Benchmark | Summer 2020

Benchmark

WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY THOMAS M. COOLEY LAW SCHOOL ALUMNI MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2020

TIFFANY FOSKEY

Visualizing the Future PRESIDENT JAMES MCGRATH Law School Update

WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY THOMAS M. COOLEY LAW SCHOOL ALUMNI MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2020

Letter from

WMU-Cooley Benchmark EDITOR Terry Carella CO-EDITOR Sharon Matchette ALUMNI AND DONOR RELATIONS Pamela Heos Director of Donor Relations Helen Haessly Acting Director of Alumni Relations CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Terry Carella, Sharon Matchette, SeyferthPR DESIGN Image Creative Group PHOTOGRAPHY Tom Gennara, Terry Carella SUBMISSIONS Benchmark seeks story ideas from graduates 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 communications@cooley.edu Benchmark is published twice a year by the Communications Office of Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School.

ALUMNI DIRECTORY The alumni directory is located in the WMU-Cooley portal. You will need an individual user name and password to access the database.

Please call the Alumni Office at 517-371-5140, ext. 2045, or e-mail alumni@cooley.edu with questions.

Message from the Dean and President When I arrived here at WMU-Cooley, we knew many challenges were ahead. I saw these challenges as incredible opportunities to propel our great school into its next era. That being said, with the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic, I would like to say, “Please stop with all of these opportunities!”

This pandemic has caused terrible disruption in our lives and too much sickness and death. But I want you to know that your students, staff and faculty have all adapted amazingly well to our “new normal.” Within days of announcing the closure of our campuses, all classes went online.

Considering the enormity of the task, the transition was very smooth and efficient, and only minor technical issues. Many of our staff members, affectionately known as the “Admin Army,” swung into action to ensure our final exams were properly uploaded into our online learning management system and to aid our faculty in finishing the Hilary semester strong.

When we made the decision to be completely online for the Trinity (summer) semester, your faculty embraced new technology and methods to make sure that our online offerings were equal or superior to our usual classes. Our Admin Army and our librarians have been supporting these innovations, along with our enhanced duty teaching assistants, who I am now calling “Dean’s Fellows.” We are not just meeting these new challenges, we have committed to ALL RISE and grow from them.

Thank you to so many of you who contributed to our COVID-19 Student Relief Fund. Your generous support helped many of our students to continue their studies while facing significant personal challenges. Once again you stepped up.

See the full story on our COVID-19 response in this issue of your Benchmark alumni magazine.

Sincerely,

James McGrath Professor, President and Dean

WMU-COOLEY BOARD OF DIRECTORS LAWRENCE P. NOLAN Chairman, Board of Directors Nolan, Thomsen & Villas P.C. Eaton Rapids, Michigan HON. LOUISE ALDERSON Vice Chair, Board of Directors 54-A District Court Lansing, Michigan

JAMES W. BUTLER, III Urban Revitalization Division Michigan State Housing Development Authority Lansing, Michigan CHRISTINA L. CORL Plunkett Cooney Columbus, Ohio

JOHN M. DUNN President Emeritus of Western Michigan University Kalamazoo, Michigan

KENNETH V. MILLER Millennium Restaurant Group, LLC Kalamazoo, Michigan

SHARON M. HANLON Zelman & Hanlon, PA Naples, Florida

HON. BART STUPAK Venable, LLP Washington, D.C. JORDAN V. SUTTON Sutton Advisors PLC Lansing, Michigan

MUSTAFA AMEEN Law Office of Ameen & Shafii Tampa, Florida

THOMAS W. CRANMER Miller Canfield Troy, Michigan

HON. MICHAEL P. HATTY Chief Judge, 44th Circuit Court, 53rd District Court Livingston County

AARON V. BURRELL Dickinson Wright PLLC Detroit, Michigan

SCOTT A. DIENES Barnes & Thornburg, LLP Grand Rapids, Michigan

HON. JANE E. MARKEY Michigan Court of Appeals Grand Rapids, Michigan

MITCHELL S. ZAJAK Butzel Long Detroit, Michigan

Contents Features Summer 2020

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TIFFANY FOSKEY Former president of the WMU-Cooley Alumni Association, demonstrates courage, creativity and confidence.

ANGIE AVARD TURNER Attorney for creative entrepreneurs fashions the ideal set-up to identify, support, and serve her target market.

ERIC NORDAN Beats colon cancer and takes on new challenges to marry the diverse passions in his career to ways he wants to experience life.

PIVOTING SEAMLESSLY TOWARD CHANGE: AN UPDATE FROM PRESIDENT AND DEAN JAMES McGRATH Leading WMU-Cooley Law School during times of challenge to shape the future of modern legal education and move forward equal access to justice.

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TIFFANY FOSKEY, SMITH CLASS, 2003

BY TERRY CARELLA

A Woman of Courage, Creativity and Confidence TIFFANY FOSKEY

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Tiffany Foskey (Smith Class, 2003) remembers exactly what was going through her mind as news of the COVID-19 pandemic, with all its confusion and uncertainty, began to unfold. The outbreak was just starting to hit her hometown of New York City hard in mid-March, but Foskey said she “was ready to stick it out for the long haul.”

However, that wasn’t washing with her mother.

“It’s actually sort of a funny story,” shared Foskey, with a laugh. “My mother had been calling me for days, and I kept telling her I was fine. I told her I was in it for the duration. Then, about a couple days later, I get a determined call from my mother. She tells me that she was coming to get me – that day. No discussion.

And that’s what happened.”

Mom arrived at her place that day as promised, so Foskey, resigned to “mother-knows-best,” packed up a few of her things, settled into the car, and left New York City to her mother’s home in Michigan.

“Thank God I actually left New York to come to Michigan though,” Foskey said, “because during our drive we heard on the radio that New York Governor Andrew Cuomo had issued a State-disaster-emergency executive order urging all non-essential workers to stay at home and not leave unless it was for essential services.”

Despite Michigan’s own stay-at-home order, Foskey still felt fortunate to be in Michigan rather than New York, for the simple reason that people weren’t “on top of each other,” she said.

“If you live in an apartment building like I do; my building has 35 floors and 10 apartments on each floor and three elevators; there’s no way I could go about my daily routine and not come into contact with people. People touch the elevator buttons; there could be someone ill or asymptomatic. The potential for frequent exposure is very high when you live and work in New York City.”

Her fears were warranted. Since she left, she learned that many residents and building staff had not only contracted the virus, but, sadly, some had died.

As much as she admired everything that Governor Cuomo was doing to keep New Yorkers safe, Foskey

still worried about what would lie ahead, and the untold suffering it would bring for her city, as well as the global community, in the days, months, even years, ahead.

“I cannot imagine anyone who will not be affected by this pandemic; there’s just no one, I think, on this planet who won’t be impacted or untouched in ways we still don’t understand.

“People have lost jobs, even lost health insurance coverage, which is catastrophic when facing a deadly illness. I consider essential workers, those who have to show up to work every day, like the store cashiers, the pharmacists or the grocers, our everyday heroes.”

VISUALIZING THE FUTURE “From the time I was a child, I always had a desire to become a lawyer. I made the announcement to my mother at the tender age of six. I wasn’t influenced by anyone in making this decision, not by a relative, or family friend or primetime lawyer drama. I had an innate feeling that this was something I was meant to do. Sort of like my college roommate who always wanted to become a dentist. She, like me, just knew,” said Foskey.

That ability to see her future is a mindset she has trusted. That, and the belief that the more she learned and achieved, the greater she could make a difference in this world.

Foskey has always been driven in the pursuit of her dreams. “In many ways, I’ve always thought of myself as a dreamer who is also practical. If I have an interest in something, I research it thoroughly and try it,” muses Foskey. In high school, she decided to work in a law office, just to see what that was like. During her freshman and sophomore years in college at the University of Michigan, she wanted to explore politics, so she worked for her state senator, Sen. Carl Levin (D-Michigan) in Washington, D.C. during the summer between her freshman and sophomore years. (continued)

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TIFFANY FOSKEY

“We don’t get anywhere in this world without the help of someone else. I know I received invaluable advice and help along my journey.

It’s important to share ideas, connect, and help others in order to grow into the best person you can be.”

TIFFANY FOSKEY

Once Foskey met with the WMU-Cooley Admissions staff, coming to WMU-Cooley ended up being the easy decision.

Newly inducted Cooley Society member Tiffany Foskey receives her gift from President and Dean McGrath. She is the immediate past president of the WMU-Cooley Alumni Association.

During her junior year in college, she branched out globally by doing a study abroad in Japan, becoming fluent in the language, then gained expertise in Japanese law, economics and penal systems. Foskey’s next adventure was a summer internship with the London Labor Party, learning the legislative legal process from both the American and the Parliamentary perspectives.

After college, Foskey took several years off before law school to allow herself time to figure out what legal path would fit her best. She fast-tracked her learning curve by trying out several legal environments, such as working in a small, medium, then a large mega-firm with over 500 attorneys.

She wrapped up her career exploration period by working in the legal department of an investment bank.

“Every one of my experiences helped me to form my career path once out of law school,” said Foskey. “That was an important thing for me to do before starting law school.”

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“I remember meeting Tony Alvarado and other admissions individuals from WMU-Cooley during a law school fair in New York City. What impressed me was how well they spoke of the school, its curriculum (training in several additional core subjects appearing on the bar exam) and diversity in student population (a combination of recent college graduates and professionals like myself who took time off prior to attending law school). It all added up to the prospect of a solid legal education and one that would prepare me to swiftly transition to the practice of law upon graduation,” recalls Foskey.

Foskey flourished during law school.

She participated in WMU-Cooley’s Study Abroad program, in Florence, Italy and London, England, which was offered at the time; then she did her externship with the U.S. Agency for International Development in Washington, D.C. where she provided legal assistance to the Assistant General Counsel for the Africa Bureau on legal issues regarding foreign assistance, regulations and policies as they relate to development and assistance of sustainable health, education and humanitarian initiatives in Africa.

Giving back has always been important to Foskey. Today, Foskey mentors high school students and recent graduates through various organizations in New York City. She also does pro bono

legal work for the New York City Bar Association in their clinic, The City Bar Justice Center’s Neighborhood Entrepreneur Law Project. The clinic offers free legal consultations to entrepreneurs establishing small businesses.

“We don’t get anywhere in this world without the help of someone else,” stated Foskey. “I know I received invaluable advice and help along my journey. It’s important to share ideas, connect, and help others in order to grow into the best person you can be.”

Always looking to the future with hope, Foskey believes there will be a number of positive changes that come out of this global crisis.

“Surely, folks have to pivot,” stated Foskey. “Things cannot go on and be the way they were before. It’s a new day; a new normal.”

She predicts that the next big thing on the horizon is that attorneys will need to figure out how to help a client come to a resolution, without the courtroom, which happens to be one of Foskey’s ambitions.

GOALS “One of the things I’ve been working on is getting my certification to practice as a mediator and arbitrator, collectively referred to as ‘neutrals’,” shared Foskey. “It not only makes sense in terms of the trajectory of the legal field, but it is now a New York State Unified Court System mandate to refer parties in civil cases to participate in Alternative Dispute Resolution, dubbed ‘presumptive ADR’.”

Study Abroad School “Surely, folks have to pivot. Things cannot go on andinbeLaw the way they were before. It’s a new day; a new normal.”

The change, she said, was made when the state of New York and the courts discovered that using this route of action resolved cases much faster and fairly. It also turns out that it is far less costly when one uses a neutral party.

“A lot of industries, particularly the legal industry,” explained Foskey, “will need to be able to conduct business in ways that may presently feel unusual, such as conducting business remotely and online. As much as you could argue a benefit for sitting across the table from the opposing party, most of the time it’s not essential to resolve client complaints.”

Advice for Law Students

TIFFANY FOSKEY

Foskey feels fortunate that her position as Counsel with Wellington Management Company LLP has not been impacted like so many others on Wall Street. In fact, she only has gotten busier, and has the luxury of working remotely from anywhere in the world. But she knows change is inevitable.

Foskey acknowledged that there have been lots of market disruptions with the pandemic. Portfolios and positions in the marketplace have been negatively affected, while businesses have had to significantly tighten up expenditures.

The path forward, Foskey said, will require some adaptation. Understanding and embracing technology, along

with being open to diverse ideas and solutions, will need to be a part of everyone’s personal and business strategy, she explained.

While work remains important for Foskey, she maintains a solid work/life balance with attention to her free time – both now and in the future. “Some of my hobbies are traveling, exploring cultures, and learning new languages,” started Foskey. “I also love, love, love to cook, and one my dreams would be to go to cooking school.”

Foskey believes law students need to reflect on what they think it means to be a lawyer, then look at what those attributes will look like in the future.

As attorneys, Foskey said they will need to be able to commit to developing new skill sets, crosstraining, and learning new technologies. Below is some advice Foskey has for law students.

Always remember that law is a living breathing thing: people are at the core of it and influence its creation and interpretation.

Be diligent, collegial, and ethical.

Work hard. Pace yourself to avoid burn out. Create balance.

Do more than read books and prepare outlines. Take advantage of fellow students and study groups to figure out and thoroughly understand the material.

Take every advantage of clinics, mock trial, moot court, and externships. Gaining

practical experience is essential to growth.

Focus on your studies and ways to improve yourself, rather than competing with others. If you only compete with yourself, you place yourself at a higher standard.

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Ahmed Salim, Washington class, 2012

ANGIE AVARD TURNER, RUTLEDGE CLASS, 2000

Angie Avard Turner Angie Avard Turner has a unique approach to success.

Having gone through the experiences of being both a creative entrepreneur and a legal client, Turner says she now focuses on “trying to be the kind of attorney I wanted to have.”

Everything she does – from the legal services she offers both online and in her southwest Georgia office, to the colorful and creative website she designed to showcase those services – is based on the same core concept: Know your market.

A lifelong creative designer with years of experience as an entrepreneur at the top of the retail/wholesale world, Angie earned her J.D. (Rutledge Class, 2000), as well as her LL.M. in Intellectual Property at WMU-Cooley.

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Near the end of her J.D. studies, Angie and her high school sweetheart, Steven Turner, married and started to settle into the next phase of their lives.

However, they soon felt the pull back to the South, and returned to their native Georgia to begin restoring those connections that had been set aside while Angie was in law school and Steven was pursuing a second degree in furniture design at Kendall College of Art and Design in Grand Rapids.

While Angie was studying for the bar exam in Georgia, she got drawn into working on the

small town’s third attempt at getting the popular Main Street designation. She went to work and wrote Pelham’s third application and they won the designation – opening up the town for grants.

Angie always knew she wanted to start a business – she comes from a long line of entrepreneurs. Her parents owned restaurants; her grandparents owned a printing shop. Plus, her husband, Steven, grew up in the family business – Turner’s Fine Furniture – that started back in 1915. In the Avard and Turner

“I have two moments [when defining success]. The first is when I’m explaining or teaching and they get it. It’s like the lightbulb goes on and they get how the law affects their business. The second is when I’m able to successfully represent a client and help them jump the hurdle they are facing.”

ANGIE AVARD TURNER

families, you didn’t go work for someone else, you started your own business.

The career direction Angie would soon take was one of those movie plot twists where the heroine panics at the last minute because she just knows that the “no gifts please” note on the ladies’ birthday luncheon she’s headed for is a lie – everyone is going to bring gifts and she’s out of time to go shopping. Faced with this conundrum in real life, Angie gathered together a bunch of designs she’d been working on, tied them up with a pretty bow, and – not at all confident in her gift – hoped they weren’t going to open presents at the luncheon.

To Angie’s horror, she found out during lunch that the guest of honor was, in fact, going to open presents. To further compound her distress, it was her gift that was picked to be opened first.

In the same kind of suspended animation attorneys feel when a jury verdict is about to be read, Angie braced herself – and was stunned and relieved to discover that not only did the birthday honoree love the artistically designed notepaper choices, but that all the guests were clamoring to put in orders for themselves as well.

A BUSINESS WAS BORN Angie put her well-developed

organizational skills to work. She and Steven formed their new business called Hype Strype and immersed themselves in the world of design, specialty stationery, trade shows and sales to retail stores. Their line-up included notecards, calendars, drinkware, luggage tags, sippy cups, and more, all creatively designed and manufactured in the United States and placed in stores for those all-important impulse buyers.

Even as Angie worked in the creative field, the law and her legal training was still part of the mix. At the tradeshows, where networking is the name of the game, Angie often found herself in conversations with other artists. Impressed with Angie’s designs, they all wanted to know the same thing: Where did she go to design school?

“I didn’t,” Angie would then tell them, “I went to law school.”

per year, along with all the other obligations of a creative wholesale business, the Recession of 2008, and a growing family, Angie and Steven decided they needed to make a change.

Knowing it is time to change is easy, but knowing what to do next is the difficult part. “So, now what?” Angie wondered.

Angie made the decision to pivot back to concentrating on her other love - the law. But wearing the standard black suits on a daily basis was not appealing, and the idea of confining herself to a daily 8 a.m.-6 p.m. workday was just not for her.

