MEMBERS OF FIRM
William F. Mills (Partner) born Grand Rapids, Michigan, May 10, 1946; admitted to bar, 1974, Michigan. Education: Hope College (B.A., 1968); University of Michigan (J.D., 1974). Recipient: 2009 Respected Advocate Award from the Michigan Defense Trial Counsel; Two Purple Hearts Award, U.S. Army, Vietnam Veteran. Listed in: Woodward & White's Best Lawyers in America; American Association for Justice Top 100 Lawyers; Michigan "Super Lawyers". Member: Grand Rapids, Kent County (Trustee, 1994-1997) and American Bar Associations; State Bar of Michigan; American Association for Justice; American Board of Trial Advocates (Secretary and Treasurer); Michigan Association for Justice; American College of Trial Lawyers. Fellow: Michigan State Bar Foundation; International Academy of Trial Lawyers. [U.S. Army, Vietnam Veteran, 1968-1971--awarded two Purple Hearts]. Practice Areas: Litigation; Personal Injury Law; Products Liability Law; Medical Malpractice.Email: William F. Mills
Norman H. Pylman, II (Partner) born Grand Rapids, Michigan, June 6, 1952; admitted to bar, 1977, Michigan. Education: Calvin College (B.A., 1974); University of Detroit (J.D., cum laude, 1977). Listed in: Woodward & White's Best Lawyers in America; American Association for Justice Top 100 Lawyers; Michigan "Super Lawyers". Member: Grand Rapids Bar Association; State Bar of Michigan (Member, Civil Procedure Committee, 1983-1984); Michigan Association for Justice; American Board of Trial Advocates; American College of Trial Lawyers. Fellow: Michigan State Bar Foundation. Practice Areas: Medical Malpractice; Personal Injury Law; Products Liability Law; Litigation.Email: Norman H. Pylman, II
Scott R. Melton (Partner) born Austin, Minnesota, July 9, 1957; admitted to bar, 1982, Michigan. Education: University of Michigan (B.A., Economics, 1979); Wayne State University (J.D., 1982). Listed in Michigan "Super Lawyers". Contributing Author, "Handling Medical Negligence Cases in Michigan," NBI 2005; Contributing Author and Lecturer: "Avoiding Environmental Liability in Michigan," NBI, 1991. Member, Legal Studies Advisory Board, Grand Valley State University. President, Kentwood Public Schools Educational Foundation, 2006. Former Barrister, American Inns of Court. Member: Grand Rapids and American Bar Associations; State Bar of Michigan; American Association for Justice; Michigan Association for Justice. Fellow: Fellow Michigan State Bar Foundation. Reported Cases: Anderson v. Dassault Aviation, 361 F.3d 449 (8th Cir 2004). Practice Areas: Litigation; Products Liability; Medical Malpractice; Personal Injury.Email: Scott R. Melton
Thomas R. Behm (Partner) born Ann Arbor, Michigan, December 14, 1960; admitted to bar, 1987, Michigan. Education: University of Michigan (B.B.A., 1983); Detroit College of Law (J.D., 1986). Recipient, President's Award from Grand Rapids Bar Association. Listed in: American Association for Justice Top 100 Lawyers; Michigan "Super Lawyers". Law Clerk, Honorable Richard F. Suhrheinrich, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan. Contributing Author to Michigan Law on Damages, The Institute of Continuing Legal Education. Instructor, Hillman Advocacy Program. Member: Kent County Probono Committee; Kent County ADR Plan Oversight Committee. Member: Grand Rapids and American Bar Associations; State Bar of Michigan; Michigan Association for Justice (Member, Board of Directors 2005); Federal Bar Association. Barrister, American Inns of Court; Fellow, Michigan State Bar Foundation. Practice Areas: Litigation; Personal Injury Law; Commercial Law; Medical Malpractice; Products Liability.Email: Thomas R. Behm
J. Paul Janes (Partner) born Mount Pleasant, Michigan, January 30, 1965; admitted to bar, 1990, Michigan. Education: Michigan State University (B.A., 1987); University of Detroit (J.D., 1990). Senior Staff Member, University of Detroit Law Review, 1989-1990. Member: Grand Rapids Bar Association; State Bar of Michigan; American Association for Justice; Michigan Association for Justice. Practice Areas: Litigation; Personal Injury Law; Products Liability Law; Medical Malpractice Law; Civil Rights.Email: J. Paul Janes
Benjamin W. Mills (Partner) born Grand Rapids, Michigan, June 10, 1976; admitted to bar, 2003, Michigan. Education: Hope College (B.S., 1998); Indiana University School of Law (J.D., 2003). Managing Editor, Federal Communications Law Journal, 2002-2003. Member, Environmental Law Society, 1999-2002. Member: State Bar of Michigan; Grand Rapids Bar Association; American Association for Justice; Michigan Association for Justice. Practice Areas: Automobile Negligence; Medical Malpractice; Products Liability.Email: Benjamin W. Mills
OF COUNSEL
J. Clarke Nims (Of Counsel) born Greenfield, Massachusetts, 1948; admitted to bar, 1974, Michigan. Education: Dartmouth College (A.B., 1971); Boston University (J.D., 1974). Certified facilitator. Member: Grand Rapids (Trustee, 1987-1990) and American Bar Associations; State Bar of Michigan; The Association of Trial Lawyers of America; Michigan Trial Lawyers Association (Member, Executive Board, 1994-1996); American Board of Trial Advocates. Fellow: Michigan State Bar Foundation. Practice Areas: Litigation; Personal Injury Law; Products Liability Law; Medical Malpractice.Email: J. Clarke Nims