October 7, 2025 – Artificial Intelligence, Trial Practice, Lawyer Wellness – Register | |
Donna MacKenzie
Olsman MacKenzie Peacock & Wallace
Email
| | As my term as Chair of the Negligence Law Section comes to a close, I want to take a moment to reflect on the remarkable work we have accomplished together this year. It has been a privilege to lead a Section of more than 1,700 dedicated litigators, plaintiff and defense, who share a commitment to strengthening our profession and safeguarding the integrity of our justice system... | | |
Section Amicus Briefs
On August 11, 2021, the Negligence Council adopted guidelines governing the submission of amicus briefs.
The Michigan Supreme Court routinely requests that the Negligence Section address important matters before it. Every submission to the courts is scrutinized by these guidelines.
In addition, consistent with our mission, our voting requirements mandate consensus among plaintiff and defense council members. This affords a balanced approach to the most critical matters impacting negligence law.
These guidelines are set forth below.
| | |
The section encourages authors to submit articles regarding relevant and timely issues. Articles may not reflect the opinions of the section or its council.
Journal editors:
David Shafer
Email
D. Lee Khachaturian
Email
| | |
Appeal Bonds 101: A Guide to the Steps Necessary to Stay Enforcement of a Money Judgment Pending Appeal
This article originally appeared in the June 2025 issue of the Michigan Bar Journal
| |
Timothy Diemer, Esq.
Jacobs and Diemer, P.C.
Email
| |
Without fail, the most complicated phase of any appeal from an adverse money judgment
is procuring the bond that is necessary to halt enforcement of the judgment pending appeal. The filing of a claim of appeal, in and of itself, does not stay enforcement proceedings which, if not stayed, can wreak havoc on a judgment debtor and jeopardize the success of even the strongest appellate arguments...
| | Michigan Supreme Court Clarifies Ostensible Agency Standard in Markel v. William Beaumont Hospital | | |
Cameron Getto
Zausmer PC
Email
| | |
Ronald Weiner
Lipton Law
Email
| | On July 9, 2025, the Michigan Supreme Court issued an important decision in Markel v. William Beaumont Hospital (Docket No. 166702), reversing the Court of Appeals and remanding for further proceedings. The case addressed a recurring question in medical malpractice litigation — when a hospital may be held liable for the acts of a physician under the theory of ostensible agency... | | Budget Squabbles in Lansing Portend a Long Summer | |
Todd Tennis
Capitol Services, Inc.
Email
| In Michigan, referring to the “Big Three” has traditionally meant the major automakers located in the state. For the purposes of this column, however, the Big Three refer to Governor Whitmer, Speaker of the House Matt Hall, and Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks. We are six months into the 2025-6 legislative season, and so far, common ground has been hard to find... | | |
The Young Lawyers Committee encourages young lawyers to submit articles to be featured in the E-Newsletter! This is a great opportunity for newer attorneys to get their name in front of the members of the Negligence Law Section.
If you are interested, please contact the Young Lawyer Committee Co-Chairs:
Amanda P. Waske: amwaske@gmail.com
Robbie Gaines: robbie@gaineslawyers.com
| | News from Our Valued Partner, the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), Michigan Chapter | |
Debra Freid
Freid Gallagher Taylor & Associates PC
Email
| The National Board meeting was illuminating as to the impact ABOTA has around the country and the world. For example, between 2012 and 2016 contributions of ABOTA members refurbished schools and built a water system for children in the Berber villages near Marrakech, Morocco. During that same time, ABOTA partnered with the International Academy of Trial Lawyers to build a dormitory for a secondary school for girls from the nine mountain villages near Marrakech. Tragedy struck in 2023... | | Past Chairperson Reception and Awards Ceremony - Award Recipients | | |
Earl J. Cline & Sherwin Schreier Award for Excellence:
Joseph G. Lujan
Awarded posthumously
Distinguished Service Award:
Vernon R. Johnson
Ven Johnson Law, PLC
| | |
Behm & Behm
Brian E. Fischer PLLC
Foster Swift Collins & Smith PC
Fraser & Souweidane, PC
Goethel Engelhardt PLLC
Gruel Mills Nims & Pylman PLLC
Hanson Renaissance Court Reporting & Video
Daniel A. Hathaway PLLC, Hathaway Mediations
Hewson & Van Hellemont PC
Kitch Attorneys & Counselors, PC
Law Offices of Todd J Stearn PLC
Lipton Law
McCroskey Law PLC
Michigan Association For Justice
Plunkett Cooney
Peter M. Ruggirello, PLLC
Riley & Hurley PC
Ringler Associates
Ruggirello Velardo Novara Burke Reizen & Fox, PC
Shafer Swartz, PLC
Sinas Dramis Law Firm
Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge PC
The Law Offices of Brian A. Robillard PLLC
Trickey Law PLLC
| | Event and Speaker Recommendations - We Want to Hear From You! | | We're always looking to improve our event selection and give you opportunities for education, networking, and more. Your input is invaluable in helping us plan future events that best serve our members. Please take a moment to share your recommendations for speakers, topics, and locations you'd like to see at our upcoming programs. Your feedback ensures we continue to offer engaging and relevant events that meet your professional needs. | | PTSD and Trauma Informed Advocacy Webinar Recording | | For those who couldn't attend the live session with Jarrad Morgan, DO, JD, Jill Mulder, Kelly Clement, RN, MSN, CPHRM, and Chad Engelhardt, the full recording is available for viewing on the State Bar of Michigan Negligence Law Section YouTube channel or by using the link below. | | Requirements for Michigan private practice attorneys changed effective September 1, 2023. Read the Supreme Court Order here. Required information is being collected during the current license renewal process for the 2023-2024 Bar Year. | | Michigan Lawyers Weekly wants to hear about your verdicts and settlements! | | |
Please submit recent civil cases (within the past six months) where you prevailed - whether in a jury verdict or a settlement -- so MLW may publish them.
