Winter 2014 Benchmark Alumni Magazine by Cooley Law School

Benchmark

WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY THOMAS M. COOLEY LAW SCHOOL ALUMNI MAGAZINE | WINTER 2014

Leaders and graduates of both Western Michigan University and Cooley Law School: Ken Miller and Larry Nolan

WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY THOMAS M. COOLEY LAW SCHOOL ALUMNI MAGAZINE | WINTER 2014

Letter from

WMU-Cooley Benchmark EDITOR Terry Carella

Change comes to all things good.

CO-EDITOR Sharon Matchette

With thoughtful change, we preserve the best of the past while preparing an even better future. This issue of Benchmark brings you a glimpse of our law school’s bright future as Western Michigan University Cooley Law School while reporting some of the important things that Cooley accomplished before our afﬁliation with WMU.

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS SeyferthPR seyferthpr.com DESIGN Image Creative Group imagecreativegroup.com PHOTOGRAPHY Cover: Thomas Gennara Photography SUBMISSIONS The Benchmark seeks story ideas from graduates. We are looking for stories on a variety of subjects such as graduate achievements, international experiences, cultural diversity, legal information helpful to practitioners, unique law practices, advice to prospective law students, and special events. If you would like to share a story idea, please write, call, or e-mail: Communications Office WMU-Cooley Law School 300 S. Capitol Ave. Lansing, MI 48933 (517) 371-5140 ext. 2916 Fax: (517) 334-5780 communications@cooley.edu cooley.edu Benchmark is published twice a year by the administrative offices of Western Michigan University Cooley Law School, 300 S. Capitol Ave., Lansing, MI 48933 ALUMNI DATABASE The user name will always remain the word alumni. The password changes are disclosed in Benchmark on the inside front cover. Please call the Alumni Relations Office at 517-371-5140, ext. 2038, or e-mail alumni@cooley.edu if you have any problems. The current password for this term is knowledge.

The two gentlemen on the cover, Ken Miller and Larry Nolan, represent our great past as graduates of both WMU and Cooley. And with Ken as a member of WMU’s Board of Trustees and Larry as chairman of Cooley’s Board of Directors, they now together set the stage for a great future by leading their respective institutions into our new afﬁliation. Ken and Larry typify both the Cooley way and the WMU way – great professional and personal success based upon hard work, perseverance, and the opportunity they received to obtain their education at both institutions. I proudly introduce you to the new WMU-Cooley Law School. Sincerely,

James D. Robb Associate Dean of External Affairs and Senior Counsel

WMU-COOLEY BOARD OF DIRECTORS Lawrence P. Nolan Chairman of the Board Nolan, Thomsen & Villas, P.C. Eaton Rapids, Michigan

Thomas W. Cranmer Miller, Canﬁeld, Paddock and Stone, PLC Troy, Michigan

Hon. Louise Alderson Vice Chairman of the Board 54A District Court Lansing, Michigan

Scott A. Dienes DeFrancesco, O’Dowd & Dienes PLLC St. Joseph, Michigan

James W. Butler, III Urban Revitalization Division Michigan State Housing Development Authority Lansing, Michigan

Sharon M. Hanlon Zelman & Hanlon, PA Naples, Florida W. Anthony Jenkins Dickinson Wright PLLC Detroit, Michigan

Don LeDuc President and Dean Western Michigan University Cooley Law School Lansing, Michigan Hon. Jane E. Markey Michigan Court of Appeals Grand Rapids, Michigan Hon. Stephen J. Markman Michigan Supreme Court Lansing, Michigan

James C. Morton Steinberg, Morton, Hope & Israel, LLP Toronto, Ontario, Canada Edward H. Pappas Dickinson Wright PLLC Troy, Michigan Hon. Bart Stupak Venable, LLP Washington, D.C. Dennis A. Swan Sparrow Hospital & Health System Lansing, Michigan

Contents Features Winter 2014

WMU-COOLEY AFFILIATION

WMU-COOLEY GRADUATES LEAD THE STATE BAR OF MICHIGAN

Formalization of the afﬁliation agreement between the two institutions, which has been in the works for more than a year, begins with a new name – Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School.

Thomas C. Rombach (Morse Class, 1987) is serving as the SBM’s 80th president. Lawrence P. Nolan (Cooley Class, 1976) is serving as vice president and is in line to assume the role of president in two years.

WMU-COOLEY GRADUATE ELECTED PRESIDENT OF WEST VIRGINIA STATE BAR

BREAKING NEW GROUND AT CMS ENERGY

Kevin Robinson (Reid Class, 2006) has been elected to the top post with the West Virginia State Bar. Robinson’s tenure as president runs for a year.

Catherine Reynolds (Chandler Class, 1983) became the ﬁrst female senior ofﬁcer at CMS Energy. As one of the nation’s few female Fortune 500 general counsels, Reynolds heads up the company’s legal department and is responsible for all legal matters affecting CMS Energy.

COOLEY IS NOW WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY THOMAS M. COOLEY LAW SCHOOL

Western Michigan University Cooley Law School student, Antonio Burries, shows his pride.

“It’s a great day to be a…,” intoned Western Michigan University President John M. Dunn before a filled-to-capacity room of faculty and staff of both Cooley and WMU in addition to invited guests. “Bronco!” replied the audience. WMU President John Dunn was referring to the formalization of the affiliation agreement between the two institutions. The affiliation, which has been in the works for more than a year, begins with a new name – Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School. The two schools gathered on August 13 at WMU’s Haworth School of Business to celebrate and announce that the reviews by the Higher Learning Commission and the American Bar Association had been completed and the affiliation was official. Along with the new name, the now-affiliated law school rolled out its new logo and a listing of initiatives that will benefit current and future students of both schools as well as the communities they serve. The affiliation agreement builds on a decade-long relationship between the two schools that includes three existing graduate dual-degree programs and, for a time, shared physical facilities in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Cooley and WMU’s joint degree programs lead

to these degrees: a Juris Doctor (J.D.)/ Master of Public Administration, a J.D./ Master of Business Administration and a J.D./Master of Social Work. In addition, preliminary discussions have begun on the potential for leveraging such shared areas of expertise as ethics, health care, life sciences, intellectual property, entrepreneurialism, homeland security, tax law and sustainability.

“We started on this “Now is a great time for our schools to affiliation with a affiliate in a deeper relationship. I have seed of an idea, an been excited about this from the start,” said Don LeDuc, president and dean of idea that has reached WMU-Cooley. “WMU just affiliated with its medical school and has had an interest to this level today. in adding a law school affiliation. We The institutions will have been looking to expand and deepen relationships with a university, and WMU do great things down is the right choice for Cooley because of the road.” the similarities of our missions, operating philosophies, academic programs, student bodies and locations.”

DON LEDUC, PRESIDENT AND DEAN, WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY COOLEY LAW SCHOOL

COOLEY AND WMU AFFILIATION

“This afﬁliation is good for the faculty, staff and students of this university and of Cooley Law School, and good for the communities we both serve. It’s my pleasure to inform you that the long awaited afﬁliation is now in effect. Our colleagues with us today from Cooley are now part of Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School.” DR. JOHN M. DUNN, PRESIDENT, WMU

Sangren Hall on Western Michigan University’s campus in Kalamazoo, Michigan

(Left-right) Mitch Zajac, WMU graduate and current WMU-Cooley student; Larry Nolan (Cooley Class, 1976), WMU-Cooley board chair and graduate of both WMU and Cooley; Don LeDuc, WMU-Cooley president and dean; Dr. John M. Dunn, WMU president; and Ken Miller (Graves Class, 1977) WMU trustee and graduate of both WMU and Cooley.

The affiliation agreement won the approval of both schools’ governing boards last year and was signed and awaiting only the review of the accrediting agencies. The agreement enables initiatives that will leverage the common commitment both institutions have to educational access, diversity, applied research and professional preparation. Under terms of the agreement, both schools retain their independent governance structures and separate fiduciary responsibilities. “We were delighted that our respective accrediting bodies have given the nod to the affiliation between Cooley and Western Michigan University,” said Dunn. “This move will broaden the range of opportunities available to students, expand the collaboration and research options available to faculty members and improve the range of services to students, employees and our respective communities.”

program at WMU that will allow students to earn both a bachelor’s degree and a law degree in six years. Moving forward, Western Michigan University Cooley Law School will continue as a private, independent, nonproﬁt 501(c)(3) entity. Employees at both schools will continue their respective employment status. Law students must still be admitted separately to the law school, and students in dual- or shared-degree programs must be admitted by both schools independently. Tuition at both schools is unaffected by the afﬁliation. There are no plans in place to build a law school facility on the WMU campus. Cooley has campuses in Lansing, Grand Rapids, and Auburn Hills, Michigan and in Tampa Bay, Florida. The name change extends to all campuses.

Initiatives unveiled included an announcement that WMU-Cooley Law School expects to offer ﬁrst-year law classes on WMU’s Kalamazoo campus in fall 2015. In addition, faculty at both schools have begun the work of developing both a law minor and an accelerated 3+3

COOLEY AND WMU AFFILIATION

(Left to right) Ken Miller talks with Larry Nolan at Western Michigan University

LAWRENCE P. NOLAN, COOLEY CLASS, 1976

Lawrence P. Nolan (Cooley Class, 1976) is chair of WMU-Cooley’s Board of Directors, a post to which he was elected in 2012. He has been a member of WMU-Cooley’s board since 1983, longer than any other board member, including the school’s founder, Hon. Thomas E. Brennan. He is vice president of the State Bar of Michigan (SBM).

Nolan earned a bachelor’s degree from Western Michigan University in 1971. A practicing attorney in Michigan for 38 years, Nolan is the founder and president of Nolan, Thomsen & Villas PC in Eaton Rapids, Michigan, where he practices personal injury, catastrophic loss, wrongful death, real estate, corporate, domestic relations, estate planning and criminal law. He has appeared many

times on the lists of Michigan Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers in America, People’s Choice Award winner, and on Cooley’s Benchmark magazine cover. He served as president of the Ingham County Bar Association in 2003-2004. He serves on several SBM committees, and is a member of the General Practice – Solo & Small Firm Section, Law Practice Management & Legal

Administrators Section, and Master Lawyers Section. Nolan has been recognized by several organizations throughout his legal career. He received honors from the Eaton Rapids Jaycees, Lansing Black Lawyers Association, and the Eaton Rapids Rotary Club, and he received WMU-Cooley’s Distinguished Alumni Service Award.

KENNETH V. MILLER, GRAVES CLASS, 1977

Kenneth V. Miller (Graves Class, 1977) serves as a trustee on the Western Michigan University (WMU) Board of Trustees and is past-chair of the board. He earned his bachelor’s degree in 1969 and his master’s degree in 1970 from WMU. Miller is president of the Millennium Restaurant Group, LLC, which owns and operates several restaurant properties in southwest Michigan. He is also a principal of Havirco, a Kalamazoo, Michigan-based investment management ﬁrm started in 1983. Miller previously

served as director, member of the executive committee, and chairman of the audit committee of Biomet, Inc. of Warsaw, Indiana, a manufacturer and marketer of orthopedic and surgical products. He was a co-founder of AvTech Laboratories, Inc., a Kalamazoo pharmaceutical products testing laboratory, and is a co-founder of TEAM Industries, Inc., a manufacturer of expanded polystyrene, used primarily in commercial and residential construction. Miller was co-founder and served as president and chief executive

ofﬁcer of Radio Associates Group, a company that operated broadcast properties in Michigan, California and Nevada. He is also a director and chairman of Keystone Community Bank of Kalamazoo. Miller serves as director and chair of the WMU Foundation, and is a director and executive committee member of the Michigan Restaurant Association. He previously served as a trustee and chairman of the Kalamazoo Valley Community College Foundation and remains trustee of the Havirmill Foundation. He is a past president and board

member of the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, past chairman of the WMU Haworth College of Business Advisory Board, a member of the WMU College of Fine Arts Executive Cabinet, and a former member of the Board of Governors of the Kalamazoo Country Club. He serves as chair of Kalamazoo’s Downtown Tomorrow, Inc., Board of Directors. Miller is a recent recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award from WMU and the Red Rose Award for exceptional community service from the Kalamazoo Rotary Club.

Memorandum of Understanding NEARLY 60 FACULTY AND ADMINISTRATORS FROM BOTH COOLEY AND WMU WORKED TOGETHER TO DEVELOP ACTION ITEMS TO BUILD ON THE AFFILIATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE TWO INSTITUTIONS. EACH ITEM WAS ASSIGNED TO APPROPRIATE PERSONNEL AT BOTH SCHOOLS. THE ACTION ITEMS LISTED BELOW WILL BE DEVELOPED BETWEEN NOW AND THE FALL OF 2016.