She recalls Steven asking her, “Well how can you practice law and be happy?” Angie responded, “I’m not sure, but I’ll know it when I see it.”

The questions would just tumble out after that revelation: “How do I do this? How do I protect that? Where do I go for some other thing?” Angie would tell them they should hire an attorney, then go on about her business, tucking those experiences into her memory.

After 10 years in the whirlwind life that comes with half a dozen or more trade shows (continued)

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ANGIE AVARD TURNER

There are many ways she accomplishes getting in front of her target market. She does interviews on podcasts and is a guest writer for blogs. She also writes for trade magazines, such as Gift Angie with her husband, Steven, and children, Meredith Camille, Simeon, and Savannah Shop Magazine and – pre“The conversation shifted,” COVID-19 pandemic – spoke she recalled, from artistic chitchat to Another trait that has been pivotal in at multiple conferences, tradeshows, and front-burner legal concerns. Angie could Angie’s success is her ability to make other events all over the United States. see there was a thirst for knowledge and connections. Networking has always been With an ongoing thirst for learning new a need for someone who knows the life of a natural part of her life – even back in things, and eager to serve her creative busy artists to take on the legal details. her college days when she got a post working on Capitol Hill for a U.S. Senator clientele, Angie went back to school and Although Angie does have a brick and earned her LL.M. in Intellectual Property and the Federal Sentencing Commission. mortar practice in Pelham, Georgia, she Law in 2019.

When her path moved to design, Angie knew that much of her work would be kept her networking active with her Now she practices a mix of trademark online. She took a course in setting up connections at the tradeshows and an law, copyright, contracts, licensing, a virtual practice. She learned a lot of ever-growing mailing list. e-commerce, website compliance and valuable information, but the main takeprotection, franchising, social media away was to know her audience.

Making those connections also led vigilance, business formation, intellectual to working with one of those dream “Don’t market to the people you went to property protection, and more. clients that attorneys hope for during school with,” she remembers being told. their career. One day, after making With so much going on, how does Angie “They’re not the ones who pay the bills. a presentation at church, someone define success?

Who have you been hanging out with for approached her about, what she thought the last 10 years? Those are your people; “I have two moments,” she explained. was church matters, but quickly learned and that is who you market to.”

“The first is when I’m explaining or it had to do with legal representation. teaching and they get it. It’s like the Angie helped the client secure licensing Angie took that advice – and her lightbulb goes on and they get how the for a large line of products for one of the love of all shades of green – to heart law affects their business. The second is most well-established companies in the and designed the colorful, accessible, and when I’m able to successfully represent United States. The deal ended up being easy to understand website. She a client and help them jump the hurdle a major business game-changer for started the firm in 2012, and from they are facing.” her client. the start made it a point to make the website the window to the soul of the Angie and Steven, who is an interior As a solo practice attorney, Angie firm – direct, creative, transparent designer, a pen-and-ink artist, and staff continues to work very hard maintaining and friendly. The website may be organist at their church, live in Georgia and building connections by positioning unconventional, but it speaks directly to with their three children, Savannah, 17; herself as a specialist in her area of the heart of the creative entrepreneurs Meredith Camille, 12; and Simeon, 7. practice. she represents.

Actually she knew it when she heard it. Angie remembered all the trade show conversations when creative entrepreneurs, like herself, found out she had a legal background.

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ERIC NORDAN, BOYLE CLASS, 2018

Eric Nordan

KNOW WHAT YOU CAN CONTROL. ACT WITH PURPOSE. MANAGE PERCEPTIONS.

Having had a career in the medical field as a pharmacist for 15 years, Eric Nordan (Boyle Class, 2018) was fully aware of the importance of getting a colonoscopy. So, the minute he turned 50 years old, he made sure to schedule the routine procedure. He knew he had no family history of colon cancer, so he really wasn’t worried. Except that when he met with his doctor the day after his procedure to discuss his results, they found cancer.

BY TERRY CARELLA

Disbelief and surprise were Nordan’s first reactions. His next reaction was wanting to get the cancer out as soon as possible, despite the added worries and risk of undertaking a medical procedure in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since time was of the essence, Nordan’s surgeon was able to schedule an emergency colectomy at the end of March.

To Nordan and his family’s great relief, the procedure successfully got everything.

As a medical professional himself, Nordan understood and took a deep cleansing

breath when his doctor told him that there were “no nodal involvement and clean margins,” which meant he was going to be okay.

Yet it all seemed surreal to Nordan.

“It’s kind of weird,” explained Nordan.

“I had my surgery on Wednesday and got home Friday. Everybody told me I needed to relax. But after a few days, all I was dreaming about was getting back to work, and possibly back to some sort of normalcy and purpose.” (continued)

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ERIC NORDAN

“The faculty was amazing. The other thing I absolutely loved about WMU-Cooley was how appreciative everyone was that I was part of their program. I really liked that attitude.”

ERIC NORDAN

As an associate attorney with the firm of Foley, Baron, Metzger & Juip, PLLC (FBMJ) in Livonia, Michigan, Nordan is thankful to his colleagues for keeping him focused, positive, and energized.

“I have been working on an interesting pharmacy fraud case,” shared Nordan.

“As a transactional attorney, the fact that the courts were closed did not impact my work. Interestingly though, the state shutdown seemed to give analysts a lot more time to review cases, which translated into them catching up on their files. I have been very busy.”

PHARMACIST TO LAWYER Despite his wish at age 3 to be a doctor, Nordan figured out pretty quickly that being a physician wasn’t a realistic option if you are squeamish at the sight of blood.

That fact, and the realization that his interest was not coming from a place of giving, would soon send Nordan in a new direction. Despite liking the idea of patient care, he admitted that his childhood interest in becoming a doctor was because he thought he could make a lot of money.

“I went to (the University of) Michigan for undergrad, met a lot of people with similar motivations and realized that caring for patients should not be about money. So here I was in my third year of undergrad when I found myself looking for something else. I knew I liked chemistry and alternative medicine. I applied to Michigan’s pharmacy school, got in, wrapped up my last two years of undergrad in pharmacy school, did a lot of research, and graduated with two chemistry degrees and my Doctor of Pharmacy.”

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Nordan’s intention was to dovetail his science background into the legal profession.

“I was thinking already about going to law school because I didn’t really plan on practicing as a pharmacist. I worked for Warner-Lambert/Parke-Davis in Ann Arbor at the time and envisioned myself as a patent attorney. I did drug development research and was friends with a lot of professors with PhDs. Biotech was superhot back then and my friends and I were going to create a startup.”

With that goal in mind, Nordan took the LSAT, did very well, then applied and was accepted to numerous law schools. Most didn’t fit his schedule, however, so Nordan pursued his career in pharmacy. When a friend told him in 2014 about WMUCooley’s weekend program, his interest was piqued. It took just one visit to the law school to be sold. He started at WMUCooley in May 2015.

“WMU-Cooley was a great experience for me,” said Nordan. “I was looking for flexibility in my classes. I was able to take some weekend and evening classes, which allowed me to continue to work full time up until June 2016.”

That’s when Nordan found himself working more closely with the law school and with Professor Lauren Rousseau and former Professor Monica Navarro. As he puts it, he felt like he was working more as a colleague than as a student, given his work experience.

“We had a great level of communication because I was already a professional,” relayed Nordan. “We talked to each other differently. The faculty was amazing. The

COVID-19, all I wanted to do was go help,” explained Nordan.

other thing I absolutely loved about WMU-Cooley was how appreciative everyone was that I was part of their program. I really liked that attitude.”

LIFE AS AN ATTORNEY Today, Nordan is part of the healthcare licensing and compliance practice group with FBMJ working mostly with pharmacy and marijuana clients.

“Marijuana law is fascinating because the industry is evolving in Michigan. There are a lot of rules that still need to be worked out, and from a medical perspective, there are incredible opportunities for research and drug development. I get a lot of licensing and compliance questions from our clients and get to work directly with the state to get the correct answers,” explained Nordan. “As a former fraud investigator, I get to work on some pharmacy cases where the pharmacists face allegations of healthcare fraud.

It’s interesting because pharmacy is complicated. It doesn’t seem like it should be, but I know it is because I lived it.”

Nordan explains the pharmacy cases that he is working on in terms of buckets.

“You have a drug billing bucket; you have a drug buying bucket. Your buying bucket should equal your billing bucket.

In other words, when a pharmacy bills the government for drugs dispensed to patients, the pharmacy better have legitimately bought those drugs. But, when the government finds that the billing bucket is bigger than the buying bucket, then the pharmacy did not do what it was supposed to do and the government alleges fraud.”

“Allegations of healthcare fraud also arise, unfortunately, many times after patients die. Pharmacy clients don’t generally know when someone dies, insurance companies continue to pay for drug claims, and family members continue to call and refill prescriptions. At this point, I get involved to help manage expectations

Newly inducted Cooley Society member Eric Nordan receives his gift from President and Dean McGrath.

and outcomes between the government and the client.”

FUTURE OF CHANGE Change is already here, Nordan believes.

He sees the use of video conferencing for client meetings, depositions, or even trials, as something attorneys will be doing, even beyond the COVID-19 crisis.

The nature of the job will change. Travel will become much less necessary. “You’ve got a whole world now that’s connected through computers,” describes Nordan. ”The idea of working from home or from a virtual office is very attractive.”

Nordan feels his options are endless, especially now that he is seeing life under a new lens.

“One of my interests is industrial and organizational psychology,” said Nordan.

“I joked to family and friends after getting my J.D. about going back to get my Ph.D. when I turn 60. It would be fun to be in grad-school with my kids.”

According to Nordan, learning is one of his hobbies, plus he loves a challenge, including tough challenges.

Ever since, he’s been thinking about ways to marry his diverse passions in his career to the way he wants to experience life going forward. But Nordan is the first to say that every change should come along with a well thought out, viable plan.

“Control what you can control and willingly accept what is outside your control,” states Nordan. “That idea has become especially relevant to me now.

I’ve learned through stoic philosophy that the only thing I can really control is my thoughts. I know I can impact my health through good habits, but I can’t control the outcomes. So as advice, I recommend you accept what you really can control, and if it’s beyond your control, don’t fuss because there’s nothing much you can do.

Come up with a plan, act with purpose, and remember, your thoughts control your perceptions. So when life brings disbelief and surprise, manage your perceptions.”

“Control what you can control and willingly accept what is outside your control.”

ERIC NORDAN

“The cancer kind of changed things,” reflected Nordan. “You go through life imagining what everything is going to be like, then life happens. Right now, my focus is spending time with my wife and three children as we all navigate this pandemic together.”

Nordan misses working with patients though, and only realized that recently.

“I thought if anything like this pandemic happened, I’d want to stay away from sick people, but when I found out about

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BRYAN MacCORMACK JEFF GENNUSA AND ANA RODRIGUES, WOODWARD CLASS, 2010

A DYNAMIC LEGAL DUO:

Gennusa and Rodrigues Jeff Gennusa (Woodward Class, 2010) and Ana Rodrigues (Woodward Class, 2010) have learned a great deal from each other throughout the past 14 years. From study partners in law school, to living and working thousands of miles apart from each other for six years, and now being married parents, Gennusa and Rodrigues said communication has been the saving grace to their evolving journey.

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“It all comes down to communication,” said Rodrigues. “We don’t jump down each other’s throats. We’ve learned how to pick each other up and turn negative situations into a positive conversation.

We have two lawyers in our house and we do talk politics and legal matters, but we respect each other’s beliefs and opinions.”

Gennusa and Rodrigues met in 2006 during their first term at WMU-Cooley.

They often sat next to each other while studying in the law school’s library.

During that first year, they became “study buddies” and eventually started dating.

“I always envied her because, from day one, she always knew what she wanted to do after graduation,” Gennusa said of his wife. “I had no idea what I wanted to do – I just wanted to get through my exams.”

Gennusa and Rodrigues continued dating throughout the remainder of law school, and ventured to Gennusa’s hometown – New Orleans, Louisiana – with a student group to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Following their last semester at WMU-Cooley in the summer of 2009, they each decided to return to their home states for their externships.

With Gennusa in Louisiana and Rodrigues in Maryland, they each took their respective state bar exams and passed. In order to gain legal experience in the professional world, they committed to living, working and remaining a couple 1,000 miles apart for the next few years.

“It wasn’t easy,” said Rodrigues, who devoted herself to her legal career, often working 60-80-hour weeks. “It was very hard, but it was our promise to each

other: Knowing we would always see each other again and we stuck to it.”

Just like clockwork, Gennusa and Rodrigues saw each other for about 48 hours every six to eight weeks. Before one of them landed in the other’s home state for the weekend, they had already planned out their next immediate visit.

After two years, Gennusa and Rodrigues gained more personal time in their respective career paths and were able to see each other more frequently – about every four to six weeks.

“Every time I was going to see Ana, I got butterflies in my stomach,” Gennusa said. “It was not easy at all, but we knew this was temporary. We knew there was an end in sight – this was not forever.”

Throughout those years, Gennusa and Rodrigues talked about their future together, which helped both of them through the hardship of not living near each other. For Gennusa, it became harder and harder for him to leave Rodrigues when their weekends together came to an end.

Over the Fourth of July holiday in 2015, Gennusa and Rodrigues traveled to Destin, Florida, where they kicked off the start of their new life together as a newly engaged couple. They were married 364 days later. Rodrigues moved to Mandeville, Louisiana, where she and Gennusa bought a home and began their marriage adventure – together in the same city.

“We have a very good balance because of our ability to turn on our professional responsibilities when we’re at work, and Throughout that time, they each immediately shut continued to work for separate law firms: it off when we’re at Gennusa at a firm in in New Orleans, Louisiana, and Rodrigues, working home. It’s a good mix remotely for the same law firm she had of both.” been with in Maryland.

JEFF GENNUSA

(continued)

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JEFF GENNUSA AND ANA RODRIGUES

After passing the Louisiana Bar exam, Rodrigues began practicing with a law firm closer to their Louisiana home, and four months later they welcomed the birth of their daughter, Natalia.

“It’s been wonderful. We enjoy our time together, and it’s been less stressful,” said Rodrigues, also a personal injury lawyer. “It’s been a good equilibrium for us and a better work-life balance.”

“Becoming a parent has opened my eyes to a whole new world. It’s definitely changed my life, but only for the better,” Rodrigues said. “I realized that I love my career, but being a mother is my number one priority.”

Working in an intimate office space together five days a week, then going home and going about their personal lives as married adults and parents, has not caused any tension between Gennusa and Rodrigues, they said. In fact, the couple has a hard rule in place: When they are at work, they are working.

When they leave the office at the end of the day, they leave work behind at the office.

“Until Natalia was born, I didn’t truly understand that a child takes over your world and that everything you do is for that child,” Gennusa said. “I’m now more understanding of what other parents are going through. It has also made me appreciate life more because I’m forced to slow down and be more patient.”

“We have a very good balance because of our ability to turn on our professional responsibilities when we’re at work, and immediately shut it off when we’re at home,” Gennusa said. “It’s a good mix of both.”

But becoming parents wasn’t the only change entering into their lives.

By April 2019, Gennusa opened his own personal injury law firm in a 300-squarefoot office space in Metairie, Louisiana, about 30 minutes from the couple’s home town. As the lone employee of his firm, The Gennusa Firm, he was selected as a 2019 Top Lawyer in Personal Injury

by New Orleans Magazine. Additionally, Gennusa has been named a 2020 Louisiana Rising Star by Super Lawyers.

Since Gennusa and Rodrigues began working together, the couple has also learned a great deal from each other in the professional legal setting. Rodrigues has exceptional organizational skills, and is a quick thinker and negotiator, her husband said. Gennusa is remarkably patient and is an expert listener, according to his wife.

“He’s also been my lifeline in discovery

Ever since the day they said “I do” four years ago, Gennusa and Rodrigues envisioned themselves working side-by-side together – not just as a married couple or as parents, but as partners in the legal profession. Eight months after opening The Gennusa Firm, the couple “ripped the Band-Aid off” and Rodrigues joined her husband as a legal partner in December 2019. Many of their clients now refer to them as their “husband-andwife legal team.”

Gennusa said he and his wife can go hours in the office without talking to each other as they each work on their respective legal cases. Then he’ll overhear his wife on the phone completely in awe of her approach with a client, and silently pump his fist in the air as a sign of praise.

“I had to give up some control when Ana came to the office as this was something I had a system built in place. But it was a give-and-take on both our ends,” said Gennusa, who joked about his wife’s habitual use of colored Post-It notes to keep items in the office organized.

“We know each other’s strengths and weaknesses and that has translated from our home life to the office. We respect each other as attorneys and hold each other accountable.”

Now that they’re parents who work alongside each other at home and at the office, Gennusa and Rodrigues prioritize their work days a little differently: They are more efficient in the office and do their best to not take calls or check work emails when Natalia is with them to maintain balance between their work and personal life.

Natalia is no stranger to the law firm’s clients either. Pictures of her fill the law firm’s office and are often part of the firm’s monthly newsletters.

“Work is not the same,” Rodrigues said. “Now that we work together, once we get to the office in the morning, we get our day going.”

