Law Firm Overview

Plunkett Cooney began its expansion as a multi-office law firm in 1968 with the addition of an office in Oakland County.

Today, Plunkett Cooneys Oakland County location serves as the firms main office. It is located on Woodward Ave. in Bloomfield Hills, just north of downtown Birmingham. The Bloomfield Hills office is home to 60 attorneys and their support staff as well as the firms administrative and accounting departments.

The attorneys of the Bloomfield Hills office have a diverse practice which includes the following practice areas business law, bankruptcy, corporate & tax, banking & finance, commercial litigation, intellectual property, construction law, labor & employment, complex litigation and many more.

The Bloomfield Hills Office is managed by the Firms President and Chief Executive Officer, Henry B. Cooney.

Areas of Practice

• Administrative & Regulatory Law
• Alternative Dispute Resolution
• Appellate Law
• Architect & Engineer Liability
• Banking, Bankruptcy & Creditors' Rights Law
• Business Enterprises Law
• Business Services
• Civil Rights
• Commercial Litigation
• Construction Law
• Construction Lien Law
• Construction Site Accidents
• Consumer Litigation
• Contractors’ Legal Issues
• Corporate Compliance
• Criminal Defense
• Direct Representation of Municipalities
• Drug Liability
• Education Law
• Election Law
• Environmental Law
• Estate Planning
• Family Law
• Financial Services Liability
• Fire Loss Claims
• Franchise Law
• General Litigation
• Government Affairs
• Healthcare Law
• Immigration Law
• Insurance Law
• International Law
• Labor & Employment Law
• Liquor Liability
• Litigation
• Marine & Recreational Boating Law
• Medical Liability
• Motor Vehicle - No Fault
• Motor Vehicle Negligence
• Municipal Law
• OSHA/MIOSHA Issues
• Premises Liability
• Product Liability
• Professional Liability
• Real Estate Law
• Residential Liability
• Retail Liability
• Telecommunications Law
• Third Party Criminal Acts
• Title Insurance Law
• Trucking & Transportation
• Veterinary Malpractice
• Workers' Compensation
• e-Business & Internet Law