NEAR-TERM ACTIONS FOR REMAINDER OF 2014

MID-TERM ACTIONS FOR FALL 2015

LONG-TERM ACTIONS FOR FALL 2016

• Confer on coordination of student services, academic support, admission and retention efforts

• Offer law degree credits on WMU’s Kalamazoo campus, with 15 credits offered in the ﬁrst year

• Confer and collaborate on pre-law course offerings at WMU main campus and other locations

• Begin a 3+3 program

• Coordinate veterans programs

• Develop plan to broaden library space access for students and faculty, coordinate acquisitions and share collections

• Coordinate study abroad programs

• Explore a foster-care clinical externship program

• Coordinate institutional research data collection cycles and use of resources

• Create secure electronic access between institutions, and coordinate learning management systems • Coordinate website, marketing plans • Promote the afﬁliation among alumni of both schools

• Plan additional joint degree programs (for example, tax)

• Confer on shared teaching opportunities • Coordinate and plan to share space, confer on option of using Cooley campuses as extended locations for WMU courses

• Coordinate on environmental law and campus sustainability, including teaching, research, operations

• Confer on instructional support, security and emergency management, graduate placements and scholastic competitions • Coordinate WMU’s entrepreneurship program with Cooley’s intellectual property and corporate law programs • Discuss research and discovery planning and execution • Investigate possibility that WMU will offer a law orientation course online

THOMAS C. ROMBACH, MORSE CLASS, 1987 AND LAWRENCE P. NOLAN, COOLEY CLASS, 1976

Thomas C. Rombach

Lawrence P. Nolan

LEAD THE STATE BAR OF MICHIGAN TWO WMU-COOLEY GRADUATES

Thomas C. Rombach (Morse Class, 1987), of New Baltimore, Michigan, and Lawrence P. Nolan (Cooley Class, 1976), of Eaton Rapids, Michigan, have been elected to the State Bar of Michigan (SBM) leadership for the 2014-2015 year.

Thomas Rombach is serving as the SBM’s 80th president. Larry Nolan is serving as vice president and is in line to assume the role of president in two years. Rombach is the second and Nolan will be the third WMUCooley Law School graduate to hold the presidential post. They follow Charles R. Toy (Kavanagh Class, 1981), WMUCooley’s associate dean of career and professional development, who served as the 75th president from 2009 to 2010. As SBM president, Rombach chairs the board of commissioners and serves as the spokesperson for over 43,000 lawyers in Michigan. He’s quick to point out that his leadership style emphasizes listening to every bar member who wants to share a concern. He’s serious about this approach. Shortly after being sworn into ofﬁce, Rombach and a contingent of SBM leaders went on a tour of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to solicit input from attorneys.

“I am very interested in gaining wisdom, insight and guidance by listening to my colleagues,” said Rombach. “The State Bar is committed to addressing the needs of 21st century lawyers and their clients.” The SBM works to improve the administration of justice, promote the legal profession, and build public understanding of the legal system. The SBM is exploring new methods of delivering legal services, including “unbundling” legal work and creating limited scope representation. “By unbundling services, lawyers will have the authority to work on certain aspects of a client’s case without having to take on a client’s entire case,” noted Rombach. “We can best serve the public’s needs by making legal help more affordable.”

Rombach represents criminal and civil litigants throughout Michigan at the Law Offices of Thomas C. Rombach in New Baltimore. He has held elective bar office every year since his first semester at WMUCooley Law School, including Student Bar Association president in 1986 and 1987. Later, Rombach became the first Macomb County Bar Association president ever elected under the age of 40. He has been active in the SBM since being elected to the Young Lawyers Executive Council. In 2002-2003, Rombach presided as chair of the Representative Assembly, the SBM’s final policy-making body. Rombach has also served as prosecuting attorney for the city of Hazel Park, Michigan and as Macomb County commissioner and Macomb County charter commissioner. He has been elected to the boards of 15 different charitable and civic organizations. Rombach is only the third solo practitioner to serve as the SBM president.

KEVIN ROBINSON, REID CLASS, 2006

WMU-COOLEY GRADUATE ELECTED

PRESIDENT OF WEST Kevin Robinson (Reid Class, 2006) has been elected to the top post with the West Virginia State Bar. Robinson’s tenure as president runs for a year, until the Bar’s next annual meeting in April 2015. He began his leadership of the West Virginia State Bar when he was elected to its board of governors in 2009. During his term as president, Robinson plans to focus on maintaining and reviving the Bar’s services to its members, while exercising ﬁscal responsibility. “The Bar exists to work with and for its members, and I hope to ﬁnd ways we can improve member services,” notes Robinson. In addition to his service with the West Virginia State Bar, Robinson is a member of the Raleigh County Bar Association, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, board of directors for Legal Aid of West Virginia, and was appointed

by then-Chief Justice Brent Benjamin to the Access to Justice Commission. Recently, The State Journal honored him with a Generation Next ‘Forty Under 40’ award. After graduating from Cooley, Robinson moved to West Virginia where he worked as an assistant public defender for the Kanawha County Public Defender and the Raleigh County Public Defender’s Office. In 2008, he joined the law offices of Pullin, Fowler, Flanagan, Brown and Poe, where he is now a partner. Robinson concentrates his practice in insurance defense. He has handled cases pertaining to government liability, product liability and contract law. In addition, Robinson defends small businesses in mass tort litigation. Before attending Cooley, he earned a B.B.A. in economics from Marshall University in West Virginia. While at Marshall, Robinson was a member of Omicron Delta Epsilon, an honor society for economics, and was vice president of performances for the Alpha Kappa Psi, a professional business fraternity. Robinson credits his experience at Cooley, and particularly his time as an intern at the Wayne County Prosecutor’s office, with giving him the real-world experience needed to jump start his career.

VIRGINIA STATE BAR “The practical experience I gained as an intern is the reason I was prepared for my ﬁrst job out of law school,” said Robinson. He is quick to point out that Cooley’s moot court competitions taught him how to write a brief and argue both sides of a case. But he also credits Cooley with teaching him the intangibles of being a well-rounded and well-presented professional. “Moot court not only taught me about practicing law, but also about how to present myself and how to be a good attorney,” said Robinson. Robinson resides in Beckley, West Virginia. He enjoys watching classic movies, cooking Italian food, working out, and reading novels.

CATHERINE REYNOLDS, CHANDLER CLASS, 1983

“It is rewarding to work with essentially one client for my entire legal career.” CATHERINE REYNOLDS

BREAKING NEW GROUND Soon after Catherine Reynolds (Chandler Class, 1983) graduated with her bachelor’s degree, and before she began her law studies at Cooley, she embarked on her career at CMS Energy Corp. CMS Energy Corp., a Fortune 500 Company, is the parent company to Consumers Energy and CMS Enterprises. Consumers Energy is Michigan’s largest electric and natural gas utility, serving 6.6 million of the state’s 10 million residents and CMS Enterprises is engaged in independent power generation.

In October 2013, Reynolds became the ﬁrst female senior ofﬁcer at CMS Energy. Reynolds heads up the company’s legal department and is responsible for all legal matters affecting CMS Energy. She is responsible for the corporate secretary, investor services and corporate records functions. On a day-to-day basis, she works with senior leadership on strategic issues facing CMS Energy and frequently interacts with the company’s board of directors.

Reynolds is proud of her 35-year tenure with the company. “It is rewarding to work with essentially one client for my entire legal career.” THE WMU-COOLEY EXPERIENCE Growing up in Jackson, Michigan, Reynolds was one of nine children. Her father was a partner in a small legal practice, which sparked her interest in the law. She began her college education with a scholarship to Jackson Community College. She then transferred to Michigan State University, where she earned a multidisciplinary degree in political science, social science, and pre-law. Immediately following graduation in 1979, she joined CMS Energy as a technical proofreader.

CATHERINE REYNOLDS AND CMS ENERGY

“I needed to ﬁnd a school that would be compatible with my full-time work schedule,” said Reynolds. This requirement led her to Cooley, known for scheduling classes throughout the day, week, and year. CATHERINE REYNOLDS

Not giving up her dream of becoming a lawyer, Reynolds knew she would have to find a law school that would allow her to continue working while furthering her education. “I needed to find a school that would be compatible with my full-time work schedule,” said Reynolds. This requirement led her to Cooley, known for scheduling classes throughout the day, week, and year. The people at Cooley turned out to be as important to Reynolds as the school’s flexible scheduling. “I made a lot of great friends at Cooley,” said Reynolds. “I developed quite a support group that helped me to grow and advance my career.” Reynolds is pleased to say that her hard work and determination have paid off.

BUILDING A CAREER AT CMS ENERGY After graduating from Cooley in 1983 and passing the bar, Reynolds began working in the CMS Energy legal department. Her work included 10 years in litigation before focusing on marketing, electronic commerce and corporate issues. In 2004, Reynolds was appointed assistant general counsel over the general practice group of the legal department with the responsibility of supervising attorneys handling environmental, labor, beneﬁts, property, contracts, taxes, zoning, and insurance matters. Reynolds served as vice president and corporate secretary from 2006-2012 before being appointed as vice president, deputy general counsel, and corporate secretary. In October 2013, she was appointed senior vice president and general counsel. In these positions, Reynolds had the opportunity to help shape the hiring standards used to evaluate new attorneys.

“I was able to hold my own with Ivy League law graduates in sessions taught by Harvard The legal and corporate secretary departments professors,” said Reynolds. “The experience just validated confidence in my Cooley at CMS Energy employ 44 individuals, 26 of whom are attorneys. Seven, including Reynolds, education,” an education, she went on to say, that included finding a support system are Cooley Law School graduates: Georgina of other Cooley students who helped shape R. Hyden (Blair Class, 2001), Rhonda M. her life. Morris (Paterson Class, 2002), Jeffery D. Pintar (Boyles Class, 2005), Gary L. Kelterborn WMU-COOLEY CONNECTIONS BEYOND (Stone Class, 1996), John C. Shea (Carr Class, GRADUATION 1984), and Bret A. Totoraitis (Kavanagh Class, Perhaps the best illustration of the 2008). Several other Cooley graduates have importance of her Cooley connections came at also worked in the legal department throughout a reunion that Reynolds, who was Catherine the years. Gleeson at the time, organized in Jackson with some of her fellow Cooley graduates. Reynolds is proud to see so many Cooley Among those who joined the outing was graduates making a career at CMS Energy. Raymond Reynolds (McAlvey Class, 1984) “Cooley gives its students a well-rounded who had a private practice in Lansing, and practical approach to law,” said Michigan, that specialized in family and Reynolds. “The fact that I have hired criminal law. The two married and are now several Cooley graduates, who are parents to their five children: David, Nicholas, excellent practitioners, shows you can Alexander and twins, Lauren and Lucas.

THE WMU-COOLEY DIFFERENCE AT CMS ENERGY

do great things with a Cooley education.” Her Cooley education was tested as Reynolds recently attended Harvard Law School’s Leadership in Corporate Counsel Executive Education Program with attorneys from all over the world.

The couple’s youngest son Lucas, who is now a junior in high school, is considering following in the footsteps of his parents and grandfather and becoming a lawyer.

The WMU-Cooley collection at CMS Energy - (Front, left to right) Georgine R. Hyden, assistant corporate secretary; Catherine M. Reynolds, senior vice president and general counsel; Rhonda M. Morris, attorney; (back, left to right) attorneys Jeffrey D. Pintar, Gary L. Kelterborn, John C. Shea, and Bret A. Totoraitis.

DAVID MENGEBIER, MANNING CLASS, 1984

A Skill Set that is a Testament to a WMU-Cooley Education David Mengebier (Manning Class, 1984) joined CMS Energy Corp. in 1991, serving as the company’s director and executive director of federal governmental affairs for eight years. In 1999, he was promoted to vice president of governmental and international affairs, a position he held until 2001, when he was named senior vice president of governmental and public affairs and chief compliance ofﬁcer for CMS Energy and its subsidiaries. In this position, he is responsible for managing all of CMS Energy’s corporate and community-based government relations and public affairs activities, and overseeing compliance with all laws, regulations, corporate policies, and the company’s code of conduct. He is also president of CMS Energy’s two charitable foundations.

Attending law school became Mengebier’s goal after he completed an internship during his senior year at Michigan State University. Through his work in Washington, D.C., for Detroit Edison, he became involved in developing strategies on federal policy issues. He was impressed by the ability of the lawyers he worked with to identify the key issues, focus on the most persuasive arguments, and accurately articulate counter arguments. “I wanted that skill set,” said Mengebier. He enrolled at Cooley and spent the next three years absorbing the foundational skills that he credits with having broad career applications. “Cooley provides its students with knowledgeable professors who have practiced law so they are able to teach law in a practical manner,” said Mengebier.

The day Mengebier ﬁnished his last exam at Cooley, he packed up his car and drove to Washington, D.C. In the year Mengebier took the Washington, D.C. bar exam, only 24 percent of those who took the test passed, including Mengebier. “I passed and saw it as a testament to how well-prepared I was after graduating from Cooley Law School,” Mengebier said. For the next 18 years, Mengebier remained in Washington, D.C., spending time as a lobbyist and working for two members of Congress, U.S. Representatives Jack Kemp (New York) and Carl Pursell (Michigan). “Being involved in inﬂuencing state and federal public policy has been the most rewarding work throughout my career,” said Mengebier recalling just

one recent instance when CMS Energy took a leadership role in successfully opposing a proposition that appeared on the Michigan ballot. Mengebier never planned to pursue private practice but has never regretted his decision to go to law school. “It has been a great credential through my career,” Mengebier said. “A law degree is a great graduate degree,” said Mengebier. “The skills you learn while studying law have broad application in any career.” Mengebier now lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan, with his wife, who is active in nonproﬁt work. They have three daughters, one who works for a non-proﬁt in Central America, and two who are college seniors.