“I think it’s all about balance,” Gennusa added. “We’re not perfect at it, but we try to be flexible and not workaholics.”

Gennusa and Rodrigues with their daughter, Natalia

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work for my legal cases and how it caters to Louisiana law,” Rodrigues said. “Our communication has only gotten better since we’ve started working together.”

KAY KOSSEN, BLACK CLASS, 1996

changed the way that everyone did business, Kossen could be found sorting out long-term care and estate issues and solving complex real estate matters across Michigan. Based at the firm’s Battle Creek office, she would often drive to meet with partners and committees at the firm’s other offices in Portage, Grand Rapids, and St. Joseph, Michigan, or fielding calls, crises, and consultations via her ever-present cell phone.

Kay Kossen There isn’t much in life that stumps Kay Kossen (Black Class, 1996). But asking the newly minted Kreis Enderle managing partner about a “typical day” nets only a thoughtful pause and a perplexed silence.

That’s because there isn’t a typical day.

Even in the midst of the COVID-19 stayhome orders, every day of the week is different for the veteran attorney and mom.

Located in Battle Creek, Michigan, at one of Kreis Enderle’s four west Michigan offices, Kossen manages her real estate and estate planning law practice, serves as the Battle Creek office’s managing partner, and began a three-year term as managing partner for the full firm on Jan. 1, 2020.

To say Kossen keeps busy would be a significant understatement. Before Michigan’s stay-home/stay-safe orders

Enter the governor’s stay-home orders and the weeks look surprisingly the same – only now the visits are done via Zoom or WebEx, as well as by phone.

The biggest change was the necessary cancellation of all in-person client meetings. Kossen said the firm took action early, during the beginning of the concern over what they were hearing about on the news about the virus and what it all might mean. They beefed up their already robust work-fromhome capabilities, made sure they had protocols and plans in place, and were ready for instant activation when the stay-home/stay-safe orders came down.

During the stay-home order, client and attorney meetings were to be conducted by phone or online. Kossen would reach out via the written word as well, authoring a stream of the “virus diaries” with practical articles on how to cope with the shutdown, and communicating firm issues and encouragement for employees. The attorneys pushed out legal issues surrounding COVID-19 and how businesses can prepare, with thoughtful reassurances to clients that the firm is there for them during the pandemic.

Kossen said she could probably talk for an hour on just the stay-home orders, and the practical effects on day-to-day business and strategies for firms and clients. She kept a regular meeting schedule with her administration and management team to track problems and solutions, sent emails to everyone in (continued)

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KAY KOSSEN

the firm, and was poised to handle new issues as they would arise.

Kossen didn’t originally set her sights on a career in law. She majored in psychology and political science at Hope College. After graduation, Kossen found herself working in a real estate office and soon discovered that she both liked and had a knack for solving the complex puzzles that abound in real estate, such as title issues and work in transactions.

After some time, Kossen determined that she could solve those puzzles even better with a law degree. She enrolled at WMU-Cooley, graduated with her J.D. in September 1996, took and passed the bar in February 1997 and began practicing law in June of that year.

Mentors at that first firm introduced her to estate and long-term care planning, which Kossen said overlapped nicely with the real estate expertise she already had.

In 2001, she was recruited by Kreis Enderle, where she continues her same law practice areas, but has now added the management work. The management team focuses its time on the firm’s people, associates, and developing efficiencies, keeping client service at the forefront of their priorities.

The 70-person firm has 32 attorneys, including associates, as well as administration, support teams, and some part-time staff. Partners devote a lot of attention toward associates, with an eye toward keeping them happy and motivated. The senior attorneys participate in committees to hire and retain associates, as well as oversee the firm’s summer clerk and mentoring programs.

The mentoring falls right within Kossen’s wheelhouse. She had been a big sister through Big Brothers/Big Sisters, and for 30 years has remained friends with her “Little Sister.” She is also a member of the Olivet College Women’s Leadership Institute Advisory Council, a group that seeks to empower young women entering the workforce. Noted Kossen, “It’s an

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amazing opportunity to mentor young women as they prepare to enter the workforce.”

That interest in helping others extends even to her current position. Although Kossen knows she was named managing partner based on her experience, commitment and vision, she also understands that her position is a welcome signal.

“I cannot ignore that this is a positive message to women, particularly women that are just starting their professional careers, that they can be leaders in their workplace.”

KAY KOSSEN

Growing up on the west side of Michigan, Kossen has a lifelong affinity for Lake Michigan. She and her son Kyle, 16, love to visit their place in South Haven and enjoy the beach. They hope to get back to the beach more later in the summer.

On the other side of the state, they also look forward to returning to Comerica Park once major league baseball returns and fans are allowed to watch in person. A lifelong fan of the Detroit Tigers, Kossen even has a Justin Verlander rookie jersey hanging in a place of honor in a shadowbox.

She’s also a runner, and likes taking her 110-pound Silver Labrador, Cole, out on runs every day, providing a safe way to get both fresh air and mind-clearing exercise – leaving her ready to take on another “typical day” in the life of a busy attorney.

Kyle and Kay Kossen

JEREMY M. GOODMAN, FITZGERALD CLASS, 2006

Jeremy M. Goodman (Fitzgerald Class, 2006) is an ambassador for WMU-Cooley Law School in the greater-Phoenix, Arizona area. He hosts many of the law school’s alumni events in the region.

Jeremy M. Goodman Goodman has many reasons for bringing WMU-Cooley graduates together. One, he admits “is for entirely selfish reasons—it makes for good marketing.” Hosting alumni activities allows him to meet other graduates who send him business in his areas of practice and allows him to reciprocate and send them business in theirs. But, he has other reasons.

“I bring grads together because it’s fun,” said Goodman. “We have this shared experience and it’s special because we help each other out.”

Besides networking and helping each other, there is yet another reason Goodman gives back to WMU-Cooley Law School. It’s what he considers the best reason for being involved.

“WMU-Cooley helped me, and took a chance on me. They accepted me into law school when others did not,” said Goodman.

LAW SCHOOL WASN’T EVEN IN THE PLAN Goodman, who did not graduate from high school, and, at the time had not finished his undergraduate studies, found his way into law school by what some could claim are the most bizarre of circumstances.

“My sister-in-law had been considering going to law school and talked about taking the LSAT. I had never heard about the LSAT, but ever the competitor, I bet I could beat her score on the exam.”

Goodman still had not decided whether he was really going to take the LSAT, but was soon convinced otherwise. He was taking classes at Northern Arizona University (NAU), while working in customer service at a branch office of Bank of America. A class requirement was to interview an executive, so he decided to ask

“I want to give back. Whether it’s financially, hosting alumni events, or mentoring students and recent graduates, I’m willing to do it because the law school, its professors, and my fellow graduates did it for me.”

JEREMY M. GOODMAN

(continued)

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JEREMY M. GOODMAN

the bank’s president for an interview. It was through this exchange that he found a law degree could be useful to his aspirations of growing within the banking industry.

During the interview with the bank’s president, Goodman spoke about hoping to someday attain an MBA. The president asked why and Goodman said “because everybody that has an MBA here makes more money and plays more golf!” The executive laughed, but the insightful executive saw Goodman’s potential and the conversation quickly changed. Goodman learned the president held a J.D., as did many other Bank of America executives who had long since been bankers rather than active in the practice of law. The president advised him that he could do certain things with an accounting degree, and others with an MBA, but he could go almost anywhere with the J.D. because of the methodical way of problem solving that law students are taught.

“So I took the LSAT and got a great score — and I am really only sorry my sister-inlaw never took it, so I have no idea if I would have won our bet to this day,” said a chuckling Goodman. “But, I wasn’t done yet. There I was, working on a career in banking, married with two kids – a high school dropout with a GED. I haven’t even completed my undergrad work, and I am applying to law schools.”

Goodman chose to apply to 10 schools he really admired for their nationally ranked basketball teams. He was denied by all.

“WMU-Cooley wasn’t even on my radar until they started sending scholarship letters,” said Goodman. “WMU-Cooley took me before anyone else.”

Goodman pushed himself to complete his law degree in two years while at the same time worked to complete his degree from NAU. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Free Enterprise just two months before graduating from WMU-Cooley.

Goodman credits professors Phil Prygoski, Mark Dotson, David Finnegan, Evelyn Calogero, and others for mentoring him through law school. In particular, he developed a lasting appreciation and respect for Professor Mable Martin-Scott, who he considers a friend still today.

“My moot court partner and I made it to the final round of the national competition, which was judged by Judge Suhrheinrich,” remembered Goodman. “After the competition, the judge called me and asked if I would be interested in an externship with him.”

“I loved her and her class.

She inspired me every day. I worked so hard to please her. I remember that first semester I wanted nothing more than to get the bluebook award in her class. I didn’t get it, but I remember thinking how amazing it was that a teacher could motivate and inspire somebody in the way she did.”

“My entire two years in Lansing, I spent networking – especially in the banking industry. I didn’t have a high school degree and was working on my undergraduate degree, but I understood banking. I kept a spreadsheet and contacted literally hundreds of bankers and bank lawyers. I tracked everything,” said Goodman.

“I knew that I had something to offer if I could just get a foot in the door and sell myself.”

Because of their encouragement, he participated on a national moot court competition team and the interschool mock trial competition. It was that mock trial competition that ultimately led to Goodman obtaining an externship with Judge Richard Suhrheinrich of the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.

2018 Greater-Phoenix, Arizona area alumni event hosted by Jeremy M. Goodman (back row, left)

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BECOMING AN ATTORNEY

The day after final exams, Goodman went back to Arizona to work at Wells Fargo Corporate Trust. But knowing he wanted to work at a firm, Goodman began applying for jobs at large international firms with prestigious banking practices. He submitted

“I speak fluent Spanish, was involved in the Hispanic National Bar Association and Los Abogados, and began having an interest in starting an international arbitration business, so I started working in Mexico as well.”

JEREMY M. GOODMAN

several résumés through the proper channels, but also reached out to the attorneys managing the banking law departments in each of those firms. Goodman ultimately secured an interview and was hired as an associate at Alston & Bird’s Charlotte, North Carolina, office.

Oddly, the same day he flew back to Arizona from the interview where he accepted the position, Goodman received a form rejection email from Alston & Bird’s human resources department.

“I was so confused and thought they were withdrawing the offer, but I called the managing partner of the practice group, he assured me I had a job,” said Goodman. “It just proves you have to be willing to be persistent.”

In 2008, when the economy began taking a downward trend, Goodman moved back to Arizona to work in banking with another firm. Through the experience gained with large firms, Goodman eventually decided to open his own firm in Phoenix and in Mexico City, Mexico.

“I speak fluent Spanish, was involved in the Hispanic National Bar Association and Los Abogados, and began having an interest in starting an international arbitration business, so I started working in Mexico as well,” said Goodman.

Goodman earned extensive experience as a transaction, regulatory, and trial attorney and focused much of his practice on the representation of financial institutions and other creditors. He has significant litigation experience representing clients in complex bankruptcy, restructuring, and creditors’ rights issues, as well as pre-litigation workout of defaulted credits. He is the former general counsel and compliance officer of a large 90-year-old financial institution.

Today, Goodman’s practice is focused on arbitrating and mediating complex matters worldwide, particularly those involving financial institutions and other creditors. He often serves as an expert witness for various matters that involve financial institutions and creditors. On a limited

basis, Goodman continues to offer litigation, regulatory, and transaction advice for a select group of clients in the financial industry.

Goodman is among the youngest in the country serving on the commercial arbitration panel of the American Arbitration Association, and serves on other prestigious panels as well, including the Centro de Arbitraje de Mexico, FINRA, and the National Futures Association.

Although he has extensive knowledge helping financial institutions and major brands, Goodman takes pride in his pro bono activities, having been awarded by the Arizona Foundation for Legal Services & Education and The Arizona Bar Foundation as a Top 50 Pro Bono Attorney.

“I enjoy giving back, I average about 200 pro bono hours annually,” said Goodman. “I particularly enjoy adoption cases. I was an adopted child myself and like helping on adoption cases.”

Goodman also serves as a judge pro tem in the Maricopa County Superior and Justice Courts where he has decided hundreds of written motions and presided over hundreds of hearings, settlement conferences, evidentiary hearings, and both bench and jury trials— in a wide variety of criminal and civil matters.

Goodman, never one to take a break, is currently working toward an LL.M. in International Commercial Arbitration at the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution at the Pepperdine Caruso School of Law. He continues helping WMUCooley, whether through mentoring students and recent graduates, or by hosting alumni activities.

“Like I said, WMU-Cooley took a chance on me. I want to give back however I can and for as long as I can.”

Goodman and his wife, Melissa, live in Gilbert, Arizona, with their children, Weston, 17, and Hayden, 16, and two dogs.

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SCHANTELL COMEGYS, COLEMAN CLASS, 2009

Schantell Comegys

Schantell Comegys and U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Washington, D.C. is not only the nation’s capital and home to more than 600,000 residents, but it’s also home to countless businesses related to the nation’s political center, in addition to a robust private sector. Carving out a career among scores of some of the worlds’ most highly educated and motivated professionals means working long hours and having a passion for one’s work.

For Schantell S. Comegys (Coleman Class, 2009), her passion for her work in the legal sector runs deep.

Her primary practice areas are in veterans affairs and Social Security claims. In addition, Comegys is certified in dispute resolution, mediating Title VII Civil Rights Act, ADA, sexual harassment, and age discrimination complaints filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Since 2010, she has served as an EEOC mediator in this arena.

She also works with the D.C. Volunteer Lawyers Project, which provides pro bono legal assistance to hundreds of domestic violence victims and at-risk children each year.

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Comegys’ typical day begins at 6:30 a.m. and goes to usually later that evening. Yet she is energized by the challenges that the judicial system presents each day.

“I enjoy initiating policy and change.

I like that I have the authority to do that,” Comegys asserted. “I also like that I am able to teach and mentor other attorneys.”

Comegys, who grew up in Baltimore, Maryland, built her career on an impressive education foundation that, in addition to WMU-Cooley Law School, includes Bachelor of Science degrees in criminal justice from Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and in pre-law (international studies) from Philadelphia University. She also earned a certificate of completion in International Comparative Law from Oxford University, and a master’s degree in negotiations and conflict management from the University of Baltimore.

law school as a strong writer, she knew she would have challenges researching citations – a self-admitted weakness. Yet she was relieved to find great guidance from the professors, fondly recalling a number of those on the faculty who were influential in her education, including Jeanette Buttrey, Emily Horvath, Otto Stockmeyer and William Wagner.

“Everyone was very helpful and I enjoyed my time there,” Comegys recalled.

“Professor Otto Stockmeyer was hilarious.

He had a great sense of humor and would play something like, the Rolling Stones’ ‘Satisfaction’ in class to make a point. I received a lot of help with my externship from Professor Wagner, while Professor Horvath was helpful with my studies and helped me study for the bar. I’d have to say though that Professor Buttrey was the most instrumental in my success at WMU-Cooley.”

Following graduation from WMU-Cooley, Comegys went into entertainment law, It was after a discussion she had with one and then worked in the area of family and of her professors, Richard Bourne, at the children services, working on domestic University of Baltimore, that she made violence cases. She then opened her own the decision to attend WMU-Cooley Law law firm, where she continued to work School. on cases of domestic violence against women, even earning recognition for “When I talked to him about law school, he explained how I could get an excellent three consecutive years from the District of Columbia Bar for her pro bono service education there,” Comegys said, “and in that field. that he recommended me going. He told me it was a challenging law school Comegys eventually sought out work in and that students are expected to work the federal government sector, but at first hard during their time there. Mr. Bourne struggled to get noticed. shared how, not only would I get my J.D. at WMU-Cooley, but I would be able to “In the private industry, résumés are immediately apply my education to the usually two pages, but federal government courtroom; and he was right!” résumés are more like three-to-five pages in length,” Comegys said. “I was blessed Comegys’ law school experience at to find someone at the EEOC (a division WMU-Cooley’s Lansing campus was of the Department of Justice) who looked everything she expected, and more. at my résumés and told me, ‘When you’re She recalled that, although she entered submitting for a federal government position, they look for a very detailed résumé.’ Once I corrected that, I started getting noticed.”

Today, Comegys’ practice includes a number of specialties, including dispute resolution, government procurement, estate planning, domestic and international business, Social Security claims, veterans’ claims and appellate.

As an Air Force veteran (1996-2001), Comegys, 44, relishes the opportunity to help fellow veterans, particularly when she can apply her skills at the appellate level.

“With VA appellate cases, you have to review tons of healthcare documents in order to get a veteran the benefits they deserve. Due to my former employment at the Board of Veterans Appeals, I know what to look for to be successful,” she said.

When she isn’t working, Comegys enjoys traveling and shopping. To those who might seek a career in law, she offers the following advice: Make sure you are in it for the right reasons.

“If you truly love the law, and truly want to be an attorney, it can be very rewarding.

Don’t go into law for the money. That’s not the most rewarding factor about being an attorney. It is so rewarding knowing that you can make a difference in someone’s life.”

