We pointed out in a recent post that CMDA partner Jim Acho, a nationally respected sports attorney, appeared in Detroit to speak to clients for Lions Alumni Weekend. It was pointed out to Mr. Acho that this fall, Jim celebrates 25 years as legal counsel to the Detroit Chapters of the NFL Alumni and NFL Players Association. Jim was initially retained back in the fall 2000 by then-chapter presidents, ex-Lions […]

Every week in every NFL city, each team has an Alumni weekend where former players come in from out of town. A player usually goes in a ring of honor that weekend, and this year was no different as Robert Porcher went into the Lions Ring of Honor. Many former players came in for the festivities. Several ex-Lions requested CMDA partner Jim Acho be present. These sorts of weekends give […]

CMDA is proud to announce that several attorneys from our Firm have been selected for inclusion in the 2025 Michigan Super Lawyers & Rising Stars list. The following attorneys have been selected to the 2025 Michigan Super Lawyers list: Jim Acho, Top Rated Civil Litigation Defense Joel Ashton, Top Rated Personal Injury Defense Jeff Clark, Top Rated State, Local & Municipal Tim Ferrand, Top Rated State, Class Action & Mass […]

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 […]

CMDA partner Jim Acho is in his 25th year appearing on “The Great Voice of The Great Lakes,” superstation WJR (760 AM) as a legal analyst on sports law issues. Beginning Thanksgiving week in 2000, when the late Frank Beckmann first had Jim on, Mr. Acho has gone on to appear more than 50 times on a variety of WJR shows to discuss sports law issues of the day. Today […]

Jim Acho was quoted on the passing of Ex-Detroit Lions Bill Cottrell in the April 2, 2025 Detroit Free Press article: Ex-Detroit Lions OL Bill Cottrell, NFL’s first Black center, dies at 80.    

Last week, a federal jury in Detroit returned a no cause verdict in favor of Jim Acho’s client after a 5-day trial. The case is Jacob Branham v. City of Allen Park PD, et al. The City, PD, police officer and Wayne County prosecutor were all dismissed on motion for summary judgment on qualified immunity. However, the individual private citizen defendant was forced to trial without the availability of that immunity. Trial […]

Jim Acho and ex-MLB player/manager Clint Hurdle have been close for many years. Last year, Mr. Hurdle asked Jim to be on an editorial review board for his new book—along with a number of prominent people from the world of sports whom Mr. Hurdle respects. The book has been much anticipated by many in the sports world, especially among baseball fans. Clint Hurdle is a master motivator and equally good […]

More than 300 former Michigan football players now part of lawsuit vs. NCAA, Big Ten

On Tuesday, December 3, 2024 Jim Acho was honored at an awards ceremony on his selection to Michigan Lawyers Weekly’s Class of 2024 Leaders in the Law. He is one of 30 attorneys in Michigan to be selected to this year’s class. Jim is only the third attorney in Firm history to receive this prestigious award. Jim was selected as a Leader in the Law based on the positive national […]