Michael Ian Rott - a San Diego, US Workers Compensation Lawyer

San Diego Workers Compensation Lawyer

Updated: 03/02/2026

Areas of Practice

Workers Compensation 90%
Class Action Lawsuits 10%

Litigation: 99%

Attorney Information

Overview

Michael Rott is the managing partner at Hiden, Rott & Oertle, LLP (HRO) and has served as general counsel to the San Diego Riptide, a former AF2 Arena Football Team, as well as providing legal counsel to the Toronto Blue Jays and the former Montreal Expos regarding workers' compensation claims.

Michael represents clients throughout California and across the US for matters involving serious injuries both on and off the job, as well as consumer product class actions.

Michael is committed to providing the very best legal representation. He does this by knowing the law; developing a specific game plan for your claim; knowing the experts; keeping you informed about your case; by maintaining an excellent reputation with the Judges, who will decide your case; and by willing to take your case to the ends of the earth to deliver the benefits and results that he discusses with you throughout your case.

Michael's settlement results consist of the largest reported eight-figure settlement in California workers' compensation history, more than 40 seven-figure settlements, as well as hundreds of six-figure settlements.

Michael is a past Committee Member for the San Diego County Bar Ethics Committee and in 1996, Michael was selected as an interviewee for the California State Bar Committee on Professional Rules and Conduct.

Michael presently serves as a member of the Regulations Committee for the California Applicant's Attorneys Association.

Michael is proud to serve the men and women of our Armed Forces at Camp Pendleton, in Oceanside, California, as a Civilian Panelist Attorney for General Civil Legal matters.

Michael has had the privilege to serve as class counsel in several Class Actions and served as an Executive Committee Member in a Multi-District Litigation Class Action against Apple, Inc. and was interviewed by ABC news regarding this class actions.

In January of 2023, Michael was selected by the San Diego County Bar Association to the Executive Committee of the Workers' Compensation Section as the Member at Large.

In January 2018, Michael received the Distinguished Lawyer Designation from the Expert Network, which is only conferred upon the Top 3% of Lawyers in the U.S.

In September of 2012, Michael was interviewed by THE SUIT magazine on Class Actions.

In 2011, Michael was interviewed by NBC News regarding the September 8, 2011 Southwest Blackout.

In 2011, Michael's peers selected him as a Semi-Finalist for Top Attorneys (Labor/ Employment), which was published by The Daily Transcript.

Michael is the author of The Employee's Workers' Compensation Handbook and is a sought after guest lecturer on labor issues and legal trends.

Michael has served as a Judge Pro Tempore for the San Diego Superior Court, Small Claims Division and the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board, San Diego Division.

Michael presently serves as a member of the Regulations Committee for the California Applicant's Attorneys Association.

Awards and Honors

Super Lawyers® Selectees

Michael Ian Rott included in a Super Lawyers® list

Honors

Selected to Super Lawyers: 2023 - 2025
Certificate of Honor-UFCW, Local 135, 2024
Recognizing Excellence in Workers' Compensation Law, Lawyers of Distinction 2024
Top Rated Lawyer, Avvo 2023
Top Attorney, Avvo 2021
Top Attorneys Semi-Finalist, Labor/Employment 2011

Other Sources of Feedback About Michael Ian Rott

Included on the 2026 San Diego Super Lawyers list

Past Lists

2025 San Diego Super Lawyers list
2024 San Diego Super Lawyers list
2023 San Diego Super Lawyers list

Education

Legal Education
- Thomas Jefferson School of Law, San Diego, California, 1992
  Juris Doctorate
Non Legal Education
- University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, 1987
  B.S.
  Major: Psychology

Current Employment Position(s)

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Managing Partner
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Past Positions

Gruber, Sachs & Donnet, Law Clerk, 1991 - 1992
Lieb & Lieb, Law Clerk, 1990 - 1991
San Diego Superior Court, Small Claims Division, Judge Pro Tempore
San Diego Superior Court, Workers' Compensation Appeals Board, San Diego Division, Judge Pro Tempore
Union Real Estate, Founder
Camp Pendleton, General Civil Legal Matters, Civilian Panelist Attorney

References

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UFCW, Local 135
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Teamsters, Local 542
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California Teachers Association
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San Diego Education Association
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Classes and Seminars

Blackout, NBC San Diego, September 8, 2011 - Present
Workers' Compensation, California Teachers Association, Region 4 Meeting, 2011 - Present
Structured Settlements From a Union's Point of View, National Structured Settlements Trade Association Annual Meeting, 2011 - Present
Pre-Designation of Physician, UFCW, Local 135, 2011 - Present
The Essential Steps To Take When Injured On The Job, OPEIU, Local 30, 2010 - Present
Guidelines to Follow when Injured on the Job, Teamsters, Local 542, 2009 - Present
Organized Labor & Workers Comp, Legal Talk Network, 2008 - Present
Apple iPhone 3G, Gadget Lab, 2008 - Present
iPhone 3G Class Action Suit, ABC News/Technology, 2008 - Present
Steps to Follow When Injured on the Job, CWA, Local 9510, 2007 - Present
Workers' Compensation and Casino Employees, CWA, Local 9400, 2005 - Present
Occupational Exposure to Mold, San Diego Education Association, 2003 - Present
Mold in Elementary Schools, Kennedy and Sherman Elementary School Teachers, 2002 - Present
Workers' Compensation Benefits, Iron Workers, Local 229, 2002 - Present
Workers' Compensation Overview, 725 District Lodge - International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers, 2001 - Present
Workers' Compensation and Personal Injury, Communications Workers of America, Local 9509, 1997 - Present
Workers' Compensation, Personal Injury & Immigration in the Construction Industry, San Diego Building & Construction Trades Council, 2013 - Present

Pro Bono Activities

San Diego Riptide, General Counsel-(Former)
AF2 Arena Football Team-(Former)
Major League Baseball, Legal Counsel-(Former)
NFL Player, Legal Counsel-(Former)

Representative Clients

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Tony Busalacchi
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Sally Kasparian
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Tanya LaFrancis
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Peter Keller
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Representative Cases

Jenny Manybeads, et al. v. United States of America, et al., 06/23/1994 - 10/11/1994

Published Works

Articles

Law Talk -- Welcome to the Labor Leader's First Legal Commentary "Law Talk", San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council Labor Leader, 2009
Law Talk -- Injured and Facing A Job Layoff, The San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council Labor Leader, 2009
Law Talk -- Heart Attack After Viagra?, The San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council Labor Leader, 2009
Injured? Here's Some Advice, The Guild Reporter -- Communications Workers of America
The Union Defender, Hiden, Rott & Oertle Legal Magazine, 2007
Author, “The Employee’s Workers’ Compensation Handbook”, Communications Workers of America, Local 9509, 2003
Ethics in the Courtroom, San Diego Lawyer Magazine, 1996

Bar Admissions

California, 1993
U.S. District Court Southern District of California, 1993
U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit, 1997
U.S. Supreme Court, 1997
District of Columbia, 2002

Other Affiliations

San Diego County Bar Association, 1993 - Present (Member)
California Applicants' Attorneys Association, 2011 - Present (Member)
San Diego County Bar Ethics Committee (former)

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Contact

San Diego, CA

2635 Camino del Rio South
Suite 110
San Diego, CA 92108

Directions

Phone: 619-369-3323

Fax: 619-296-5171

Email: Send a message

Websites:

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Michael Ian Rott - San Diego, CA