Published Works

• Supreme Court Clarifies Claims of Disparate Impact Under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, July 1, 2008
• Court Ruling May Significantly Limit Premises Liability Claims Against Landlords, June 27, 2008
• Direct negligence timely under ordinary negligence statute of limitation, June 25, 2008
• Court rules ‘Open and Obvious’ Doctrine does not apply to third party auto negligence actions, June 20, 2008
• Court Upholds No-Fault Act’s $1 Million Property Damage Cap, The Dispatch, June 12, 2008
• Debate Over the Federal Mexican Long-Haul Program Intensifies, The Dispatch, June 12, 2008
• Lenders Get Creative to Restructure Residential Real Estate Loans, Financier Worldwide, June 12, 2008
• Prompt Assessment of Cargo Claims can Lead to Reduced Litigation Costs, The Dispatch, June 12, 2008
• Truck Driver’s Credibility Must be Considered When His Medical Condition Forms the Basis for His Sudden Emergency Defense, The Dispatch, June 12, 2008
• Ask The Expert- Be Careful with E-Mail and Voice Mail, CREW Columbus Summer Newsletter, June 1, 2008
• Federal civil rights law expanded to protect related third parties from retaliation, April 18, 2008
• Post Operative Activities Key to Determining ‘One Most Relevant Specialty’ for Expert Witness Qualification, April 2, 2008
• Appellate court holds ‘hitching’ tractor and trailer registration to same state not required, March 21, 2008
• Commercial Property owners must act now on decreasing assessments to cut tax bill, March 5, 2008
• Appeals Court Rules employee complaint to customer is a protected activity under federal labor Law, February 27, 2008
• Court Rules 'Employer’s' Insurer Must Pay PIP Benefits When Owner-Operator Injured While Operating Leased Truck, February 19, 2008
• Mexican Long-Haul Program Moves Forward despite staunch opposition, February 19, 2008
• Ohio Employers Liability for Actions of Employees and Independent Contractors, Plunkett Cooney's Trucking & Transportation Newsletter, February 19, 2008
• Wayne County Explores Potential Business Boon With Aerotropolis, Plunkett Cooney's Trucking & Transportation Newsletter, February 19, 2008
• PRESIDENT SIGNS AMENDMENT TO FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE ACT, January 30, 2008
• No-Fault Threshold Assessment of Plaintiff's Pre-accident Lifestyle may Require Consideration of Lifestyle Prior to Pre-existing Disability, January 11, 2008
• Personal Auto ‘Business-Use’ Exclusion Trumps Michigan’s No-Fault Law, December 18, 2007
• NEW OSHA RULE REQUIRES EMPLOYERS TO PURCHASE PERSONAL PROTECTION EQUIPMENT FOR EMPLOYEES, December 17, 2007
• Fifth Circuit Upholds Homeowner’s Policy Exclusions Barring Coverage for Concurrent Water and Wind Damage Due to Hurricane Katrina, December 3, 2007
• Sixth Circuit Court Denies Employee's Religious Accomodation and Discrimination Claims, November 5, 2007
• Personnel Records: Access and Disclosure, Michigan Municipal Review, November 1, 2007
• Michigan Supreme Court to Define Duty Owed by Residential Landlords, October 1, 2007
• Preserving The Attorney-Client Privilege And Use of the Internet, September 28, 2007
• Public Management: Hiring, Firing and the In-Between, Michigan Municipal Review, September 1, 2007
• Can Employers Require Employees to Use Paid Leave During FMLA Absence?, August 28, 2007
• Flood Exclusion Upheld in Louisiana “Hurricane Katrina” Claims, August 28, 2007
• Former Employees Barred From Soliciting Firm’s Clients Despite Office Closing, August 14, 2007
• Exemption From Michigan Consumer Protection Act a Victory for Residential Homebuilders, 2007
• Failure to Comply With Material Contractual Obligation Results in Lost Recovery of Payment, 2007
• Key Nonfinancial Elements in the Acquisition Agreement, August, 2007
• Michigan Court of Appeals Overturns Itself to Hold Apartment Management Liable in Snow/Ice Cases, August 1, 2007
• Michigan Legislature Reexamines Serious Impairment Threshold, August, 2007
• Plaintiff Must Identify a Specific Manufacturing Defect Involved in an Implied Warranty Claim, August, 2007
• Plan For The Future of Your Family Business, August, 2007
• Denial of Church’s Rezoning Request for Apartment Building Does Not Violate Federal Law, July 6, 2007
• Failure to Promote Employee Because His Accent Makes Him Difficult to Understand is Unlawful, July 3, 2007
• Supreme Court Further Narrows Appellate Jurisdiction to Review District Court Remand Orders, June 29, 2007
• Supreme Court Holds That Trial Court May Not Impose Conditions on Independent Medical Examinations, June 19, 2007
• Federal Appellate Timing Requirements for Filing a Notice of Appeal Are Jurisdictional, June 15, 2007
• Property Owner Must Be Afforded Due Process Notice and the Right to Contest Foreclosure, June 6, 2007
• Rocket Docket Indefinitely Suspended Due to Budget Constraints, May 16, 2007
• Court of Appeals Addresses No-Fault Threshold Issues Relating to Closed Head Injuries and Permanent Serious Disfigurement, May 10, 2007
• Court of Appeals Addresses No-Fault Threshold Issues Relating to Closed Head Injuries and Permanent Serious Disfigurement, May 10, 2007
