Mott Law: Passion for Justice Started in Elementary School
Passion for Justice Stems from Lesson Learned in Elementary School
For many personal injury lawyers, cases come down to dollars and cents. But for Heathrow-based Michael Mott, they are about something much more important: justice. And his quest for it dates back to his elementary school days.
“I was a people-pleaser and a straight-A student growing up,” says Mott, who was born and raised in Sarasota. “Then one day at school when I was 8, a kid next to me threw food and the cafeteria lady turned around, looked at our table and thought I did it. I got in trouble, which at our school meant that you had to go sit up on stage. I asked her, ‘Why should I be in trouble if I’m not the one who did it?’ She said, ‘Because I said so.’ ”
“I went home that day and asked my dad, ‘How do you fight against the because-I-said-so’s?’ ” Mott continues. “My dad said, ‘You become a lawyer.’ I said, ‘Okay, then that’s what I’ll do.’ ”
Since then, Mott’s mission has been to stand up for people who were wronged by someone more powerful. He has even taken on pro bono cases that have no potential for financial reward. For example, he stepped in on behalf of a cash-strapped man whose leather guitar case -- his pride and joy -- had been stolen by a guitar repair shop. In another instance, Mott wrote a letter for a young man who’d been denied his security deposit after moving out of an apartment and leaving it in perfect condition.
“It goes back to that schoolyard mentality,” he says. “Every time I have the opportunity to stand up and try to do the right thing, I do it.”
That means that if Mott takes your case, you have someone on your side who’s concerned about far more than money. He wants to make sure you’re treated fairly and he’ll do whatever it takes to make that happen. He specializes in personal injury cases, the large majority of which are auto accidents.
“If you’re injured as a result of someone else’s negligence, call me,” he says. “In fact, anyone who has a legal question can call me. Worst-case scenario, I’ll point you in the right direction after I’ve talked to you, if your case isn’t the kind of thing I handle. It’s either that, or you’re picking a random name out of the phone book. Don’t hesitate to call me.”
Mott, whose Mott Law Firm includes attorney Sarah Goldman and a strong support staff, also points out that the benefit of working with a small firm is that you’ll never be just a number. You’ll always be dealt with personally.
“I’m your neighborhood attorney,” says Mott, who graduated from UCF and lives with his wife, Melanie, and 2-year-old son in Sanford. They’re expecting their second child this spring. “At a smaller firm, you’re going to get the boutique feel and individualized attention. People think that bigger firms have more resources, but we have the resources to take on any case too. At a bigger firm, you won’t necessarily know who your attorney is or have a personal relationship with that person. Here, you’ll know us and we’ll know you. I have an open-door, open-phone policy. If you have a question, call me. I’ll call you back that day, or if I’m in trial, I’ll call you back first thing the next morning.”
Unlike many attorneys, Mott has the ability to put himself in the shoes of clients who aren’t wealthy and whose financial security hangs on the outcome of their legal case. That’s because he grew up poor himself. His father, who worked at Winn Dixie, often went through the trash container at work to bring home meals for his family.
“We didn’t really have anything, but my parents loved us very, very much and we always had a roof over our heads,” Mott says. “I think this helps me to relate to my clients. Many families are living paycheck to paycheck, like my parents were. Just as much as they need a lawyer, they need someone to listen. I understand what they’re going through, because I’ve really been there.”
See www.mottlawfl.com or call 407-878-7853 for a free consultation.