“A law degree is a great graduate degree,” said Mengebier. “The skills you learn while studying law have broad application in any career.” 15

PROFESSOR MARLA MITCHELL-CICHON, CO-DIRECTOR, WMU-COOLEY’S INNOCENCE PROJECT

WMU-Cooley’s Innocence Project frees Detroit man from prison after seven years for a crime that DNA evidence shows he did not commit

Professor Marla Mitchell-Cichon, co-director of the WMU-Cooley Law School Innocence Project

ARTICLE REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION FROM JO MATHIS AND THE LEGAL NEWS

People are surprised to learn how little it took to convict Detroit resident Donya Davis of rape, says Professor Marla Mitchell-Cichon, co-director of the Thomas M. Cooley Law School Innocence Project in Lansing. Scientiﬁc evidence didn’t save him. Nor did the fact that he didn’t resemble the victim’s description of the stranger who assaulted her. 16

Donya Davis addresses the media

Instead, it took six years of hard work by Cooley law students to free him from prison after DNA testing revealed that Donya Davis had served nearly seven years for a crime his supporters are convinced he did not commit. “It’s a miracle he’s out,” said MitchellCichon, who is also a Cooley professor. Davis has maintained his innocence since his arrest in 2006. After his conviction, he immediately reached out to the Thomas M. Cooley Law School Innocence Project, which since 2001 has identified, provided legal assistance to, and secured the release of those persons who are imprisoned for crimes they did not commit. The Project only pursues cases in which there is biological evidence that can be tested using DNA testing under Michigan’s post-conviction law, MCL 770.16. The task is a difficult one. The Project has screened more than 5,000 cases and has been responsible for the exoneration and release of two other men in Michigan: Ken Wyniemko in 2003, and Nathaniel Hatchett in 2008. The only direct evidence against Davis was the victim’s identification. His first trial ended in a mistrial. At a subsequent bench trial before Judge Leonard Townsend, Davis presented an alibi defense, and Townsend (now deceased) found him guilty based on the victim’s testimony.

Mitchell-Cichon said the victim made an honest mistake in identifying Davis and that

The WMU-Cooley Innocence Project team with Donya Davis (front, left-right) Justin Garwood, Marla Mitchell-Cichon, Davis, Melissa Wiggins, attorney and former student Alyse Tarbutton, and Innocent Project Staff Attorney Cassandra Babel (back, left-right) current and former Innocence Project interns Allison Stephen, Kara Weisman, Brian Watkins, Eric Schroeder, Sharonndra Clement, and Ann Lappan.

misidentiﬁcation is much more common than people realize. In fact, eyewitness misidentiﬁcation is one of the leading causes of wrongful convictions nationwide, playing a role in 75 percent of convictions overturned through DNA testing, she said.

individual. Our hope is that charges will be dismissed.” But Davis may face a new trial.

“The social science of eyewitness identiﬁcation indicates that we are not very good at identifying strangers in stressful situations. And once an identiﬁcation is made, it’s very rare that you would change that,” she said.

Davis also earned credits toward a paralegal degree and is working toward his culinary arts degree. Davis spent his free time learning as much as he could about biology, DNA testing and its role in criminal convictions.

Prior to his trial, the Detroit Forensic Services crime lab tested skin cells collected from the victim’s thighs that excluded Davis. Still, Davis was convicted and sentenced to 22 years in prison.

Since his release, he’s taken advantage of re-entry services offered by the Federal Probation Ofﬁce in Detroit.

In 2013, the Project-staffed by student interns-sought DNA testing in Davis’ case. Bode Technology Group in Lorton, Virginia identified sperm cells on thigh samples that were never identified or tested by the Detroit Crime Lab. That new evidence excluded Davis as the source of the male DNA. Davis was released from the Wayne County Jail in June. But while the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office agreed to the motion for a new trial, it did not dismiss the charges against Davis. A pretrial has been set for Aug. 1. “He’s factually innocent of the crime, so the charges should be dismissed,” said MitchellCichon. “There’s no explanation that he could be the perpetrator in this case, and in fact, the DNA testing points to another

For the last seven years, Davis made the best of his time in prison, earning his GED, and completing a small business education program and a commercial driver’s license course.

Mitchell-Cichon said the students learn a lot about the many shortcomings of the criminal justice system.

“They also see how difﬁcult it is to undo a wrongful conviction,” she said. “All these cases are miracles.” She said many stars must be aligned in order to prove a person’s innocence. “We can only speculate how many people are innocent in prison because there are over 300 DNA exonerations and hundreds of non-DNA exonerations, but those are only cases in which we could actually uncover the wrongful convictions,” she said. “If you just use DNA cases as an example, if the biological evidence was

MARLA MITCHELL-CICHON AND INNOCENCE CLINIC

No New Trial: All Charges Against Donya Davis are Dropped

Marla Mitchell-Cichon addresses the media

destroyed, and you have no ability to retest the evidence, then you have no ability to prove your actual innocence.”

released on bond June 20, 2014, after evidence came to light in March 2014 that proved his innocence.

The burden is extremely high, she said, noting that a person may be innocent and not able to get the case to court.

Kareem Johnson, a 2008 graduate of WMU-Cooley Law School, was Davis’ court-appointed counsel. Johnson, together with the WMU-Cooley Innocence Project team, successfully negotiated the dismissal of the charges.

She said MCL 770.16 doesn’t allow for post-conviction DNA testing if the individual pled guilty. And in 2006-when Davis ﬁrst wrote to the Project-the law did not cover someone who was convicted after 2001. The law was changed in 2009, at which time he became eligible. Because DNA technology is constantly advancing, she believes it’s important for inmates to have the ability to get DNA testing when such testing can support a claim of innocence.

“When you’re factually innocent what you really want to do is tell a new story about what happened and there’s really no avenue to do that in the criminal justice system once you’ve been convicted,” she said. “The story at trial is the story.” It’s very important for prosecutors and the public to learn more about eyewitness identiﬁcation and to realize that it’s actually more typical for an eyewitness to identify the wrong person than the right one, she said. “For a lot of people, it’s hard to believe these things happen,” she said. “But they do.”

On Thursday, Nov. 6, 2014, the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Ofﬁce dismissed all charges against Donya Davis, ending the specter of a new trial and allowing Davis to start his life as a free man. Davis had been

“Mr. Davis’ innocence was revealed in March, and we are grateful this long ordeal has ﬁnally ended,” said Professor Marla Mitchell-Cichon, director of WMU-Cooley’s Innocence Project. Davis’ innocence was established when DNA testing sought by the WMU-Cooley Innocence Project excluded Davis as the source of the male DNA. “Now that the charges have been dismissed, Donya can get on with his life,” stated Mitchell-Cichon. “Unfortunately, he will not be compensated by the state of Michigan for his time in prison. There are 30 states, along with the District of Columbia, that do provide compensation for wrongfully convicted persons, but Michigan does not. Our state is among 20 states without a compensation law in place.”

Since his release, Davis has been seeking employment and has leads on two possible jobs. The last step before he could be employed was for his criminal case to be dismissed. Davis also plans to go back to school. “I want to ﬁnish my paralegal studies so I can help bring awareness to this problem,” he said. The purpose of the WMU-Cooley Law School Innocence Project is to identify, provide legal assistance to, and secure the release of those persons who are imprisoned for crimes they did not commit. The project has screened over 5,000 cases since 2001 and has been responsible for the exoneration of two other individuals in Michigan, Ken Wyniemko, in 2003, and Nathaniel Hatchett, in 2008. The project is staffed by student interns who do the bulk of the legal work, and several students participated in the development of Davis’ case. For more information, contact: Professor Marla Mitchell-Cichon, Director, WMU-Cooley Law School Innocence Project, Western Michigan University, (517) 290-2951

Donya Davis and Marla Mitchell-Cichon

LARRY ROYSTER, MUNDY CLASS, 1985 AND JOSEPH BAUMANN, REID CLASS, 2006

Two WMU-Cooley graduates serve as Michigan Supreme Court’s top staffers When Larry Royster (Mundy Class, 1985) was named clerk of the Michigan Supreme Court in May 2013, it didn’t mean he had achieved his career goal, mainly because he didn’t have one. “I never really had a path. I didn’t have a game plan; I’ve just been fortunate to know people who’ve opened doors for me,” Royster said Larry Royster modestly. He replaces Corbin Davis, who retired after 30 years as clerk of the State Supreme Court.

Royster earned a bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture at Michigan State University (MSU), but that career never got off the ground. “At the time I graduated, the job market in my ﬁeld was terrible; there were no good jobs. I decided to go back to grad school for two more years. But then I thought, ‘If I’m going for two years, why not go an extra year, three years, and go to law school?’ I had often thought about law as a kid.”

Royster said he wasn’t planning to leave the Court of Appeals, but when Davis retired he decided to apply. Shortly after, he was named clerk and chief of staff of the Michigan Supreme Court.

structure of the trimesters at Cooley, a lot of us worked year-round and got experience in many different areas. We hired about 15, maybe even 20 new attorneys from Cooley for the Research Division, and they have always had great success.”

Royster works with fellow Cooley graduate Joseph Baumann (Reid Class, 2006) who serves as general counsel in the Michigan Supreme Court. Royster admits it’s Joseph Baumann special working with people with a similar law school background. “Our paths cross quite a bit and when they do, it’s more than just another co-worker.” Both men worked with another Cooley graduate, Troy Scott, who served as director of human resources at the Michigan Supreme Court until May 2014 when he took a job with the Lansing School District. Similar to Royster, Baumann got his undergraduate degree from MSU before moving on to law school at Cooley. However, Baumann took two and-a-half years off between MSU and Cooley while he worked full-time with the Michigan Department of Community Health. Baumann always knew he’d eventually go to law school after sitting in on a class at Cooley with his father when he was only 6 years old. Jeffrey Baumann (Green Class, 1988), Joseph’s father, eventually became the assistant prosecutor in Cass County, so law and Cooley have been in Joseph’s blood for a long time.

At the time he decided to attend law school, Royster was in a relationship that made him want to remain in the Lansing area. That made applying to Cooley an easy decision.

Joseph explained, “My dad said to me: ‘Cooley Law School may be easy to get Royster recalled that the first door was into, but it’s hard to get out.’ He meant opened for him when one of his Cooley that to have success and to graduate, Law School professors suggested he look you have to work hard and study hard,” into a job opening at the Michigan Court of “I didn’t know a lot about law schools. noting how well Cooley prepared him Appeals. Royster signed on with the court I only applied to one and that was for a successful career. after graduating from Cooley and spent the Cooley,” Royster admitted. “I have next 27 years in various roles with the court, Baumann serves as the primary legal counsel no regrets. I believe the education among them, supervisor of the senior to justices, judges, and other staff of the at Cooley is as good, maybe even research division and research director. better than most law schools. With the Michigan Supreme Court, Court of Appeals and State Court Administrative Office. Baumann, who started at the Supreme Court in July 2013, said when he runs into Royster, there’s definitely a connection, albeit unspoken. “There are times when we’ll just have a knowing chuckle about our common experience of going to Cooley Law School.”

28 WMU-COOLEY JUDICIAL LEADERS IN MICHIGAN

In October 2013, the Michigan Supreme Court named 148 judicial leaders to serve as chief judges in courts around the state. THE HON. ALLEN C. YENIOR These chief judges are (WILSON CLASS, 1990) responsible for the internal Alcona, Arenac, Iosco, and Oscoda operations of the court, case counties management, ﬁnances and 23rd Circuit Court Alcona County Probate Court work assignments, along with Arenac County Probate Court any additional duties set by Iosco County Probate Court the Supreme Court rules Oscoda County Probate Court 81st District Court during their two-year term.

Of the 148 chief judges appointed by the Supreme Court, 46 oversee more than one trial court in their judicial circuits. This consolidation was put in place to achieve greater efﬁciency and savings in Michigan’s courts. Of the 148 chief judges appointed last October, 30 are WMU-Cooley graduates.

THE HON. WILLIAM W. CARMODY (CHANDLER CLASS, 1983) Alger, Luce, Mackinac, and Schoolcraft counties 11th Circuit Court Alger/Schoolcraft Probate District 5 Luce/Mackinac Probate District 6 92nd District Court 93rd District Court THE HON. MICHAEL L. BUCK (GRAVES CLASS, 1977) Allegan County Probate Court

THE HON. JOHN MEAD* (SWAINSON CLASS, 2003) Benzie and Manistee Counties 19th Circuit Court Benzie County Probate Court Manistee County Probate Court 85th District Court THE HON. P. WILLIAM O’GRADY (FLANNIGAN CLASS, 1999) Branch County 15th Circuit Court Branch County Probate Court 3A District Court THE HON. SUSAN L. DOBRICH (BUSH CLASS, 1980) Cass County 43rd Circuit Court Cass County Probate Court 4th District Court THE HON. CHARLES W. JOHNSON (RANSOM CLASS, 1978) Emmet County 57th Circuit Court

THE HON. MICHAEL G. MACK (POTTER CLASS, 1980) THE HON. FREDERICK R. MULHAUSER Alpena and Montmorency counties (RANSOM CLASS, 1978) “We are extremely proud of the 26th Circuit Court Charlevoix and Emmet counties Alpena County Probate Court impressive representation of Probate Court District 7 Montmorency County Probate Court WMU-Cooley Law School that 88th District Court THE HON. JAMES P. LAMBROS our graduates are providing in (SHARPE CLASS, 1998) THE HON. NORMAN R. HAYES our court system,” said Charles Chippewa County (BUTZEL CLASS, 1979) R. Toy, associate dean of career 50th Circuit Court Antrim County Probate Court Chippewa County Probate Court and professional development. THE HON. CHARLES R. GOODMAN 91st District Court (CAMP CLASS, 1976) The 28 Cooley graduates THE HON. LYNNE MARIE BUDAY Baraga, Houghton, and Keweenaw appointed by the Michigan (CHANDLER CLASS, 1983) counties Kalkaska County Supreme Court as chief judges, 12th Circuit Court 87B District Court Baraga County Probate Court along with their jurisdictions, Kalkaska County Probate Court Houghton County Probate Court

include:

