceeding $10 million, including Linhart v. Heyl Trucking in Oregon (2012), which produced one of the first punitive damage awards against a transportation broker

He has also argued cases with national implications, including Miller v. C.H. Robinson, which was appealed to the Supreme Court of the United States. Although certiorari was denied, the Court sought input from the Solicitor General, leaving intact a Ninth Circuit ruling favorable to the plaintiff.

Beyond litigation, Leizerman has advocated for trucking safety reforms. He has testified before Congress’ Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee on raising commercial vehicle insurance minimums.

Professional Contributions

Leizerman has delivered more than 150 presentations nationwide on trucking litigation and trial advocacy. He co-authored Litigating Truck Accident Cases, a multi-volume legal treatise first published in 2005 and updated annually, and authored The Zen Lawyer: Winning with Mindfulness in 2018. He leads workshops and retreats that combine trial skills with mindfulness practices for attorneys.

He played a key role in creating the NBTA’s board certification in Truck Accident Law, which was recognized by the American Bar Association in 2018. He continues to serve on the board of the National Board of Truck Accident Attorneys.

Community Involvement

With his wife and law partner Rena Leizerman, he established the Michael and Rena Leizerman Foundation, which has funded various causes including the Buddhist Temple of Toledo, for which they donated both land and construction funds. He serves as treasurer of the temple and hosts Zen Lawyer retreats on its grounds.

Leizerman has also served on the boards of the ACLU of Northwest Ohio, Collingwood Arts Center, Jewish Family Services, and Temple B’nai Israel.

Honors and Recognition

• Ring of Honor Award, American Association for Justice (AAJ) Trucking Litigation Group
• President’s Award, National Board of Trial Advocacy
• Lifetime Achievement Award, AAJ Trucking Litigation Group
• AV Preeminent Rating, Martindale-Hubbell
• Super Lawyers recognition, Thomson Reuters
• Avvo 10.0 Superb Rating
• Invitation to the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), 2025

Publications

• Litigating Truck Accident Cases (West Publishing, 2005–present, updated annually)
• “Truck Accident Litigation” chapter in Handling Motor Vehicle Accident Cases, 2nd Ed., Vol. 3 (2004)
• “Finding Insurance in Truck Crash Cases,” Trial Magazine (2008)
• The Zen Lawyer: Winning with Mindfulness (Trial Guides, 2018)

Media Appearances

Leizerman has been featured in numerous national and local outlets, including CNBC, 9NEWS Denver, WTOL CBS11 Toledo, and SiriusXM Road Dog Radio. He has also appeared on legal podcasts such as Trial Lawyer Nation and After the Crash, and was interviewed in Transport Topics regarding high-value trucking verdicts.

Personal Life

Leizerman is married to attorney Rena Leizerman, with whom he has two sons. He holds a Class A Commercial Driver’s License with endorsements for double/triple trailers and tankers, which he uses to better understand trucking operations.

External Links

Official website

References

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