Detroit Bar Association Bench & Bar Lunch Series
Trying a PIP Case Post-Covid
Presented by the Detroit Bar Association Auto No-Fault Section in partnership with the Third Circuit Court
June 8, 2023
Coleman A. Young Municipal Center Auditorium
2 Woodward Avenue
13th Floor (“City Side”)
Detroit, MI 48226
The Detroit Bar Association Auto No-Fault Section invites you to join us for lunch and a presentation regarding trying personal injury protection cases post-Covid. The presentation will include discussions on witnesses, proofs, and experts, with perspectives from the bench, plaintiff, and defense on all topics. Chief Judge Fresard will moderate while Judge Leslie Kim Smith will be weighing in with the bench’s perspective. Presenting attorneys include Bobby Raitt from Raitt Law, Chris Filiatraut from Mike Morse Law Firm, Robert Heston and Derek Brackon from Kramer, Corbett, Harding & Dombrowski.
Agenda:
11:00 a.m. Registration/Networking/Boxed lunch provided
12-1:30 p.m. Program
1:30 p.m. Q &A with the audience
Cost:
$10 for law students
$25 for attorney members of the Detroit Bar
$35 for non-member attorneys
Judicial officers and may attend free with pre-registration.
For questions, contact Sheena Law-Killinger slawkillinger@detroitlawyer.org
PRESENTER BIOGRAPHIES:
Derek J. Brackon has been representing a broad spectrum of clients for over 22 years. He started his career as a defense attorney, representing hospitals and doctors against medical malpractice claims. After several years, he switched to the plaintiff side and represented clients who had been injured in medical malpractice, auto negligence and other personal injury cases. Several years ago, he switched back and now represents the interests of Auto Club Group, AAA, Meemic and Fremont Insurance Companies.
Over the years, Derek has tried over 20 cases in front of a jury. He has practiced in most counties in Michigan, Federal Court in Michigan as well as the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. Derek lives in Lake Orion where he is involved in local politics as well as non-profit organizations.
Chris Filiatraut has been an expert trial lawyer for his entire 23-year career. He has personally tried over 100 cases in the area of personal injury and No-Fault. He has numerous million and multi-million-dollar verdicts to his credit and is widely known and respected by both plaintiff and defense counsels for his accomplishments in the courtroom.
He has several of the largest trial verdicts in the state since joining the Mike Morse Law firm in 2010. Chris has testified before the Michigan Legislature on No-Fault issues and is a regular speaker at seminars around the state ranging on issues from premises liability, coverage issues and No-fault claims to trial tactics such as developing damage claims, voire dire and defense tactics. He has been voted a top lawyer by his peers for many years which demonstrates his widespread respect in the legal community.
Rob Heston is currently a Supervising Practice Leader at the Auto Club Group where he is a member of the Catastrophic Loss Team. He represents both the company, and its clients, in a variety of legal issues including No-Fault, Bodily Injury, UM/UIM, Dog Bite, General Negligence and Provider cases. Mr. Heston has over Twenty-One (21) years of experience, split between representing injured parties and defendants. He was a member of a national trial team traveling the country representing Fortune 500 companies in all matters of litigation including catastrophic claims, general negligence, wrongful death, premises liability, commercial carrier, product liability, police abuse/misconduct. He has also represented victims of physical assaults and bar fights. He has experience in representing victims of sexual assaults and criminal sexual misconduct.
Mr. Heston has represented both landlords and tenants in property and leasing disputes. He has represented homeowners and tenants in claims against Homeowners and Condominium Associations. He also has experience with Breach of Contract, Michigan Uniform Trade Secret Act (“MUTSA”), Wrongful Conversion, Breach of Confidentiality Agreements, and Intellectual Property matters in both State and Federal Court.
Mr. Heston is currently a Case Evaluator for Wayne and Oakland County Mediation Tribunals. He has participated in INNS of the Court in Oakland County and has sat as a Judge for Wayne State Law School’s First Year Moot Court Oral Arguments. Finally, he is a member of the Oakland County Bar Association Fellows Program.
Robert M. Raitt is the founder of Raitt Law, PLLC. and has been an exceptional personal injury trial lawyer for decades. Bobby works tirelessly for those injured in auto accidents and other personal injury situations. As past president of the Michigan Association for Justice - a victim rights organization comprised of personal injury and civil justice attorneys from across the state – Bobby fights against the insurance industry to help make our automobile accident laws fairer and just.
Bobby graduated cum laude from both the University of Michigan with his Bachelor of Arts Degree and with his JD law license from Wayne State University Law School. Along with being the past present of the MAJ, Bobby is past chair and counsel member of the Negligence Section of the State Bar of Michigan, is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates, a member of the American Association for Justice and a Board Member of the Detroit Bar Association and the Wayne County Mediation Tribunal.
Mr. Raitt has been a speaker and moderator at various seminars for the State Bar of Michigan, the National Business Institute, the Michigan Association for Justice, the Michigan Association of Defense Trial Counsel, ICLE, and the Negligence Section of the State Bar of Michigan. Bobby has also spoken to the State Legislature in Lansing, most recently advising a special house committee on changes to Michigan’s No-Fault Insurance Laws.
Bobby has successfully tried dozens of cases to verdict including multi 7 figure verdicts; for auto crashes, premises and negligent cases involving spinal injuries and traumatic brain injuries.
In 2016, Bobby was voted a Michigan Leader in the Law by the Michigan Lawyers Weekly. He has been voted numerous times as a Best Lawyer in American through the Best Lawyers listing, and annually as a Michigan Super Lawyer along with a top 100 lawyer in the State of Michigan through the Super Lawyers listing. He also has been named as a Top Lawyer by Detroit Business.
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