Current Employment Position(s)

Partner

Lawyer Overview

I am a trial attorney who specializes in civil injury cases, both in matters of defense on referral from insurance carriers, and in handling Plaintiff cases as well. Much of my practice is in the area of medical malpractice. I regularly handle matters dealing with automobile negligence, insurance rights, premises liability, and first party insurance benefits. My practice is a regional practice serving the Tri-City areas of Saginaw, Bay City and Midland, however, I regularly handle cases in a 15 county area stretching from Genesee County in the South to Ogemaw County and Iosco County to the North.

I have developed a practice subspecialty in the handling of matters related to medical office practice, including attacks upon medical staff privileges, attacks by arms of the state against medical licenses, mergers of medical practices, employment contracts and litigation surrounding the severing of professional relationships. Our office offers a rather complete range of practice areas for medical providers.

As an adoptive parent I have long enjoyed working in the field of adoption in the probate courts.This is a small portion of my practice, but one close to my heart and one that receives special attention from me. I am well acquainted with and have handled matters of agency adoption, foreign adoption, step-parent adoption and the growing area of direct placement adoption.

I am married to Carolyn, an elementary music teacher, and I have three children and six grandchildren. I served as a trustee on the Board of Education for the Saginaw Township Community Schools from 1996 - 2004.

I am a member of the Community Christian Reformed Church and actively participate in the music programs of the church. I have served as a board member of a local Christian counseling center, the Samaritan Counseling Center, serving as the president of that board for three terms. I am on an advisory board for another local relief organization, the Rescue Mission, which provides shelter for homeless men, women and families.

I truly enjoy the practice of law and especially this somewhat diverse practice that lets me serve my clients in many ways. When not working, I enjoy most forms of music, traveling and golf.

Areas of Practice

• Adoption
• Personal Injury -- Defense
• Contracts
• Insurance Law
• Employment Law -- Employer
• Employment Law -- Employee
• Labor Law
• Personal Injury -- Plaintiff
• Medical Malpractice

Representative Clients

• American Physicians Assurance
• J. Miles McClure, M.D.
• Mark Kuligowski, D.O.
• Covenant Healthcare - Saginaw
• CHUBB Group of Companies
• Michigan Cardiovascular Institute
• William Vandenbelt, M.D.

West Practice Categories

Adoption, Personal Injury -- Defense, Contracts, Insurance Law, Employment Law -- Employer, Employment Law -- Employee, Labor Law, Toxic Torts, Personal Injury -- Plaintiff

Bar Admissions

• Michigan, 1978
• U.S. District Court Eastern District of Michigan, 1978
• U.S. District Court Western District of Michigan, 1978

Professional Associations and Memberships

• Saginaw Township Schools, 1996 - 2004 (Trustee)
• Saginaw County Bar Association, 1984 - 1985 (Treasurer)
• Michigan Bar Association (Member)
• Michigan Defense Trial Counsel (Member)

Honors and Awards

• Robert E. Dice Award

Classes and Seminars

• Criminal Justice, Saginaw Valley State University, 1988
• Nursing Negligence, Saginaw Valley State University, 1988 - 2000

Pro Bono Activities

• Legal Services of Eastern Michigan, 1980 - Present

Past Employment Positions

• Smith & Brooker, P.C., Partner, 1986 - 1991
• McGraw & Borchard, P.C., Associate, 1978 - 1986

Education

• University of Illinois College of Law, Champaign, Illinois, 1978
  J.D.
• Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Michigan, 1975
  B.S. Honors College
  Honors: magna cum laude
  Honors: With Honors
  Major: Social Psychology

References

• Rebecca Schultz, J.D. - Covenant Healthcare
• Gretchen Grenell, APA
• Mark Kuligowski, D.O.

Published Works

• Reporting Child Abuse, Michigan Medicine, Chapter 87, April, 1988

Address

200 Saint Andrews Road
Saginaw, MI 48603-5938

Phones

(989) 792-9641

Faxes

(989) 792-1116

Emails

Contact Us

Websites

http://www.smithbovill.com