MANAGING PARTNERS
Thomas P. Branigan (Managing Partner) born 1963; admitted to bar, 1988, Michigan; 1999, Ohio; 2000, Illinois; 2004, U.S. Supreme Court; 1996, U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth District; 2002, U.S. Court of Appeals Tenth Circuit; 1995, U.S. District Court, District of Utah; 2000, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois; 1988, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan; 1991, U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan. Education: Wayne State University (B.A., 1985); Michigan State University College of Law (J.D., cum laude, 1988). Listed: Legal 500 United States 2008 Edition; "40 Under 40," National Law Journal, 2002; Who's Who in the World; Who's Who in America; Who's Who in American Law; Who's Who in Finance and Business. Named Super Lawyer, Michigan Super Lawyers Magazine, 2006-2009. Member: Chicago, Detroit Metro, Oakland County and Ohio State Bar Associations; State Bar of Michigan; Defense Research Institute; Michigan Defense Trial Counsel; Society of Automotive Engineers. Practice Areas: Litigation; Product Liability; Franchises and Franchising; Employment Law; Financial Services Litigation; Commercial Litigation; Automobile Liability; Construction Litigation; Industrial Equipment.Email: Thomas P. Branigan
Lawrence C. Mann (Managing Partner) born 1946; admitted to bar, 1980, Michigan and U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan; 1988, U.S. Court of Appeals, 6th Circuit; 1995, U.S. District Court Western District of Michigan. Education: University of Michigan (B.A., 1972); Wayne State University (J.D., cum laude, 1980). Associate Professor of Law, Wayne State University. Speaker, "Electronic Stability Control Claims," Hot Topics Seminar for Defense Counsel, 2006. Author: "Products Liability". Author: "The European Directive on Products Liability, The Promise of Progress," 1988. Author: "Mediation of Civil Cases Neither Panacea Nor Anathema," 1991. Served as Special Counselor on Products Liability to Governor James J. Blanchard. Served as Special Master, United States District Court and Eastern District of Michigan. Served as law clerk to Federal District Judge Horace Gilmore. Member, Michigan Propane Gas Association. Named 2006-2009 Super Lawyer by Michigan Super Lawyers Magazine. Member: State Bar of Michigan; Defense Research Institute; Detroit Economic Club; Federal Bar Association; National Bar Association; Wolverine Bar Association. Practice Areas: Product Liability(55%, 15); Toxic Torts(25%, 2); Drug and Medical Device Litigation(10%, 2); Business, Commercial and Financial Litigation(10%, 1); Automotive; Health Care.Email: Lawrence C. Mann
PARTNERS
Gretchen A. Colter, R.N. (Partner) born 1956; admitted to bar, 1994, Michigan. Education: University of Detroit (J.D., 1994). Named Michigan Super Lawyer, 2006-2009. Practice Areas: Product Liability Defense; Civil Litigation; Automotive; Toxic Torts.Email: Gretchen A. Colter, R.N.
