» Case Successes

Carol A. Rosati and Lisa A. Anderson prevailed in a challenge to a Zoning Board of Appeals’ decision to deny a variance to an off-street parking ordinance, successfully defending the city’s right to enforce its zoning ordinance.

The Johnson Rosati employment group successfully defended a municipal employer in a lawsuit filed by a former employee raising claims of disability discrimination and retaliation. On October 30, 2015, the Tuscola County Circuit Court issued summary disposition in favor the defendant-employer. The motion, briefed and argued by Laura Bailey Brown, was granted in full.

Dan Klemptner and Ken Galica successfully defended three police officers in a use-of-force lawsuit. After a week-long trial, a unanimous jury returned a verdict of “no-cause” against the three defendants. Plaintiff demanded 1 million dollars to settle the case before trial began. Mr. Klemptner and Mr. Galica attributed their success to the police witnesses’ diligent pre-trial preparation, and the officers’ ability to explain the reasons behind their actions to a very carefully selected jury.

S. Randall Field and Marcelyn A. Stepanski prevailed in a published case in the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit in a use of force case involving a knee strike and deployment of a taser to secure an actively-resisting subject.

Dan Klemptner and Ken Galica received a “no-cause” verdict from a unanimous jury in a police misconduct lawsuit. The Defendant-Police Officer was alleged to have used excessive force while arresting a young male. The plaintiff also accused the Officer of using racial slurs during their encounter. Plaintiff’s counsel requested approximately 3 million dollars in damages at the conclusion of the six-day trial. Mr. Klemptner and Mr. Galica attributed their success to focused witness preparation and an organized presentation of the evidence to the jury in a manner that allowed the jurors to fairly view the facts and circumstances from the Officers’ perspective.