Michael Cruise focuses his legal practice on the represention of individuals and families, as well as certain small businesses, that have been seriously harmed by the wrongful conduct of others.

Michael began his legal career in 1999 as a staff attorney at the Legal Aid Society of Hawai'i’s branch office in Kailua-Kona. During his time in that office, Michael founded a low-income housing law unit, which had not previously existed in the Kona District. In 2001, Michael moved to Honolulu to serve as lead attorney for the Legal Aid Society’s statewide housing law program. In that role, he continued to represent individual low-income homeowners and tenants in the state and federal courts, in addition to managing Legal Aid’s statewide housing law services. He also worked closely with the State of Hawai'i’s public housing agency and a variety of low-income resident associations on the drafting and implementation of low-income housing laws and policies statewide.

After his service as lead counsel for Legal Aid’s statewide housing law program, Michael joined the respected Honolulu law firm of Paul Johnson Park & Niles as an associate attorney, where he represented a variety of clients – from individuals and families to hotel owners and large law firms – in civil litigation matters. With the firm’s assistance and encouragement, Michael also continued to represent low-income housing residents in several cases that had important results for public housing adminstration and policy in Hawai'i. After a couple of years with this firm, Michael decided that he wanted to return to representing individuals exclusively, as well as certain small business owners, and he joined a small personal injury law firm. As the lead trial attorney at that firm, he successfully represented many individuals and their families in a variety of serious personal injury matters, including cases involving defective products, medical negligence, industrial accidents, motor vehicle collisions, and premises liability.

In December 2005, Michael founded a solo practice that concentrated exclusively on representing children and other individuals, as well as certain small businesses, that had suffered serious harm as a result of the wrongful conduct of others. In July 2006, Michael joined forces with noted consumer lawyer Colin A. Yost, and the firm of Cruise & Yost, LLLC was founded. Since then, Michael and Colin have been honored to represent individuals, Native Hawaiian and grassroots environmental organizations, and small business owners in cases involving serious personal injury and property damage, consumer fraud, insurance disputes, and the protection of Hawai'i’s indigenous culture and natural resources.

Education

University of Oregon School of Law, J.D. in 1999, Certificate in Natural Resources Law

Davidson College, B.A. in 1994, Major in English

Professional and Community Activities

Member of the Hawai'i State Bar Association and the American Association for Justice

Member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, Lodge 616, Honolulu

Contributing Author, Hawaii Landlord-Tenant Law Manual, 2002 Edition

Director, Affordable Housing and Homeless Alliance, Honolulu, 2000 - 2002