Fred J. Fresard (Partner) born 1964; admitted to bar, 1990, Michigan; 1993, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan; 1994, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Middle District of North Carolina; 1996, U.S. Court of Appeals, 4th Circuit; 1997, U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan; 1999, U.S. Court of Appeals, 6th Circuit; 2001, U.S. Court of Appeals, 7th Circuit; 2003, U.S. District Court, District of Colorado; 2004, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois. Education: Michigan State University (B.A., with high honors, 1987) Phi Kappa Phi; University of Notre Dame (J.D., 1990); Northwestern University (Traffic Accident Reconstruction, 1999). Listed in Legal 500 United States 2008 Edition. Recipient, Pro Bono Service Award, Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association, 2005. Named Super Lawyer, Michigan Super Lawyers Magazine, 2007-2009. Member: Detroit Metropolitan and Macomb County Bar Associations; Defense Research Institute; Michigan Defense Trial Counsel. Practice Areas: Products Liability; Medical Malpractice Defense; Complex Litigation; Civil Litigation.Email: Fred J. Fresard
Jeffrey T. Gorcyca (Partner) admitted to bar, 1993, Michigan; 1996, Illinois; 2002, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan and Northern District of Illinois; 2005, U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan; 2006, U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit. Education: Miami University (B.A., Dean's list, 1990); University of Detroit (J.D., cum laude, 1993). Member: Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association; Oakland County and American Bar Associations; Michigan Defense Trial Counsel. Practice Areas: Product Liability Defense; Torts Law; Personal Injury Defense; Automobile Accidents and Injuries; Medical Malpractice Defense; General Civil Litigation; Business Litigation; Commercial Litigation; Appellate Practice.Email: Jeffrey T. Gorcyca
Andrea L. Moody (Partner) admitted to bar, 2000, Michigan. Education: Wayne State University (B.A., cum laude, 1995) Dean's list; Wayne State Law School (J.D., 2000). Named a Rising Star by Michigan Super Lawyers Magazine, 2009. Speaker, American Bar Association's Women in Transportation Law Conference, "Cars Don't Drive Themselves or Do They: The Effect of the Implementation of ESC Systems in All Light Vehicles," June 2007. Co-Author, DRI's Trial and Tribulations Newsletter, "The Battle That Wins - Or Loses - The War: Cross-Examination of Plaintiff's Experts," December 2006. Member: Wolverine and American Bar Associations; State Bar of Michigan; Defense Research Institute. Practice Areas: Product Liability Defense.Email: Andrea L. Moody
Samuel A. Nouhan (Partner) born Detroit, Michigan; admitted to bar, 1990, Michigan; 1992, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan. Education: Wayne State University (B.S., 1987); University of Detroit Mercy (J.D., 1990). Member, Oralist and Brief Writer, National Moot Court Team, 1989-1990. Recipient, University of Detroit Presidential Scholarship, 1989-1990. Member, 1988-1989 and Executive Editor, 1989-1990, University of Detroit Mercy Law Review. Law Clerk to: Hon. Richard F. Suhrheinrich, U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit, 1992-1993; Hon. Lawrence P. Zatkoff, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, 1990-1992. Member: State Bar of Michigan; American Bar Association; American Inns of Court. Practice Areas: Products Liability.
Ronald C. Wernette, Jr. (Partner) born 1960; admitted to bar, 1990, Michigan; 1999, Ohio; U.S. District Court, Eastern and Western Districts of Michigan, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin and U.S. Court of Appeals, 6th and 7th Circuits. Education: General Motors Institute (B.I.A., cum laude, 1983); University of Michigan (M.B.A., with distinction, 1990); University of Michigan Law School (J.D., magna cum laude, 1990). Order of the Coif. Editor, Michigan Law Review. Editorial Board, Law Journal Newsletter, Medical Malpractice Law and Strategy Newsletter. Law Clerk, Judge Cornelia G. Kennedy, U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit, 1990-1991. Seminar Instructor: "Entering Into Litigation," Product Safety & Liability Prevention Seminar, November 2005; "Automotive Consumer Litigation," Hot Topics Client Seminar, September 2005; "American Product Liability Litigation," SAE Injuries, Anatomy, Biomechanics and