Joel Ashton, a partner in our Livonia office, was recently a guest on the City of Warren’s television program Warren Today. He spoke on the current fundamentals of Michigan’s no-fault insurance, including Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage, bodily injury coverage and also the optional collusion coverage. He also discussed the new Michigan No-Fault Act, which contains several significant changes to the current no-fault auto insurance law.  He advises every Michigan […]

On July 11, 2019, the Michigan Supreme Court issued an important decision regarding the requirement of the No-Fault Act for the “owner or registrant” of a motor vehicle to “maintain” no-fault insurance on a motor vehicle. In Dye v. Esurance, Docket No. 155784, the Michigan Supreme Court clarifies that the No-Fault Act does not require the “owner or registrant” of a motor vehicle to personally purchase the no-fault insurance for […]

Jacklyn Paletta, a partner in our Livonia office, was a feature speaker at the Michigan Defense Trial Counsel (MDTC) 2019 Annual Meeting and Conference at Shanty Creek Resort in Bellaire, Michigan. Ms. Paletta’s presentation, “Preparing your Provider Suit for Trial,” provided the appropriate steps to take when preparing and defending a provider’s suit, as well as practical tips to a success trial. MDTC is a non-profit association of the leading […]

We are very pleased to announce that three attorneys have recently joined our Firm. David Kowalski is an attorney in our Clinton Township office where he focuses his practice on insurance defense, municipal law, appeals and litigation, and research. He has extensive litigation and appellate experience and has received favorable outcomes for clients before the Michigan Supreme Court and the Michigan Court of Appeals. He authors briefs for submission to […]

Attorneys Matt Cross, Greg Grant and Bradley Yanalunas attended the Saginaw Valley Adjusters Association’s 5th Annual Bowl for a Cause fundraiser event. The event, held at Stardust Lanes in Saginaw, raised funds to help support SVAA in its battle against opioid addiction and to bring awareness to the community. The fundraiser also supported the I Support the 1% Veteran Food Pantry in Saginaw, which collects food donations for local military […]

Matt Cross and Greg Grant, both attorneys in our Traverse City office, had a great time at the recent Grand Rapids Adjusters Association (GRAA) Roaring 20’s Vendor Night.  They enjoyed interacting with guests and sharing information on our Firm’s Insurance Defense practice group. Matt Cross concentrates his practice in the areas of insurance defense, business, entertainment law, law enforcement defense and litigation, and municipal law. Mr. Cross has experience handling […]

As a new year is upon us, we reflect back on 2015 and the successful year we had at CMDA. We recognized a monumental milestone, hired several attorneys, and celebrated some remarkable anniversaries. CMDA was honored to have celebrated our 50th Anniversary in 2015. This monumental anniversary would not have been possible without Owen Cummings, the founder of the Firm.  Mr. Cummings had a vision of developing a Firm whose […]

We are pleased to announce that Jennifer A. Richards has joined our Firm as an attorney in our Livonia office. She focuses her practice on municipal law, insurance defense, law enforcement defense, and litigation and appeals. Ms. Richards writes briefs for submission to all levels of state and federal courts, arguing cases in all levels of state and federal courts of appeals, and performing research for all areas of law […]

In two seminal opinions, Wilkie v Auto-Owners Ins. Co. and Rory v Continental Ins. Co., the Michigan Supreme Court emphatically confirmed that insurance contracts are to be enforced by the courts “as written.”  The parties to an insurance contract remain free to waive or modify the terms of the contract by mutual consent, but one party cannot demand enforcement of an insurance contract, contrary to the mutually agreed terms, based upon that party’s unilateral belief […]

The Michigan Supreme Court has discarded the 36-year-old doctrine that once prevented insurance companies from denying claims based on fraudulent statements made in an insured’s application.  Previously, the law stated that an insurer could not deny liability in the event of fraud found on an insured’s application if the fraud would have been “easily ascertainable” by the insurer.  Now, fraud, if proven, can serve as a complete bar to recovery.  Insurance […]