Collins Einhorn Farrell PC ATTORNEYS AT LAW
At our core, we are a team of talented professionals dedicated to providing exceptional legal service. We build lasting relationships and earn the respect and confidence of our clients. We value our tradition of integrity and excellence in everything we do.
The Collins Einhorn Difference
For over four decades, Collins Einhorn Farrell PC has been respected for its professional acumen, leadership within the business and legal communities, and unwavering commitment to client needs.
As a progressive, business-minded law firm, Collins Einhorn serves clients in a broad range of matters, including the core areas of Appellate Law; General and Automotive Liability; Insurance Coverage; Asbestos/ Toxic Tort; Fire/Explosion; Professional Liability Defense (legal, medical/ dental, insurance, accounting, architectural, engineering and real estate); Grievance Defense (attorney grievance and Judicial tenure defense); Medical Malpractice; Employment Practices Liability; and Workers Compensation.
Our practice focuses on defense litigation in both state and federal courts. In these venues, we are known for our thorough and aggressive advocacy for our clients. Throughout the past four decades, the firm has made significant contributions in the shaping of case law, including at the Court of Appeals and Supreme Court levels.
Our attentive, accessible counsel is the foundation for our longstanding client relationships. We are proud that Collins Einhorn attorneys consistently receive referrals from our existing clients and from attorneys with other firms.
Today, Collins Einhorn is recognized regionally and nationally for its legal expertise, sound counsel and professional leadership. The firm continues to grow, employing over 50 attorneys and an equal number of support staff.
Appellate Law Collins Einhorn has built a team of attorneys who focus a significant portion of their work on appeals, both in federal and state courts. Attorneys in this group represent clients both from outside referrals and from other practice groups at the firm. And in doing so, they have developed a reputation for thoughtful advocacy, engaging writing, and scholarly research.
Our clients have engaged us to:
• Represent them in appeals and post-trial matters • Prepare applications for leave to appeal, including emergency applications • Analyze the likelihood of success on appeal to assist with mediation and settlement discussions • Advise trial counsel about issue preservation during trial • Support trial counsel with first-class briefing
General and Automotive Liability The firm’s General and Automotive Liability practice group encompasses a wide array of civil litigation including premises claims, construction cases, liquor liability (dram shop), automobile/ trucking liability (third and first party claims), products liability, business torts, fair debt collection practices, and various types of negligence claims. Members of the General and Automotive Liability practice group are experienced litigators who have practiced throughout the state and in the federal courts. The firm’s clients in the General and Automotive Liability practice include all types of commercial entities and individuals including, but not limited to, retail businesses, condominium complexes, sports facilities, trucking companies, hotel owners/ operators, construction contractors, debt collectors and property owners. Collins Einhorn has led in the development of Michigan law to the benefit of its clients in the general liability practice area. Collins Einhorn attorneys have significantly impacted Michigan law. This includes Supreme Court appellate wins that abolished all non-statutory discovery rules, expanded application of the open and obvious danger defense in premises cases, and diminished the duties owed by snow removal contractors.
Ahead of the Curve: Impactful changes have been underway in Michigan auto negligence law. Collins Einhorn attorneys have the experience and savvy to anticipate these changes and prepare to meet them. For example, McCormick, a significant opinion from the Michigan Supreme Court, substantially lowered the threshold for non-economic liability in auto negligence cases, potentially increasing defendant’s exposure. Collins Einhorn attorneys were already prepared to respond to McCormick when it was released. Within hours, the firm provided its clients with an executive summary of the case, alerting clients to the potential exposure.
Insurance Coverage Collins Einhorn Farrell’s Insurance Coverage practice group attorneys are experts in handling insurance coverage and litigation matters, including those pertaining to environmental, asbestos, construction, and general liability claims. Our coverage attorneys keep abreast of recent case law and statutory enactments affecting insurance law, allowing them to provide our clients with prompt and effective solutions. While fully prepared to litigate in a client’s interest, our firm is committed to providing clients with guidance and advice to minimize exposures or unwarranted claims and to avoid bad faith exposures. In doing so, we regularly advise insurers on claims handling matters; prepare formal opinion letters; and draft reservation of rights and declination of coverage letters. When coverage disputes lead to litigation, we aggressively advocate for our clients, including achieving favorable settlements, obtaining summary disposition, and successful trial and appellate results.