Keweenaw County Probate Court 97th District Court

THE HON. THOMAS D. SLAGLE, (JOHNSON CLASS, 1989) Dickinson County Probate Court

THE HON. DAVID B. HERRINGTON* (CHANDLER CLASS, 1983) Huron County 52nd Circuit Court Huron County Probate Court 73B District Court THE HON. JANELLE A. LAWLESS, (KAVANAGH CLASS, 1981) Ingham County 30th Circuit Court THE HON. LOUISE ALDERSON (SHERWOOD CLASS, 1986) Ingham County 54A District Court THE HON. C. JOSEPH SCHWEDLER (COOLEY CLASS, 1976) Iron County 41st Circuit Court Iron County Probate Court 95B District Court THE HON. PAUL H. CHAMBERLAIN (BUSH CLASS, 1980) Isabella County 21st Circuit Court 76th District Court Isabella County Probate Court THE HON. DAVID M. MURKOWSKI (O’HARA CLASS, 1983) Kent County Probate Court THE HON. SARA J. SMOLENSKI, (GOODWIN CLASS, 1982) Kent County 63rd District Court The Hon. Peter P. Versluis (Wilson Class, 1990) Kent County 59th District Court THE HON. MICHAEL S. MACERONI (KELLY CLASS, 1978) Macomb County 41A District Court The Hon. Sebastian Lucido (Stone Class, 1996) Macomb County 41B District Court

CHIEF JUDGES

THE HON. RICHARD E. NOBLE (SMITH CLASS, 1985) Ogemaw and Roscommon counties 34th Circuit Court 82nd District Court Ogemaw County Probate Court Roscommon County Probate Court THE HON. THOMAS DIGNAN (MARTIN CLASS, 1988) Shiawassee County Probate Court THE HON. KIM DAVID GLASPIE (BUSH CLASS, 1980) Tuscola County 54th Circuit Court Tuscola County Probate Court 71B District Court THE HON. SAM A. SALAMEY (WHIPPLE CLASS, 1985) Wayne County 19th District Court *One-year period commencing January 1, 2015

SCOTT TETER, MORSE CLASS, 1987 AND KATHERINE BENNETT, MCALLISTER CLASS, 2012

Nearly a quarter of Michigan’s assistant attorneys general hail from WMU-Cooley To say WMU-Cooley Law School is well represented in the Michigan Attorney General’s ofﬁce would be an understatement. Of the 301 assistant attorneys general, 69 (23 percent) have degrees from Cooley (per the latest attorney general’s report published Dec. 31, 2012).

When you add in Chief Deputy Attorney General Carol L. Isaacs (Carpenter Class, 1993), the number of Cooley graduates is a nice, round 70. Two of those 70, Scott Teter (Morse Class, 1987) and Katherine (Montgomery) Bennett (McAllister Class, 2012), may have earned their law degrees a quarter century apart, but they share Cooley as a link. Scott Teter

Katherine Bennett

Teter said he always feels best when helping kids, specifically in legal cases involving children. That’s fitting, considering Teter knew he wanted to be a lawyer since he was a child. Partly because of his passion for helping kids, he now serves as section head for the Criminal Section of the Corporate Oversight Division of the Michigan attorney general’s Office. Teter was just 8 years old when he learned about law and helping others from the 1970’s short-lived show “Petrocelli,” starring Barry

Newman. The show was about a lawyer who gave up big money and the fast pace of a major city to practice law in a quiet city in Arizona. “If you know the law and care about people, you could make a difference,” Teter said, explaining what he learned from the show. Teter attended Kalamazoo College for his undergraduate degree in history before moving on to Cooley in Lansing. He says he chose Cooley for many reasons, the most important being the flexibility to schedule his classes around his full-time job at a family business. After graduating from Cooley and passing the bar exam, Teter took his first full-time law job at a Cass County law firm. He spent nearly two years there and was made partner. He went on to serve as the assistant prosecutor in Cass County for four years before winning election as Cass County prosecutor. Halfway through his second term, Teter said he was contacted by Mike Cox who was campaigning for attorney general. Cox had heard about Teter’s impressive results chasing down “deadbeat dads” and collecting child support. Teter had no interest in leaving his position as prosecutor until Cox asked him if what he was doing in Cass County would work statewide.

Teter said, “He said to me, ‘How’d you like to change the entire landscape? There are 625,000 kids in the entire state (not getting the child support they should).’” The pull of helping so many kids was simply too strong for Teter. When Cox took over as attorney general, he hired Teter, who is in his 12th year at the attorney general’s ofﬁce, now working under Attorney General Bill Schuette.

CHIEF DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL CAROL L. ISAACS, CARPENTER CLASS, 1993 ASSISTANT ATTORNEYS GENERAL: Cynthia A. Arcaro, Ostrander Class, 1994

Timothy J. Haynes, Green Class, 1988

Michael R. Bell, Durand Class, 1992

Kristin M. Heyse, Swift Class, 2004

Katherine J. (Montgomery) Bennett, McAllister Class, 2012

Christopher M. Jacobson, Fitzgerald Class, 2006

Teter said it’s easy to notice the large number of fellow Cooley grads. “We bump into each other from time to time. It’s not hard to tell who went there; everyone has their diplomas hanging in their ofﬁces. I’m very proud of the school. It’s not elitist and it’s not theory. It’s roll up your sleeves and make positive changes. If you know the law, you can have an impact. Law is the place to take the next big step.” For Teter, that step started with a television show and was ﬁnalized at the Thomas M. Cooley Law School.

Philip L. Bladen, Black Class, 1996

Molly M. Jason, Steer Class, 1995

Elizabeth M. Rivard, Woodbridge Class, 2010 Scott R. Rothermel, Fisher Class, 2007 Mark G. Sands, Needham Class, 2004 Spencer A. Sattler, Fitzgerald Class, 2006

Joshua O. Booth, Steere Class, 1995

Julie M. Jensen, Montgomery Class, 1992

Karl G. Borgquist, Sibley Class, 2011

Heidi L. Johnson, O. Smith Class, 2003

Clifton B. Schneider, Fisher Class, 2007

Michelle M. Brya, Toy Class, 2003

H. Steven Langschwager, Black Class, 1996

Lauryl A. Scott, Carpenter Class, 1993

Scott L. Damich, Riley Class, 2009

Andrew J. Lemke, Boston Class, 2007

James C. Shell, Martin Class, 1988

Michael R. Dean, Boston Class, 2007

Melinda A. Leonard, Weadock Class, 1999

Kristin M. Smith, Krinock Class, 1991

Hans H. Dittmar, Riley Class, 2009

John Fordell Leone, Mundy Class, 1986

Daniel E. Sonneveldt, Rutledge Class, 2000

Bruce H. Edwards, O’Hara Class, 1983

Jessica E. LePine, McGrath Class, 1992

Allan J. Soros, Wilson Class, 1990

A quarter of a century after Teter, Katherine Bennett earned her J.D. from Cooley. She also works at the attorney general’s ofﬁce, serving as an assistant attorney general for the Health, Education and Family Services Division.

Ronald H. Farnum, Wiest Class, 1979

Jonathan S. Ludwig, Paterson Class, 2002

George N. Stevenson, Mundy Class, 1986

Kathleen P. Fitzgerald, Potter Class, 1980

John P. Mack, Graves Class, 1977

Steven B. Flancher, Hooker Class, 1993

Emily A. McDonough, Coleman Class, 2009

Pamela J. (Niemeic) Stevenson, Miles Class, 1986

Phillip I. Frame, Mundy Class, 1986

Donald S. McGehee, T. Smith Class, 1985

Bennett said there were two major factors that helped her choose Cooley for her legal education. “I loved that they had an accelerated two-year program and I loved that I could start in January instead of waiting until the fall.”

Kevin L. Francart, Wilson Class, 2001

Randi M. Merchant, CJ Adams Class, 2008

Debra M. Gagliardi, O’Hara Class, 1983

Frank J. Monticello, Carr Class, 1984

Carlo P. Ginotti, Green Class, 1988

Shenique A. Moss, Fitzgerald Class, 2006

David H. Goodkin, Starr Class, 2005

Margaret A. Nelson, Butzel Class, 1979

Bennett earned her bachelor’s degrees in political science and Spanish from Hillsdale College in just three years, so getting her J.D. in Cooley’s accelerated two-year program instead of three years ﬁt in with her education plan.

A. Peter Govorchin, Clark Class, 1979

Amy M. Patterson, O. Smith Class, 2003

Justin A. Gray, Woodward Class, 2010

Douglas G. Powe, McAlvay Class, 1984

Brian G. Green, Wilson Class, 2001

Susan Przekop-Shaw, Wiest Class, 1979

Christina M. Grossi, Needham Class, 2004

C. Adam Purnell, Black Class, 1996

She’s thankful for the opportunity her Cooley education has given her in the attorney general’s ofﬁce. “I love it here; it’s a great place to work. It’s awesome.” Clearly many other Cooley graduates feel the same. Here is a list of Cooley graduates who serve in Michigan’s attorney general’s ofﬁce:

Bethany L. Scheib, Kuhn Class, 1995

Debbie K. Taylor, Flannigan Class, 1999 Scott L. Teter, Morse Class, 1987 Kevin M. Thom, McAlvay Class, 1984 Bret A. Totoraitis, T. Kavanagh Class, 2008 Stacy R. Wallace, Starr Class, 2005 Thomas D. Warren, Kelly Class, 1978 Mitchell J. Wood, Douglass Class, 1989

Dennis J. Raterink, Person Class, 1994 Michael J. Reilly, Copeland Class, 1989 Richmond M. Riggs, Long Class, 1981

RICK HETHERINGTON, ELLSWORTH CLASS, 2012

A new line of duty for Rick Hetherington: WMU-Cooley graduate transitions from police ofﬁcer to attorney

“Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” RALPH WALDO EMERSON

One could argue that Richard “Rick” Hetherington (Ellsworth Class, 2012) is a strong proponent of Ralph Waldo Emerson’s philosophy. For more than a decade, Hetherington worked the streets of Flint, Michigan, as a detective combatting the crimes of the city’s gang members and drug trafﬁckers. Today, the 48-year-old’s ofﬁce is a far cry from the city’s dark corners and drug dens. His walnut, book-lined credenza faces sunlit windows with a view of Flint’s business district, and his undercover “uniform” of sweatshirts, jeans, and work boots are now replaced with tailored suits and leather loafers.

“Law school was tough, but I have no regrets. I’m not afraid to go into a courtroom and ﬂex my legal muscle because that’s what Cooley has prepared me to do.” RICK HETHERINGTON

In 2011, following 23 years serving Flint’s police department in positions that ranged from patrol officer to sergeant, Hetherington traded his badge for an equally satisfying job as a lawyer with Christenson & Fiederlein, P.C. “Helping individuals maximize their rights under the law is a wonderful service,” he said. “They come to you often in a very difficult place and time of life. Understanding the law and helping navigate a just solution is extremely gratifying for all involved.” His smooth career transition was aided by strong community familiarity and credibility. “That’s been a huge benefit to my legal work,” Hetherington said. In fact, many of his new legal peers still refer to Hetherington as “Sarge.”

A HEART FOR FLINT Born and raised in Flint, Hetherington has always enjoyed the pull of this mid-sized town. He joined the city’s police force in 1989 as a newly minted criminal justice graduate of the University of MichiganFlint. His work as a detective turned into a leadership post when Hetherington was promoted to sergeant in 1997. With an active interest in union matters, Hetherington rose to president of the Flint Police Sergeants Association in 2000, a role that reinforced his strong negotiation skills. This position helped him realize he could entertain the idea of attending law school, something that had always interested him. His family often reminded him of his debate skills, Hetherington said jokingly. “I guess the interest to attend law school became more of a natural leap.” Around this time, Hetherington had become acquainted with Bernhardt “Chris”

D. Christenson, III (Weadock Class, 1999), after they repeatedly ran into each other at various legal events. When Christenson learned of Hetherington’s interest in becoming an attorney, he encouraged him to apply to Cooley.

ON THE JOB

While Hetherington has a natural specialty in criminal law, he has also developed strengths in business, real estate, estate planning and trust law. Additionally, he is a certified firearms and defense tactics instructor, which allows Hetherington to specialize in While juggling full-time police work, open-carry and concealed weapons laws, Hetherington began taking classes part-time at gun board appeals and more. Cooley. “It was tough; after working an eighthour day, I had to travel to campus and sit “It’s a different objective than law through a three-hour law class,” he said, “and enforcement,” he said. “We have then there was constant homework, deadlines, different perspectives, but the fields and just being prepared for classes.” are natural strengths together. People During his five years as a Cooley student, Hetherington never gave up on the discipline needed to earn his law degree. “The sacrifice was definitely worth it, even when others questioned my sanity,” he said with a smile. When it was time to pursue an externship, Hetherington reached out to Christenson, who didn’t hesitate to offer him a law clerk position at his firm.

“He could trust Cooley’s rigorous training,” said Hetherington of Christenson. “They threw me right into it; it was a great way for the ﬁrm to see what I could do.” The ﬁrm hired Hetherington immediately after he passed the bar exam.

