Members named to civil jury instruction panel

The Michigan Supreme Court has announced appointments to the Committee on Model Civil Jury Instructions,which drafts standard instructions for juries in civil cases.

The 21-member Committee on Model Civil Jury Instructions, created under Supreme Court Administrative Order No. 2001-6, is composed of judges and attorneys appointed by the Supreme Court.

Members are appointed for three-year terms and may be reappointed for two additional terms.

 The court appointed Hillsdale County Circuit Court Judge Michael R. Smith to succeed Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Brian R. Sullivan.

Also appointed was Grand Blanc attorney Thomas W. Waun, principal in the law firm of Waun & Parillo P.L.L.C., to succeed attorney David S. Mittleman of Church Wyble P.C., Lansing.

The following committee members also were reappointed:

• Helen K. Joyner, Fieger Fieger Kenney Giroux & Danzig P.C., Southfield
• Mark T. Boonstra, Miller Canfield Paddock & Stone P.L.C., Ann Arbor
• Judge James R. Redford, Kent County Circuit Court
• Judge Michael D. Warren, Oakland County Circuit Court
• Thomas Van Dusen, Bodman P.L.C., Troy

Each will serve a three-year term from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2014. 
Other committee members include: 

• Judge Alfred M. Butzbaugh, Berrien County Trial Court (chair)
• Judge Jane M. Beckering, Michigan Court of Appeals, Grand Rapids
• Mark R. Bendure, Bendure & Thomas P.C., Detroit
• Hon. Patricia J. Boyle, Kienbaum Opperwall Hardy & Pelton P.L.C., Birmingham 
• W. Mack Faison, Miller Canfield Paddock & Stone P.L.C., Detroit
• Elizabeth Phelps Hardy, Kienbaum Opperwall Hardy & Pelton P.L.C, Birmingham
• Gary P. Gordon, Dykema Gossett P.L.L.C., Lansing
• Judge John A. Hohman, Jr., Monroe County Probate Court
• Daniel J. McCarthy, Lippitt O’Keefe P.L.L.C., Birmingham
• Judge Douglas B. Shapiro, Michigan Court of Appeals, Lansing 
• Noreen L. Slank, Collins Einhorn Farrell & Ulanoff P.C., Southfield 
• Joseph C. Smith, Smith & Gibson P.C., Southfield
• Paul C. Smith, Michigan Department of Human Services, Detroit
• Judge Donald A. Teeple, Sanilac County Circuit Court

Civil jury instructions are given in each civil case tried to a jury. Topics include the duties of the jury, trial procedure and the law applicable to the case.

The Model Civil Jury Instructions are available online at www.courts.mi.gov/mcji-index.htm.

The web site also includes information on how to contact the committee to comment on existing or proposed jury instructions  or to suggest new instructions.

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