LEGAL EXPERIENCE

1978 Clerk for Michigan Court of Appeals,
Judge Donald E. Holbrook, Sr.

1979 General civil practice at
420 E. Front Street,
Traverse City, Michigan

1980 - Present Law practice specializing in civil litigation, located at:
309 E. Front Street,
Traverse City, Michigan

1994-1995 Michigan State Bar Civil Procedure
Committee (Member 1992-1995; Chairman, 1995)


CERTIFICATIONS AND HONORS

Certified in Civil Practice by National Board of Trial Advocacy since 1991

National Finalist Primerus Community Service Award, 2003

Listed in Michigan “Superlawyers”, 2006

1997-Present; Listed in Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers
Martindale-Hubbell “av” rating


PUBLICATIONS

"Trespassing on the Recreational Users Act," Vol. 61, No. 9, Michigan Bar Journal, 726 (Sept., 1982) with Michael Dettmer

"Revisiting the Recreational User Act," Vol. 67, No. 5, Michigan Bar Journal, 348 (May, 1988)

"An Open Letter to the Committee on Standard Jury Instructions," Michigan Bar Journal, February, 1981, with Michael Dettmer

"A Primer on Governmental Immunity," MTLA Quarterly, (March, 1992)


ORGANIZATIONS

Board Member, Grand Traverse-Leelanau Community
Mental Health (Great Lakes CMH), 1996-2003, Chairman: 2001-2003

Executive Committee, Michigan Trial Lawyers Association (1984-1993)

Board of Directors, Goodwill Industries of Northern Michigan, 1991-1996,
Chairman: 1995-1996; Funding Task Force, 2004-2005

President, Children's Hospitalization Family Services, 1983-1997
Founding member, Munson Manor Executive Board (1986-2001)

Lawyer's Committee, ACLU Fund of Michigan (1990-1993)

Executive Board, Northern Michigan Chapter, American Civil
Liberties Union (1987-1992)

Arbitrator, U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan, since 1986

Joint Committee of the Michigan State Medical Society and Michigan State Bar, medical-legal issues (1985).

Trial Lawyers for Public Justice

Million Dollar Advocates Forum

American Justice Society

LEGAL EDUCATION LECTURER

Institute of Continuing Legal Education. (1985-2005) In excess of 40 lectures state-wide. Topics have included: No Fault, Dramshop, Medical Malpractice, Trial Practice, Cross-examination, Pre-Trial Procedure, Opening Statements, Settlement, Medical Issues, Use of an Economist, Cross- Examination of Hostile Witnesses

Upper Michigan Legal Institute. Topics: Mediation, No Fault, Medical Malpractice, Civil Procedure, Use of Demonstrative Exhibits

Michigan Trial Lawyers Association Annual Meetings. (1982-2004)
Topics: Governmental Immunity, Dramshop issues, Proving Damages, and Medical Malpractice Reform

Michigan Lodging Association. Dramshop Liability for Taverns

Municipal Section, State Bar of Michigan. Section 1983 "Civil Rights" Liability

Association of County Road Commissions Annual Meetings. (1986-1994) Road Authority Liability and Mock Trials

Michigan Association of Cardiologists. Mock Trial and medical malpractice

Adjunct Professor, Northwestern Michigan College (1981-1989)
Western Michigan University (2001-2006)

REPRESENTATIVE APPELLATE CASES

Brewer v Payless Stations, Inc, 412, Mich 673, 316 NW2d 702 (1982)

McDonald v State Farm Insurance Co, 419 Mich 146, 350 NW2d 253 (1984)

Rossman v State Farm Insurance Co, 184 Mich App 618, 459 NW2d 72 (1990)
 

Email: thompson@tovlaw.com