SCHANTELL COMEGYS

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MAJOR NICHOLAS WALLACE, SIBLEY CLASS, 2011 AND MAJOR BEN STRAHM, COLEMAN CLASS, 2009

JUDGE ADVOCATES GENERAL CONVERGE:

Wallace and Strahm Two Western Michigan University Cooley Law School graduates who are both Judge Advocates General (JAG) in the Indiana National Guard 38th Infantry Division had the unique opportunity to participate in a Subject Matter Expert Exchange (SMEE) with judges from the Jordan Armed Forces last fall.

Major Nicholas Wallace

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work together in a joint environment. The Subject Matter Expert Exchange (SMEE) is one method to accomplish that.”

“These SMEEs are important because they provide the opportunity for U.S. Armed Forces to gain incredible insight and understanding of a country’s legal system in the region,” While on active duty overseas, said Strahm, chief of Military Major Ben Strahm of Indianapolis Justice for the 38th Infantry (Coleman Class, 2009) and Major Division. “They also increase our Nicholas Wallace of Fort Wayne cooperation and integration with (Sibley Class, 2011) were among partner nations in the region.” five judge advocates who traveled Throughout the SMEE with to Jordan in September 2019 the Jordan Armed Forces, for the multi-day event. During United States and Jordanian the exchange with Jordan Armed military attorneys conducted Forces experts, they exchanged presentations designed to foster knowledge, procedures, and best a deeper understanding of practices, and built relationships how each country approaches with the country’s partners in the complex legal issues, such as Middle East. the rules of engagement, laws of “Part of armed conflict and preventing the Task unnecessary collateral damage, Forces according to Wallace and Strahm.

Spartan For Wallace, his biggest takeaway mission from the program and meeting is to with their Jordanian counterparts strengthen Major Nicholas Nicholas Wallace Wallace is how influential its culture is Major defense with the country’s legal system. relationships, build partner capacity, and deter regional “While there were a lot of aggression,” said Wallace, chief similarities between our two of National Security Law for the systems, the differences reflected 38th Infantry Division. “One each country’s respective history, way we do that is by working geographic location, and values,” with our partner nations in the he said. “After the exchange, region to increase interoperability I feel like I have a better between our armed forces and understanding and appreciation

for the role culture plays in our legal system and will use that perspective in my civilian practice.”

Sea, Jesus’s Baptismal Site, the Roman ruins in Jaresh, and Wadi Mujib, a river canyon that flows into the Dead Sea.

Strahm noted one of the most noticeable differences between the Jordan Armed Forces and the U.S. National Guard is that most Jordan Armed Forces lawyers become judges there, handling both civilian and military matters in their courtroom.

“Jordan is a beautiful country and its citizens are very kind and welcoming,” said Wallace.

“While not perfect, our judicial system – both military and civilian – still affords several due process safeguards,” he said. “Life in the United States can be a struggle at times. But there are other countries that are going through far worse with less resources. I am extremely fortunate for the opportunities that I have been provided, and I’m proud to be a part of our judicial system.”

“Jordan is rich with culture and history,” added Strahm. “The landscape is absolutely stunning and vastly different from the fields of Indiana.”

BEYOND NATIONAL GUARD Although Wallace and Strahm both attended law school at WMU-Cooley’s Lansing campus, they met for the first time in 2013 while preparing for deployment as judge advocates with the Indiana National Guard.

As “chiefs” in their respective divisions during the deployment – Strahm as chief of Military Justice and Wallace as chief of National Security Law – the two As part became good friends as they of the worked side-by-side in a small exchange, trailer office throughout their Strahm, deployment.

Wallace and the “We found out that we have a lot other in common and followed similar Major Ben Ben Strahm Strahm Major judge paths since law school: first advocates ate lunch with their WMU-Cooley, and starting our Jordanian counterparts every civilian careers in prosecutor’s day, giving them the opportunity offices before we each switched to learn about each other’s lives to working in a private practice outside of the military’s legal where we both practiced family world. law and criminal defense,” “They are extremely hospitable and very friendly,” Strahm said.

“This SMEE expanded my knowledge of another country’s judicial system and helped me grow, not only as an officer and military lawyer, but also as a civilian.”

Wallace said. “Then we were both direct-commissioned in the JAG Corps. after law school, and now have young families.”

Strahm was 17 years old when he first joined the Indiana Army National Guard as an infantryman in 1996.

During their four days in Jordan, “I wanted to serve my country the U.S. judge advocates had and be a part of something some free time in the evenings bigger than myself,” he said. and visited Amman, the Dead (continued)

Major Ben Strahm

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SCHOOL NEWS

WALLACE AND STRAHM

“The military provided me a great opportunity to grow and help me prepare for college and law school.”

Strahm took a break from the National Guard after serving five years to pursue an undergraduate degree at Indiana University-Bloomington and then law school at WMU-Cooley.

While at WMU-Cooley, Strahm completed his externship with the Narcotics Division of the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office in Indianapolis, Indiana. Following graduation, he was hired as deputy prosecutor in the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office and moved up the ranks from Misdemeanor Court to Level 6 Felony Court, prosecuting gang-related and major felony drug cases, as well as murders, aggravated assaults, and robberies. After six years, Strahm joined a small law firm on the north side of Indianapolis, where he primarily practiced family law and criminal defense.

“I chose WMU-Cooley because they teach the practical application of the law and prepare students to become successful attorneys upon graduation,” Strahm said.

In 2012, Strahm rejoined the Indiana Army National Guard as a JAG officer in order to continue his dream of serving his country. He has since served as trial counsel (prosecutor) with the 38th Sustainment Brigade during Operation Enduring Freedom, trial counsel for the 76th Infantry Brigade Combat Team in Lawrence, Indiana, and now, as chief of Military Justice with the 38th Infantry Division for Operation Spartan Shield. In this most recent post, he oversees all military justice matters within the division. He also leads, coaches, and mentors the Brigade Trial Counsels within the division.

Strahm returned to the United States in March 2020 after a nine-month tour overseas. Upon his stateside

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return, he joined Avnet Law in Noblesville, Indiana, practicing family law and criminal defense. The law firm is owned by a fellow WMU-Cooley graduate, Ary Avnet (Coleman Class, 2009), who has been friends with Strahm since 2001. The pair, who attended Indiana University together and were roommates throughout and immediately after law school, had always talked about working at a small law firm together.

A graduate of Ball State University, Wallace joined the Indiana National Guard as a second lieutenant in 2012. A year later, he was promoted to captain and served in that capacity until his promotion to major in January 2020. Wallace, who has responded to numerous domestic issues and has twice deployed to the Middle East, became a Brigade Judge Advocate for the 38th Combat Aviation Brigade when he returned home after his most recent nine-month deployment overseas.

“WMU-Cooley really inspired me to use my newfound knowledge and skills to serve others, so when the opportunity presented itself to join the Indiana Army National Guard, I jumped at the chance,” he said.

“It was really the perfect fit for me because I could be a part of a great organization with a wonderful group of lawyers from across the state and still serve my local community as a practicing attorney. It was the greatest educational decision I ever made.

“Serving as a member of the Indiana Army National Guard is one of the greatest honors of my life,” Wallace added.

In civilian life, Wallace practices criminal defense, family law, and veterans’ affairs disability claims at Leonard, Hammond, Thoma & Terrill in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He is also a deputy public defender in the felony division for Allen County, Indiana.

WMU-Cooley School News New Board of Director Members Announced

Hon. Michael Hatty

Jordan Sutton

Three new members have been elected to the WMU-Cooley Law School Board of Directors.

The board voted unanimously on Feb. 22 to elect the Hon. Michael Hatty (Butzel Class, 1979) of Brighton, Michigan, Jordan Sutton (Johnson Class, 2013) of Lansing, Michigan, and Mitchell Zajac (Burger Class, 2017) of Howell, Michigan, to four-year terms on the board.

Hatty is the chief judge for the 44th Circuit Court and 53rd District Court in Livingston County, Michigan. He is also the presiding judge of the Adult Drug Treatment Court and was appointed the Business Court judge for Livingston County in April 2019.

Sutton joined the family-owned business, Sutton Advisors PLC in 2004, and is now the Mitchell Zajac managing director. Sutton’s parents Jerry (Cooley Class, 1976) and Linda Sutton (Dethmers Class, 1981), each earned juris doctor degrees from WMU-Cooley.

Zajac is a registered patent attorney with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. As a patent law attorney and associate at Butzel Long’s Detroit office, he concentrates on automotive, intellectual property, regulatory and emissions compliance, and sports and entertainment law.

Student Relief Fund Created to Help Students During COVID-19 Crisis In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Western Michigan University Cooley Law School established the WMU-Cooley Student Relief Fund to provide financial support to current students who are facing challenges during the current crisis.

Within a few short weeks, your kindness and generosity was absolutely heartwarming,” said WMU-Cooley President and Dean James McGrath. “I can report that, since April, donations from alumni and friends of WMUCooley have been in excess of $60,000, surpassing every expectation we had, including a gift of $5,000 from the WMU-Cooley Alumni Association.

Any gift to our students can continue to be made to the WMU-Cooley Student Relief Fund at https://www.cooley.edu/alumni/make-adonation.

“From my heart, I thank you on behalf of WMU-Cooley Law School.”

WMU-COOLEY LIBRARIAN PODCAST TRACES HISTORY OF AMERICAN LAW WMU-Cooley’s Head of Public Services at its Auburn Hills campus library, Timothy Innes (Coleman Class, 2009), recently launched a new podcast that traces the history of American law from its most ancient roots to the present day.

“The American Legal History Podcast,” dives into the evolution of American law, beginning with its ancient roots, through the birth of the Common Law in medieval England, and on to early colonial and revolutionary America, the early days of the Supreme Court,

DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. HONORED In observance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day and WMU-Cooley Law School’s Equal Access to Justice Day, the law school’s four campuses hosted MLK Day of Service Activities. Activities included volunteering at a food bank and a presentation by Ingham County Circuit Court Judge Wanda M. Stokes in Lansing, volunteering at the Salvation Army Pontiac Corps and Community Center, along with a brunch discussion on “Assessing the Dream: A Progress Report” at the Auburn Hills campus, showings of the movie Selma, followed by a discussion on the topic of King’s work in civil rights, in Grand Rapids, and, in Florida, a visit to Everyday Blessings to commemorate Dr. King’s birthday by providing activities for foster children.

the Civil War, the tumultuous 20th century and concluding with the state of American law in the present day.

Subscribe to “American Legal History Podcast” in the iTunes Store, Each episode is approximately 30 Timothy Innes or listen to minutes in length with an estimated individual episodes on the podcast final number of 60 episodes. website www.alhtji.libsyn.com.

WMU-Cooley Innocence Project Case is Featured in Netflix Series The WMU-Cooley Innocence Project’s exoneration of Kenneth Wyniemko in 2003 is featured in a new Netflix series, The Innocence Files, released on April 15, 2020.

Wyniemko was wrongfully convicted in 1994, being accused of criminal sexual conduct, breaking and entering, and armed robbery.

The WMU-Cooley Innocence Project obtained post-conviction DNA testing in 2003 and, with assistance from attorney Gail Pamukov, Wyniemko’s conviction was overturned and all charges were dismissed by Macomb County prosecutors on June 17, 2013. Five years later the actual perpetrator was identified

through the DNA data bank.

The nine-episode documentary shines a light on the personal stories behind eight wrongful convictions, including Wyniemko’s.

Ken Wyniemko and Marla Mitchell-Cichon

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Grand Rapids Business Journal Honors WMU-Cooley President and Dean James McGrath WMU-Cooley Law School President and Dean James McGrath was honored by the Grand Rapids Business Journal as a “Newsmaker” for 2019. McGrath, a finalist in the law category, was recognized during the newspaper’s 2019 Newsmaker of the Year event at Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park. McGrath, who joined WMU-Cooley in July 2019, recognized how the increasing cost of law school was affecting students, and spearheaded WMU-Cooley’s efforts to ease that burden by reducing the tuition 21 percent beginning fall 2020.

James McGrath

KIMBLE CENTER FOR LEGAL DRAFTING ANNOUNCES GRADUATE FELLOWS, AND BOARD ADVISORS

Bridget Saxton

Jonathan Brignall

The Kimble Center for Legal Drafting at WMU-Cooley Law School has announced its second graduate fellow, Bridget Saxton (Field Class, 2020), along with appointments of its initial board of advisers. The center’s first graduate fellow was Jonathan Brignall (Davis Class, 2020).

The board of advisers consists of an acclaimed group of international experts in plain language, forms and website design, and user testing: Peter Butt, emeritus professor of law, University of Sydney Australia; Anne-Marie Chisnall, deputy chief executive, Write Limited, Wellington, New Zealand; Martin Cutts, director, Plain Language Commission, UK; Caroline Jarrett, investigator, Effortmark LTD, UK; Janice (Ginny) Redish, consultant, Redish & Associates, Bethesda, Maryland; Karen Schriver, president, KSA Communication Design & Research, Inc., Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Rob Waller, director, The Simplification Centre, UK; and Helen Xathaki, professor, University College London, and dean, Postgraduate Laws Programmes, University of London.

These experts have published extensively and bring with them decades of experience in 26

their fields. They will be involved in reviewing documents produced by the Center.

The Kimble Center for Legal Drafting’s mission is to produce and make available—to attorneys and consumers—legal documents that are clear and easily understandable, documents unlike anything that the public is used to seeing from attorneys. The Center has released its first public document—a Medical Power of Attorney form, an easyto-use form for naming someone to be your medical agent in Michigan.

Senator Joyner

FLORIDA STATE SENATOR HONORED WITH DISTINGUISHED LEADERSHIP AWARD

The Black Law Students Association (BLSA) at the Tampa Bay campus honored Florida State Senator Arthenia L. Joyner (2006-2016) with the 2020 Distinguished Leadership Award during its Annual Black Tie Ball event held in downtown Tampa, on March 7, 2020.

MCCOLLUM NAMED DIRECTOR OF ONLINE LEARNING Western Michigan University Cooley Law School’s director of graduate and Catherine McCollum extended programs Catherine McCollum is taking on an additional role as director of online learning.

WMU-Cooley has recently moved all classes to an online platform as a safety precaution during the COVID-19 pandemic. In her new

role as director of online learning, McCollum will oversee the law school’s new Center for Online Instruction. While also continuing in her role as director of WMU-Cooley’s graduate and extended programs, McCollum will manage and coordinate online resources and faculty training.

OTTO STOCKMEYER HONORED BY MICHIGAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCE, ARTS AND LETTERS Distinguished Professor Emeritus Otto Stockmeyer has been awarded the 2020 Cohn Prize for Law and Public Policy by The Otto Stockmeyer Michigan Academy of Science, Arts & Letters. Stockmeyer was honored for his 2019 academic paper, “Three Faces of Restitution,” which traces the evolution of restitution as a subject of law school study and summarizes its principal components and practical applications. The paper is to be published in the upcoming issue of the Academy’s journal, Michigan Academician.

WMU-COOLEY LEADERS IN THE LAW HONOREES Associate Dean and Professor Tracey Brame, and graduate Michael Rutkowski (Fitzgerald Class, 2006), of Rutkowski Law Firm in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, were named to Michigan Lawyers Weekly’s “Leaders in the Law” Class of 2020. Brame and Rutkowski are among 30 recipients who received this year’s honor. A luncheon celebrating the Leaders in the Law Class of 2020 is scheduled for July 9 at the Detroit Marriott Troy.

January Commencement Ceremonies

John Schifino

The Tampa Bay campus conferred 46 juris doctor degrees during graduation ceremonies at the University of South Florida Marshall Center on January 18. Noreka Thomas provided the valedictory remarks and Hillsborough County Bar Association Immediate Past President John Schifino of the Gunster law firm provided the keynote address. The Stanley E. Beattie Award for Excellence in Teaching was presented to Professor Paul Carrier.

On Jan. 26, in Michigan, there were 78 juris doctor degrees conferred and six master of laws degrees during graduation ceremonies at the Michigan State University Auditorium. Arturo Alfaro provided the valedictory remarks. Christina Corl (Bird Class, 1995), managing partner of Plunkett Cooney’s Columbus, Ohio, office and member of the law school’s board of directors, provided the keynote address. The Stanley E. Beattie Award for Excellence in Teaching was presented to Professor Paul Sorensen.

WMU-Cooley Graduates Listed Among Top Lawyers in Michigan Grand Rapids Magazine and D Business magazine have named several WMU-Cooley Law School graduates on their Top Lawyers list for 2019-2020.

Jennie Bryan Mundy Class, 1986

Michael Podein Wiest Class, 1979

James Champion Cushing 2000

John A. Quinn Goodwin Class, 1982

Scott A. Dienes Bird Class, 1995

Michael B. Quinn Graves Class, 1977

Professional Research Services (PRS) conducted an online peer-review survey, asking certified attorneys in the Detroit and Grand Rapids metropolitan areas to nominate their peers who excel in particular practice areas.