FROM RIGOROUS TO READY Despite the struggles of his law school studies, Hetherington said he was fully conﬁdent of its preparation, “Law school was tough, but I have no regrets. I’m not afraid to go into a courtroom and ﬂex my legal muscle because that’s what Cooley has prepared me to do. The faculty go out of their way to make students practice-ready. Cooley was a great place to be; I enjoyed it even though it was hard work.”

often complain about the law, but for all of its faults, it’s to be embraced.” As for his former law enforcement colleagues, Hetherington remains a top fan. He has fond memories of his police force family, and the strong bonds he forged while serving with them. “I have so much respect for them,” Hetherington said.

MUSIC AND MOTORCYCLES When he is not working or spending time with his blended family of eight children, who range in age from 15 to 26, Hetherington ﬁnds time for two other passions: music and motorcycles. Hetherington is a drummer with StoneCold, a popular country-rock band, which performs throughout Michigan. He and his wife Kim are avid Harley riders, which provide the couple with opportunities to travel. “Everywhere I go, I run into other Cooley grads and I’m always so proud to be a Cooley alumnus.” As for the future, Hetherington remains optimistic. “It’s been going really well; hopefully, I’ll continue building a solid legal career here in Genesee County; it’s a good place to work.” And for Hetherington, it is a great place to blaze a trail.

FELECIA PRYOR, WOODBRIDGE CLASS, 2010

Felecia Pryor: “I believe that having the license opens the doors and the windows to opportunity.” In July 2014, Felecia Pryor (Woodbridge Class, 2010) earned a promotion to Ford Motor Company’s Research and Engineering Center. It’s not so much the job itself – human resources director, that’s so different, but where it is – Nanjing, China. Moving 12 time zones away is never easy, but for someone like Pryor, doing what’s easy isn’t part of her modus operandi. When Pryor started at WMU-Cooley, she already had a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, a master’s degree in public administration and a full-time job with Ford. “I’ve always wanted to be a lawyer,” she remembered. “Even as a child, when asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, I would respond by saying that ‘I wanted to be a lawyer.’” Pryor chose to pursue her law degree at Cooley, taking most of her classes at the Lansing campus. The people there are amazing, from the professors to the deans, Pryor said. “I felt they really had the best interests of the students at the forefront. The ﬂexibility is really what attracted me to Cooley. It afforded me the opportunity to pursue my goal of going to law school while continuing to maintain my professional career.”

If working full-time while attending law school wasn’t busy enough, Pryor also had a baby. Her son Dwight is now 7. “The balance was hard,” she admitted, “but I had really awesome family support. My family members live out of state; however, during the summers our little boy was able to visit them, and that allowed me time to study or take some of the more difﬁcult classes that would require more time.”

Pryor now leads and supports a team of human resources professionals in matters ranging from performance management, compensation and beneﬁts to safety and security. It’s a complex job that Pryor said she is able to handle, thanks in part to her time at Cooley. “Law school really helped me to optimize my critical thinking and problem-solving skills – skills I practice every day in my career.”

Pryor earned her Juris Doctor from Cooley in September 2010. Despite her busy career with Ford, she passed the Michigan Bar Exam. “I wanted to be licensed,” Pryor said. “Having the law degree can open the door to opportunity, but having the license opens the doors and the windows to opportunity.”

So far, outside of missing American food, Pryor and her family love the move to China. “We all recognize that it isn’t North America; we knew that going in. So things will be different, and this change will allow us all to grow more deeply as people, personally and as human beings in this global world. We are settling in nicely.”

When Pryor’s latest opportunity included the need to move to China, she and her family quickly agreed she should take it. The decision to move to China was not as tough as one would think, Pryor explained. “My family and I discussed this possibility well before it was presented, and we were aligned that if the opportunity to move globally was given - as a family - it was the right time and place in life to do it.’’

Pryor committed to a minimum of three years in China. But when she returns to the United States, don’t expect her to take it easy. She explained, “Remember, my goal was to be a lawyer, not just a person with a law degree.”

PATRICIA T. MORRIS, TURNER CLASS, 1991

Patricia Morris: Invested as Magistrate Judge of the United States District Court, Eastern District of Michigan

Patricia T. Morris (Turner Class, 1991) has come a long way from her days as a classical studies student at the University of Michigan. This past spring, the WMUCooley Law School graduate was named Magistrate Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Northern Division. The Morris family has a long history of practicing law in Michigan. Patricia’s father, John C. Morris, became a district court judge in 1969. Before that, he spent two years in the Michigan state legislature. Her mother, Donna T. Morris, served as Midland County probate judge from 1979-2000. Decades earlier, Patricia’s grandfather, Chester Morris, ran a private practice in Midland starting in 1919; he also served as a prosecutor and city attorney. Most would

naturally believe Patricia always wanted to be a lawyer, but it was quite the opposite.

clerk for U.S. Magistrate Judge Charles E. Binder in Bay City.

Afraid of the lofty expectations, Morris admits she was a bit rebellious about going the law route. Eventually, she gave law school a trial run, agreeing to go for just one term. Morris quickly learned she enjoyed it. Not only did she graduate from Cooley in two years, she graduated cum laude.

It was when Binder announced his retirement in April 2014 that Morris had her next career opportunity. Chief Judge Gerald E. Rosen of the Eastern District of Michigan chose Morris as Binder’s replacement.

Morris served in various positions after graduating from Cooley, starting as a Clerk for Midland County’s 42nd Circuit Court Judge Paul J. Clulo and U.S. District Court Judge Robert Cleland. She also worked for the Michigan Court of Appeals, was a solo practitioner in Midland, taught law classes at Central Michigan University and WMUCooley, and most recently worked as a career

“I’m so grateful for the appointment and that my appointment has given others who work hard the hope that they too might be rewarded for their efforts, said Morris. “I thoroughly enjoy the written work and being on the bench. The seemingly endless array of legal issues presented keeps the work very interesting.” Morris is married to Judge Tom Evans of the Clare and Gladwin County Circuit Court.

JUDY MARTIN, GOODWIN CLASS, 1982

Judy Martin and

Solar Circle

Solar oven

The graduates of Western Michigan University Cooley Law School are engaged internationally, actively working on public service projects in places as far-ďŹ&#x201A;ung as East Africa. 28

Judy Martin

Solar Circle distributes solar ovens and lamps to villagers in exchange for their help in building houses and pit latrines for the most vulnerable families in their villages.

The graduates of Western Michigan University Cooley Law School are engaged internationally, actively working on public service projects in places as far-ﬂung as East Africa. A prime example is the work done by Judy Martin (Goodwin Class, 1982) and Solar Circle, the Michigan-based non-proﬁt organization Martin founded over a decade ago. Solar Circle manages several public service projects in Tanzania to expand access to solar technology and assist in school construction. Martin and Solar Circle initially focused efforts on Masasi, a small town in southern Tanzania not far from the border with Mozambique. Rural villages in the district surrounding Masasi do not have access to electricity or running water. Most village residents are subsistence farmers who earn next to nothing in the cash economy. Why Masasi? As Martin tells it, “A few friends who’d worked in Tanzania in their youth met up in Masasi for a reunion. The need there knocks you over, and you realize that it doesn’t take millions of dollars to make an impact. We looked around, talked to people, and listened to what they wanted. Solar was on the top of their list. So Solar Circle was born.” Solar Circle partners with a local women’s organization in Masasi to distribute solar ovens and lamps to rural villagers in the surrounding district. The solar ovens are built by local craftsman according to a design perfected over the

years by Solar Circle and local partners. The project operates on a barter system: Solar Circle distributes the solar ovens and lamps to villagers in exchange for their help in building houses and pit latrines for the most vulnerable families in their villages. The villages get the beneﬁt of the construction projects, and the villagers have access to light during the night time. Completed house

House construction

Martin said, “We’re trying to impact quality of life and health. Solar cooking eliminates so much pollution. Solar lighting in the villages off the grid extends the day by many hours, because Tanzania lies near the equator where night falls early. And building schools — what could help more?” A little money goes a long way: each solar oven costs the project about $100, solar lamps about $20. Solar Circle is also an example of energetic collaboration between WMU-Cooley graduates and faculty. For the past decade, the Solar Circle board has also included Vic Weipert (McAlvay Class, 1984) and recent WMU-Cooley Professor Gina Torielli.

Solar lamp

In 2013, Martin invited WMU-Cooley faculty member David Finnegan to join the organization’s board. Professor Finnegan has long-standing ties with East Africa: he has studied at both the University of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania and the University of Nairobi in Kenya, and has spent considerable time in East Africa conducting research and consulting on law reform and legal institutions in the region.

JUDY MARTIN AND SOLAR CIRCLE

WMU-Cooley Professor David Finnegan (back row) with village leaders

“The study of law opens your horizons. It makes you ponder how things work, how they get done.” JUDY MARTIN

This past April, Finnegan traveled to Tanzania to meet with Solar Circle’s local partners, to inspect project operations, and assess their impact. During his visit to Masasi, he toured rural villages and talked to project beneﬁciaries. He came away quite impressed with the work that is being done.

you ponder how things work, how they get done. So once we decided to work through Solar Circle, it was easy to create a non-proﬁt and sort through the unique challenges of working in a foreign country. Having four attorneys on our board — two graduates and two WMU-Cooley faculty — lent credibility to our efforts.”

“Judy and Solar Circle have built an operation that is very well-organized on the ground,” Finnegan said of his visit. “Our local partners do a lot of outreach in the villages. I saw the fruits of these efforts in the houses being built, in the solar technologies bringing real beneﬁts to the everyday lives of people in need.”

More information about Solar Circle, and the Masasi solar project, can be found at solar-circle.org.

Martin said that the legal training she received at WMU-Cooley profoundly affected how she approaches the work of Solar Circle. “The study of law opens your horizons,” she noted. “It makes

SCOT MCCRACKEN, DURAND CLASS, 1992

Q&A

with entrepreneur and music enthusiast SCOT MCCRACKEN (Durand Class, 1992)

Scot McCracken

Entrepreneur, music mogul and WMU-Cooley Law School graduate Scot McCracken is a music industry veteran who has worked with Rihanna, The Black Eyed Peas, and others. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a businessman who created a coffee company, is now CEO of an internet startup, and was recently featured in Forbes. His current venture, Snapverse, is a popular mobile application that allows users to express themselves through videos and licensed Top 40 songs. WMU-Cooley sat down with McCracken to discuss his internet startup and to look back on how his law degree has helped him in his career. WMU-COOLEY: Can you share a bit about your upbringing â&#x20AC;&#x201C; where did you grow up, go to college, what did you study? SCOT: I grew up in Hackensack, New Jersey, which is about 15 minutes from Manhattan. My parents divorced when I was fairly young. My father lived

SCOT MCCRACKEN Q & A

“Two things attracted me to Cooley. One, it was affordable for me, which was a big deal... Two, it felt accessible to me. I looked at a number of other schools, and there was an accessibility about Cooley that felt manageable to me.” SCOT MCCRACKEN

in Manhattan and my mother lived in Hackensack, so I split time between the two. I earned my undergraduate degree at the University of Massachusetts where I studied something called Legal Studies. I had a fascination with that subject matter as a discipline; I was able to take common law classes and criminal law classes, which really sharpened my interest in going to law school. WMU-COOLEY: After college, you worked for about two years in the music industry before attending law school. Your father, renowned studio guitarist Hugh McCracken, played with The Beatles, Aretha Franklin, Billy Joel, Paul Simon and Steely Dan – to name a few. Did his career inﬂuence your decision to work in the business? SCOT: My dad was a true artist; he did what he did because it was all he wanted to do. Fortunately for him, he became one of the most recorded guitarists ever. Growing up, I was immersed in music, so my passion for music began at a very young age and, as I was developing and growing up, and thinking about what I wanted to do with my life, there was really no other path for me than music. I had the beneﬁt of being able to watch how the business worked and found music to be pretty much the career I wanted to end up in.

WMU-COOLEY: Why did you decide to go to law school? SCOT: I looked around at some of the best managers in the music business and they all had law degrees, so when I thought about going to law school, I never really intended to practice law. I thought I might have to practice law if I wasn’t successful in music, which is a very risky business to go into, and I figured practicing law would be a good back-up plan. But to be clear, practicing law was not my first goal and it wasn’t why I went to law school. WMU-COOLEY: Being from the East Coast, what made you choose Cooley, a Michigan law school? SCOT: Two things attracted me to Cooley. One, it was affordable for me, which was a big deal. I didn’t financially prepare for law school and it wasn’t something that I had been saving up for. My parents were not able to assist me financially. Two, it felt accessible to me. I looked at a number of other schools, and there was an accessibility about Cooley that felt manageable to me.