Federal Regulation Seminar, September 2005; "Claims and Defenses in Stationary Vehicle Fire Cases," Hot Topics Client Seminar, September 2004; "American Product Liability Litigation," SAE Injuries, Anatomy, Biomechanics and Federal Regulation Seminar, August 2004; "Human Factors of Motor Vehicle Operation and Accidents," ACE-USA Transportation Claims Seminar, April 2004. Member, Michigan Propane Gas Association. Co-Author: "The Legal Risks of Nanotechnologies," For The Defense, November 2008; "Product Liability Cases and the Duty to Warn: A 50 State Compendium," DRI, January 2008. Selected as a Super Lawyer (R) by Michigan Super Lawyers Magazine, 2006-2009. Author: "Health Care Nanoscience: Regulation By Litigation," Product Liability Law360, March 23, 2009; "Health Care Nanoscience: Regulation By Litigation," Health Law360, March 23, 2009; "The Coming Age of Nanotorts," LJN's Product Liability Newsletter, Volume 28, Number 9, March 2009; white paper, "The Duty to Preserve, Collect and Produce Electronically Stored Information Held by Third Parties," InsideCounsel, December 2008; "The Duty to Preserve, Collect, and Produce Electronically Stored Information Held by Third Parties," Michigan Defense Quarterly, Volume 25, No. 2 October 2008; "Nanotechnology in Medical Applications: Hippocratic Oath and Hegelian Recursion," Rx for the Defense, Fall 2008; "Be aware of your client's duty to preserve, collect, and produce ESI held by third parties," Michigan Lawyers Weekly, September 22, 2008; "The Dawn of the Age of Nanotorts," Product Safety & Liability Reporter, April 2009; "Third Party Thinking: The Duty to Preserve, Collect, and Produce Electronically Stored Information Held by Third Parties," Inside Counsel, June 22, 2009. Member: Defense Research Institute; Association of Defense Trial Counsel; Michigan Defense Trial Counsel; Trucking Industry Defense Association; American Chemical Society. Practice Areas: Appellate and Trial Practice Support; Automotive; Business, Commercial and Financial Litigation; Discovery and Document Management Litigation; Drug and Medical Device Litigation; Fire Litigation; Motor Vehicle Warranty; Motorcycles, ATVs and Other Wheeled Vehicles; Product Safety; Products Liability; Toxic Torts; Trucking and Bus Company Litigation.Email: Ronald C. Wernette, Jr.
OF COUNSEL
Daniel H. Bliss (Of Counsel) admitted to bar, 1987, Michigan; registered to practice before U.S. Patent and Trademark Offices. Education: Detroit College of Law (J.D., cum laude, 1987). (Also Member, Bliss McGlynn, P.C.). Practice Areas: Intellectual Property; Patents; Trademarks; Copyrights; Trade Secrets.
Gerald E. McGlynn, III (Of Counsel) born Royal Oak, Michigan, August 27, 1960; admitted to bar, 1988, Michigan, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan and U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit; 1993, U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit; 1997, U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan; registered to practice before U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Education: Michigan Technological University (B.S.M.E., 1984); Detroit College of Law (J.D., cum laude, 1988). Practice Areas: Intellectual Property.Email: Gerald E. McGlynn, III
ASSOCIATES
Carmen M. Bickerdt (Associate) admitted to bar, 2003, Michigan. Education: University of Michigan (B.A., 2000); Wayne State University (J.D., cum laude, 2003). Member, University of Michigan Alumni Association. Member: Detroit Metropolitan and Wolverine Bar Association; State Bar of Michigan. Practice Areas: Products Liability; Toxic Torts; Asbestos Defense.Email: Carmen M. Bickerdt
David L. Campbell (Associate) admitted to bar, 2004, Michigan; 2005, Ontario and U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan; 2006, U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan. Education: University of Windsor School of Law (LL.B., 2004); University of Detroit Mercy School of Law (J.D., 2004); Osgoode Hall Law School (LL.M., expected December 2010). Order of the Barrister. First Place, Ernest Goodman Mock Trial Competition, 2003. Named a Rising Star by Michigan Super Lawyers Magazine, 2009. Presentation: "Battle for Billables: Understanding and Responding to Your Client's Financial Expectations," DRI Young Lawyers Seminar, June 2009. Member: Defense Research Institute; Michigan Defense Trial Counsel; Law Society of Upper Canada; The Federalist Society; Christian Legal Fellowship. Practice Areas: Products Liability; Motorcycles, ATVs and Other Wheeled Vehicles; Commercial Litigation; Automotive; Toxic Torts; Premises Liability; Alternative Dispute Resolution; Asbestos Litigation; Motor Vehicle Warranty; Discovery and Document Management Litigation; Dealer and Franchise Litigation.Email: David L. Campbell
