Background
Michael Goodove has devoted his career to helping injured people. Michael specializes in automobile negligence, medical malpractice, product liability, premises liability, admiralty, worker’s compensation as well as complex civil litigation cases. Michael was selected as the 2014 class of “Leaders in the Law” and recognized by Virginia Lawyers Weekly as setting the standard for other lawyers and as a highly accomplished attorney. He has been recognized by Virginia Business Magazine as a Legal Elite Attorney in the Hampton Roads Business Observer in 1999 as one of “The Top Legal Beagles in Hampton Roads”, by the local CBS affiliate, News Channel 3, as a “Community Star”, and by Inside Business Magazine in 2005 as one of the Top Forty under 40 in the Hampton Roads Community. He was selected as a “Super Lawyer” in Virginia in the area of plaintiff’s personal injury law by the Law and Politics and Richmond Magazine Publications and has been recognized as a Top 100 Super Lawyer in Virginia. As early as 2007, Michael was named as a “Rising Star” as one of the top young lawyers in Virginia, by Virginia Business Magazine. Michael was nominated and selected as the “Top 100 Trial Lawyers” by The National Trial Lawyers. Michael was selected as a fellow of the Virginia Law Foundation, which is an honor conferred on a small number of Virginia lawyers with integrity and character who are outstanding in their profession and communities. He has also been selected as a “Top Lawyer” in the area of Civil Litigation by Coastal Virginia Magazine. Michael has been inducted into the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA). Membership in ABOTA is by invitation only and requires high personal character and an honorable reputation coupled with trying a large number of jury trials to verdict. As President of the Southside Chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (“MADD”) since 1992 and a member of the MADD Mid-Atlantic Advisory Board, Michael continues assisting victims of impaired drivers on a daily basis. Michael received the MADD 20th Anniversary Difference Maker Award in 2000 and the 2021 John T. Hanna Award in the area of impaired driving prevention. He has handled numerous cases against drunk drivers often pursuing offenders above the insurance coverages. In one case, Michael required a drunk driver to personally pay for a fund established at the victim’s elementary school library to purchase books special to the victim. He prides himself on his hands-on personal approach to representing his clients.
Goodove in the News
Michael Goodove interviewed by local CBS news as a personal injury and traffic safety expert
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Swartz, Taliaferro, Swartz & Goodove Celebrates 2024 Super Lawyers Recognition
May 9, 2024
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Virginia police agencies step up drunk driving patrols during holiday season
Dec 28, 2023
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Deadly police chase and crash in Chesapeake marks at least 8 ending in crashes in 2023; 5 where another driver is hit
Nov 29, 2023
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Goodove Interviewed on Another Deadly Crash Involving the Chesapeake Police Department.
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Michael Goodove talks with Wavy TV about the Lawsuit Against Chesapeake Police Officers
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Virginia Beach man raises awareness this holiday weekend after losing brother to drunk driver
Jul 3, 2023
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Goodove Selected as President of Southern Bank’s Hampton Roads Regional Advisory Board
Nov 3, 2022
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Va. Beach man pushing for drunk driving prevention technology in cars after losing brother to drunk driver
Sep 26, 2022
[ Read More ]Mike Goodove talks with WTKR about supporting drunk driving prevention technology in cars
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Goodove Selected to the “Top 100” of the 2022 Virginia Super Lawyers
May 17, 2022
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Attorneys Michael Goodove, Elizabeth Ufkes, Jeffrey Swartz, and Mark Stokes selected as 2022 Top Lawyers of Coastal Virginia
Mar 7, 2022
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Michael Goodove, Elizabeth Ufkes, Franklin Swartz, and Mark Stokes have been selected as 2022 Super Lawyers
Jan 12, 2022
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Goodove Featured in MADD’s Newsletter “Volunteer Spotlight—December 2021”
Jan 4, 2022
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Michael Goodove nominated and accepted as an “Advocate” into the American Board of Trial Advocates
Aug 11, 2021
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Michael Goodove provides insight into the medical malpractice lawsuits against Dr. Javaid Perwaiz
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Goodove, Ufkes, and Swartz have been recognized as the 2021 Top Lawyers in Coastal Virginia
Apr 1, 2021
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Michael Goodove and Elizabeth Ufkes have been selected as 2021 Super Lawyers
Jan 12, 2021
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SWARTZ, GOODOVE AND UFKES SELECTED AS TOP LAWYERS BY COASTAL VIRGINIA MAGAZINE
Oct 18, 2017
[ Read More ]Michael Goodove comments on the issue of nude photos being swapped on underground sites
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Goodove Interviewed about the risks of renting homes for teenage beach week.
May 1, 2017
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Goodove appointed to Southern Bank’s Hampton Roads regional advisory board
Jan 14, 2016
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Michael Goodove turns down $10K offer and gets $150,000 jury verdict
Oct 29, 2012
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Breath test may be required before first-time DUI offenders drive again
Feb 15, 2012
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Michael Goodove comments on a new website that helps drivers avoid tickets and dui checkpoints.