Stephanie Fekkes Douglass Class, 1989

Martha Reamon Blair Class, 1983

Laura Genovich Adams Class, 2009

Ronald Redick Jay Class, 2000

Richard K. Grover Carr Class, 1984

Mark Rizik Wing Class, 1982

Lisa A. Hall Edwards Class, 2006

Robert Shaver Champlin Class, 1987

David A. Malson Champlin Class, 1987

Frank Stanley Marston Class, 1978

Justin Maxim Taft Class, 2016

Connie Thacker Moore Class, 1993

Mary Bauman Miles Class, 1986

Nicholas MIssad Morse Class, 1987

Steven J. Vander Ark Dethmers Class, 1981

Mary Benedict Lawrence Class, 1991

Paul Mitchell Bushnell Class, 1980

Allan C. Vander Laan Long Class, 1981

Michael Boyle Chase Class, 2002

John Oostema Campbell Class,1976

Peter VanGelderen Riley Class, 2009

Daniel Broxup Coleman, Class 2009

Ross Plont Woodward Class, 2010

Christopher Westgate Adams Class, 2008

TWO GRADUATES RECEIVE SCHOLARSHIPS FROM WOMEN LAWYERS ASSOCIATION OF MICHIGAN FOUNDATION Two Western Michigan University Cooley Law School May 2020 graduates have received scholarships from the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan Foundation.

Lanita Carter and Daria Solomon were recipients of the 2020 WLAM Foundation Lanita Carter Daria Solomon Solomon Daria Scholars Award. The scholarship is awarded to women law students who demonstrate leadership capabilities in advancing the position of women in society, including service in: social justice, equality, family law, child advocacy, domestic violence, or work on behalf of underserved areas or populations.

Christina Corl

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WMU-Cooley’s Access to Justice Clinic celebrates 100 expungements The events that unfolded the day before Jolanda Rand’s 19th birthday in 2003 are circumstances she would rather forget. For nearly two decades, they haunted her and prevented her from pursuing job opportunities and various ambitions.

Rand did not have any prior convictions and was offered a plea deal: If she pleaded guilty, she would avoid jail time and be placed on probation until she paid all the fines and court fees in full. But the charge itself would never disappear from her record.

“I’m doomed,” Rand remembered thinking to herself as the court hearing concluded.

FORGING ON WITH A CRIMINAL BACKGROUND Jolanda Rand Rand Jolanda

That all changed when Rand attended an expungement fair in Grand Rapids, Michigan, organized by the WMU-Cooley Law School Access to Justice Clinic during the fall of 2019.

Rand, who in 2003 was living and going to college in Berrien County, Michigan, was shopping for a dress to wear at an upcoming school event. A friend working at a clothing store offered Rand his employee discount to lessen the financial burden.

He packed the dress in a garment bag and told Rand he would take care of it and not to worry about paying for the dress.

Only her friend didn’t pay for the dress.

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Instead of leaving the store excited to celebrate her birthday, Rand was met by the store’s loss prevention officers and accused of stealing. She was charged with misdemeanor retail fraud.

“I was naive to the entire situation,” Rand said, recalling the unfortunate events. “I’m not a bad person. My intention was never to leave the store without paying for the dress.

I had the money to pay for it, but they said it was too late.

I was terrified.”

Despite the misfortune, Rand began to move on with her life. She moved to Indianapolis, Indiana, to live with her mother while finishing her degree at a different school and applying for jobs.

While searching for work, Rand stumbled across application roadblocks, specifically those that asked about being charged with a misdemeanor. Rand threw those in the garbage without a second glance. She focused on job applications that did not ask about criminal charges, or those that inquired about felony charges as she could not check that ‘No’ box with full honesty.

“I didn’t want to go through the shame of explaining that situation to a potential employer,” Rand said. “It was embarrassing.”

EXPUNGEMENT HOPE TURNED REALITY Throughout the years, Rand looked into getting an expungement on her own, but was discouraged by the numerous eligibility hurdles she would have to overcome. In September 2019, she learned about an expungement fair being offered through WMU-Cooley’s Access to Justice Clinic.

The 36-year-old mother of three daughters, ages 14, 6 and 2, was determined to get the assistance she needed for a potential expungement.

With only a day’s notice and no one to look after her two younger children, Rand, along with her 6-year-old and 2-year-old daughters, took a four-and-a-half-hour road trip from Indianapolis, Indiana, to the WMU-Cooley Grand Rapids campus.

When Rand arrived, she was taken aback by the 300 people waiting in line to be seen by the clinic’s staff and student attorneys. After a full day of waiting, Rand connected with an event volunteer and explained her case. Exhausted, she was

about to begin the long drive back home to Indianapolis with her two daughters, wondering if the trip was worth her time, when she received a phone call that would change her life.

It was Kamau Sandiford (Livingston Class, 2014), staff attorney at the Access to Justice Clinic. He wanted to meet with Rand to pursue an opportunity for expungement.

“It was overwhelming.

My eyes welled up with tears knowing something will happen this time,” Rand said.

“It was one of the best things that I could ever hear in my life. To know my situation, my case was accepted to pursue expungement, I was overjoyed.”

Sandiford explained the process to Rand and the paperwork she would need to file for expungement with Berrien County’s Trial Court.

By early February 2020, all the pieces were filed with the court, and a date had been set for Rand’s expungement hearing in mid-March.

With the fast-spreading coronavirus sweeping the nation, including Indiana and Michigan, the judge accepted Rand’s expungement application without a hearing.

“It seemed surreal – this has been hanging over my head for over 10 years,” Rand said. “Having the physical document stating that my expungement has been granted, it’s amazing.

I’m still in disbelief that it’s finally over.”

CELEBRATING 100 EXPUNGEMENTS Rand is one of over 100 individuals that WMUCooley’s Access to Justice Clinic has helped since the clinic began expungement work in 2015. Of all the cases that have gone before a judge, only three have not been successfully expunged.

“It makes me feel really good about the impact we’re having,” said Tracey Brame, associate dean at

(continued)

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WMU-Cooley’s Grand Rapids campus and founding director of the Access to Justice Clinic.

Tracey Brame

“We have a pool of client diversity – from working professionals to single moms. To know we’ve had over 100 successful expungements tells me we have become a staple and a known resource.

We’ve become synonymous with the work we’re doing in the community and that makes me very proud.”

Established in 2006, in partnership with the Grand Rapids Bar Association, the Access to Justice Clinic initially opened to focus on family law cases. It wasn’t until 2015 when a state statute amendment expanded

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the expungement eligibility from one conviction to up to three – one felony and two misdemeanors – that the clinic shifted focus to expungements.

“That opened the flood gates,” Brame said. “We began holding community education events for those seeking expungement and had a waiting list of clients a year long.”

With two staff attorneys and a handful of WMU-Cooley students per semester, the Access to Justice Clinic provides pro bono legal representation to those seeking to expunge their criminal convictions or remove other barriers presented by their criminal history. Additionally, the clinic provides educational opportunities about issues facing ex-offenders through community outreach events.

In addition to helping those with criminal records, the Access to Justice Clinic provides legal experience to WMU-Cooley students who get to work with actual clients in need of assistance.

“One day, they will be practicing attorneys and the Access to Justice Clinic gives them practical legal experience like interacting with clients, handling case files, conversing with clerks over email and phone calls, and presenting their case in front of a judge,” said Sandiford, who supervises the clinic’s student attorneys.

A BRIGHT FUTURE Throughout the past five years the clinic’s staff has become more efficient at reviewing expungement eligibility cases. Brame and Sandiford expect to broaden the clinic’s expungement work throughout Michigan.

Looking ahead, Brame would like to see the clinic expand to other fields of legal expertise, and become more holistic in helping those who are not currently eligible for expungement.

“The arc of where we’re going has been expanding,” she said. “I’d like to see how we can better connect expungement candidates to applicable resources, and maybe even lobby to be a leading voice for them as

changes develop in the state statute.”

For those who have a criminal history and are considering, but hesitant, to seek out WMU-Cooley’s Access to Justice Clinic for expungement assistance, Brame offered the following:

“The statutes that are in place are designed to give people a second chance,” she said.

“You’ll find the staff and students at the Access to Justice Clinic are incredibly supportive and willing to do all they can to help.”

“There’s no harm in knowing about whether criminal convictions are on your record or whether or not you’ll be eligible for expungement. Many who pursue expungement don’t necessarily do it for themselves, but for their family,” said Brame.

“That conviction from five years ago doesn’t define who you are. Remember that,” Brame added. “We’re very supportive and we’ll walk you through the process every step of the way.”

“Our clients are good people who make mistakes along the way, and society has judged them over their past experiences,” Sandiford added. “We get to know them and get to know their story.

We help them remove that weight off their shoulders, providing a sense of relief.”

In regard to his most recent client, Jolanda Rand, Sandiford reiterated that she

Staff attorney Kamau Sandiford

Student Mary Hilger with client Michelle Briggs

is the embodiment of what the expungement statute represents: model citizens who are still being haunted by a mistake from their past.

Rand, no longer embarrassed, holds a fulfilling job with a life insurance company that believes in, and supports all of its employees.

“It’s definitely worth it as your life is going to change and will no longer be limited by your past mistakes,” Rand said. “The clinic’s staff is informative and not judgmental. They are truly helpful and give you the tools and resources to help your case.”

Client Doug Linn with student Jerryl McWilliams

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As I discussed on the inside cover of this edition of The Benchmark, your students, staff and faculty switched to 100% online classes for the last three weeks of the Hilary semester without missing a beat.

Everyone pitched in and did what was necessary to keep us all safe while continuing to educate our future lawyers.

This trial by fire went exceptionally well considering the abrupt nature of our shift online.

WMU-Cooley was able to pivot more seamlessly than many law schools. Why was that?

First of all, as a law school with multiple campuses, we were more comfortable with video conferencing than most other schools, giving us an edge to operating almost 100% remotely. I was impressed during my interview process here with how well the school was able to broadcast my presentations to all campuses, no matter where I was physically speaking.

WMU-Cooley was also a pioneer in teaching some classes remotely, and long ago

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built dedicated classrooms for “hybrid” or “blended” classes – those with a mix of live and online teaching. The school had also established its Weekend Blended Learning Program, providing a third of the traditional class meetings through online instruction.

Shortly after my arrival, we began upgrading equipment and software to modernize the teaching and learning process, and will still need to do more.

We are embracing the “flipped classroom” using Canvas, a new learning platform that provides hosting for flipped classroom content, interactive communication, and online assessment. Education and the practice of law increasingly is intertwined with sophisticated technological tools and we will continue to keep pace. We will need to further invest in technology to secure our future.

Our faculty embraced these new technologies and methods, becoming online teaching experts during our summer semester, putting this technology and their new skills to work. They are honing their expertise, while at most schools shifting online remains more of a theoretical exercise. If due to continued threats from COVID-19 we must remain online, we are prepared.

Our staff has also been instrumental in carrying on the important business of training future lawyers. Although some personnel must actually be physically in our buildings to perform their work, those who can work remotely must work remotely to protect themselves and those who must work on campus. On day two of the campus closure, I too had to be reminded, that although I consider myself “essential” to our organization, I can do

almost all of my work remotely if necessary.

When problems arose in converting our final exams to an online format, it was the staff who made it possible in such a short time. Our “Admin Army,” as they will forever be known, were able to properly code and upload all of our exams to our learning platform and coordinate an entirely new process of remote testing, while maintaining the integrity of these assessments.

Of course, our IT department and operations staff has had to manage our swift transition to remote working, teaching and testing. Without their expertise and incredibly hard work, none of our remote efforts would have been possible. Clearly, our team was ready for such a possibility and has handled our “new normal,” with little disruption.

PRESIDENT AND DEAN JAMES MCGRATH

Pivoting Seamlessly Toward Change Embracing new technologies as online teaching experts

As we transitioned to online learning it was essential that we continued to provide seamless student services and our staff was up for the challenge and continue to meet our students’ needs. Under less than ideal circumstances, our students have also risen to the challenge of the new learning modality.

Part of my plan to make WMUCooley a leader in modern legal education is to have all of our faculty employ empirically proven methods that promote long term retention of learning.

This is critical for our future bar passers, so they will not have to relearn as much law postgraduation. It will also help them be more effective lawyers in the future. Our faculty immediately embraced this vision, holding training sessions so that we can all sharpen our classroom skills and knowledge. These techniques have proven essential to our

online offerings, enabling us to deliver a high-quality education remotely. When we can again teach in person, these techniques will translate well to a traditional classroom, promoting deep learning and long-term retention of knowledge. Your faculty has truly embraced these challenges and continues to offer basic and advanced peer trainings -- using these advanced teaching techniques of course – to improve our classes now and in the future.

The COVID-19 pandemic may have actually accelerated our progress in upgrading our teaching.

While we are taking advantage of the challenges brought on by the pandemic to improve our program, this crisis has also brought problems that are more personal. Many of our students are living on the “financial edge,” just one

emergency away from not being able to continue their studies.

As we at the law school shifted to quickly make necessary changes to meet the demands of the COVID-19 pandemic back in March, many of you were already reaching out to us to ask how you could help - just like any family member would. You understood that our students were struggling. Some had lost jobs. Some were caring for sick family members. Some were facing housing issues. All were trying to shift to an online learning environment.

With your inspiration, we responded by creating the COVID-19 Student Relief Fund. Your kindness and generosity were amazing. Since April, donations from alumni and friends of WMU-Cooley exceed $60,000, surpassing our expectations. Our students have also been overwhelmed with your thoughtfulness and

kindness, and we continue to field requests for assistance for financial difficulties brought on by the pandemic.

This is certainly not the first year of my deanship that I had planned for, but with an amazing faculty, staff and student body we have overcome these obstacles and exceeded our own high expectations.

If I know anything about the future, I know that we can expect nearly constant change in our profession. We will not only react to these changes, but further our mission of access. We will build upon that nearly 50-year-old mission to ground our students in the knowledge and skills to be tomorrow’s leaders while aiding them in developing a strong ethos of commitment to access to justice.

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SCHOOL ALUMNI NEWS

WMU-Cooley Alumni News In October 2019, WMU-Cooley President and Dean James McGrath sent letters to all alumni asking for participation in an email survey. In November and early December, the alumni office conducted the survey of our graduates.

Alumni survey Alumni were also invited to connect by email at alumni@cooley.edu with their thoughts and comments. This opportunity continues to be available to alumni. We want to hear from you!

A total of 506 responses to the survey were received through the Google form.

A number of responses were received by email as well, but those responses are not included in the percentages used here. Most responders on the Google form identified themselves – a total of 405 gave their names, and 386 gave contact information in the form of an email address or street address.

Alumni were asked what method of communication they preferred, and the result was overwhelmingly in favor of email messages – 85 percent preferred that method, 11 percent preferred print copy, 3 percent preferred to visit the website and one person preferred text messages.

11% PRINT COPY

BY MAIL

WMU-COOLEY WEBSITE

Alumni were asked how connected they felt to the school. About half chose either 1 or 2 (not very connected), 30 percent chose neutral, and 20 percent chose 4 or 5 (very connected). Most responders indicated they have used services provided by the school since graduation, and were interested in participating in some type of school-related activity in the future.

Some 431 responses indicated what services they had used since graduation: • 69 percent read the Benchmark Alumni Magazine • 30 percent attended regional alumni events • 30 percent read the Benchmark Column e-newsletter • 27 percent used bar prep resources • 21 percent search the alumni directory • 16 percent visit the website for school news

30% REGIONAL ALUMNI EVENTS

30% BENCHMARK COLUMN E-NEWS 27% BAR PREP RESOURCES

85% EMAIL 69% BENCHMARK ALUMNI MAGAZINE

21% ALUMNI DIRECTORY 16% WEBSITE 12% CAREER SCHOOL NEWS COUNSELING

PREFERRED METHOD OF COMMUNICATION

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SERVICES USED SINCE GRADUATION

2020 Alumni Memorial Scholarship Winners future students. Almost all responders indicated their type of employment:

• 12 percent used career counseling Regarding future connections with the school, 292 graduates responded and 56 percent stated they would like to serve on the National Alumni Board or on an alumni association committee, 38 percent would provide externships, 32 percent want to write an article for publication, 27 percent want to recruit new students, and 22 percent are interested in hosting alumni receptions in their communities.

Graduates were also asked what emerging trends they saw in the legal profession, what important skills our students should be learning, and what programs and services they would be more likely to support financially.

The final question in the survey offered alumni an opportunity to give feedback on anything they wanted to tell the law school. The survey has already resulted in some changes. The alumni association has appointed a committee to revise its bylaws. The bylaws are being restructured to make changes to the national alumni board and the working committees.

The association hopes to involve more graduates on the board, and reactivate some committees that have become inactive over the last few years. It is hoped that, with these changes, alumni will feel more connected.

The last section of the survey asked for current occupational information that could be used in guiding current and

9% JD PREFERRED 10% LAW LICENSE NOT REQUIRED SELF EMPLOYED LAW LICENSE NOT REQUIRED

70% LAW LICENSE REQUIRED

UNEMPLOYED SEEKING

UNEMPLOYED NOT SEEKING

TYPES OF EMPLOYMENT

The 2020 Alumni Memorial Scholarship winners were Leonard Peoples (Lansing campus) and Ray Petty (Tampa Bay campus).

