CMDA attorney Ray Richards was recently interviewed as a criminal expert on “History’s Greatest Mysteries.” The History Channel show featured the unsolved case of the Sodder family. On Christmas morning in 1945, five of their children vanished from their family home in West Virginia during a raging fire. Despite the work of many, the mystery of the Sodder children’s disappearance remains. Ray E. Richards, II is an Of Counsel attorney […]

The latest issue of Urban Aging News highlights an article on The Ladybird Deed written by Norman “Gene” Richards. The article provides an overview of the ladybird deed, along with the benefits and challenges that come with that method of transferring property when a person dies. Urban Aging News is a quarterly publication that provides information, insight, and inspiration for Metro Detroit’s maturing adults. Check out the Spring 2022 issue here. […]

John Gwyn, an attorney in our Livonia office, recently attended the Community Associations Institute (CAI) 2022 Annual Law Seminar in California. While at the seminar, and unbeknownst to him, the national presenters chose to feature one of Mr. Gwyn’s cases as an example of the complicated interplay between tort, easement, and contract law. The case involves a Circuit Court Judge in Macomb County agreeing with CMDA that claims made in […]

Jim Acho, a partner in our Livonia office, was a guest on several sports radio shows this week–including on KMOX in St. Louis–to discuss the lawsuit filed against the NFL by coach Brian Flores. Longtime ESPN radio voice Kevin Wheeler now mans the drive time sports radio show for KMOX, a seat once held by legendary sportscasters Harry Caray, Jack Buck and Bob Costas; Jim has been a guest on […]

Please joins us in welcoming Barbara M. Moore to the Firm. She has joined CMDA as an attorney in the Firm’s Riverside office. Ms. Moore focuses her practice on public entity defense, insurance defense, personal injury, and litigation. Prior to joining the Firm, she worked as a civil litigation attorney where she was responsible for all litigation work, including drafting pleadings, motions and discovery, depositions, court appearances, mediations, arbitrations, and […]

Please join us in welcoming Angela S. Fitle to the Firm. She has joined CMDA as an attorney in the Firm’s Kansas City office. Ms. Fitle focuses her practice on insurance defense, municipal law, and litigation. She writes briefs for submission to all levels of state and federal courts, argues cases in all levels of state and federal courts of appeals, and performs research for all areas of law handled […]

United States District Court Judge Douglas Harpool granted Summary Judgment in a case handled by attorney Joseph Ramirez. The case was based on allegations of 42 U.S.C. §1983 civil conspiracy claims arising from an alleged unlawful arrest, unlawful search and seizure, unlawful use of excessive force, unlawful imprisonment, and excessive bail. Plaintiff alleged her injuries involved three Sheriff Deputies’ conspiracy to commit constitutional rights violations against her through alleged acts […]

The lawsuit against the City of Saginaw for “chalking” tires as part of the City’s parking enforcement continues. Previously, the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit held that using chalk to mark the tire of a parked vehicle was a search under the Fourth Amendment. And now, the court has held that no warrantless search exceptions apply, so the case can still go forward. The City of […]

CMDA is proud to announce that several attorneys from our Firm have been selected for inclusion in the 2021 Michigan Super Lawyers & Rising Stars list. The following attorneys have been selected to the 2021 Michigan Super Lawyers list: Jim Acho, Top Rated Civil Litigation Defense Jeff Clark, Top Rated State, Local & Municipal Tim Ferrand, Top Rated State, Local & Municipal Haider Kazim, Top Rated State, Local & Municipal […]

For nearly 20 years, CMDA partner Jim Acho has served as legal counsel to the Detroit chapter of the NFL Alumni Association. NFL Alumni Association President Pete Chryplewicz is a longtime client of Mr. Acho, as are numerous ex-Lions. At the annual dinners, Jim often speaks and provides retired NFL players with updates or changes in the law as it affects retired player benefits. This year’s dinner was held at […]