Dave Birkett is the award-winning Detroit Lions beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. He has been awarded Sportswriter of the Year three times. Mr. Birkett invited Jim Acho yesterday as his guest for the unveiling and first book signing for Dave’s new book on the history of the Detroit Lions at 24 Seconds Bar & Grill in Berkley. It was there Mr. Birkett surprised Jim with the news that […]

Jim Acho appeared on multiple sports radio shows across the country this week to discuss the filing of the landmark class action NIL lawsuit against the NCAA which has made national news. Articles are linked below. Of local interest are podcasts of Jim’s appearances on Detroit-based WJR’s morning and afternoon shows this week to discuss the case. Podcasts Jim Acho — WJR The Paul W. Smith Show Radio Show podcast […]

CMDA has always prided itself on trying to right wrongs where we can. Today was no different, and a historically significant lawsuit in the world of sports was filed by our Firm. Articles have appeared in today’s Detroit News and on espn.com. Jim Acho will be doing radio interviews on ESPN and CBS Sports later today.  

CMDA is proud to announce that several attorneys from our Firm have been selected for inclusion in the 2024 Michigan Super Lawyers & Rising Stars list. The following attorneys have been selected to the 2024 Michigan Super Lawyers list: Jim Acho, Top Rated Civil Litigation Defense Jeff Clark, Top Rated State, Local & Municipal Tim Ferrand, Top Rated State, Class Action & Mass Torts Haider Kazim, Top Rated State, Local […]

Jim Acho and CMDA have proudly represented more than a dozen Pro Football Hall of Famers on a variety of issues for well over 2 decades. The most recent client inductee happened this last weekend as Randy Gradishar, the Ohio State and Denver Broncos legendary middle linebacker who tallied more than 2000 tackles in 10 seasons (which puts him just behind Ray Lewis as the NFL’s all time tackler), was […]

In the last 6 years, CMDA has collected nearly $10 million for retired NFL players on concussion claims. Some of the biggest names in pro football history. Names like Gale Sayers and Pat Summerall. CMDA is proud to handle these at a 25% contingency fee rate, which is 10-15% less than most firms. But CMDA handles a variety of other matters for retired athletes from every pro sport, from pension […]

Longtime CMDA client Leon Wright of Van Buren Township held his annual outing on Friday, June 14. As always, CMDA was happy to support the worthy cause. CMDA Partners Jim Acho and Shane Nolan and Attorney Isa Kasoga all played, along with Jim’s guest, another longtime client and friend of CMDA, former U of M All American and 6 year NFL vet Mike Martin, who now serves as a financial […]

CMDA partner Jim Acho has been legal counsel to the NFL Alumni and NFL Players Association Detroit chapters for two decades. This week he spoke at the kickoff luncheon and dinner in Detroit to welcome current and retired players to the NFL draft, which the entire City of Detroit is celebrating this week. CMDA is very pleased to have been a small part in one of the great moments the […]

More than 20 years ago, Jim Acho was introduced to Howie Schwab of ESPN through his friends, Randy and Jason Sklar who were hosting the show “Cheap Seats” on ESPN. Early on, a transaction started friendship that morphed into a professional relationship. Howie had indicated his favorite sports movie of all time was “Paper Lion,” starring Alan Alda and a number of CMDA clients, including Mike Lucci. Howie asked for […]

Kevin Campbell, an attorney in the Firm’s Livonia office, agreed to take on the plight of Gary Cooper (the ballplayer, not the actor) who is one game short of qualifying for his pension under MLB’s vesting requirements. Falling one game short was due to something unforeseen as you will see in this piece in today’s AndScape, an ESPN substack. CMDA partner Jim Acho, who heads up CMDA’s sports law section, […]