CMDA Partner Jim Acho represented legendary football player and broadcaster Pat Summerall for a number of years prior to Mr. Summerall’s passing. Mr. Summerall had intended on filing a concussion claim before passing and his widow Cheri had Jim Acho file the concussion claim in accordance with Pat’s wishes. We are pleased to report a year after the claim was filed, Jim prevailed on behalf of the Summeralls, and the […]

Ken Callicutt was a great college running back, Clemson’s MVP in 1976 and 1977, and MVP of The Senior Bowl in 1977. Unfortunately though, after being drafted by Detroit, Callicutt found himself behind a stable of highly-drafted, superbly-skilled running backs like Lawrence Gaines, Dexter Bussey, Horace King and Billy Sims. Callicutt and Rick Kane–talented backs in the own right–were forced to find other ways to contribute, and contribute Callicutt did […]

When you buy insurance for your automobile, you want to protect those in your car as much as a known person in another vehicle if someone is seriously injured.  Michigan no-fault insurance companies are doing what they can to reduce coverage for your loved ones, even though you are paying for full insurance protection.  Some insurance companies are employing a step-down auto insurance clause, which is a provision that applies […]

Jim Acho, a partner in our  Livonia office, was recently quoted in an article on ESPN.com regarding a last-minute appeal in the NFL concussion case. Mr. Acho represents about two dozen clients in the concussion case and is disappointed with this latest development since CMDA has clients with meritorious claims who have been waiting patiently to file them. The family of late Buffalo Bills fullback Carlton “Cookie” Gilchrist asked the […]

Jim Acho, a partner in our Livonia office, was featured in this week’s “Sidebar of the Week” in Michigan Lawyers Weekly.  The article focuses on his sports law practice, specifically representing retired athletes.  Hall of Famer Lem Barney was his first client out of law school and, for the past 15 years, Acho has represented retired players from across the country.  Acho describes the stark reality of representing players from […]

In a recent case, a woman fell and injured her back when brick and mortar steps beneath her crumbled.  The land owner brought, and was awarded, a summary disposition dismissing the case at the trial level. Upon appeal, the Court of Appeals held that the land owner has an actual duty to take reasonable steps to prevent dangerous conditions, which could include the duty to inspect.  However, an injured party’s […]

Jim Acho, a partner in our Livonia office and finalist last year for the position of Executive Director of the NFL Players Association, was invited back by NFLPA President Eric Winston to give the opening remarks at the 2016 meeting. Winston said the players wanted to hear from Acho again. Mr. Acho delivered his remarks via teleconference from Detroit to the players in Hawaii. “Eric and George Atallah were very […]

As in all premises liability cases, a dangerous condition is open & obvious if “an average user with ordinary intelligence would have been able to discover the hazard and risk presented upon casual inspection.”  The Court of Appeals and Supreme Court have been using this defense to have cases tossed out of court and many Plaintiffs’ attorneys will not take such cases. However, inroads have been made against this open […]

Black Ice Not an Open & Obvious Case Allowing Plaintiffs a Recovery: In any slip and fall case the Defendants in today’s system of justice always argue that the condition was open & obvious to a person of ordinary intelligence with casual observation. If the condition is in fact open & obvious and does not meet any of a very limited number of exceptions, there is no duty, and if […]

Jim Acho, a partner in our Livonia office, was a keynote speaker at the 2016 Sports and Entertainment Law Symposium hosted jointly by the Chaldean American Bar Association and Sommer Schwartz, P.C.  Mr. Acho discussed highlights of his law career, including being nominated to run as a candidate for the position of Executive Director of the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) in 2015.  Entertainment lawyer Jay Yasso of Sommer […]