The majority of my work is in the field of commercial litigation, dealing with business interests, investments and real estate. Litigation may take place in the Bankruptcy Court, Circuit Court or Probate Court. The litigation can cover such areas as rights of secured creditors in the bankruptcy court and workouts. Other areas of litigation include real estate related land use litigation covering nuisance law, Right to Farm Act, construction liens, and breach of warranty claims. My practice continues to grow in the field of elder law, including estate planning and Medicaid qualification for residents of nursing homes, guardianships and conservatorships, litigation in probate court involving such issues as will contests, fiduciaries breach of duties, representing nursing homes, setting up social need trusts and irrevocable trusts.

I have also handled cases dealing with minority stockholder disputes, investment disputes, and coverage issues under insurance policies dealing with environmental contamination. I have also arbitrated claims for Michigan Applegrowers Association.

For approximately four years, I was involved in the Dow Corning Chapter 11 proceedings, where I represented Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing (3M), which was one of the co-defendants in a number of breast implant litigation lawsuits.

Areas of Practice

• 20% Bankruptcy Law
• 10% Real Estate Law
• 10% Business Organizations
• 20% Contracts
• 25% Elder Law
• 5% Agriculture Law
• 10% Collection of Debts and Foreclosure of Mortgages

Litigation Percentage

• 40% of Practice Devoted to Litigation

Bar Admissions

• Michigan, 1973
• U.S. District Court Eastern District of Michigan, 1975
• U.S. District Court Western District of Michigan, 1975

Education

• Wayne State University Law School, Detroit, Michigan
  • J.D. – 1973
• Michigan State College, East Lansing, Michigan
  • B.A. – 1969
  • Honors: With Honors
  • Major: Finance

Representative Clients

• Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing
• First Bank
• Farmers State Bank
• Stoneman Farms
• HCR Manor Care-Heartland New Holland Credit

Classes/Seminars

• Presenter in the areas of guarantees, secured transactions and bankruptcy to various banking groups

Professional Associations and Memberships

• State Bar of Michigan, Member
• Saginaw County Bar Association, Member
• American Bankruptcy Institute,Corporation, Finance, Taxation, Real Estate and Elder Law Sections, Member, Tri-County Bankruptcy Committee