After 30 years of experience in federal and state court jury and non-jury trials, international, federal and state-level arbitrations and facilitative mediations, I am a highly respected, skilled and effective trial attorney with concentrations in all aspects of loan defaults, workouts, and lender liability, commercial, non-competition, and supplier disputes, property ownership, easement, boundary and riparian rights matters, construction payment and design/construction defect disputes, and complex family law matters, including high net-worth divorce cases. I am also a proven contributor to my community as a civic leader and a volunteer.
Bar Admission
- Michigan
- Wisconsin
- Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians Tribal Court
- United States District Court, Western District of Michigan
- United States District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
- United States District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin
- United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
- United States Court of Federal Claims
- United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
- United States Supreme Court
Representative Experience
Commercial/Banking
- Ottawa County Circuit Court, 2022. Represented biometric laboratory defending claims by former officer/shareholder regarding alleged unpaid compensation. Successfully resolved matter in mediation after filing counterclaims and conducting initial discovery regarding dissipation of corporate assets by plaintiff.
- Berrien County Circuit Court, 2022. Represented regional bank defending claims of breach of contract and breach of fiduciary duty by borrowers. Matter resolved in mediation after successful motion for partial summary disposition.
- Calhoun County Circuit Court, 2022. Represented plaintiff in claims asserting membership interest in limited liability company operating marijuana dispensary. Successfully presented 2-day bench trial resulting in positive outcome for client.
- Muskegon County Circuit Court, 2022. Represented defendant corporation in minority oppression claims by shareholder. Matter successfully resolved after mediation.
- Ottawa County Circuit Court, 2020. Represented defendant biometric laboratory in breach of contract case regarding allegedly unpaid commissions to sales representatives. Prepared and successfully presented motion for partial summary disposition on issue of first impression in Michigan regarding illegality of biometric laboratory commissions, leading to favorable settlement through mediation.
- Kane County, Illinois, Circuit Court, 2020. Represented plaintiff engineering company in case involving breach of non-solicitation agreement and breach of fiduciary duty by former principal. Favorably settled in mediation after completing intensive document discovery.
- Berrien County Circuit Court, 2020. Represented plaintiff bank in loan default action, successfully resolved through loan workout and sale of debtor’s assets.
- Muskegon County Circuit Court, 2018. Represented plaintiff municipality in recovery of $8.4 million in wrongfully withheld termination payments arising from municipal water supply contract. Prepared and successfully presented motions for partial summary disposition leading to favorable settlement through facilitative mediation.
- United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, 2017. Represented plaintiff Native American tribe in ERISA-based fraud claims against health care insurer. Successfully resolved matter after mediation.
- United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Michigan, 2015. Represented first-priority secured creditor hedge fund in enforcement of defaulted mortgages and notes. Defeated debtor's reorganization plan and successfully imposed client's reorganization plan leading to 300% recovery for client upon sale of debtor's hotel asset.
Real Estate/Construction
- Kent County Circuit Court, 2022. Represented individual property owner defending claims of adverse possession and acquiescence. Prevailed on motion for summary disposition dismissing plaintiff neighbor’s claims.
- Muskegon County Arbitration, 2022. Represented commercial property owner defending claims of prescriptive easement and easement by necessity resulting from undisclosed sewer line. Successfully defeated claimant in arbitration hearing.
- Oakland County Circuit Court, 2022. Represented defendant bank in construction lien matter filed by unpaid landscaping subcontractor. Obtained dismissal for client after establishing mortgage priority.
- United States District Court, Western District of Michigan, 2020. Represented property owner in breach of commercial lease claims against international e-commerce company. Successfully resolved matter through renewed lease after filing suit.
- Kent County Circuit Court, 2018. Represented plaintiff general contractor in lien foreclosure action arising from unpaid invoice at the conclusion of a hotel renovation. Matter successfully settled after mediation.
- Oceana County Circuit Court, 2016. Represented defendant condominium developer in construction defect case brought by unit owners. Matter successfully resolved at mediation.
- Ottawa County Circuit Court, 2015. Represented defendant condominium developer in condominium governance suit filed by individual unit owner. Successfully resolved matter after nominal case evaluation award to the plaintiff.
- Muskegon County riparian rights case on appeal (Michigan Court of Appeals, 2015). After winning trial proceeding on dispositive motion, successfully opposed appeal by neighboring property owners seeking to challenge clients’ right to maintain docks on and exercise other riparian rights to inland lake.
Family Law
- Charlevoix County divorce case, 2022. Successfully resolved matter involving $13 million estate after obtaining favorable judicial ruling regarding division of equity interest of retired partner in international law firm.
- Muskegon County custody case, 2020. Obtained sole legal and physical custody for father in post-judgment matter involving parental neglect by mother.
- Ottawa County divorce case, 2020. Successfully resolved matter for physician client involving $9 million estate.
- Kent County custody case, 2020. Successfully defeated claims of parental alienation by father in post-judgment custody/parenting time dispute.
- Kalamazoo County divorce and post-judgment custody case, 2018. Obtained sole legal and physical custody for mother in matter involving psychologically and emotionally abusive father.
- Kent County divorce, 2018. Successfully resolved matter involving $9 million estate with locally high-profiled parties.
- Emmett County divorce and custody case, 2018. Successfully resolved matter for wife of retired NFL player involving $6 million estate.
- Ottawa County divorce case, 2017. Successfully challenged and defeated prenuptial agreement, significantly increasing size of marital estate to include husband’s interest in several business ventures. Matter favorably resolved after mediation.
- Ottawa County divorce and custody case, 2014. Obtained primary physical custody and successful property division and spousal support award for client after trial, in $6 million estate. Successfully defended against father's post-judgment claims of parental alienation, including father's request to send children to deprogramming camp.
