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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
Memberships


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