Assistant Insurance

MICHAEL SCOTT ASHWORTH

*** *** ***** ****** 918-***-**** (Cell)

Edmond, Oklahoma 73003 Email:******@***.*** **********@*****.***

EDUCATION:

University of Oklahoma College of Law

Norman, Oklahoma (Juris Doctor, May 1983)

Knox College

Galesburg, Illinois (Bachelor of Arts, June 1980)

ACTIVE BAR

ADMISSIONS:

All state and Federal Courts in Oklahoma, the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit and the Tribal Court of the Kaw Nation.

LEGAL

EXPERIENCE:

First Assistant District Attorney for Prosecutorial District 18, State of Oklahoma

Pittsburg & Haskell Counties

(February 2017 to September 2017)

Chief civil advisor to all elected county officials and county agencies

Chief of Special Victims

Legal advisor/intake all law enforcement agencies with matters within the District

Reviewed all use of force cases by law enforcement or upon law enforcement

Michael D. Githens & Associates

Senior Trial Attorney

A Division of the Claims Department of GEICO Insurance

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

(August 2016 to February 2017)

Responsible for personal injury cases throughout Oklahoma and central Kansas

Mentored younger lawyers on trial techniques and evidence

District Attorney for Prosecutorial District 27, State of Oklahoma

Adair, Cherokee, Sequoyah & Wagoner Counties

(July 2015 to April 2016)

Chief civil advisor to elected county officials and agencies in four (4) counties

Lead on special victim’s cases and serious felonies

Legal advisor/intake all law enforcement agencies with matters within the District

Cheek Law Firm, PLLC/Helms & Greene, PLLC (firms merged in part)

Tulsa, Oklahoma

(January 2014 to July 2015)

Member, prestigious and well-established insurance defense, business transactions firm

Responsible for complex and catastrophic damages cases including trucking, professional negligence, industrial accidents as well as complex business litigation

Schroeder & Associates

A Division of the Claims Department of Farmers Insurance

Tulsa, Oklahoma

(March 2010 to January 2014)

Senior level trial attorney

Handled direct lines cases as well as large loss and commercial general liability matters

Maintained an active jury trial case load achieving outstanding results throughout Eastern Oklahoma

National faculty for Farmers’ claims personnel on case valuation

Eldridge, Cooper, Steichen & Leach, PLLC (now McAfee & Taft)

Tulsa, Oklahoma

(February 2004 to March 2010)

Of Counsel, handled complex litigation in State, Federal and Tribal Courts

Designated to handle matters involving expert witnesses

Specialist in premises liability, commercial general liability, and professional negligence

Holden & McKenna (formerly Holden, Glendening & McKenna)

Tulsa, Oklahoma (May 2000 to March 2004)

Senior Associate/Of Counsel assigned primary case responsibilities on matters in Federal and State courts

Extensive experience regarding risk management issues and medical services in jails, detention settings and other residential care venues

In focus groups for major trails served as opposition attorney

National instructor for major insurance carrier on residential care and professional negligence issues

Served as primary legal advisor to Corrections Corporation of America regarding civil rights issues associated with the operation of the David L. Moss Criminal Justice Center

Law Office of Michael S. Ashworth

Tulsa, Oklahoma

(March 1999 to May 2000)

Handled cases in both State and Federal District Courts

Served as primary legal advisor to Corrections Corporation of America regarding civil rights issues associated with the operation of the David L. Moss Criminal Justice Center

Assistant Attorney General– State of Oklahoma

Tulsa, Oklahoma

(September 1997 to February 1999)

Assigned to the Consumer Protection Unit with extensive interaction and assistance being provided to the Multi-County Grand Jury Units

Served as operational lead in several special projects including Oklahoma’s first “reverse boiler room” and business fraud “stings”

Served as a special advisor/prosecutor in matters affecting children and seniors

Advisor to law enforcement agencies throughout Oklahoma on fraud cases

Advocate General

Office of Juvenile Affairs

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

(April 1996 to September 1997)

Served as the first administrative head of the Department of the Advocate Defender

Acted as the chief advocate to insure the rights of youth in OJA custody were protected and a meaningful grievance process protecting those rights was in place

Worked extensively with matters relating to allegations of neglect, abuse or mistreatment including training issues and the development and oversight of investigative protocols

Provided direct supervision to three masters’ level advocate defenders assigned on site to juvenile institutions

Engaged in extensive travel related to unannounced site visits and system audits including mock audits regarding national certification for residential treatment centers

Reported directly to a Federal Court Monitor to ensure compliance with the mandates of the Terry D. case with those same reports being provided to and approved by the Honorable Ralph Thompson

Deputy District Attorney

Ninth Judicial District

Clovis, New Mexico

(May 1994 to April 1996)

Designated as a specialist in child abuse cases and serious felony offenses

Provided direct supervision and training to junior prosecutors

Worked extensively with various law enforcement agencies including the Secret Service, Border Patrol, Texas Rangers, and the Office of Special Investigations–United States’ Air Force

Special Prosecutor on multiple cases in Santa Fe, New Mexico

Associate Attorney

Ronald D. Wood & Associates

Tulsa, Oklahoma

(April 1993 to April 1994)

Emphasis in civil litigation, primarily insurance defense

Developed expertise in matters relating to highway construction, accident reconstruction and medical evidence

Assistant District Attorney

Tulsa County District Attorney

Tulsa, Oklahoma

(November 1984 to April 1993)

Designated specialist in child abuse and felony prosecutions

Served in different units including traffic, mental health, gang and drug related crimes, child support enforcement and as head of the juvenile division

Advisor to the Tulsa Police Department Sex Crimes Team and Child Abuse Unit

Instructor at the Tulsa Police Department Academy and Tulsa County Sheriff’s Reserve Academy on the laws of arrests, probable cause and use of deadly force

Special Prosecutor in Muskogee and Woodward Counties

Associate Attorney

Freese & March, P.A.

Tulsa, Oklahoma

(October 1983 to November 1984)

Represented clients in both civil and criminal matters

Extensive experience in drafting various pleadings, briefs and research memoranda

SPECIAL

EXPERTISE:

Recognized for excellence as an instructor by the Oklahoma District Attorney’s Council, the New Mexico District Attorney’s Council, the Tulsa County Bar Association the Oklahoma Bar Association and the University of Tulsa College of Law. 2014 Earl Sneed award recipient for excellence in teaching continuing legal education (OBA). Certified as an Adjunct Settlement Judge for the 14th Judicial District.

REFERENCES:

Honorable James M. Caputo, Tulsa County

Honorable Daman Cantrell, Tulsa County

Honorable Dennis Shook, Wagoner County

Honorable Douglas Kirkley, Wagoner, Muskogee, Cherokee, Sequoyah, Adair Counties

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