We are pleased to announce that Alexander R. Karana, an attorney in CMDA’s Livonia office, has been recognized by his peers in the 2026 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America for his “high caliber work in Intellectual Property Law, Patent Law, and Entertainment and Sports Law.” The 2026 edition highlights the top 5% of U.S. attorneys. Inclusion in Best Lawyers is based on a rigorous peer-review survey. […]

We are thrilled to be celebrating two very impressive anniversaries at the Firm this August. Legal Assistants Marie Jones and Kathy Ueberroth are each celebrating their 35th work anniversary at CMDA. There are only five employees at the Firm who have worked at CMDA longer than these two. On August 6, 1990, Marie Jones joined CMDA. We have been fortunate to have Marie at the Firm for the past 35 […]

Please join us in welcoming Alexander R. Karana to the Firm. He has joined CMDA as an attorney in the Firm’s Livonia office. An accomplished Intellectual Property attorney, he is admitted to practice in Michigan and Illinois. As a registered patent attorney, he brings a deep technical and legal foundation to clients at the forefront of innovation, brand-building, and entertainment. His practice centers on patent and trademark prosecution, IP strategy, and […]

CMDA partner Jim Acho received a call on Saturday–the type of call he is receiving too often these days–that the greatest offensive lineman ever produced by the City of Detroit (HOFers Joe DeLamielleure and Reggie McKenzie were from Center Line and Highland Park) passed away last night after dinner with his family. Luis Sharpe was 66. Said Jim Acho, “Luis was a terrific guy whom I admired because he bounced […]

Shane Nolan, a partner in our Livonia office, recently obtained summary disposition in a premises liability case on behalf of a southeast Michigan township. The case involved the “sidewalk exception” to governmental immunity. The case arose from a trip and fall on a public sidewalk, where the Plaintiff alleged that the township did not properly maintain their sidewalk and sought damages for injuries sustained from her fall. Mr. Nolan moved […]

It is with is with great sadness and extremely heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Owen J. Cummings on June 24, 2025. Mr. Cummings is the founder of the law firm of Cummings, McClorey, Davis & Acho, P.L.C. Over the course of Owen Cummings’ longstanding legal career, he established an impeccable reputation among clients, colleagues, and opposing counsel for his extensive legal knowledge and superior legal skills, his […]

Matt Cross and Greg Grant, partners in our Traverse City office, recently obtained summary disposition in a case involving novel claims under the Open Meetings Act (OMA). The claims stemmed from a separate lawsuit involving a Northern Michigan county, which was also ultimately dismissed by a federal court. The county went into closed session to discuss a settlement proposal, which prompted the OMA claims arguing that the county improperly went […]

Greg Grant and Matt Cross, partners in our Traverse City office, recently obtained summary disposition in a premises liability case involving a Northern Michigan condominium association. The claim involved a visitor to Traverse City, who slipped and fell on ice in the condominium association’s parking lot. The association had relied upon a snow removal contractor to address the accumulation of snow and ice in the parking lot. While the contractor’s […]

Please join us in welcoming Paul Leonidas Lin to the Firm. He has joined CMDA as an attorney in the Firm’s Riverside office where he focuses his practice on defending public entities in civil litigation, including municipal law and insurance defense. He manages all phases of litigation, from initial case assessment and strategic planning through discovery management, substantive motion practice, and preparation for hearings and trials. He draws on over […]

Please join us in welcoming Lanae L. Monera to the Firm. She has joined CMDA as an attorney in the Firm’s Grand Rapids office where she focuses her practice in the areas of civil litigation defense, insurance defense, and municipal law. Prior to joining CMDA, she served as Assistant Corporation Counsel for a Michigan county with emphasis on contract review and formation and statutory compliance. She also focuses her practice […]