Areas of Practice Emphasis

Representative Clients

  • Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan
  • CNA- Continental
  • Various Life and Property Casualty Insurers
  • Commissioner of Insurance, Michigan
  • Various Commercial Litigation Clients

Prominent Assignments

  • Representation as chief counsel of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan in three putative class actions on appeal dismissals, supervising counsel in two other putative class actions, and Continental Life in a separate putative class action dismissal on appeal
  • Various land use regulatory-litigation matters
  • Regulatory Representations:
    -Deputy Receiver/Rehabilitator American Way Life Insurance Company, American Way Casualty Company of Michigan (1993)
    -Chief Legal Counsel to Rehabilitator, American Way Life (current)
    -Chief Legal Counsel to Rehabilitator, American Way Casualty (current)
    -Chief Legal Counsel to the Liquidators of: Great Lakes Life, Mid-America Life Assurance and American Commercial Liability (current)
    -Legal Counsel to Liquidator of First Security Casualty Company (current)
  • Director of the DW Insurance Industry Group

Education

  • J.D., Duke University School of Law
  • B.A., Oberlin College

Admitted to Practice

  • Michigan
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit

Professional and Community Involvement

  • Director, Universal Holding Corporation (Michigan, Insurance Holding Company)
  • Member, The Association of Life Insurance Counsel
  • Member, International Association of Insurance Receivers
  • Representative of Professionals Direct, Inc. to Insurance Institute of Michigan
  • Member, State Bar of Michigan, sections of Corporation/Finance and Business Law, Real Property Law, and Labor Law
  • State Bar Disciplinary Board; Chair, Ingham County Hearing Panels (1983-present)
  • Master, Inns of Court, MSU Law School
  • Chair, Trial Experience Subcommittee; DeVitt Committee (Trial Competency), U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan (past)

Publications and Presentations

  • Regulatory & Legislative Quarterly, CPCU Society, co-author, "Honestly, This May Not Be the Best Policy," 2006
  • National Business Institute, co-author, Civil Trial Procedures in Michigan, 1992
  • Mississippi College of Law Review, co-author, "Creditors Committee Liability for Statements Made in Connection with Reorganization Cases," 1989
  • Institute of Continuing Legal Education, contributing author, Michigan Civil Procedure During Trial (Second Edition), 1989
  • National Business Institute, contributing author, Legal Considerations in Managing Problem Employees, 1988

Acknowledgments

  • Best Lawyers In America - Commercial Litigation
  • Michigan Super Lawyers - Civil Litigation Defense
  • Fellow, Michigan Bar Foundation
  • Martindale Hubbell Rating: A/V
  • Who's Who in America & Who's Who in the Law

Attorney Recognitions