The scholarship is awarded during Hilary Term each year and is based on need, character, and potential as future lawyers.

Students eligible to apply for the scholarship will have completed at least 30 credits, with good academic standing and service to the school and community.

2020 Distinguished Student Awards The Alumni Association Executive Committee awarded Distinguished Student awards for Hilary Term 2020 to three graduating seniors from the Field Class. Cameron Liljestrand (Grand Rapids campus), Jalitza Serrano (Tampa Bay campus), and Daria Solomon (Auburn Hills campus) received the awards for their academic achievements, involvement in extracurricular activities while attending WMU-Cooley, and service to their communities.

U.S. Supreme Court Bar Admissions The U.S. Supreme Court Bar Admission ceremony for WMU-Cooley graduates that was scheduled at the Supreme Court for March 24, 2020 was cancelled in response to COVID-19.

On April 27, 2020, five WMU-Cooley Law School graduates were admitted to the U.S. Supreme Court Bar by written motion. Their admittance was moved by Helen Haessly (Cushing Class, 2000). The members of the group being sworn in were Michelle Bell (Needham Class, 2004), Germese Gee (Todd Class 2014), Ruthamar Hyppolite (Johnson Class, 2013), Nicholas Opalewski (Todd Class, 2014) and Peter Wolff (Livingston Class, 2014).

If you are interested in participating in a future swearing in ceremony, please contact the Alumni Office at alumni@cooley.edu. Space is limited.

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The annual Thomas M. Cooley Society Donor Recognition Gala was held Feb. 29, 2020, at the Wharton Center for the Performing Arts in East Lansing, Michigan.

1

This year, the celebration honored its donors with a beautiful evening of dining, donor awards and a theater performance of “My Fair Lady.”

5

The Thomas M. Cooley Society recognizes donors who have reached a minimum cumulative donor level of $2,500 and incremental levels up to $1 million and up. New members and those moving to higher levels are recognized each year with a special gift.

President James McGrath attended his first Cooley Society Gala this year, greeting members and making welcoming remarks.

If you are interested in being inducted into Cooley Society or have inquiries, please contact Pamela Heos, Director of Donor Relations at heosp@cooley.edu.

Alumni Society Gala 9

1. WMU-Cooley President James McGrath welcomes Cooley Society members.

2. WMU-Cooley Director of Donor Relations Pamela Heos and her brother, James Heos (Cooley Class, 1976)

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3. WMU-Cooley President and Dean James McGrath (left) and Thomas Rombach, past president of the State Bar of Michigan (Morse Class, 1987)

4. Eric Nordan (Boyle Class, 2018), with wife Stacy, Monique Field-Foster, senior counsel at Norcross Judd, WMUCooley Chief of Staff Frank Aiello.

5. Cooley Society members receive commemorative gifts for each level of donor support.

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6. Ballerie Allen with daughter Tiffany Foskey, DeYeYa Jones with his wife Jordan Sutton (Johnson Class, 2013).

7. Edward Cook (Morrell Class, 1985) with his wife Glenda.

8. Associate Dean and Professor Amy Timmer and WMU-Cooley President and Dean James McGrath 9. A beautiful evening and a WMU-Cooley chocolate take home favor.

10. Senior Vice-President Paul Zelenski addresses the members.

12. A commemerative plate honors Cooley Society donors.

11. WMU-Cooley President and Dean James McGrath addresses his first Cooley Society Gala

13. Thomas Paciorkowski (Sharpe Class 2008) and wife Maureen, from Jersey City, NJ, with President James McGrath.

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Thomas M. Cooley Society WMU-Cooley’s Board of Directors and President James McGrath proudly recognize and thank the members of the Thomas M. Cooley Society for their generosity and support since 1972. Cooley Society members are inducted annually when they reach a minimum of $2,500 cumulative giving.

With each incremental level that is reached, members are acknowledged and receive beautiful commemorative gifts at the annual Cooley Society Donor Recognition Gala.

FOUNDERS’ SOCIETY $50,000

BOARD OF DIRECTORS SOCIETY $1,000,000 Gordon C. Boardman Michael & Jean Stakias The Charles J. Strosacker Foundation

CHAIRMAN’S SOCIETY $500,000 Dennis E. Benner Don LeDuc & Sue Coley

PRESIDENT’S SOCIETY $250,000 Anonymous Marion M. Hilligan Kimbal R. & L’Mell Smith Jim & Shari Vlasic

DEAN’S SOCIETY $100,000 Gannett Foundation Hazar-Bestos (HBC) Corporation Lawrence P. Nolan & Laurel L. Blasi Rockford Construction Co., Inc.

FOUNDERS’ SOCIETY $50,000 Ida and Benjamin Alpert Foundation Hon. Thomas E. & Pauline M. Brennan Leon & Shelly Corbin – The Howard Soifer Memorial Lecture Series Anthony H. Gair Harriet Gair

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Image Creative Group Inc. A.D. Johnson Foundation Irving U. Knight Dr. Arnold & Mrs. Lynn Markowitz Hon. Jeffrey L. and Ginny Martlew Charles C. & Helen Pratt Mickens Nelson P. Miller John R. & Sarah H. Nussbaumer Lucille Hartigan O’Connor Edward Overbeck/Great Lakes Companies PNC Foundation James Robb & Kim Shierk Louis A. Smith Robert W. Stocker II Hon. Richard Suhrheinrich Jerry, Linda & Jordan Sutton – Sutton Advisors PLC

TEMPLE SOCIETY $25,000 Eric E. & Tobi Breisach Raymond J. & Loretta M. Brennan Jeannette Buttrey Paul Carrier Clark Hill PLC CleanTeam USA Audra A. & Dustin S. Foster Marjorie Gell Jacqueline P. George Peter D. & Sandy Jason Peter M. Kempel Adele I. Kessler Foundation Joseph Kimble Dorean M. Koenig Dan & Nancy Longo Steven L. Maas Dale and Carol Wissmuller Malewska In Memory of Phillip Marco B.G. (ret.) Michael C.H. & Ann C. McDaniel Miller Canfield Lawrence W. Morgan MSU Federal Credit Union Oakland University Operations Department Ernie & Denise Phillips Plante & Moran, LLP

State Bar of Michigan Norman Otto Stockmeyer Louise Cooley Sutherland Amy Timmer & Mark Meservey Charles & Mary Ellen Toy William & Marilyn Wagner William Weiner & Paula Latovick F. Georgann Wing David P. Wood

PILLAR SOCIETY $10,000 Frank Aiello Hon. Louise Alderson & Tom Hoisington Virginia P. Allen Anonymous Marylynn Bain Hon. Richard D. & Diane Ball Gary P. Bauer Keith & Cherie Beck Alvin M. Bentley Foundation Carey S. Bernstein David C. Berry Edward O. & Debra M. Blews In Memory of Gerald Boston David Brandwein Hon. Thomas E. Brennan, Jr. Hon. Terrence P. & Loretta G. Bronson Evelyn K. Calogero Capital Area United Way, Inc. Terry & Michael Carella Peter J. Carras Terrence F. Cavanaugh David G. Chopp Church Wyble PC Dennis & Marla Mitchell-Cichon Rush & Julie Clement Loren & Kathleen Conklin Continental Canteen Thomas M. Cooley Alumni Association Lisa M. Coyne Thomas Cranmer Steven & Janice CunninghamTranseth Hon. Brent & Nancy Danielson DBI Business Interiors Delta Dental of Michigan Dickinson Wright PLLC Mary Phelan D’Isa & Nicholas D’Isa Alden & Vada Dow Family Foundations Chad Engelhardt & Stephen Goethel

Hon. Joseph J. Farah Cindy E. Faulkner Hon. John N. Fields Gerald Fisher Hon. & Mrs. John W. Fitzgerald Anthony & Karen Flores Foster, Swift, Collins & Smith, P.C. Judith A. & Allen M. Frank Fraser Trebilcock Davis & Dunlap PC Analiese & Neal Fusner Garan Lucow Miller PC Tom & Peggy Garikes Elliot B. & Thea G. Glicksman Grand Rapids Building Services Inc. John & Stephanie Gregg Catherine Groll Helen M. & Thomas M. Haessly Walter E. Hahn Hamo Law Firm Sharon Hanlon Harmon Management LLC Haussman Construction Co. Richard C. Henke Pamela Heos & Jeffery A. Brancheau James M. Hicks, Jr. Aletha Honsowitz Hubbard Fox Thomas White & Bengston PC I.COMM Douglas R. & Ieva A. Inglis Hon. James S. & Elizabeth Jamo Eileen Kavanagh Bernard T. Kennedy Lawrence J. Kish Loomis, Ewert, Parsley, Davis & Gotting, PC In Memory of Howard J. Soifer Hon. Ronald W. Lowe Susan L. Mallory Hon. Jane Markey & Curt Benson Dena & John Marks Maurice Distinctive Apparel MayotteGroup Architects Hon. Pamela J. McCabe Dan L. McNeal Robert T. & Annie S. Meeks Ken K. Miller Michael Molitor Martha D. Moore

New Erie Corporation In Memory of Phillip Nusholtz Charles A. Palmer Hon. Donald D. Panarese Nora J. Pasman-Green Physicians Health Plan Michael L. & Peggy G. Pitt Philip J. Prygoski In Memory of Willard A. Robinson Thomas C. Rombach Hon. Kathryn J. Root Eldonna M. Ruddock Marjorie P. Russell Anthony E. Russo William & Rita Schoettle John N. Scott Trudy & Clyde Selig Stuart Serota SHW Group The Steve Smith Family In Memory of Howard J. Soifer Duane A. Strojny Ronald J. Trosty Gerald Tschura Joan P. Vestrand Marie A. Wanamaker Gregory & Cynthia Ward Warner Norcross + Judd William R. Lathers Trust M. Ann Wood Sherida Wysocki Paul & Lynne Zelenski

CORNERSTONE SOCIETY $5,000 Alliance Defense Fund Anonymous Tammy Asher Felix Ashu Aspen Publishers, Inc. / Wolters Kluwer Law & Business Association of Independent Colleges & Universities of Michigan (AICUM) Dawn C. Beachnau Brett J. Bean Ross A. Berlin Black Law Students Association Tom and Colleen Boland Michael J. Boyle Tracey Weaver Brame Robert J. Branch Lynn S. Branham

William J. Brennan Ron & Leslie Bretz Brian’s Books, Inc. Jose’ T. Brown Aaron Burrell Cheryl Bywater Peter & Mary Terpstra Cagle James & Lori Carey Charles Cercone Chalgian & Tripp Law Offices PLLC Kimberly Colgate Committee for Constitutional Reform Consumers Energy Foundation Cooley Student Bar Association Christina Corl David G. Cotter Country Club of Lansing Michael P. Cox William David Cox III John E. Cozean Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan Crowne Plaza Lansing Hotel Custer Workplace Interiors Dard Incorporated In Memory of James Randall Davis Jonathan S. & Susan E. Dean Delta Theta Phi Foundation In Memory of John R. DesJardins Scott A. Dienes Diane M. Dietz Charles D. Doolittle Brian & Margie Doyle Gerald B. Eisman Robert C. Ellis Lisa L. & Gregory J. Fadler Fajen & Miller, PLLC Michael Fedewa Norman Fell Robert A. Fisher William J. Fleener Michael R. Foreback The Foresight Group Patrick L. Fuller Dr. & Mrs. Robert L. Funaro Bruce M. Gale Thomas Gennara Photography Paul D. Goldner Hon.William T. Graham & Strickland Family Foundation Lou Ann & Thomas J. Hall N. Victor Hatami Carl Haussman James T. Heos

Keith J. Hey Paul & Nancy Hillegonds Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn, LLP Emily Horvath James G. Hurley, Jr. IBM Corporation Jewell Media Services Haywood W. Julian Antonios Kalogerakos Kelly Services Dermot & Patricia Kennedy Mara Kent Kline Family Foundation Edward D. Knight III Steven M. Krause Nell Kuhnmuench & Roy C. Saper Laura LeDuc David A. Lee Henry J. Legere, Jr. & Pamela M. Heemer LexisNexis Lincoln Financial Lyman & Sheets MacDonald Broadcasting In Memory of Evelyn Machtel Mable Martin-Scott Matrix Consulting James Soto McGrath Kevin McQuillan Michigan Office Solution (MOS) Miller Foundation Robert E. Mitchell Roger Needham Florise R. Neville-Ewell John F. Nocita Michael J. O’Connor In Memory of the Hon. Michael O’Hara Thomas & Maureen Paciorkowski Edward Pappas Darryl J. Parsell Pepsi-Cola Company James L. Pfeiffer Presort Services Inc. Danny R. Quesenberry Andrew Quinn Joseph D. & Jerry Reid Foundation Hon. Dorothy Comstock Riley & Wallace D. Riley Michael B. Rizik John A. Rooney Barry Scheck Charles J. Senger

SeyferthPR Chris A. Shafer Shear, Inc Sandy, Halie & Marci Soifer - The Howard J. Soifer Memorial Lecture Series William J. & Mary Lou Somerville Kenneth G. Stevens Hon. Bart T. & Laurie Stupak Such Video, Inc. Dennis A. Swan In Memory of Theodore W. Swift John A. Taylor Laurie A. & Stephen B. Taylor James F. Todd Gina M. Torielli Kelley Tucker United Jewish Foundation of Metro Detroit James E. Waldo Eugene G. & Marilyn M. Wanger Vincent W. Welicka Joseph R. White Roy E. Williams, Jr. Willingham & Cote’, PC

21ST CENTURY SOCIETY $2,500 A & G Electric Adams Outdoor Advertising Alane & Chartier PLC Joseph Allessie Stuart Altman Mustafa Ameen American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers – Michigan Chapter American Corporate Counsel – Michigan Chapter The Allstate Foundation Tony & Valerie Alvarado Judith F. Anspach Sally D. Babbitt Bain & Bain Marietta Harte Barbour Steven Basha David & Ronda Beck Hon. Elizabeth S. “Liesl” Beckley Barry E. Berger Laurie K. & William Berner Ann Brennan Bertsch Ed Blackman 39

21ST CENTURY SOCIETY $2,500 (CON’T) Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Michigan James Bonfiglio Michelle Teny – Borsellino BRD Printing John & Catherine Brennan Pauline Brennan Chad A. Brown Margaret L. McMullin Brown Dr. Michelle Simmons Brown Joseph F. Burke Kathleen C. Butler John A. Carras Sean F. Carrol Karen Chadwick Elaine H. Charney Christine Zellar-Church Cintas Corporation Classic Business Products Debra A. Clawson James P. Colbert Joseph A. Collins John C. Colpean Edward F. Cook Mark & Lisa Cooney Joseph Correnti Nino A. Coviello D. Augustus Straker Bar Association John J. D’Alessandro Michael A. Darby Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association Foundation Frank DiGiacomo Scott T. Doggett Michelle Donovan Dow Chemical Company Legal Library Hon. H. Kevin Drake Karen Du Brul Barry H. Dubner FD Hayes Electric Co. Federal Bar Association of Michigan James J. Fehrman William L. Ferrigan Douglass K. Fischer Marc A. Fishman Tiffany Foskey Marga Franck Virginia & John Frezell Michael J. Gibson Holly Glazier-Hicks Jeremy M. & Melissa M. Goodman Steven B. Goolnick Andrew Gozinsky Richard S. Gravante Randall Gregg Hon. Roman S. Gribbs Patrick S. Griffin Grosshans Painting, Inc. Jason J. Guari, Esq. John L. Hackman Danielle Hall Lisa Halushka

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Scott Harrison William H. Harsha Christopher Hastings Richard G. Hayhoe Healthy & Fit Magazine John C. Heugel Chris & Louise Holman Steven Hughey Ingham County Bar Association Innovative Communications Vivian Jackson-Boko Jaffe, Raitt, Heuer & Weiss Mary Pat Jaracz W. Anthony Jenkins E. Christopher Johnson, Jr. Vincent E. Johnson Kevin A. Kelley Foundation (KAK) Khalid Kahloon John Kane Kim Kauffman Photography, Inc. Lisa Kenney Kent County Office of the Defender Jonathan I. Knight Kositchek’s Donna Kozik Andrew Krause The Kresge Foundation Robert E. Krinock Stephen P. Krupp Robert S. LaBrant In Memory of Tom Downs Lake Trust Credit Union Lewis Langham Lansing Symphony Orchestra Salvatore F. Lanza Stuart Lazar Helen N. Levenson Liberty Mutual Logicalis, Inc. Ashley Lowe Suzanne Margules Lowe Lutz Electric Construction Co., Inc. Gerald MacDonald William I. MacDonald Mahoney & Associates Inc. Robert & Layne Maloney Lawrence E. Manning Salvatore Marabondo Paul Marineau Ann M. Marks Kathy Ann Martin Daniel Matthews Catherine McCollum Keeley A. McDonald-Riddle Kevin T. McGraw James C. McLaughlin Richard D. McLellan Michigan State University Midstate Security Hon. James E. Mies Konstantinos I. Mikropoulos Peggy L. Miller David Mittleman Hon. Donna T. Morris Hon. Patricia T. Morris