Aug 3, 2010
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More charges against DUI suspect prosecutors say he claimed he was his brother to avoid troubles
May 23, 2003
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Victim’s family files three lawsuits against motorist in fatal car accident
Apr 13, 2003
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BEACH NIGHTCLUB SUED OVER WRECK THAT KILLED 4 SUIT : PEABODY’S RESPONSIBLE FOR DRUNKEN DRIVER
Mar 7, 2003
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MADD SEEKS STATE LAW TO HOLD ESTABLISHMENTS LIABLE IF THEY SERVE ALCOHOL TO DRUNKEN PATRONS
May 16, 2001
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FIRM SUES TO RECOUP COUPLE’S WINDFALL COMPUTER GLITCH BOOSTS STOCK FUND BY ABOUT $8 MILLION
May 20, 2000
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Beach puts brakes on police chases now officers can’t pursue non-violent fleeing criminal
Jun 5, 1998
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CRASH SUSPECT HAS LENGTHY RECORD \ BEACH MAN HELD AFTER 2 KILLED IN NORFOLK
Jan 24, 1995
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DUI DEATHS DOWN SHARPLY SINCE ’82 BUT FOUR RECENT FATALITIES HAVE RENEWED CALLS FOR MORE ACTION.
Dec 2, 1993
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HOT LINE WILL LET DRIVERS REPORT DUI SUSPECTS \ THE STATE POLICE SERVICE IS AVAILABLE TO SPRINT CUSTOMERS
May 14, 1993
[ Read More ]Michael Goodove comments on breath testing that may be required before first-time DUI offenders drive again.
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Michael Goodove comments on the creative sentencing given to two ODU students caught making bottle bombs
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Victim’s Rights Attorney, Mike Goodove, comments on the bullying at schools in York County.
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Areas of Practice
Personal Injury, Medical Malpractice, Products Liability, Civil Litigation, Admiralty, Criminal Litigation
Education
- University of Virginia
McIntire School of Commerce, B.S., 1989 - George Mason University
J.D., 1992
Bar Admissions
- Admitted 1992
Virginia Supreme Court - Eastern District of Virginia
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
- U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals
Awards
Selected by colleagues as a “Super Lawyer” in Virginia since 2008; selected as the Top 100 Super Lawyers in Virginia in 2022; selected as a member of the 2014 class of “Leaders in the Law” and recognized by Virginia Lawyer’s Weekly as setting the standard for other lawyers and as a highly accomplished attorney. Selected as a “Top Lawyer of Coastal Virginia” in the area of Personal Injury Law. Selected as a 2014 fellow of the Virginia Law Foundation, which is an honor conferred on a small number of Virginia Lawyers with integrity and character who are outstanding in their profession and communities. Listed by Virginia Business Magazine since 2004 as the “Legal Elite–The Best in the Business”; Listed by the Hampton Roads Business Observer in 1999, as one of “The Top Legal Beagles in Hampton Roads.”; Awarded “Community Star” recognition by News Channel 3, the local CBS news affiliate; “Top Forty under 40” Award by Inside Business Magazine in 2005; Mother’s Against Drunk Driving (MADD) 20th Anniversary Difference Maker Award in 2000; and named as a “Rising Star” as one of the Top Young Lawyers in Virginia in 2007 in the area of plaintiff’s personal injury law by the Law and Politics and Richmond Magazine Publications. Selected as the Top 100 Trial Lawyers by The National Trial Lawyers; 2021 John T. Hanna Award Recipient in the Area of Impaired Driving Prevention
Member
Virginia Beach, Norfolk-Portsmouth and American Bar Associations; Virginia State Bar; Virginia Trial Lawyers Association; The American Association for Justice; Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD); The National Trial Lawyers; Virginia Law Foundation Fellow, American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA).
Author
“Demonstrative Evidence: Silent Witness,” The Journal, Summer 1999; West Group Practice Guide, “Handling an Automobile Negligence Case in Virginia”, Chapter 9; “Tips for an Effective Closing Argument in a Soft Tissue Injury Case,” Virginia Trial Lawyers, November 1995; “Tips for Effective Opening and Closing Arguments in Soft Tissue, Low Impact Cases,” The Journal, Fall 1997; “Tips for Maximizing a Punitive Damage Recovery in a DUI Case.” The Journal, Volume 19, Number 4 (2008). Editor, The Journal, 1998-2002.
Lecturer
“There’s a Killer on the Road: Punitive Damages in Drunk Driving Cases,” Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, February 2001; “Maximizing Recovery in Auto Accident Cases: Using Punitive Damages Against Drunk Drivers to Enhance Full Recovery”, VTLA, May 2002. Punitive Damages in Drunk Driving Cases Retreat, Virginia Trial Lawyers, December 2003, Co-chairman. “Basic Medicine: Essentials for the Trial Lawyer”, 2005 Virginia Trial Lawyer’s Advocacy Seminar in Norfolk and Fairfax. Chairman, Virginia Trial Lawyers’ 2006 Tort Law Seminar, Proving Punitive Damages in DUI Cases–Anatomy of a DUI Punitive Damage Case in Norfolk, Richmond, Roanoke and Fairfax. Maximizing Personal Injury Settlements and Obtaining Punitive Damages Against Drunk Drivers, Virginia Beach Bar Association Seminar, February 2011. “Evidence for the Trial Lawyer”, Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, October 2017.
Reported Cases
Hyman v. Food Lion, Inc., 1994 U.S. App. LEXIS 12498 (1994); Clohessy v. Weiler, 462 S.E.2d 94 (1995); Rusher v. Lowe’s Home Ctrs., Inc. 1996 U.S. App. LEXIS 20219 (4th Cir. 1996).
Other Activities
President, Southside Mothers Against Drunk Driving, 1992 – present; MADD Mid Atlantic Advisory Board; MADD Atlantic Advisory Board Victim Services Committee; MADD 20th Anniversary Difference Maker Award, 2000; Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, Legislative Key Contacts Committee 2003, Litigation Support Committee 2009, Membership Committee 2010, 2011; Member, Community Advisory Council for the Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Board; Chairman of Southern Bank–Hampton Roads Regional Advisory Board