Nicole DiNardo (Associate) admitted to bar, 2002, Michigan and U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan; 2003, Illinois and U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan. Education: Grand Valley State University (B.A., 1999); University of Detroit (J.D., 2002). Alpha Phi Sigma. Member, Board of Directors, Moot Court, 1995-1999. Member and Title Editor, Michigan Law Review. Michigan Legal Aid and Defender Association's 2005 Pro Bono Attorney of the Year. Named a Rising Star by Michigan Super Lawyers Magazine, 2009. Member: Oakland County, Illinois State and American Bar Associations; State Bar of Michigan; Defense Research Institute; Michigan Defense Trial Counsel. Practice Areas: Automotive Products Liability; Child Product Liability; Motor Vehicle Warranty; Motorcycle Products Liability; All Terrain Vehicle Products Liability; Products Liability.Email: Nicole DiNardo
Nicholas G. Even (Associate) admitted to bar, 2004, Michigan; U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan; U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois. Education: Michigan State University (B.A., 1999); University of Detroit Mercy (J.D., 2003). Selected as Rising Star ®, Michigan Super Lawyers Magazine, 2008-2009. Co-Author: "Product Liability Cases and the Duty to Warn: A 50 State Compendium," DRI, January 2008; "Running With The Big Dogs: Trying Your First Case As A Member Of A Large Trial Team," Defense Research Institute - Young Lawyer Committee Newsletter - The Whisper, January, 2008. Member: Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association; State Bar of Michigan; Defense Research Institute; Michigan Defense Trial Counsel. Practice Areas: Automotive; Motor Vehicle Warranty; Motorcycles, ATVs and Other Wheeled Vehicles; Product Liability; Toxic Torts.Email: Nicholas G. Even
David J. Gentile (Associate) born 1974; admitted to bar, 2000, Michigan, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan and U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of Michigan. Education: College of the Holy Cross (B.A., 1997); Michigan State University (J.D., 2000). Delta Theta Phi. Named a Rising Star by Michigan Super Lawyers Magazine, 2009. Member, Journal of International Law. Interned for Michigan Attorney General, 2000. President, International Law Society, 2000. Editor, Journal of International Law, 1998-2000. Speaker: "Preclusion of the Jordan Rollover System," Bowman and Brooke Product Liability Hot Topics, September 2008. Author: "Foreign Privacy Laws in the United States," DRI's International Law Section Journal, January 2009. Member: Oakland County Bar Association; State Bar of Michigan; Association of Defense Trial Counsel; Detroit Young Professionals. Practice Areas: Automotive Products Liability; Business Litigation; Commercial Litigation; Financial Law; Construction Products Liability; Industrial Products Liability; Products Liability; Toxic Torts.Email: David J. Gentile
Dana Hathaway (Associate) admitted to bar, 2005, Michigan and U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan; 2006, Illinois and U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan. Education: College of Charleston (B.A., Chemistry, 2000); University of Detroit Mercy (J.D., 2005). Recipient: Dean's Scholarship for Academic Excellence; CALI Award in Applied Legal Theory and Analysis. Listed in Who's Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities. Law Review Associate Editor. Member: American Bar Association; Detroit Metro Bar Association. Practice Areas: Automotive; Motor Vehicle Warranty; Products Liability; Business, Commercial and Financial Litigation.Email: Dana Hathaway
Jenny L. Zavadil (Associate) admitted to bar, 2002, Michigan; 2004, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan; 2007, U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit. Education: Adrian College (B.A., 1996); University of Detroit Mercy (J.D., cum laude, 2001). Recipient, Dean's Scholarship for Academic Excellence. Executive Editor, University of Detroit Mercy Law Review, 2000-2001. Practice Areas: Automotive; Motor Vehicle Warranty; Products Liability.Email: Jenny L. Zavadil