Questions about Lawyers Weekly's Verdicts and Settlements policy may be directed to the editor at (800) 678-5297 or editor@mi.lawyersweekly.com.
| | Be on the Lookout for Phishing Scams | |
- Emails may appear to come from the Section's leadership, but may be from scammers
- Always verify payments verbally before making them
- Once you have identified a scammer, alert us and delete it
- There is no harm in waiting
| | Civility in the Courtroom | | Civility is extremely important in our courts, and many of these courts have released court orders regarding civility guidelines. Click below to check them all! | |
- Act conscientiously and responsibly in your interactions with others.
- To the extent possible, always cooperate with others.
- Do not disparage or attack others.
- Treat others fairly and respectfully notwithstanding the fact you may have differing perspectives, viewpoints or politics.
- Always act in good faith.
- Always accord professional courtesy whenever reasonably possible.
- Seek to exemplify the best of our profession in all interactions with others.
- Do not act upon or exhibit bias toward others and seek to reasonably accommodate the needs of those who may require such accommodations.
- Strive to be the best version of yourself.
- Be patient with others and seek to follow the Golden Rule.
| | State Bar Michigan Calendar of Events | | Want to see what other events are going on in the State Bar? Check out the calendar below! | | Negligence Section YouTube | | 2025 Supreme Court Update | | |
AI for Litigators - Educational Seminar
Co-Sponsored by the Negligence Law Section and the Litigation Section of the State Bar of Michigan.
| Don’t miss this timely seminar. Get practical tips and enhance your litigation process with AI tools that improve drafting, trial prep, document summary, and more. Legal tech expert Paul J. Unger, experienced Michigan litigators, and judges share their insights. Presented by the Institute of Continuing Legal Education (ICLE) and cosponsored by the Negligence Law Section and the Litigation Section of the State Bar of Michigan. | | |
Negligence Law Section Council Members
Officers & Committees
| | |
Chairperson
Donna M. MacKenzie
Olsman MacKenzie Peacock & Wallace
Vice Chair
Mark A. Gilchrist
Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge PC
Secretary
Debra A. Freid
Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge PC
Treasurer
Jenna Wright Greenman
Kitch Attorneys & Counselors, PC
Advisory Committee
Robert F. Riley
Riley & Hurley PC
Judith A. Susskind
Sommers Schwartz PC
Commissioner Liason
Thomas P. Murray, Jr.
The Sam Bernstein Law Firm
| | |
ABOTA Chapter Liaison
Cameron R. Getto
Zausmer PC
Amicus Committee
Mark R. Granzotto
Mark Granzotto PC
Beth A. Wittmann
Mark Granzotto PC
Larissa C. Turner
Secrest Wardle
Young Lawyers Committee
Robbie Gaines
Gaines & Gaines PLC
Amanda Payne Waske
Rosati Schultz Joppich & Amtsbuechler PC
Ex-Officio
Timothy A. Diemer
Jacobs and Diemer, P.C.
| | |
Michael J. Behm
Behm & Behm PC
Dora A. Brantley
Foster Swift Collins & Smith PC
Michael J. Jolet
Hewson & Van Hellemont PC
Diana Lee Khachaturian
Law Offices of Diana Lee Khachaturian
Deborah A. Lujan
Collins Einhorn ADR
| | |
David P. Shafer
Shafer Swartz, PLC
Sarah S. Stempky-Kime
Christensen Law
Bryan J. Waldman
Sinas Dramis Graves Larkin & Waldman PC
Ronald K. Weiner
Lipton Law
John W. Whitman
Garan Lucow Miller PC
| | Advertise in the next Negligence Section Journal | | The Neg Law E-Journal comes to you as a member benefit | | | | |