James Morton Monty & Kelly Moyer Maurice & Lisa Munroe Mark A. Murphy Brianne Myers Sharon Nantell Joseph N. Nelson James & Sally Newton Lawrence & Dianne Nicolette I. Eric Nordan Willette J. Northup Kimberly O’Leary Anthony O’Neill Otis Elevators John B. Parks Robert A. Pecchio Brian L. Petrequin Stephen Pierpoint Joseph J. Piperato III Norman E. Plate Lawrence Ploucha Plunkett Cooney Darin A. Poole Brenda Popplewell David L. Porteous Darin Portnoy Brian Potestivo Keith A. & Gretchen Pretty Hon. Mark D. Raven Thomas C. Rawson Kim & Dan Ray Frank H. Reynolds Gary A. Rhodes - Rhodes & Associates Robert A. & Rosemary T. Richason Dale Robertson Lauren Rousseau Mr. & Mrs. Charles Schartow Devin & Sheila Schindler Kevin B. Scott Donald G. Self Stephanie Sewak Dan & Colleen Sheaffer Richard H. Shoemaker Herbert Silver Laura A. Simoldoni John J. Smith William D. Smith Allen M. Soifer Sandy & Howard Soifer Paul & Candace Sorensen Heather Spielmaker State Employees Credit Union H. William Stertz Dr. Gerald E. Stopczynski Bobbie Studwell Ronald Sutton Stevie J. Swanson Kathy Swedlow & Erik Altmann James B. Thelen & Kara Zech Thelen Thrun Law Firm PC TIAA Nancy Totzke Christopher R. Trudeau Karen Truszkowski

Reginald M. Turner Universal Protection Services James Vitrano Robert C. von Gruben Victoria Vuletich in memory of Carol Jean Vuletich & Valerie Vuletich Boyd L. Graham Ward Judson Werbelow David C. & Janice U. Whipple Hon. Helene N. White James M. Williams Glen L. Ziegler

We gratefully acknowledge our 2019 donors PRESIDENT’S CLUB $10,000 + Don LeDuc William R. Lathers Trust

DEAN’S CLUB $5,000 Paul J. Carrier, LLC

FOUNDER’S CLUB $2,500 + Image Creative Group Inc. The Cameron Foundation – Marjorie Gell Oppenheimer Funds Matching Gift Program Physicians Health Plan PNC Foundation

TEMPLE CLUB $1,000 + Frank Aiello David M. Brandwein (1995 Joseph H. Steere) Breisach Cordell PLLC (1989 Copeland) Jose T. Brown (1981 Charles D. Long) Jeanette R. Buttrey (1991 Josiah Turner) David G. Chopp (1993 Joseph B. Moore)

Community Foundation of Central Georgia, Inc. Thomas W. Cranmer James R. Davis Delta Dental of Michigan Chad D. Engelhardt (2005 Thomas F. McAllister) Joseph J. Farah (1979 Howard Wiest) Audra A. Foster (1997 Grant Fellows) Patrick S. Griffin (2009 Dorothy Comstock Riley) Helen M. Haessly (2000 William Cushing) James G. Hurley (1990 Edward H. C. Wilson) KAK – Kevin A. Kelley Foundation Lawrence J. Kish (1978 Isaac Marston) Dan Longo Ronald W. Lowe (1982 Warner Wing) Susan L. Mallory (1979 Howard Wiest) Jeffrey L. Martlew (1976 James V. Campbell) Michael C.H. McDaniel Brian J. McKeen (1982 Warner Wing) Robert T. Meeks (1977 Isaac Christiancy) MSU Federal Credit Union Mueller Law Firm John F. Nocita (1991 Josiah Turner) Thomas Paciorkowski (2008 Edward M. Sharpe) Plante Moran PLLC James D. Robb State Bar of Michigan Andrew Strowe Sutton Advisors, PLC Charles R. Toy (1981 Thomas M. Kavanagh) Joan P. Vestrand Paul Zelenski

PILLAR CLUB $500 + Joseph J. Allessie (1990 Benjamin F. H. Witherell) Stuart M. Altman (1995 Franz C. Kuhn) Barnes and Thornburg Tracey Brame Pauline M. Brennan Bernard J. Brown (2007 Gerald W. Boston) Cheryl Bywater Paul J. Carrier Daniel S. Christian CleanTeam USA Susan M. Cook (1979 George M. Clark) Country Club of Lansing

William D. Cox (1990 Benjamin F. H. Witherell) William J. Fleener (1994 Russell C. Ostrander) Michael A. Flores (1992 John W. McGrath) Tiffany M. Foskey (2003 Otis M. Smith) Friedman Partners LLC Gold Lange and Majoros, PC William T. Graham (1989 David Johnson) Lisa S. Gretchko Richard C. Henke Robert S. Hertzberg (1979 Howard Wiest) Anonymous InVerve Marketing Khalid A. Kahloon (1996 Blair Moody, Jr.) Antonios Kalogerakos (2005 Raymond W Starr) Lisa Kenney (1990 Nathaniel Bacon) Henry L. Knier (1992 John W. McGrath) Jonathan I. Knight (1997 Grant Fellows) Steven M. Krause (1978 Epaphroditus Ransom) Mark H. Shipiro PC Homer McClarty Catherine J. McCollum (2008 Edward M. Sharpe) Martha Moore Michael J. O’Connor (1988 Sanford M. Green) James A. Plemmons Clyde P. Selig Basil T. Simon (1976 James V. Campbell) State of Michigan Bart T. Stupak (1981 John R. Dethmers) L. Graham Ward

CORNERSTONE CLUB $250 + Marylynn Bain Gary P. Bauer (1988 Sanford M. Green) Cherie L. Beck (1999 Richard H. Flannigan) Elizabeth S. Beckley (1992 Robert M. Montgomery) Samuel J. Bennett (2014 Thomas Todd) Ross A. Berlin (1981 Thomas M. Kavanagh) Carey S. Bernstein (1992 Robert M. Montgomery) Chad A. Brown (1999 Richard H. Flannigan) Margaret L. Brown (1988 Sanford M. Green) Chalgian & Tripp Law Offices PLLC Cintas Corporation

Kathleen A. Conklin Edward F. Cook (1985 George Morell) Joseph C. Correnti (1988 Sanford M. Green) Thomas M. Costello (1978 Isaac Marston) Crowne Plaza Lansing DBI Business Interiors DK Security Michelle R. Donovan (1999 Thomas A.E. Weadock) John C. Ekonomou (1994 G. Mennen Williams) Gerald A. Fisher Michael R. Foreback Dustin S. Foster (1997 Grant Fellows) Garan Lucow Miller PC Danielle M. Hall (2001 John Blair, Jr.) Mary Pat Jaracz (1982 Daniel Goodwin) Kenneth S. Kaplan (1980 William W. Potter) Laura E. LeDuc Lexis Nexis Loomis Ewert Parsley Davis & Gotting PC Lyman and Sheets Insurance Agency Dale E. Malewska (1984 Aaron V. McAlvay) John M. Mallul (1983 Michael D. O’Hara) Kathy A. Martin (1999 Thomas A.E. Weadock) Catherine P. McEwen Konstantinos I. Mikropoulos (1991 Josiah Turner) Miller, Canfield Law Firm Michael Molitor Taneashia R. Morrell (2015 Robert Trimble) Ian E. Nordan (2018 Patricia Boyle) Robert A. Pecchio (1984 Aaron V. McAlvay) Stephen H. Pierpoint (1986 George Miles) Lawrence M. Ploucha (1978 Harry F. Kelly) Thomas C. Rombach (1987 Allen B. Morse) Randy C. Rubin (1998 Nelson Sharpe) SeyferthPR William J. Somerville (1979 Henry M. Butzel) G. Michael Stakias (1976 James V. Campbell) Richard F. Suhrheinrich TIAA Trane Gerald Tschura Victor H. Veschio (1998 Nelson Sharpe) Williams AutoWorld

CENTURY CLUB $100 Louise Alderson (1986 Thomas R. Sherwood) Daniel L. Askren (2010 Augustus B. Woodward) Elie Banna (2002 Thomas Johnson) Marietta H. Barbour (1978 Isaac Marston) Baryames Cleaners Michael A. Braem (2006 Neil E. Reid) Erika Breitfeld-Hasiak Gus H. Breymann Terrence P. Bronson (1976 James V. Campbell) Theresa Carella Chateau Chantal Dawda, Mann, Mulcahy & Sadler Christine M. DeBiase (1995 John E. Bird) Ruth M. Drago Joseph F. Dursi (1997 Grant Fellows) Gerald B. Eisman (1978 Epaphroditus Ransom) Robert C. Ellis (1987 Allen B. Morse) J. Michael Fedewa Joseph M. Fedewa William L. Ferrigan (1976 Thomas M. Cooley) Nikki A. George Maples (2011 Solomon Sibley) Andrew P. Gozinsky (1993 William L. Carpenter) Jason J. Guari (1995 Joseph H. Steere) George R. Hamo (1981 Thomas M. Kavanagh) William H. Hartwell (2010 Augustus B. Woodward) Michael P. Hatty (1979 Henry M. Butzel) James T. Heos (1976 Thomas M. Cooley) Pamela Heos Eric R. Hoecker (1987 Allen B. Morse) Emily Horvath Vivian Jackson-Boko James S. Jamo (1984 Randolph Manning) Alan Kaelble Thomas F. Kendziorski (1982 Flavius L. Brooke) Kent County Defenders Lasting Impressions, Inc. Suzanne E. Lowe (1981 Charles D. Long) Mable Martin-Scott Monty C. Moyer Gerlinde Nattler (2010 James Witherell) Joseph Nelson Nichols Law Firm Paramount Coffee Co. Jerry D. Ponder (1980 George E. Bushnell)

Teri L. Quimby (1989 Joseph T. Copeland) Leonard D. Rice (1990 Edward H. C. Wilson) Lauren A. Rousseau Richard A. Sadoff (1983 Bert D. Chandler) Harry Saites Peter C. Samouris (1994 G. Mennen Williams) Devin Schindler Daniel F. Sheaffer (1996 Blair Moody, Jr.) Lisa Smith John J. Stockdale (2008 Edward M. Sharpe) Amy Timmer (1988 Abner Pratt) Kelley A. Tucker (2004 John E. Cross) James J. Vlasic (1978 Epaphroditus Ransom) William P. Weiner Vincent W. Welicka (1988 Abner Pratt) David C. Whipple (1979 Henry M. Butzel) John J. Wojcik (1996 Eugene F. Black)

Susan L. LeDuc (1979 Howard Wiest) James McGrath MSU Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center Kimberly O’Leary Carey R. Parks (1983 Michael D. O’Hara) Maria A. Santoro (1987 John W. Champlin) Jodi E. Silberman Kelsey Smith Jonathan C. Stanbery (2010 William D. Woodbridge) Karen-Lee J. Stewart Henry M. Stoever (1980 George E. Bushnell) Carrie Wheeler Michelle Wooddell

COOLEY CLUB – UP TO $99 + Robert J. Alpiner (1986 Edward Mundy) Anthony R. Alvarado Anonymous Michael R. Behan Richard A. Behof (1994 Rollin H. Person) Robert Blackshaw Gregory M. Bokar (1995 Joseph H. Steere) Carrol A. Buck Charitable Giving Card Program Community Fndn of Middle TN Dusty’s Restaurant Dusty’s Cellar Megan Fainsworth Samuel J. Finnessey (2000 William Cushing) Dawn S. Fleming (2007 Gerald W. Boston) Michael J. Gibson Jeff Haarel Jeffry H. Hall (1983 Michael D. O’Hara) Timothy T. Harris (2017 Earl Warren) Josh Hopling Steven Ivy (2012 Marion M Hilligan) Eric C. Kennedy Lewis Langham (2001 John Blair, Jr.) Lansing Symphony Orchestra

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Faculty Briefs David C. Berry, Distinguished Professor Emeritus Appointed, professor and director of the International Intellectual Property Law Clinic, a collaboration of the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law and the University of Windsor Law faculty. The clinic is the only law school-based IP clinic certified by both the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the Canada Intellectual Property Office.

The clinic represents lower-income innovators in Michigan, Ohio, and Ontario in patent, trademark, and related IP matters.

Erika Breitfeld, Assistant Dean and Associate Professor Promoted, new assistant dean of the Auburn Hills campus.

Cited, in Texas Court of Appeals case James Constr. Grp., LLC v. Westlake Chem. Corp., for his article “Style Is Substance: Collected Cases Showing Why It Matters.”

Interviewed, retired Michigan Supreme Court Justices Clifford W. Taylor and Alton T. Davis for the Michigan Supreme Court Historical Society’s oral-history video archive.

Published, an article called “Analogy Through Vagueness” in Legal Communication & Rhetoric: JALWD, the peer-reviewed journal for the Association of Legal Writing Directors.

Published, a co-authored article called “Editor and Mentor: Making Effective Use of the Revision Process,” in For the Defense, the magazine for the Defense Research Institute.

Accepted, for publication, “Hot Car Deaths and ForgottenBaby Syndrome: A case against prosecution” with UC Berkeley Journal of Criminal Law.

Presented, on “Effective Reply Briefs in Appellate Practice: Strategic Uses, Best Practices for Drafting,” for a Strafford national webinar.

Accepted, for publication, “Survey of Criminal Law 2019” with Wayne Law Review.

Presented, on “Attacking Dense Forms and Rethinking Document Design” at the Kimble Center for Legal Drafting’s inaugural seminar, in Lansing, Michigan.

Coached, Duberstein Bankruptcy National Moot Court team, finishing 24th in the country.

Serves, on the board of directors for the Macomb County Veterans’ Treatment Court.

Serves, on the State Bar of Michigan Access to Justice Committee.

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Mark Cooney, Professor

Invited, by the Center for Plain Language to serve as lead judge for the 2020 ClearMark Awards, in the legal category.

Katherine Gustafson, Assistant Dean and Associate Professor Presented, opening keynote remarks at a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services All-Women’s Naturalization Ceremony held during Women’s History Month where 58 women from over 25 countries were naturalized.

Presented, on “Professionalism and the WMU-Cooley Honor Code” at Tampa Bay SBA’s professionalism event.

Presented, as part of a team, on Legal Writing at the William Reece Smith Jr. Inn of Court.

Elected, vice president of the Interchange Center Property Owners Association Board of Directors.

Joseph Kimble, Distinguished Professor Emeritus Published, in the WMU-Cooley Law Review an article called “The Meaning of ‘Sex’ in Michigan’s Civil Rights Act—and the Expedient Overconfidence of Textualism.”

Published, an article in the Michigan Bar Journal’s Plain Language column called “Clunky Drafting Mucks Up Michigan’s Power of Attorney for Healthcare.”

Professor Kimble is now in his 31st year as editor of the column.

Learned, that another one of his Redlines editing columns for Judicature—called “Go Light on Heavy Connectors”— was Judicature’s most retweeted tweet of 2019.

Spoke, at the international conference Global Legal Skills XIV. His topic was “Better Legal Drafting: Lesson from 20 Years of Working on U.S. Federal Court Rules.” He has been a drafting consultant on all federal court rules since 1999.

Continued, work on a complete “restyling” (redrafting) of the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy. The project is expected to take several years.

Attended, the winter meeting of the Standing Committee on Federal Rules.

Notified, that his proposals to speak at two conferences this summer have been accepted: the conference of the Legal Writing Institute and the International Editors Conference.

Notified, that his children’s picture book, “Mr. Mouthful Learns His Lesson,” has received the seal of approval from the National Parenting Center, which called it “superb,” “funny, silly, creative,” and “a book that you will fall in love with.”

Marla MitchellCichon, Professor

Published, another article in the Plain Language column, this one called “Testifying Before the Legislature on Drafting in Michigan’s Administrative Rules.”

Last summer, Professor Kimble spoke to the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Administrative Rules about how to improve the drafting quality in those rules.

Awarded, the U.S. Department of Justice grants in collaboration with Michigan Attorney General for the WMU-Cooley Law School Innocence Project. To read more about post-conviction DNA testing: tinyurl.com/yb3em3du. To read more about the award: tinyurl.com/ yadhmp9x. To read more about the federal grant: tinyurl.com/y8654yfp

Published, his latest Redlines column in Judicature, a scholarly journal for judges. The article was called “The Plague of String Citations.”

Hosted, WMU-Cooley Law School Innocence Project Reception and Exoneree Presentations in honor of Wrongful Conviction Day on Oct. 3, 2019.

Class Notes Attended, Midwest Innocence Summit in Chicago, Illinois, Oct. 16-17, 2019.

Presented, at the Michigan State Police Forensic Science Division statewide training on the topic of DNA testing in post-conviction cases, Oct. 22, 2019.