• One of our attorneys is an editor of Michigan Insurance Law & Practice. Published by the Institute of Continuing Legal Education in Ann Arbor, it is the only book on Michigan insurance law. • Our Insurance Coverage practice group includes attorneys who serve in leadership positions such as Chair of the Michigan State Bar Insurance and Indemnity Section; are Martindale-Hubbell AV rated; and have been listed in Super Lawyers © and Best Lawyers in America ® in Insurance Coverage. • Our coverage attorneys regularly contribute articles to the Journal of Insurance and Indemnity Law and Michigan Lawyers Weekly.
Environmental Law
Including asbestos and toxic tort litigation Collins Einhorn’s introduction to the asbestos/toxic tort and environmental law field occurred approximately 30 years ago, in the early days of toxic tort bodily injury litigation. Since that time, the firm has successfully represented large numbers of clients in asbestos/toxic tort personal injury and property damage litigation. While the firm currently defends more than 100 companies and a multitude of toxic tort cases across Michigan, our toxic tort practice is not limited geographically to Michigan.
• The firm serves as national coordinating counsel for 19 clients involved in asbestos/toxic tort litigation, encompassing 30 states. • Team members have tried dozens of toxic tort and asbestos exposure claims, and have lectured and published articles concerning the defense of toxic tort and product liability cases. • Our attorneys are on the cutting edge of the toxic tort and environmental law fields and have served as defense representatives on the Wayne County Circuit Court Toxic Tort Litigation Steering Committee since the late 1980s. In this role, our attorneys work with the Court to develop rules, practices and procedures to manage the toxic tort docket in Wayne County.
Fire and Explosion Litigation The Fire and Explosion Litigation practice group is an example of how Collins Einhorn Farrell continues to build on its firm-wide expertise and capabilities, expending resources in support of growing client needs. With more than three decades of experience in this area, our firm defends high-profile product manufacturers, property owners, and other entities and individuals in lawsuits involving complex property damage and personal injury related to fire and explosion. As fire science and technology, in general, continue to expand and progress, the Fire and Explosion Litigation practice group reinforces its cutting-edge standing in this area of the law through attendance at national training seminars; by maintaining an extensive library of codes, standards, guides, and reference materials pertaining to fire science litigation; and through membership in industry groups.
• Our attorneys in this practice group are members of the DRI Fire and Explosion Committee, National Fire Protection Agency, and National Association of Fire Investigators. • Our practice group is lead by a Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator, a credential held by only a handful of attorneys. • Attorneys in our practice group have authored and edited articles published in national journals pertaining to fire science litigation, including product testing, and origin and cause investigation.
Professional Liability
Collins Einhorn Farrell has an outstanding reputation and track record in representing professionals subject to malpractice claims, or facing regulatory, licensing or disciplinary boards. Professions represented, either as designated defense counsel for insurance carriers or directly, have included the legal, medical and dental, insurance, accounting, architectural, engineering and real estate fields. Our ability to develop unique strategies for a well-organized and effective defense, and to provide exemplary writing and oral advocacy skills, has earned our firm the respect of Michigan’s trial and appellate judiciary.
