LEGAL PEOPLE

Secrest Wardle Senior Partner Nathan J. Edmonds and Partner Mark C. Vanneste, both of the firm’s Troy location, served as panelists for A.M. Best Company’s April 5 webinar, “Pileup in Commercial Auto.”

A.M. Best Company provides news, credit ratings and financial data products and services for the insurance industry. 

Edmonds has been in practice for over 20 years, specializing in defense litigation.  He is experienced in defending all aspects of motor vehicle litigation, including first party, third party, uninsured, and underinsured motorist litigation. He also works closely with fraud investigators to obtain the best possible results for his clients. 

Edmonds has authored several articles for the firm’s Automobile Negligence publication.   He most recently authored a No-Fault Newsline article that served as an informative update regarding the recent Michigan House and Senate approval of bills imposing no-fault and liability insurance regulations on ride-sharing services.  Edmonds also recently participated in an A.M. Best podcast discussing legal issues pertaining to Transportation Network Companies and Autonomous Vehicles in Michigan.

Vanneste currently serves as chair of Secrest Wardle’s Motor Vehicle Litigation Practice Group.  Vanneste directs the strategies and undertakings of the group, including mentorship of associate attorneys and overseeing all content written for the Group’s newsletter, No Fault Newsline.   Vanneste serves as Michigan Revisor for A.M. Best’s Insurance Law Digest.  Insurance Law Digest is a resource providing a summary of insurance laws for each state and several Canadian provinces.

Vanneste is responsible for annually reviewing and summarizing insurance laws in Michigan for the publication.  He has also participated in an A.M. Best podcast, breaking down Catastrophic Auto Accidents and Michigan’s No-Fault Law.

In addition, Secrest Wardle Executive Partner Margaret A. Scott attended the March 10 Women Officials Network (WON) Foundation’s Quarterly Networking Breakfast at the Troy Board of Education Building in Troy.

Established in 1997, Women Officials Network is dedicated to encouraging women to become involved in public policy through elected and appointed office. WON provides networking opportunities for women officials and presents training to inspire and empower current and future policy makers.

Scott, and active member of the WON Foundation, is an executive partner located in Secrest Wardle’s Troy location.  She is a member of the firm’s Motor Vehicle Litigation, Municipal, and Property, Fire and Casualty Practice Groups.  Scott fights against auto theft and insurance fraud.  She received the Bob Sattler Award by the North Central Regional Chapter-International Association of Auto Theft Investigators in 2007. She also received an Award for Professional Excellence for services provided to the Michigan State Police characterized by outstanding performance of duty and a personal commitment to the excellence associated with the prosecution of a 1998 Western Wayne Auto Theft Unit investigation.

Scott has been awarded the William V. Liddane Award by the Help Eliminate Auto Theft (H.E.A.T.) Organization in recognition of her advocacy in reducing auto-theft related crimes in Michigan.  Scott is a member of the Michigan Lawyers Weekly Class of 2015 “Women in the Law,” recognized for her meaningful and inspiring contributions made to the legal community.  She is past chair of the Michigan Anti-Car Theft Campaign Committee. Currently, Scott serves as chair of the Michigan Arson Prevention Committee’s Governmental Resource Committee. 

Scott has also been awarded a Challenge Coin by the North Oakland County Veteran’s Treatment Court for her involvement in the program in her role as a district court prosecutor.

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Collins, Einhorn, Farrell PC is pleased to announce that attorney Andrew J. Huige has joined the firm’s Professional Liability practice group. Huige will be focusing his practice on the defense of claims asserted against a wide variety of professionals, including attorneys, health care professionals, real estate agents, and accountants. Before joining Collins Einhorn, Huige worked at a major law firm based in Virginia where his practice focused on complex business and contract disputes, intellectual property, real estate, litigation, and appeals.

More recently, Huige practiced with a boutique litigation firm in Detroit specializing in the late stage defense and trial of complex high-risk claims in state and federal courts in jurisdictions throughout the United States.

Huige is dedicated to achieving cost-effective client results by honing in on critical factual and legal issues early in cases and focusing discovery and aggressive motion practice in these areas.

Huige earned a Bachelor of Arts in History with a minor in Political Science from Grand Valley State University. He went on to obtain his law degree from Wayne State University Law School in 2004.

Huige volunteers his time as an Adult Literacy Tutor with Washtenaw Literacy, a non-profit entity designed to serve adults who need to improve their reading, writing, numeracy or communication in English. Through its free programming and services, Washtenaw Literacy focuses on helping adults find and keep jobs through improving literacy skills. Huige is also involved with the Wills for Heroes, Wills for Seniors, and other pro-bono activities in the local community. Huige served on the March of Dimes Board of Directors, Hampton Roads Region, from 2009 until 2011.

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Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder recently announced the appointment of Sandra Harrison-Suratt to the Macomb County Probate Court.

Harrison has been an attorney with the law firm Simasko, Simasko, & Simasko PC in Mount Clemens since 2002. Her practice includes family law, estate planning, probate litigation, trust administration, criminal law, and general civil litigation. She began her career at Patterson, Phifer, & Phillips PC in 1998. In 1999 she joined the firm of Salvatore D. Palombo and Associates practicing criminal, divorce, child custody, general civil litigation, person injury, wrongful death and real estate law.

Harrison is a member of the State Bar of Michigan, the Macomb County Bar Association, and the Macomb County Probate Bar Association. She has completed the ICLE Family Law Certificate Program and is enrolled in the Probate and Estate Planning Program. She earned her bachelor’s degree in 1993 from the University of Michigan and her law degree in 1997 from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law.

Harrison fills the vacancy created by the resignation of Judge Carl Marlinga. She must seek election in November 2018 for a full term.

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Southfield multi-specialty law firm Maddin, Hauser, Roth, & Heller PC is pleased to announce that Kevin M. Henry has joined the firm’s Corporate and Real Estate Practice Groups as an associate.

The announcement was made by firm President and CEO Steven D. Sallen.

Henry represents businesses of all types and sizes on a wide range of corporate matters, including company formation, asset and stock deals, buy-sell agreements and succession planning.  He has experience working with business startups, franchisees, physicians and other professional associations.

Henry also advises clients in real estate matters, including acquisitions and sales, leasing, finance and development.  He specializes in multi-family housing development, having assisted in the acquisition and financing of multiple student housing projects.              

In 2014, Henry was recognized by the Wisconsin Law Journal as an Up and Coming Lawyer, a designation that recognizes promising attorneys who have handled challenging legal issues, taken steps to improve the justice system and contributed to their communities.  He has served as a director on multiple professional and public service boards, including the Dane County (Wisconsin) Bar Association, the Exchange Club of Sun Prairie (Wisconsin), and the Society of Financial Service Professionals.

Henry earned his undergraduate degree from St. John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota, where he majored in political science and Spanish.  Upon graduation from St. John’s, Henry joined Teach for America and taught Second Grade on a Navajo Indian Reservation in New Mexico.  He then earned his law degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School. Henry is admitted to practice law in Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin.