Michael T. Scivley

Michael Scivley is a partner at Starnes Davis Florie and has been practicing law since 2006. His practice is primarily devoted to defending physicians and other health care providers in a variety of matters involving alleged medical malpractice and wrongful death. He also has significant experience assisting health care providers on matters involving professional licensing and credentialing. He is also a member of the firm’s Recruiting Committee, currently serving as the firm’s Hiring Partner.

Professional Recognition

•Michael was named a Rising Star for the state of Alabama by the 2013 and 2014 editions of Alabama Super Lawyers magazine

Highlights

•Obtained a defense verdict on behalf of a family medicine physician and his clinic in a 6-day jury trial for alleged medical malpractice causing personal injury and wrongful death.
•Obtained a defense verdict for a surgeon in a wrongful death case alleging negligent performance of a laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair.
•Obtained a favorable opinion from the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals affirming the dismissal of a complaint arising from orthodontic care and treatment.
•Obtained judgment as a matter of law in favor of a family medicine physician and his medical assistant following the trial of a combined personal injury and wrongful death case.
•Obtained a defense verdict in favor of a general surgeon in a case involving laparoscopic cholecystectomy which resulted in a complete transection of the common bile duct.
•Obtained defense verdict following a seven-day trial in federal court involving a psychiatrist accused of improperly prescribing anti-seizure/bipolar medication.
•Successfully defended an ophthalmologist on a licensing matter involving the Alabama Board of Medical Examiners and the Medical Licensure Commission of Alabama.
•Obtained complete summary judgment in favor of an orthopaedic surgeon accused of improperly performing an open reduction and internal fixation of a right lateral malleolar fracture.
•Obtained complete summary judgment in a wrongful death matter in favor of a family practitioner accused of failing to misdiagnose an infection.
•Obtained complete summary judgment in favor of a plastic surgeon accused of improperly performing a liposuction procedure.
•Secured the dismissal of two anesthesiologists in a medical malpractice and wrongful death matter involving a cervical spine surgical procedure.
•Secured the dismissal of a nephrologist in a wrongful death matter involving a dialysis patient.
•Secured the dismissal of a urologist and licensed practical nurse accused of failing to diagnose a recurrence of renal cell carcinoma.
•Secured the dismissal of a dentist accused of striking a patient with a dental drill during a root canal procedure.

Presentations and Publications

•Lectured on Dram Shop Litigation at the Tort Law Update presented by CLE Alabama/The University of Alabama School of Law

News & Insights

•35 Starnes Attorneys Listed in Best Lawyers in America 2026
•33 Starnes Attorneys Listed in Best Lawyers in America 2025
•SDF’s Scivley & Wright Win Appeal for Neurosurgeon in Medical Malpractice Lawsuit
•SDF’s Mike Wright & Michael Scivley Obtain Defense Verdict for Physician in 6-Day Trial
•Starnes Attorneys Huntley & Scivley Obtain Defense Verdict in Wrongful Death Trial
•Appellate Win for Starnes Davis Florie
•Appellate Win for Starnes Davis Florie
•SDF Attorneys Wright, Scivley & King Win Trial in Combined Wrongful Death/Personal Injury Case
•Starnes Attorneys Wright & Scivley Win Med Mal Trial for General Surgeon
•SDF Attorneys Mike Wright & Michael Scivley Obtain Defense Verdict in Med Mal Trial
•Wright & Scivley Obtain Defense Verdict for Psychiatrist in Seven Day Trial
•Thirty SDF Attorneys Named to Alabama Super Lawyers 2014
•Twenty-Six Starnes Davis Florie Attorneys Listed in Alabama Super Lawyers 2013
•Starnes Davis Florie Announces Its New Partners

Fun Facts

•While attending Cumberland School of Law, Michael was a member of the Cordell Hull Speaker’s Forum.
•Michael played wide receiver for Brown University, where he earned multiple varsity letters and was a member of the 1999 Ivy League championship football team.