Interviewed, on the Constitutional Defenders podcast presented by the law firm of Chartier & Nyamfukudza, P.L.C., “When Bad Science Puts Good People in Prison.” To hear the podcast: tinyurl.com/y8bs34mk Coached, with Professor Toree Randall, the Lansing/Grand Rapids National Moot Court team to the semi-final round of the New York Bar Association Regional Competition, Nov. 14-16, 2019.

The team also received the Second Best Brief award in the 70th Annual National Moot Court Competition, Region 6.

Participated, in a panel discussion: Just Mercy and the Injustices of the Criminal Justice System, hosted by WMU-Cooley Law School’s Black Law Students Association (Lansing campus) in honor of Black History Month, Feb. 4, 2020. To hear the report: tinyurl.com/ycmomksw

Yolonda Sewell, Visiting Professor Joined, the WMU-Cooley Law School fulltime faculty in January 2020.

Invited, to present “Academic Support $100, Bar Preparation $500, Wellness Priceless: Modeling Wellness for Personal & Student Success” at the Association of Academic Support Educators national conference in Washington, D.C. in May 2020.

Otto Stockmeyer, Distinguished Professor Emeritus Blogged, “Studying Out Loud: Now’s the time for distractions in your LSAT test prep,” ABA’s Before the Bar blog (Nov. 11, 2019). Available at tinyurl.com/y7zlj6yo Published, “The Power of Plain English,” in Briefs (January 2020).

Available at cld.bz/5YHUeGt/22/ Published, “Update on the Uniform Bar Examination,” in Detroit Legal News (Jan. 10, 2020). Available at legalnews.com/detroit/1483470/ Published, “Uniform Bar Exam Update: Impact on Michigan Law Schools,” on LinkedIn (March 12, 2020). Available at tinyurl.com/ y7794d8g Awarded, The 2020 Cohn Prize for Law and Public Policy Scholarship by the Michigan Academy of Science, Arts & Letters for the presentation “Three Faces of Restitution.” Available at ssrn.com/ abstract=3340175

Victoria Vuletich, Assistant Dean and Professor Served, as a co-keynote storyteller at Grand Valley State University, Padnos/Sarosik Civil Discourse Symposium on Nov. 11, 2019. tinyurl.com/y7uvaafp Served, as a co-speaker and panelist for the Institute for Continuing Legal Education’s annual Ethics Update on Nov. 1, 2019, speaking on “Dual Fiduciary Roles & Former Client Conflicts of Interest & Civility and Professionalism in 21st Century Practice.”

1979

income tax, and succession planning strategies. He serves on the Northampton Wiest Class Community College Foundation Board of Baird, The Hon. Laura A., was the recipient Directors, where he is also Chair of its of the Daniel J. Wright Lifetime Achieve- Planned Giving Committee. Gray also ment Award for Exemplary Service to frequently presents on tax law and Michigan’s Children and Families. The initiatives, estate planning tools and award is jointly sponsored by the techniques, and asset protection.

Michigan Supreme Court and the Michigan Department of Health and 1995 Human Services. The award was presented during Adoption Day festivities Bird Class Corl, Christina, a at the Hall of Justice. partner with 1988 Plunkett Cooney, was named to the Pratt Class 2020 Super Forbush, Audrey A., was re-elected to a Lawyers List by three-year term on the board of directors Ohio Super Lawyers for Plunkett Cooney. She is a shareholder magazine in the in the firm. She was also re-elected as area of civil litigation defense. Corl is a senior vice president. Forbush is the member of Plunkett Cooney’s board of managing partner of Plunkett Cooney’s directors and co-leader of the firm’s Flint office and co-leader of the firm’s Labor & Employment Law Practice Governmental Law Practice Group.

Group. She focuses her litigation practice She focuses her practice in the areas of primarily on employer liability issues. She municipal and medical liability, with a also has extensive experience in particular expertise representing munici- commercial litigation, Title IX claims, palities in police liability matters. product liability, premises liability, professional liability and municipal law.

1991 She was also elected as chair of the Columbus Bar Association’s (CBA) Lawrence Class Judicial Screening Committee. Corl is a McIntosh, William Charles, was nomimember of the WMU-Cooley Law School nated by President Donald Trump and Board of Directors. confirmed by the U.S. Senate in January 2019 to be assistant administrator for 1996 International and Tribal Affairs, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Stone Class 1993

Moore Class

Ingber, Adam D., opened a law office in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He was previously licensed in Illinois since 1996, and maintains a practice in both states.

He handles civil and criminal matters in state and federal courts, but his practice focuses on serving the catastrophically injured. E-mail: ingberlaw@gmail.com; Phone: (312) 853-3588 and (954) 955-8795.

Gray, Christopher, joined the law firm of Norris McLaughlin P.A., in Allentown, Pennsylvania, as attorney in the Tax, Trust, and 1996 Estates Practice Group and the Business Law Practice Group. Gray focuses his Moody Class practice in the areas of estate planning, estate administration, and income tax planning. He is also experienced in corporate matters, business transactions, non–profit issues, health care governance, elder law, and general litigation. He represents high net-worth clients and their businesses in developing estate, gift,

Marhefka, Richard A., joined the Law Office of Phil DiLucente & Associates in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he focuses his 43

Class Notes practice exclusively on personal injury and medical malpractice cases. Email: rick@getphil; Phone: (412) 281-5005.

1996

Black Class Kossen, Kay, was named managing partner at Kreis Enderle law firm in west Michigan. She is the first female named to the post in the 45-year history of the firm. Kossen has been an attorney at Kreis Enderle for more than 15 years, practicing in the areas of real estate, estate planning, elder law, and probate and trust administration. She was elected to the firm’s management team in 2017, serving as the managing shareholder of the firm’s Battle Creek office.

1997

Adams Class Ziegler, Stephen, founded the Center for Effective Regulatory Policy and Safe Access (CERPSA), a non-profit research organization that seeks to reduce unnecessary human suffering by improving the way governments control drugs through research, education, and outreach. Located in Denver, Colorado, CERPSA is a non-profit organization and science-based project of the Colorado Nonprofit Development Center.

1998

Snow Class Bucci, V. Paul, of Laffey, Bucci & Kent, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was named to the 2020 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list.

Bucci is the firm’s founder and focuses on representing clients throughout the country in complex cases involving workplace accidents,

44

crime victim litigation, and medical malpractice.

2001

Wilson Class France, Jennifer J., Chief Public Defender for Chippewa County, in Sault St. Marie, Michigan, was awarded a grant by NAPD. The grant provides support to public defense initiatives.

2001

Blair Class Lasher, The Hon. Angela, was appointed by Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer as judge of the 90th District Court serving Emmet and Charlevoix counties.

Previously, she was an assistant prosecutor in Emmet County for 15 years.

2005

Starr Class Perlow, Stephanie, was named family court judge for the 42d Judicial Circuit or Marshall and Calloway counties in Kentucky. She was appointed to fill the remaining term of her predecessor, who retired, and is a candidate for the position’s primary election in June.

Previously, she maintained a law office practicing primarily in family law.

evaluations, declaratory judgment clients and their families’ wealth. actions, assignment of benefits She provides legal advice and and bad faith litigation. assistance for all of her clients’ estate planning, elder law, and 2008 family law needs.

Rodriguez, Ana, joined her husband, Jeffrey Gennusa Fendon, Matt C., is a board(Woodward Class), at the certified workers’ compensation attorney. He has operated his own Gennusa Firm in Metairie, practice since Jan. 1, 2018, Matt Louisiana, focusing on helping personal injury victims.

Fendon Law Group, Arizona’s Rock for Injured and Disabled Gennusa, Jeffrey S., was selected Workers. He has achieved a 10.0 as a 2019 Top Lawyer in on Avvo, and has been named a personal injury by New Orleans Rising Star from 2014-2018. He Magazine and as a 2020 is also “AV” rated by Martindale Louisiana Rising Star by Super Hubble.

Lawyers.

C.J. Adams Class

2011

Chipman Class Barlaskar, Abe, was named a shareholder of Plunkett Cooney.

He was previously an associate attorney with the firm. Barlaskar is a member of the firm’s Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, office. He focuses his litigation practice on defending insurers and personal line carriers, rental car companies, trucking companies, and corporations and municipalities in negligence and general liability matters, no-fault matters, insurance coverage disputes and extra-contractual claims. He also represents retail clients in litigation matters, including premises liability, food-borne illness cases, as well as other commercial disputes and criminal matters.

2009

2010

Riley Class

Witherell Class

Roberts, Joanna C. (Gordon), Senior Assistant Attorney General with the Office of Tennessee Attorney General, co-authored an article for the September 2019 publication of the American Bankruptcy Institute Journal addressing the interaction between the federal automatic stay injunction in bankruptcy and state court sua sponte civil contempt.

Coyle, Emily, was named a shareholder of Plunkett Cooney.

She is a member of the firm’s Shively, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, Drew, an office. Coyle focuses her practice attorney in the areas of loan workouts and with Procter foreclosures, commercial real Brant PC, estate, and loan documentation in and sales. Coyle’s practice also Englewood, includes expertise with respect Colorado, to investigating fraudulent or was named a 2020 Colorado suspicious claims stemming from Super Lawyers Rising Star. motor vehicle accidents.

Steigauf, John R., formerly an associate trial lawyer at Gibson Lewis, has been named as partner to the new law firm Gibson Steigauf. The firm continues to practice exclusively on behalf of plaintiffs in personal 2007 injury, medical negligence, Boston Class product liability and worker’s Valentine, Rose, was named a compensation from their location partner in the Miami, Florida firm at 415 W. Washington, St., Ste. of Hamilton, Miller & Birthisel, 103, Waukegan, Illinois, 60085.

LLP. She primarily handles first- Phone: (847) 263-5100. and third-party property defense 2010 litigation as well as insurance coverage and bad faith matters.

Woodward Class She represents insurance Hines, Bobbi S. (Barnes), has industry clients, defending property damage claims involving been promoted to shareholder at the law firm of Kreis Enderle windstorm, sinkhole, fire, mold, vandalism, theft and water losses. in western Michigan. She is a member of Kreis Enderle’s Valentine assists insurers in all Estate Planning and Elder Law aspects of a coverage dispute including pre-suit investigations, Practice Group, representing responses to civil remedy notices individuals and families in a broad range of estate and asset of insurer violations, coverage protection planning to protect

Zapczynski, Jesse A., joined the Transportation Law Practice Group of Plunkett Cooney, in the firm’s Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, office. Zapczynski focuses his practice on the defense of first- and third-party auto liability, bodily injury, and uninsured and under-insured motorist cases on behalf of national insurance companies and their policyholders. Additionally, he has significant experience with ERISA plans and other healthcare coverage potentially affecting these matters, as well as extensive experience investigating and resolving fraudulent motor vehicle liability claims.

2011

Sibley Class Malott, Scott W., was named a shareholder of Plunkett Cooney.

He is a partner in the firm’s Transportation Law Practice Group who focuses his practice on insurance-related claims involving no-fault law, motor vehicle negligence, premises liability and property liability, including theft and damage. A member of the firm’s Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, office, Malott has been named a Michigan Rising Star in Civil Litigation Defense by Michigan Super Lawyers.

2012

2014

Washington Class Mennie, John A., an associate at the Illinois personal injury law firm, Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard, P.C., in Chicago, Illinois, was named an Illinois Super Lawyer for 2020. He concentrates his practice on serious personal injury, medical malpractice and products liability.

2012

Ellsworth Class Valencia, Justin C., is now a trial attorney with the Office of the U.S. Trustee (USTP)/U.S. Department of Justice. In his new role, he is responsible for legal, enforcement, and compliance in bankruptcy cases and related matters for the USTP in Region 17. Prior to his new position, he was an attorney in private practice with Wolfe Snowden Law Firm in Lincoln, Nebraska. Before that, he was Compliance Division Manager, Legal Counsel and Special Assistant Attorney General with the Nebraska Department of Revenue and State of Nebraska. He is also an adjunct professor with Bellevue University, teaching legal, ethics and compliance to graduate students in the Master’s of Healthcare Administration program.

1976

1993

Todd Class

Cooley Class

Carpenter Class

Patel, Neil, has been elected a shareholder of Butzel Long in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. He concentrates his practice in business and corporate law. Previously, Patel was an associate attorney with the firm. He advises and counsels clients on matters related to the sale or acquisition of businesses, general corporate and business law, entity formation, shareholder disputes, and preparation and negotiation of corporate and transactional documents, including merger & acquisitions, operating and compliance documents.

Sindt, Conrad Jeffrey, 72, of Albion Township, Michigan, died Tuesday, Feb.11, 2020, after a wood cutting accident.

Conrad was a circuit court judge until his retirement in 2015. During his time as judge, he served twice as Chief Judge, holding that position at his retirement.

Cain, William C., 58, of Thompson Falls, Montana, died Feb. 7, 2020, of heart complications. He was an educator and administrator in the Hartland (Michigan) schools for 30 years before retiring and taking a position as superintendent of schools in Thompson Falls, Montana.

1977

1995

Christiancy Class

Bird Class

Julian, Haywood W., 81, of Okemos, Michigan, died Nov. 24, 2019, from injuries incurred during a fall at home.

Purvis, Jeffrey Stanton, 51, of Cumming, Georgia, died Oct. 25, 2019. He was a sole practitioner in Cumming.

1984

2000

Manning Class

Hodge, Roy A., 59, of Durand, Michigan, died Sept. 21, 2019. He was an attorney serving clients in Genesee and Shiawassee counties.

2015

McLean Class Mollien, Charlie, was installed as the 136th president of the Michigan Pharmacists Association during the association’s annual convention and exposition, Feb. 21-23, 2020, at the Detroit Marriott in the Renaissance Center.

2016

2012

Hilligan Class Fanous, Elias, announces the birth of his son, Oliver, on March 20, 2020.

Elias and his wife, the late Kimberly Bayyouk, were married in 2018.

Kimberly died March 31, 2020.

Friends have set up a GoFundMe page/Kimberly Fanous Fund. Elias operates The Law Office of Elias J. Fanous in Flint, Michigan. E-mail: elias@fanouslaw.com.

In Memoriam

Hughes Class Huber, Dennis William (LL.M.) published a book, “Corporate Law and the Theory of the Firm: Reconstructing Corporations, Shareholders, Directors, Owners, and Investors.”

2017

Vinson Class Sharma, Arjun, has joined Blick Law Firm, LLC, in Somerset, New Jersey, as an attorney focusing on commercial and civil litigation with an emphasis on contract, employment, premises liability, and personal injury law.

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

Morris-Zimmerman, Linda D., 73, of Battle Creek, Michigan, died March 19, 2020.

1990

Bacon Class Worthington, Sidney Park, 73, of Lansing, Michigan, died March 19, 2020. He was a Lansing City Council member, a state of Michigan legislative analyst, an environmental lawyer, and a landscape company founder.

2005

Boyles Class Renna, Christopher, 40, of St. Joseph, Michigan, died March 9, 2020. He was the Chief Public Defender in Berrien County, Michigan.

2008

1991

C.J. Adams Class

Lawrence Class

Beaupre, Robert Russell, 67, died March 30, 2020, in Rochester, Michigan, after a two-week battle with the coronavirus.

He was a founding member of the Black Sheep Repertory Theatre in Manchester, Michigan, and helped renovate a 125-yearold theatre. He practiced law for 11 years.

Perconti, The Hon. Joseph C., 54, of Boonton Township, New Jersey, died Nov. 8, 2019, after a five-year battle with glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer. He served as a municipal Judge in Ringwood, Wanaque, and West Milford, New Jersey, and as a Central Judicial Processing Judge in Paterson, New Jersey.

1991

2012

Hilligan Class

Blanton, The Hon. Gregory Derek, 62, died May 12, 2020, in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. He was the Horry County, South Carolina, magistrate.

Hodges, Jeremy, 43, of Jefferson City, Missouri, died April 22, 2020, from injuries suffered in a farm accident. He operated The Law Offices of Jeremy L. Hodges, LLC, with three locations in Missouri.

1992

2013

Montgomery Class

Moore Class

Turner Class

Clarke, John Paul, 56, died Nov. 27, 2019, in Lexington, Kentucky, after a long battle with ALS. He was a practicing attorney in New Jersey and Kentucky. He was also the owner of State Line Abstract Title Agency.

Boersma, Karl, 50, of Grand Haven, Michigan, died Jan. 28, 2020. He was an assistant prosecuting attorney and a volunteer with the Fraternal Order of Police and the Ottawa County Legal Self-Help Center.

45

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Thomas M. Cooley Law School

Join the ranks of WMU-Cooley’s top supporters with a membership in the Cooley Society.

Membership is extended to individuals or organizations whose lifetime giving to the law school reaches $2,500 or more.

Making a donation is easy. Start at cooley.edu/giving. Give or pledge your tax deductible contribution today! ho hom omas C Cooley l ociety

M. TM S the

Join the ranks of WMU-Cooley’s top supporters with a membership in the Cooley Society.

Membership is extended to individuals or organizations whose lifetime giving to the law school reaches $2,500 or more. Making a donation is easy. Start at cooley.edu/giving.

Give or pledge your tax deductible contribution today!