SCOT MCCRACKEN Q & A

WMU-COOLEY: When you graduated from Cooley, what were your plans? Did you get right back into the music business? SCOT: I graduated and I actually stuck around for a year at Cooley. I was offered a teaching position and I taught a class called Trial Workshop, which was designed to help students practice and understand the mechanics of the law of evidence. I then took the Michigan bar, which I passed, and prepped for the New Jersey bar, which I passed as well. After that year was up, I came back to New York. I looked around for opportunities that combined business and music and, being somewhat entrepreneurial, I wasn’t interested in going to work for a record company. So I worked for a recording studio called The Power Station, which allowed me to interact with up-and-coming artists. WMU-COOLEY: So now you are back in the industry – where did you go from there? SCOT: During my time at The Power Station, I met David Sonenberg. He had an entertainment industry management business called DAS Communications and I went to work for him. One of the first projects that I worked on was managing The Fugee’s and producing a film called “When We Were Kings” that eventually won an Oscar for Best Feature Documentary. The experience was amazing — I had a chance to go to the Oscars and develop a friendship with the film’s inspiration, Muhammad Ali. Eventually, I became president of that company and managed a number of well-known artists. WMU-COOLEY: Is artist management where your law degree came in to play? SCOT: Yes – as a manager you’re negotiating and procuring all sorts of contractual agreements that help the artist’s career, such as recording contracts, publishing contracts, touring contracts, merchandising contracts … the list goes on. I did not act as

an artist’s lawyer, but because of my understanding of contracts and my ability to speak in that world, I was able to tell lawyers what my options were instead of lawyers telling me. It changed the dynamic of the relationship and it made the process of working with other legal teams much more efficient. WMU-COOLEY: It was around the end of your career at DAS that you started your businesses, correct? SCOT: Yes, after being president at DAS for nine or 10 years, I decided I wanted to start my own company and I opened Lakeview Entertainment around 2001. I started it because I saw an opportunity for outside companies to do a lot of the new artist development work that the record companies had previously handled. They were giving up on artist development because of the loss in revenue brought on by online file sharing. But, unfortunately, Lakeview didn’t survive. It had a budget, it was an idea, it was a financed company, but we didn’t survive past our funding. When the funding ran out on Lakeview, I wanted to do something completely different. I had been in music since the early ‘90s, and I had been more successful than I could have ever imagined— very lucky. I always loved coffee and I was always fascinated by how this crop, which is the second most traded commodity in the world behind oil, was developing a more refined profile. So I watched and learned from a couple of very small hand-crafted coffee roasters in the Seattle area, and without any customers, I started La Bean Coffee in 2008. The business became successful, but in 2013 I decided to sell La Bean. At that point, I had already started my current venture, Snapverse, so it made sense.

WMU-COOLEY: What was your inspiration for creating Snapverse? SCOT: I saw how people were creating content, and sites were starting to evolve and develop to help those people find an audience. However, no one had a strategy for allowing those users to put music with their content in a way that was legal ... because when you purchase a piece of music from iTunes, the rights that you acquire do not allow you to synchronize that music with video and broadcast it. You need a synchronization license, and up until that point, those licenses were usually only secured for movies and commercials and television and they were negotiated by lawyers. So I created Snapverse to allow individual users the ability to legally obtain the rights to combine their content with their favorite music. As a general description, Snapverse is a mobile app that combines 20 seconds of user-generated videos with licensed hit songs that are on the radio. We’re over 300,000 downloads right now, our user experience is positive and we continue to grow. WMU-COOLEY: Where do you see Snapverse five years from now? SCOT: Well, we know that Snapverse’s demographic is pretty diverse. We see 14-year-olds and 40-year-olds using the app. We see Caucasians, African Americans, Hispanics, Asians — almost every cultural and ethnic demographic is using the app. So the number and variety of concepts we see being created and pushed out through Snapverse is dramatic. Just yesterday I pulled up our feed and I saw someone getting married, some people skateboarding, someone at the beach and girls singing “selfieokies” to “All About the Bass.” As we grow with this demographic, we’re looking at adding more music and adding filters and different things that help create a mood or tone. We want to be as innovative as possible because our users represent a huge cross-section of people and we just want to continue to give them the tools they need to be as creative as they want to be.

The Hon. William B. Murphy, chief judge with the Michigan Court of Appeals, delivers the commencement speech at WMU-Cooley’s ﬁrst commencement ceremony.

First Commencement Ceremony held for Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School On Sept. 21, 2014, Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School held its inaugural graduation following the afﬁliation agreement between Cooley and Western Michigan University.

Before being presented with the ﬁrst diplomas to bear the WMU-Cooley name, members of the graduating class listened as The Hon. William B. Murphy, chief judge of the Michigan Court of Appeals, presented the keynote address. Murphy spoke about his start as a lawyer, the challenges he faced, and passed along words of wisdom garnered from his nearly 45 years of practice. Murphy boldly told the graduates, “You will make mistakes. Learn from those mistakes and recover from them. Don’t always choose the well-worn comfortable path; instead dare to stretch yourself and your abilities, to accept hard tasks and try things that are new and different. Don’t fear failure. Failure is a teacher. Most people take more lessons from failure than from success, so step up to the tough moments and daunting challenges, don’t shrink from them.” He continued on to challenge the graduates to approach every situation at work and in life with civility by saying, “As you go forward with your

legal careers, I implore you to practice law with civility. Civility is not a sign of weakness, but rather, is a sign of confidence and strength. Incivility is an expression of fear, often used as a means of distraction, and it is incivility itself that constitutes weakness. Practicing civility will not stifle advocacy, passion or debate, and it should be the norm by which all discourse takes place.” This first class of WMU-Cooley graduates bears the name of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Gabriel Duvall. Duvall was one of the Cooley Supreme Court Justices, nominated to the bench by President James Madison, and serving on the court from 1811 to 1835.

Nikki McGowan receives her diploma from President LeDuc

Lawrence Nolan, chairman of the WMU-Cooley Law School’s board, signs the ﬁrst WMU-Cooley Law School Diploma.

PETER KEMPEL, WMU-COOLEY FACULTY

Professor Peter Kempel: March 5, 1943 August 11, 2014 WMU-Cooley Law School lost a valued colleague earlier this year with the passing of Professor Peter Michael Kempel. A member of the WMUCooley family since the school’s beginning, Kempel passed away at his DeWitt, Michigan, home on Aug. 11, 2014. In the early 1970s, as a freshly minted law graduate, Kempel had no intention of joining the faculty at the brand new Cooley Law School. His immediate life plans focused on ﬁnishing a two-year stint at the Michigan Court of Appeals, then returning to his job at Michigan Consolidated Gas Company.

“His knowledge of ethics was superb and he always helped me ﬁgure out the practical side of application in some of our difﬁcult reallife cases.” PROFESSOR KIMBERLY O’LEARY

But Michigan Supreme Court Justice John W. Fitzgerald and fellow Supreme Court Justice and Cooley Law School founder Thomas E. Brennan had other plans.

Fitzgerald asked Kempel to serve as a consultant to get the library, at what is now known as Western Michigan University Cooley Law School, up and running. Kempel came with much experience – he earned his master’s degree in library science at the University of Michigan in 1967 and then worked his way through law school at the University of Detroit with progressively more responsible positions at the UD law library. Kempel agreed to what turned out to be a very successful consultancy, but before he knew it, instead of returning to his former career, he found himself as a full-time member of the law school. Kempel served as Director of Research Services and Professor of Law at Cooley, 1973-1987, then as Assistant Dean and Interim Dean, 1987-1988.

“Peter was truly ‘a gentleman and a scholar.’ ... He was truly interested in what everyone had to offer. He was a great guy.” PROFESSOR GERALD MACDONALD

Under Kempel’s leadership, the library grew from its infancy into a collection of over 200,000 volumes. Kempel initiated a number of technological enhancements, including extensive use of microfilm, microfiche, and computers. Upon becoming the law school’s second assistant dean in 1987, Kempel focused on faculty scholarship, in-class teaching techniques, curriculum review, clinical expansion, bar exam results, honors and scholarships, and graduation, When his decanal service was done, Kempel was granted his wish to step into the classroom full-time. Over the years, he taught Professional Responsibility, Commercial Law, Contracts, Evidence, Legislative Process, Legislative Drafting, Statutory Construction, Jurisprudence, Public Utility Law, and Sales and Negotiable Instruments. The classroom was a perfect fit for Kempel, known far and wide as a consummate storyteller who relished the opportunities to recall the early days – including his story about meeting Judge Brennan for the first time while working on Brennan’s first winning political campaign. Outside the law school, Kempel served as the elected supervisor of Watertown Township in Clinton County, Michigan, worked an active farm, and competed in equestrian events. Kempel was a member of the Cooley Legal Authors Society and the school’s donor recognition organization, the Thomas M. Cooley Society. He previously served as a member of the Michigan Bar Law Practice Management Section and was president of Legal Aid of Central Michigan.

Kempel is remembered fondly by his colleagues, all of whom made note of his kindness, humor, knowledge, and thoughtfulness. “What a tremendous loss of such a kind man,” said WMU-Cooley Professor Kimberly O’Leary. “When I first came to Cooley, Peter’s office was on the sixth floor and he was very generous with his time, frequently consulting with me on Sixty Plus cases. His knowledge of ethics was superb, and he always helped me figure out the practical side of application in some of our difficult real-life cases.” Professor Gerald MacDonald recalled that, “Peter was truly ‘a gentleman and a scholar.’ Peter and I had an ongoing dialogue about the intersection of Civil Procedure and Ethics. His insights were remarkable. My favorite thing about him was whenever we were in a discussion, he’d put his index finger to his chin, nodding slightly, and say ‘interesting.’ And he meant it. He was truly interested in what everyone had to offer. He was a great guy.” Professor Marla Mitchell-Cichon had fond memories as well. “When I taught Professional Responsibily, I sat in on Peter’s Conflict of Interest class where he literally had a stuffed monkey on his back. I love using fun props to teach, but that day, Peter stole the show. I really enjoyed Peter’s company. He was always interested in the clinics and often asked about my work. Peter generously shared his time and knowledge with me, and I am forever grateful.”

“I sat in on Peter’s Conﬂict of Interest class where he literally had a stuffed monkey on his back. I love using fun props to teach, but that day, Peter stole the show. Peter generously shared his time and knowledge with me, and I am forever grateful.” PROFESSOR MARLA-MITCHELL-CICHON

Class Notes 1976

1980

Long Class

Cooley Class

Bushnell Class

Heos, James, a partner with Lansing-based law ﬁrm Church Wyble PC, has been selected by “Best Lawyers,” an Aiken, S.C.-based Woodward/White Inc. peer review publication, for his work in personal injury and medical malpractice for 2014.

Cagle, Mary Terpstra, was appointed to a four-year term as Inspector General of Miami-Dade County, Florida, and the Miami-Dade County School District.

MacCallum, Neil, an attorney with Collins Einhorn Farrell PC, in Southﬁeld, Michigan, was named to The Best Lawyers in America 2015 in the area of product liability litigation-defendants.

Nolan, Lawrence, president of Nolan, Thomsen & Villas PC in Eaton Rapids, Michigan, was elected vice president of the State Bar of Michigan. 1978

Kelly Class Reynolds, Frank H., was inducted as a Fellow into the American College of Trial Lawyers. He is an attorney in the General Litigation Group of Foster Swift Collins & Smith, P.C. Reynolds was also selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2015 in the ﬁelds of Bet-the-Company Litigation, Criminal Defense: Non-White-Collar, Criminal Defense: White-Collar, and Family Law. 1979

Wiest Class Hertzberg, Robert S., was named as a 2014 Michigan Super Lawyer by Michigan Super Lawyers magazine. Hertzberg is an attorney with Pepper Hamilton LLP in Detroit, Michigan.

Otis, David K., a partner with Plunkett Cooney in East Lansing, Michigan, was named to The Best Lawyers in America 2015. He was recognized as a Michigan Best Lawyer in Municipal Law and Litigation. 1981

Dethmers Class Eggan, Eric J., has been elected as a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers. He is a partner in the Litigation Department of Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLP. He previously served as assistant in charge of the Michigan Attorney General’s Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement Division. He has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America since 2006 and in Michigan Super Lawyers since 2007. Hemker, Joseph B., received the Western Michigan University Haworth College of Business Finance and Commercial Law Outstanding Alumni Award. He is an attorney with the Chicago, Illinois, ofﬁce Howard & Howard Attorneys, practicing in the areas of mergers and acquisitions and securities law, with an emphasis on ﬁnancial institutions.

Menzies, Robert G., a partner with the Roetzel ﬁrm in Akron, Ohio, was selected for The Best Lawyers in America 2015 in the areas of Commercial, Construction, Municipal and Real Estate Litigation. 1982

Wing Class Paupore, Jeff, Deputy Yavapai County (Arizona) Attorney, was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award July 31, 2014 at the annual state prosecutors’ conference. He previously served as the Dickinson County (Michigan) Prosecuting Attorney, 1997-2001.

Goodwin Class Ayres, Timothy M., was named a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer for 2014 in the ﬁeld of Elder Law. He previously received that designation in 2005 and again in 2013. His law practice in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, focuses on estate planning, estate administration, elder law, Medicaid/nursing home law, real estate law, adoptions, and small business law. Phone: (814) 262-2123.

Manderﬁeld, Paula J., an attorney with Fraser Trebilcock and a retired Ingham County (Michigan) Circuit Court judge, was elected to the Blue Care Network of Michigan Board of Directors. 1983

Chandler Class Lindsay, Brian J., a partner in the Meadville law ﬁrm of Lindsay & Hathaway, began serving a threeyear term on the Pennsylvania Bar Association Board of Governors on May 16, 2014. 1985

Morell Class Dietz, Diane, was promoted to Deputy Commissioner, Public Affairs, of the Big Ten Conference. Previously she served as Chief Communications Ofﬁcer since 2010. Before joining the conference ofﬁce, Dietz was a senior executive at Comcast Corporation. 1986

Mundy Class Kline, Robert, of Quarles & Brady LLP, was named by Florida Super Lawyers magazine as being among the top 5 percent of attorneys in Florida for 2014 in the ﬁeld of Estate & Probate. 1986

Miles Class Frawley, Hon. Laura, was honored as the Swan Valley High School 2014 Distinguished Alumni. She is the Alcona County Michigan, Probate Court Judge, and serves by assignment as 81st District Court Judge, Presiding Family Court Judge, and Drug Court Judge.