• Our experienced attorneys proactively assist clients in identifying key areas of liability, and develop a plan to minimize exposure • The Professional Liability defense group has provided decades of superior legal representation to local professionals and boasts an outstanding record of trial and appellate court success • Our attorneys have regularly practiced before the Michigan Attorney Grievance Commission as well as the Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission • Collins Einhorn Farrell attorneys also contribute to the American Bar Association’s Center for Professional Responsibility Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility, the State Bar of Michigan Standing Committee on Professional Ethics and teach local law courses related to professional responsibility and ethics
Grievance Defense We are proud to be the professionals that defend the professionals. Collins Einhorn Farrell is the preferred firm for the bench and bar when faced with a grievance, disciplinary action, judicial tenure matter or any other professional misconduct allegations. Our senior attorneys each have over 25 years of experience defending lawyers and judges in front of the Attorney Grievance Commission, Disciplinary Board, as well as legal malpractice in the State and Federal Court system.
Collins Einhorn attorneys are sought-after speakers in the area of professional liability, having presented as well as moderated panels on a variety of topics including the ABA Model Rules of Disciplinary Enforcement, Attorney Professionalism Standards, Legal Malpractice and Risk Management and Ethical Pitfalls. One member of the team served 10 years as an Associate Counsel to the Michigan Attorney Grievance Commission before joining the firm, also serving two terms as a member of the State Bar of Michigan’s Ethics Committee, and is liaison to the American Bar Association Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility. Another member of the group has litigated numerous court cases and disciplinary proceedings which have shaped Michigan law on issues ranging from lawyers’ potential liability to judicial candidates’ free speech rights.
Our expert attorneys provide crisis management services to clients confronted with legal issues giving rise to unwelcome media attention. The legal malpractice cases we defend often arise from sophisticated underlying matters such as patent, pension plan, and commercial disputes.
Medical Malpractice The firm’s Medical Malpractice group has successfully defended physicians, surgeons, physicians’ assistants, nurses, emergency medical technicians, other licensed health-care providers, and medical facilities through the entire process of medical malpractice litigation. Our expert attorneys have been defending health care professionals for over 25 years, representing clients in both trial and appellate courts. At the trial court level, our medical malpractice team, in conjunction with our appellate department, has frequently obtained summary dismissal of non-meritorious claims against our clients through their understanding of the complex mix of statutes and case law that governs medical malpractice claims. And if trial is necessary, our trial team has been successful in obtaining defense verdicts in cases ranging from pressure ulcer care to wrongful death.
Our attorneys work closely with the claims professionals and the health care providers to ensure that each are kept informed of the progress of the case through the notice of intent, factual discovery, expert discovery, and trial phases. All decisions, including expert witness selection and overall strategy are always made with full involvement of the claims professionals and providers.
Although our attorneys represent clients with all phases of litigation, our team has often been called on to assist counsel from other firms on post-trial issues such as:
• Entry-of-judgment questions • Collateral-source reductions • Non-economic-damages cap issues • Case evaluation, attorney fee and costs proceedings, and more.
Employment Practices Liability For more than 20 years, the Employment Practices Liability group has helped employers navigate the ever-changing waters of employee litigation and workplace regulation. We have defended employers in both state and federal courts against claims of wrongful discharge, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, intentional interference with business relations, invasion of privacy and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
Each attorney is experienced in representing employers before agencies such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Michigan Department of Civil Rights, the Michigan Unemployment Agency, and the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth.
Our attorneys begin each case by thoroughly researching and analyzing the facts. With this background, we either identify legal defenses that lead to summary dismissal of the case or determine factual defenses that limit the plaintiff’s chances of recovery and damages if the case proceeds to trial. We have an outstanding record of securing early dismissals.
In addition to representing employers in court proceedings, our team is available to advise employers on disciplinary matters, termination decisions, medical leave, and wage and hour issues. We also draft or revise employee handbooks and provide equal employment training to staff.
Workers Compensation Our Workers Compensation practice group has built a reputation of success representing employers in courts throughout Michigan. Our team provides clients with timely, expert advice on the strategic use of vocational assessments to defeat workers’ disability claims. They regularly and proactively determine what recent developments in Michigan law will assist them in aggressively defending employers against claims.
4000 Town Center, 9th Floor (248) 355-4141
| Southfield, Michigan 48075-1473
| collins.einhorn@CEFLawyers.com
| www.ceflawyers.com