“What is the most rewarding part of my job? That’s easy,” said Boca Raton attorney Michael K. Grife. “It’s taking people from a point of great vulnerability and distress, helping them recover physically, financially and spiritually, and getting them fully compensated for the hardships they went through. When the client feels and expresses that sense of relief, satisfaction and closure at the end of their case, that is my greatest professional pleasure.”
Grife, the founder of The Grife Law Firm, P.A., is a litigator who enjoys the challenges of even the difficult, complex personal injury and medical malpractice cases. “There are a lot of personal injury lawyers who will take only the easiest cases in an attempt to make a fast buck. I enjoy being an attorney who is willing to take on both the garden variety personal injury cases and the challenging ones for people who need a litigator to fight for them.”
Having dedicated his entire career to the practice areas of plaintiff personal injury and wrongful death, Grife also enjoys a burgeoning medical malpractice base.
“I always enjoy hearing how I’ve changed my clients’ lives,” Grife said. In fact, one of his favorite rewards is hearing how they put their financial awards to good use. “One of my clients, who suffered from a traumatic brain injury, bought two income properties with his settlement funds. Without the ability to work as he did before the car crash, this investment will ensure he has a monthly income for the rest of his life.”
In this industry, Grife knows he cannot always find a happy ending for his clients. Often, the best he can do is start them on a path to recovery. “I represented a widow and her infant son following the death of her husband,” Grife said. “He was an undocumented worker who had fallen into a pool while working and drowned. I conducted a rigiorous investigation with a top aquatic safety expert who determined that the pool was dangerous. After a lengthy litigation, we were able to recover a large sum of money on behalf of the estate from the country club homeowner. Now, the widow and her son are provided for. This brave man came to America to provide a better life for his family. Tragically, he passed away before he was able to see that reality, but at least financially his mission was accomplished.”
Looking to the future, Grife hopes to continue his work, helping people recover from devastating injuries and get back on their feet. “I want to keep leveling – and even reversing – the playing field for my clients, the everyday people going up against these big insurance companies and corporate conglomerates.”
Outside of work, this movie buff enjoys spending time with his wife. “We love to travel,” he said. “We’ve been to Paris, all over Italy, Costa Rica and Maine in the last several years.”
He also enjoys supporting local animal rescues – particularly for cats – including Tri County Humane Society, Cats Exclusive and Justin Bartlett Animal Rescue.
So, what advice would Grife give to lawyers starting out? “Work hard. Put the needs of the client first. Do things the right way and you will be rewarded.”