Sherwood Class

Grant Class

LoTempio, Vincent G., a partner in the law ﬁrm of Kloss, Stenger & LoTempio, received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from WMU-Cooley Law School.

Winokur, Kim D., has moved her law practice to 221 W. Washington St., Marquette, Michigan. She focuses on disability and special needs planning, elder law, Medicaid planning, and probate and estate planning.

1987

Champlin Class Davis, Mark A., president and CEO of Howard & Howard Attorneys, PLLC, was named as a 2014 Michigan Super Lawyer in the area of Real Estate. Kolar, Randy, has joined the financial services firm of Rehmann in the firm’s Grand Rapids, Michigan, office. He specializes in the areas of estate and gift planning and tax and business consulting to closely held businesses.

Morse Class Rombach, Thomas C., was elected as the 80th president of the State Bar of Michigan. He represents criminal and civil litigants at the law ofﬁces of Thomas C. Rombach in New Baltimore, Michigan.

1988

Pasteur, Michelyn E., of Bernick, Radner & Ouellette, P.C., in Lansing, Michigan, was appointed as one of 30 honorees for Michigan Lawyers Weekly’s Women in the Law.

Pratt Class Irby, Jeannette, was conﬁrmed by the Virginia General Assembly, to ﬁll a judicial vacancy on the 20th Circuit Court, for a term beginning Dec. 1, 2014. She previously served as the town attorney for Leesburg, Virginia, since January 2008. 1989

Copeland Class Arcaro, Tim, was formally recognized by the U.S. Department of State for his work on the Hague Convention Attorney Network in which he represented parents attempting to recover children from south Florida who were, or might be in the future, targets of international parental abduction. He is a professor and associate dean at the Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad Law Center in Florida.

Lawrence Class Streed, Danielle, has changed her ﬁrm name to Danielle Streed & Associates. She continues her focus on estate planning practice in the area of wills, trusts, charitable giving, probate administration, and Medicaid pre-planning, at her Kalamazoo, Michigan, ofﬁce. Phone: (269) 276-0055. Walsh, Rebecca, was named president of the Huron Valley (Michigan) School Board of Education.

Morris, Patricia T., was appointed as a magistrate judge for the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.

Moore Class Chernich, Scott A., an attorney with Foster Swift Collins & Smith, P.C., was selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2015 in the fields of Banking and Finance Law, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law. He was also selected as Lawyer of the Year for Lansing, Michigan, in the field of Banking and Finance Law. Rusu, Robert N., of the law firm Lane & Rusu in Canfield, Ohio, was appointed to fill a vacancy on the Mahoning County Probate Court in July 2014 for a term ending with the November 2014 election. 1994

Ostrander Class

1992

Anderson, Robert S., joined Kerr Russell in the ﬁrm’s Immigration Law Practice Group.

Montgomery Class

Williams Class

Joslin, Richard A., a partner with Collins Einhorn Farell PC, was selected to the Board of Advisors for Crittenden Research, Inc. He focuses much of his practice on the defense of healthcare, legal and insurance professionals.

Ratner, Ryan, founded his solo practice, Ryan S. Ratner, PA, 4400 N. Federal Hwy., Ste. 210, Boca Raton, Florida 33431. He focuses his practice on estate planning, wills, trusts, estate administration, real estate, and wealth preservation/asset protection. Phone: (561) 245-2285; e-mail ryan@ryanratner.com.

1991

J. Turner Class

1993

McCurrie, Stephen J., serves as the president of the Hudson County Bar Association in New Jersey for the 2014 term. He is also a member of the New Jersey Supreme Court’s District VI Ethics Committee, having recently served as its chair in 2012-2013. Mr. McCurrie is in private practice with the law ﬁrm of McCurrie McCurrie & McCurrie, LLC, in Kearny, New Jersey. He and his wife, Margaret J. McCurrie, have a son, Patrick J. McCurrie, born on December 19, 2012.

1995

Bird Class Gallagher, Shelly, received her LL.M. in Elder Law from Stetson University in 2012. She operates a solo practice in Sarasota, Florida, focusing primarily in Elder Law.

Class Notes Kuhn Class

2000

Rutledge Class

2003

Wiggins, Memminger E., is co-founder of the intellectual property law ﬁrm of Wiggins & Vande Garde, PLLC, 13850 Ballantyne Corporate Place, Ste. 500, Charlotte, North Carolina 28271. Phone: (704) 887-5288.

Jay Class

Babbitt, Sally D., joined the law ﬁrm of Lasky Fifarek, PC, in Lansing, Michigan, as an Of Counsel attorney. She has 14 years of experience in wills and trusts and is a court-approved mediator with a special focus on contested probate matters.

Swainson Class

1996

Stone Class Walsh, James E. Jr., was elected Monroe County Family Court Judge in New York. He is serving a 10-year term that began in January 2014.

Moody Jr. Class Conklin, Kathleen (Katy), was named executive director of Shelter, Inc., in Alpena, Michigan. 1997

Fellows Class Young, Gary, of Robert K. Young & Associates, P.C., of Merrick, New York, settled a motor vehicle accident case for $900,000 after the completion of the liability portion of the trial. He also settled another motor vehicle accident case for $450,000 after jury selection and before opening statements, and resolved another motor vehicle accident case for $350,000 at mediation. 1999

Flannigan Class Menchaca, Ricardo J., became a Washington County, Oregon, Circuit Court Judge in 2013.

Weadock Class Skrocki, Marilyn, received the Great Lakes Chapter of the American College of Healthcare Executives 2014 Regent Distinguished Faculty Member Award. She is a member of the Saginaw Valley State University faculty. Watkins, Cecil, was re-elected Rowan County Attorney in Morehead, Kentucky. E-mail: cwatkins@prosecutors.ky.gov.

McDonald, Steven R., of The Law Ofﬁce of Steven R. McDonald, LLC, in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, was elected to the board of directors of the Wisconsin State Bar’s Bankruptcy, Insolvency and Creditors’ Rights Section. Phone: (414) 226-2200; e-mail: smcdonald@mcdonaldlawllc.com. Richards, Ronald, was appointed to the State Bar of Michigan Publication and Website Advisory Committee, and to the State Bar of Michigan Character & Fitness Committee for District E. An attorney with Foster Swift Collins & Smith, PC, in Lansing, Michigan, Mr. Richards has published several articles, including: “Is Your Municipality Prepared to Handle Controversial Zoning Decisions” in PlannersWeb e-magazine (9/4/14), “Remember Lacey Holsworth. But Don’t Stop There,” in Ingham County Bar Association Briefs (5/24/14), “Checklist for negotiating a Telecommunications Equipment Lease” in the Michigan Municipal League’s The Review (March/April 2014), “FCC: Ordinances That Prefer Cellular Facilities Be Located on Municipal Property May be Illegal” in Foster Swift Municipal Law News (1/30/14), “Wind Turbine Company Fined for Killing Birds” in Ingham County Bar Association Briefs (December 2013/January 2014), “Nine Tips to Negotiate a Contract Efﬁciently” in Ingham County Bar Association Briefs (June 2013), and “New Laws Impact Handling Wireless Equipment Request” in Michigan Township News Magazine (cover article, January 2013).

2001

Blair Jr. Class Beaber, Jamie, has joined the Washington, D.C., ofﬁce of Mayer Brown as a partner in the ﬁrm’s Intellectual Property practice. Previously he was a partner at Steptoe & Johnson. Grech-Clapper, Caroline, was chosen as one of 30 outstanding women named as one of the 2014 Women in the Law. She is an executive partner and member of Secrest Wardle’s Employment, Family Law and Premises Liability Practice Groups.

Huff, Carrie E., has joined the ﬁrm of Bernick Radner & Ouellette, P.C., in Lansing, Michigan, as an associate attorney. She focuses her practice on domestic relations/family law, personal protection litigation, and general civil litigation.

O. Smith Class Tibbs, Demond, was appointed to the Saginaw (Michigan) City Council. 2004

Needham Class Clark, Kristen, was named to Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder’s Taskforce on the Prevention of Sexual Abuse of Children. She is the executive director of human resources for the Washtenaw Intermediate School District. 2005

2002

T. Johnson Class Buurma, Melinda Byers, an attorney with Howard & Howard Attorneys, PLLC, was named a 2014 Michigan Rising Star in the area of Intellectual Property.

Boyles Class Ambrose, Garvin, was named Chief of Staff in the Cook County (Illinois) State’s Attorney’s Ofﬁce. He most recently served as the State Victim Advocate for the state of Connecticut, and previously served as a Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney as supervisor of the Legislative Unit.

2006

Boston Class

Reid Class

Harris, Raymond A., of Bernick Radner & Ouellette, P.C., completed the Institute of Continuing Legal Education’s Probate and Estate Planning Certiﬁcate Program. He was also elected to a three-year term on the board of directors of Elder Law of Michigan, and to the board of directors of the Greater Lansing Estate Planning Council. Mr. Harris practices in the areas of Medicaid planning, disability, elder law, estate planning, probate and trust administration, probate litigation, and Social Security. He is licensed to practice in Michigan and Florida.

Mysliwiec, Melisa M.W., was elected as chair of the school board for St. John Vianney Catholic School, in Wyoming, Michigan, for the 2014-2015 school year. She is an attorney with the Grand Rapids, Michigan, ofﬁce of Fraser Trebilcock, where she focuses her practice on elder law, Medicaid planning, estate planning, and trust and estate administration. Robinson, Kevin J., was elected president of the West Virginia State Bar. He is a partner at the ﬁrm of Pullin, Fowler, Flanagan, Brown & Poe, in Beckley, West Virginia, where he concentrates his practice in insurance defense, and has handled cases involving government liability, product liability and contract law. He also defends small businesses in mass tort litigation. Mr. Robinson was featured as the cover story in the April-June 2014 issue of The West Virginia Lawyer.

Edwards Class Matlock, Greg, was promoted to Partner/Principal with Ernst & Young LLP, in Houston, Texas. Phone: (713) 750-8133; email: greg.matlock@ey.com. 2007

Fisher Class Friedman, Jason, of Friedman & Feiger Attorneys at Law, in Dallas, Texas, was named a 2014 Super Lawyers Texas Rising Star by Thomson Reuters.

Hoover, Jeffrey A., an attorney with Howard & Howard Attorneys, PLLC, was named a 2014 Michigan Rising Star in the area of Mergers and Acquisitions. Seigel, Jonas K., a partner in the personal injury and medical malpractice ﬁrm of Seigel Capozzi Law, in Ridgewood, New Jersey, was selected as Young Lawyer of the Year by the New Jersey State Bar Association.

Worman, Katherine N., was elected Partner at Bowers Harrison, LLP, in Evansville, Indiana. She focuses her practice on business and civil litigation; family, juvenile, environmental, and construction law; and commercial disputes. 2008

Adams Class Genovich, Laura (Garlinghouse), an attorney with Foster Swift Collins & Smith, P.C., was named chairperson of the Federal Bar Association Bankruptcy Section Steering Committee (Western District).

Kavanagh Class Lowe, Troy, was appointed in June 2014 as a commissioner of the Human Relations Commission for Prince George’s County, Maryland. He operates The Law Ofﬁce of Troy D. Lowe, LLC, in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. Trotto, Jonathan C., of the Trotto Law Firm, P.C., in Rochester, New York, was nominated as a Super Lawyers Rising Star for 2014 in western New York. Phone: (585) 453-0040; email: jct@trottolaw.com.

2009

Coleman Class Falor, U.S. Army Capt. Todd, was honored with the General Douglas MacArthur Leadership Award in Washington, D.C. The award recognizes company grade ofﬁcers each year who demonstrate the ideals for which Gen. MacArthur stood. He has had a 21-year Army career, including 13 years as a Green Beret. He works full-time for the Michigan National Guard’s 46th Military Police Command’s operations section in Lansing, Michigan. Neef, David, was elected Secretary of the WMU-Cooley Alumni Association for 2014-2015.

Riley Class Griffin, Patrick, was elected President of the WMU-Cooley Alumni Association for 2014-2015. He also recently joined the intellectual property law firm of Cantor Colburn LLP, as an associate in the firm’s Washington, D.C. office in Alexandria, Virginia.

Souris Class Jordan, Robert A., an associate at O’Neill, Wallace, and Doyle, P.D., in Saginaw, Michigan, argued in front of the Michigan Supreme Court. 2010

Woodward Class Heos, Matthew J., an attorney with The Hubbard Law Firm, P.C., in Lansing, Michigan, was named a 2014 Rising Star by Super Lawyers magazine.

Class Notes Washburn, Eric K., was recognized as a Virginia Rising Star by Super Lawyers for 2014. His practice focuses on personal injury, medical malpractice, and traumatic brain injuries in Virginia and North Carolina. Phone: (757) 486-5454. Myers, Brianne, was elected Vice President of the WMU-Cooley Alumni Association for 2014-2015.

Witherell Class Booth, Brandon J., an attorney with Howard & Howard Attorneys, PLLC, was named a 2014 Rising Star in the area of Business/ Corporate Law. Hughes, Eboney, joined the Southﬁeld, Michigan-based personal injury law ﬁrm of Goodman Acker. She previously worked as a solo practitioner.

Woodbridge Class

2012

Donohue, Gary, joined Brooks Kushman PC as a senior attorney. He earned his LL.M. at WMUCooley in September 2010.

Hilligan Class

Pryor, Felecia, was appointed to the position of HR Director of Ford Motor Company’s Research & Engineering Center in Nanjing, China. 2011

Sibley Class Sullivan Renée, has joined the St. Louis, Missouri, law ﬁrm of Greensfelder, Hemker & Gale, P.C., in its litigation practice group. Her practice includes medical negligence defense and premise liability defense. She is also a certiﬁed Guardian ad Litem.

