Matthew L. Cates

Member

Mr. Cates practices litigation in the areas of medical malpractice defense, personal injury defense, healthcare, and commercial disputes.

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Biography

Mr. Cates practices litigation in the areas of medical malpractice defense, personal injury defense, healthcare, and commercial disputes.  Mr. Cates represents physicians, hospitals and other healthcare providers in medical malpractice cases, and he has served as trial counsel in numerous medical malpractice jury trials.  In addition, he has defended personal injury cases at trial and at arbitration.

Mr. Cates also represents physicians and other professionals before their state licensing boards, including the Medical Board, Board of Behavioral Health Examiners, Naturopathic Physicians Medical Board, Physical Therapy Board and Board of Realtors. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Cates served as a Law Clerk to the Honorable Susan R. Bolton of the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona and to the Honorable Noel Fidel of the Arizona Court of Appeals. During law school, he served as an extern for the Honorable Thomas C. Kleinschmidt of the Arizona Court of Appeals.

Admissions

Admitted to Practice

  • Arizona (1999)

Court Admission

  • U.S. District Court, District of Arizona (2004)
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit (2004)

Representative Experience

  • Represented doctors in jury trials resulting in defense verdicts
  • Represented insureds for a special investigations unit of a major insurance company in jury trials and arbitrations resulting in defense verdicts
  • Represented healthcare professionals before Arizona Medical Board
  • Represented licensed professionals before state licensing boards, including the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners, Arizona Board of Naturopathic Physicians Medical Board, Physical Therapy Board and Arizona Association of Realtors
  • Represented automobile and property insurers in coverage and bad faith actions
  • Represented architects, engineers, contractors and attorneys in professional malpractice lawsuits
  • Represented motorcycle dealership in motorcycle accident cases
  • Represented businesses in commercial contract disputes
  • Handled appeals before the Arizona Court of Appeals and 9th Circuit Court of Appeals

Memberships

American Bar Association

  • Member, Litigation Section

Arizona Association of Defense Counsel

  • Member
  • Former Member, Board of Directors

Jennings Strouss PLC Committee

  • Co-Chair (2021 – Present)

Community Involvement

Bowdoin Alumni Schools and Interviewing Committee

  • Volunteer

Waste Not

  • Former Member, Board of Directors

Valley of the Sun Kiwanis Club

  • Former Member

Honors and Awards