Chipman Class Collison, Nathan, is an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney with the Saginaw County (Michigan) Prosecutor’s Ofﬁce. Hughes, Scott A., an associate with Mika Meyers Beckett & Jones, PLC, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, was elected vice-chair of the Grand Rapids Bar Association Environmental Law Section. He concentrates his practice on civil litigation, as well as environmental and energy and natural resources law.

Wilkins Class James, Ryan H., who owns a general practice law ﬁrm, James Law, LLC, in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, area was named The Daily News 2014 Readers’ Choice “Best Attorney” (Gold Award winner). He also was recognized as one of Pittsburgh’s 50 Finest in 2013.

Hyde-Basso, Rae, joined ComPsych Corporation in Chicago, Ill., as an attorney in the firm’s LegalConnect Department. Wickham, Kimberly, joined the firm of Tomak and Podolsky, PLLC, in Battle Creek, Michigan, on July 1, 2014. The firm was founded by Tracie Tomak (Boston Class, 2007) and Kellie Podolsky (Woodward Class, 2010) in 2011.

Ellsworth Class Pixler, Sarah, accepted a position as staff attorney (adviser) at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces.

Washington Class Cyrulewski, Megan, published a book, Who Am I? How My Daughter Taught Me to Let Go and Live Again. Johnson, Jimmy, announces the Law Ofﬁces of Jimmy Johnson, LLC, 7126 Parsons Blvd., #12A, Flushing, New York 11365. Phone: (917) 685-3311 or (347) 426-8803; e-mail: jjohnson@jimmyjohnson-law.com.

Kubisiak, Jessica A. (Walker), joined the firm of Kaplin Stewart in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, as an associate in the firm’s Business & Commercial Litigation and Real Estate & Title departments. Wallace, Beverly Hebron, was confirmed to serve as the Municipal Elections Commissioner for Jackson, Mississippi, as of Nov. 5, 2013. 2013

Marshall Class Koski, Steven L., has joined the law ﬁrm of Fahey Schultz Burzych Rhodes PLC, in Okemos, Michigan, as a member of its Local Government Practice Group. 2014

Livingston Class Anderson, Abbey, opened her own law practice at 214 E. Ludington, PO Box 668, Iron Mountain, Michigan 49801. She is licensed in Michigan and Wisconsin, and focuses her practice on estate planning, trusts, probate, real estate, and business/corporate law. Phone: (906) 774-3759; e-mail: abbeyandersonlaw@gmail.com.

WMU-Cooley encourages all graduates to contribute information to the Class Notes. We want to learn about your law career and other accomplishments in the legal profession. E-mail communications@ cooley.edu 42

Notices 1979

1981

1985

Butzel Class

Long Class

T. Smith Class

Smith, Margaret L’Mell, 64, of Lansing, Michigan, died April 16, 2014. She was appointed to several positions by Michigan governors in her career. She was appointed by Gov. James Blanchard in 1988 to the Workers Compensation Appeal Board with the Michigan Department of Labor, by Gov. John Engler in 1991 to the Workers Compensation Board of Magistrates (reappointed twice, serving through 2006), and by Gov. Rick Snyder to the new Michigan Compensation Appellate Commission.

Pyscher, Daniel H., 63, of Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, died Oct. 25, 2014. He was admitted to the State Bar of Michigan in 1982 and was hired by attorney Tim Taylor in Mt. Pleasant. In 1989, he went into private practice in Mt. Pleasant, focusing on personal injury, workers’ compensation, disability and negligence actions. Active in the Isabella County Bar Association, Mr. Pyscher was four times elected president of the association. He also participated in various local educational forums and was on “Ask the Lawyer” more than 20 times.

Tracey, James Jay, 57, of Niles, Michigan, died July 12, 2013, from a sudden illness in Nicaragua. He served 10 years with the U.S. Marine Corps, then worked in private practice in Niles, Michigan, until his retirement. He published a book titled Maple Manor about his life growing up, and developed an ocean front resort known as Hacienda Iguana, Nicaragua.

1980

1983

Potter Class

Chandler Class

Isley, George S., of Milan, Michigan passed away Oct. 21, 2014, at age 62. After graduating from Cooley in 1980, he began a 34-year legal career, often serving those less fortunate than himself. In 1995, he became Milan’s prosecuting attorney.

Britt, Diane J., died July 29, 2014 in Grand Ledge, Michigan. She served the Alumni Association for many years and was President from 2005-2006. During her year as President, the Alumni Association held its ﬁrst annual Wine Tasting at Cooley and hosted the annual Alumni Memorial Golf Beneﬁt, along with several alumni events nationwide.

1994

Ostrander Class Tart, Michele Rose O’Doherty, 62, of Pittsboro, North Carolina, died April 24, 2013. Before her retirement, she was Assistant Chief in the North Carolina Department of Social Services Child Support Division.

Faculty Briefs John Brennan, Professor Interviewed, and appeared on WLNS-TV 6 p.m. News, commenting on automaker recalls and their connection to product liability claims, on Oct. 7, 2014.

Paul Carrier, Professor Moved, to the Tampa Bay campus and into the Contracts/Sales department. Completed, a sabbatical at the University of Belgrade Faculty of Law, Belgrade, Serbia, teaching international law and coaching a moot court team to participate at the 2013 Philip C. Jessup International Moot Court Competition in Washington, D.C. The team placed in the top half of over 100 teams from law schools around the world. This was as part of a J.W. Fulbright scholarship for academic year 2012-2013. Participated, in a Q&A session about legal publishing for international audiences, with Professor David Finnegan and former Professor William Wagner, which is reproduced as “Publishing to a Global Audience,” in the Thomas M. Cooley Law Review, Volume 30, Issue 2 (2013). Assisted, a Serbian national in the ﬁling of a complaint with the InterAmerican Commission on Human Rights while on sabbatical.

Bradley Charles, Assistant Professor Voted, by Scribes: the American Society of Legal Writers, to serve as a board member and Executive Director. Co-published, with Professor Erika Breitfeld, the third edition of Reasoned Legal Research.

Mark Cooney, Professor Published, an article, called “Treatises: Let the Experts Serve You” in the October 2014 edition of Student Lawyer, the national magazine for the ABA’s Law Student Division. Participated, in the September 2014 board meeting for Scribes - The American Society of Legal Writers. Participated, in Anglers of the Au Sable’s 2014 fall river cleanup, wading in a designated stretch of the Au Sable River and removing garbage. Anglers is a conservation organization devoted to preserving the aesthetic beauty and ecological integrity of the Au Sable River watershed in northern Michigan. Attended, the State Bar Appellate Practice Section’s annual meeting program on September 13, 2014. Participated, in multiple meetings of the Michigan Supreme Court’s Committee on Model Criminal Jury Instructions. Served, on the Program Committee for the Legal Writing Institute’s 2014 Biennial Conference, held in Philadelphia from June 30 to July 2. He prepared and ﬁnalized attendee and presenter surveys and assisted presenters with technology, timekeeping, and materials.

Spoke, at the State Bar Young Lawyers Section’s annual summit, in Lansing, Michigan, on May 31, 2014. His presentation was called “Spotting Arguments in the Language: Tips for Litigators & Drafters.”

Christopher G. Hastings, Professor Published, an article, “Down the Rabbit Hole with the Court of Claims,” as the cover story for the July 2014 edition of the Michigan Bar Journal.

Linda Kisabeth, Associate Professor Published, an article about Michigan’s amended slayer statute in the Quinnipiac Probate Law Journal (26 Quinnipiac Probate Law Journal 373 (2013)) entitled “Slayer Statutes and Elder Abuse: Good Intentions, Right Results? Does Michigan’s Amended Slayer Statute Do Enough to Protect the Elderly?” Published, an article, about the success of WMU-Cooley’s Professional Exploration Program, “The Professional Exploration Program: An Alternative Law School Admission Process” in the inaugural edition of a peerreviewed, social science journal entitled The Journal of Scholastic Inquiry: Education (1 J. of Scholastic Inquiry: Education 9 (2013). This journal was funded by the Center for Scholastic Inquiry, an organization that highlights and publishes leading edge scientiﬁc research and scholarly inquiry in the ﬁelds of education, business and behavioral sciences.

Nelson Miller, Associate Dean and Professor Published, the book, Top 100 Questions Friends & Family Ask a Lawyer. Published, the book, Lawyer Finances: Principles & Practices for Personal & Professional Financial Success, with co-authors Paul Sorensen and Mark Michon. Published, the book, Dear J.D.: What to Do with Your Law Degree. Published, the book, Are You Legal: A Personal Legal-Audit & Empowerment Tool. Edited, the book, Teaching Law Practice: Preparing the Next Generation of Lawyers, with co-editors Charles Cercone and Chris Trudeau.

John Nussbaumer, Professor Revised, and updated two chapters of the Michigan Criminal Jury Instructions for the Michigan Institute of Continuing Legal Education. Selected, by the American Bar Association Section of Legal Education, to serve as a sabbatical site inspection team member for the upcoming inspection of the University of Maine School of Law. Served, as a fact-ﬁnder for the ABA Section of Legal Education to review the Alaska branch campus application of the Seattle University School of Law. Worked, with the Michigan Supreme Court in his capacity as the chair of the Michigan Appellate Defender Commission, to merge the State Appellate Defender Ofﬁce with the Michigan Assigned Appellate Counsel System.

Faculty Briefs Kim O’Leary, Professor Served, in May 2014, as small group leader at the Association of American Law Schools Conference on Clinical Legal Education in Chicago. Served, in September 2014, as Facilitator in a session on Formative Assessment and Small Group Leader (Elder Law), at the Midwest Clinical Teachers Conference, in East Lansing, Michigan. Presented, in May 2014, along with former Professor Pat Mock (Cooley) and Professor Marsha Mansﬁeld (Wisconsin), “Interactive Ethics when working with Pro Bono and Public Interest Legal Advocates,” at the Equal Justice Conference in Portland, Oregon.

Devin Schindler, Professor Spoke, on June 3, 2014, on “Lincoln and the Second Constitutional Revolution,” for the Spring Lake Speakers Series, sponsored by the National Institute for the Humanities. Spoke, on September 17, 2014, on “Hobby Lobby and the Free Exercise Clause,” for the Cornerstone University Great Speakers Series. Spoke, on September 17, 2014, on “The Great Constitutional Experiment,” for the State Bar of Michigan Student Section Constitutional Law Celebration.

Spoke, on June 2, 2014, on “Supervisory Control and the Judicial Deference,” with the Flint Journal. Spoke, on June 20, 2014, on “School Discipline and the First Amendment,” with WOOD-AM/FM. Spoke, on June 27, 2014, on “Privacy, Cell Phones and the Fourth Amendment,” with the Justin Barclay Show, WOOD AM/FM. Spoke, on June 30, 2014, on “PPACA and the Birth Control Mandate,” with the Flint Journal. Spoke, on June 30, 2014, on “PPACA and the Birth Control Mandate,” on WZZM-TV. Spoke, on June 30, 2014, on “Free Speech and Union Membership,” on WZZM-TV Spoke, on July 1, 2014, on “Free Speech and Union Membership,” on WKAR-AM. Spoke, on July 13, 2014, on Supreme Court Review,” on WOOD-AM. Spoke, on July 23, 2014, on “Open Meetings Act,” with the Lansing State Journal. Spoke, on July 24, 2014, on “The Ballot Initiative Process,” on WILX-TV. Spoke, on September 17, 2014, on The History of Constitutional Law Day,” on WOOD AM/FM. Spoke, on October 13, 2014, on “Previewing the Upcoming Supreme Court Term,” on WOOD AM/FM.

Amy Timmer, Associate Dean and Professor Appointed, by ABA President William Hubbard to the ABA Standing Committee on Professionalism. Continues, to serve as Vice Chair and Best Practices Committee Chair of the National Legal Mentoring Association. Presented, at the bi-annual meeting of the National Legal Mentoring Consortium in Columbus on WMU-Cooley’s episodic mentoring programs. Co-authored, “Matched vs. Episodic Mentoring: An Exploration of the Processes and Outcomes for Law School Students Engaged in Professional Mentoring,” Eileen S. Johnson, Amy Timmer, Dawn E. Chandler, and Charles R. Toy, Legal Education Review, Volume 23, No. 1, Fall 2013.

Kara Zech Thelen, Assistant Professor Presented, with former Associate Professor Jane Siegel, “Teaching Plain Language in Any Language,” at the Global Legal Skills Conference in Verona, Italy. Authored, an article, “The Value of Variety in Teaching: A Professor’s Guide,” published in the Journal of Legal Education, August 2014, with co-authors and professors Tonya Krause-Phelan, Heather Garretson, and former Professor Jane Siegel. Admitted, to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court with other WMU-Cooley alumni in March 2014.

Presented at, and had comments published from, the Commission on Lawyer Assistance Program’s Panel on Best Practices Engaging Law Schools, David Jaffe, Larry Dubin, Amy Timmer, Tish Vincent, and Diane Van Aken, Journal of Gender, Social Policy & the Law, American University, Volume 21, Number 3, 2013. Presented at the 2013 annual meeting of the Association of Professional Responsibility Lawyers in San Francisco.

Spoke, on May 14, 2014, “Solicitations and the First Amendment,” with WOOD AM/FM. Spoke, on May 18, 2014, on “2014 Supreme Court Review,” with WOOD AM/FM.

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