• No Fault Attorneys Fees Not Considered Part of Verdict Amount When Determining Sanctions, May 7, 2007
• No Fault Attorneys Fees Not Considered Part of Verdict Amount When Determining Sanctions, May 7, 2007
• Agreements to Release Claims - What Protection Are You Really Buying?, May, 2007
• The Impact of Poor Zoning Decisions, May, 2007
• Plaintiff Must Identify a Specific Manufacturing Defect Involved In An Implied Warranty Claim, April 30, 2007
• Michigan Supreme Court Reverses Appellate Court's Finding of Advertising Injury Insurance Coverage, April 27, 2007
• Parking Lots Lacking Signs Not Uniquely Dangerous, Open and Obvious Doctrine Applies, April 27, 2007
• Recommendations for Minimizing and/or Avoiding Workplace Violence, April 27, 2007
• Iowa High Court Upholds Total Pollution Exclusion as Bar to Coverage, April 18, 2007
• Insurer May Suspend PIP Benefits Until Insured Attends Independent Medical Examinations, April 16, 2007
• Some Independent Contractors May be Eligible to File Discrimination Claims Under State Civil Rights Law, April 12, 2007
• Hospital and Chief of Staff Can Be Held Liable Under State's Civil Rights Law for Discrimination Against Physician with Staff Privileges, April 6, 2007
• Application of Federal Antitrust Laws to Healthcare Providers, April, 2007
• Avoid Personal Injury Suits by Identifying Roles, Duties and Obligations, April, 2007
• Providing One Reasonable Theory is Sufficient in Negligence Cases, April, 2007
• Supreme Court Clarifies Statute of Limitations for Construction Malpractice Claims, April, 2007
• Michigan Court of Appeals Overturns Itself to Hold Apartment Management Liable, March 26, 2007
• All Group Health Benefits Must be Available to Employees on a FMLA Leave, February 23, 2007
• Federal Court Rules Non-Participating Insurer Must Pay Pro Rata Share of Insured's Settlement Costs, February 21, 2007
• Court Orders MCCA to Reimburse Member Insurers For All Personal Injury Protection Benefits Paid, February 9, 2007
• A Comprehensive Guide to the Appellate Court Rulings on Key Medical Malpractice Issues in 2006, February, 2007
• Attorney General Launches Regulatory Enforcement Sweep Targeting Healthcare Providers, February, 2007
• Plaintiff's Bar Seeks Advantage by Obtaining Court Ordered IME Restrictions, February, 2007
• Spoliation of Evidence May Spoil an Opportunity for Summary Judgment, January 31, 2007
• Database Security Breaches May Result in Significant Personal and Business Liability, January 10, 2007
• E-Discovery: Amendments Add Clarity and Consistency, January, 2007
• Proper Documentation Establishes Probable Cause and Preserves the Shopkeeper's Privilege, January, 2007
• Patient's Comparative Fault Nixes Medical Liability Claims, December 8, 2006
• Contraceptives and Pregnancies: New State and Federal Court Rulings May Impact Your Company, December, 2006
• Recent Developments in Appellate Law, 2006
• Plaintiff May Not Rely Upon Equitable Tolling to Escape Retroactive Effect of Waltz v Wyse, November 22, 2006
• Minnesota Supreme Court Issues Decision On Pro Rata Allocation Of Indemnity Costs, November 15, 2006
• Texas Supreme Court Holds Mold Exclusion Applies Even Though Damage Was Caused by Covered Peril, September 29, 2006
• Michigan Legislature Closes Minimum Wage Loophole by Limiting Overtime Eligibility, September 27, 2006
• Accommodating Religious Beliefs - What Employers Should Consider This Holiday Season, September, 2006
• Supreme Court Ruling Sets Higher Standard of Proof for Plaintiffs in Dram Shop Cases, August 10, 2006
• Case Law Updates, August, 2006
• Courts can 'pierce the corporate veil' to assign corporate liability to shareholders, August, 2006
• Letter of Intent - a 'Must' for Sellers, August, 2006
• Michigan Court of Appeals Continues Debate on Equitable Tolling in Waltz Cases, August, 2006
• US Corps of Eng Wetland Jurisdiction still unclear, August, 2006
• What You Don't Know Could Hurt Your Medical Practice, August, 2006
• Indiana Court Rules No Duty for Insurer to Reimburse Pre-Tender Defense Costs, July 31, 2006
• Court of Appeals asks Supreme Court to Re-examine Issue of Equitable Subrogation, July 28, 2006
• Recent Michigan Court Opinions Address Employer Liability for Employee Misconduct, July 24, 2006
• Supreme Court Clarifies Scope of Open and Obvious Danger Doctrine and Discards 'Simple Tool' Doctrine in Product Liability Actions, July 24, 2006
• Supreme Court Orders Snow Covered Curbs can be 'Open and Obvious', June 29, 2006
• Equitable Subrogation Doctrine Hampered in Mortgage Disputes, June 8, 2006
• Supreme Court Defines Notice Requirement for Invoking Highway Exception to Governmental Immunity, May 10, 2006
• Court Relaxes Rules for Matching Affidavits, May 8, 2006
• 'Rocket Docket' Speeds Processing of Appeals in Michigan Court of Appeals, May, 2006
• Michigan Court of Appeals Declares Conflict with Ousley, May, 2006
• The Social Security Number Privacy Act - What You Don't Know Could Hurt Your Medical Practice, May, 2006
• Reasonable Belief does Not Validate Affidavit of Meritorious Defense, April 14, 2006
• Open and Obvious Doctrine Cannot Bar Claims if Landlord Violates Statutory Duty, April 4, 2006
• Balancing FAA and IRS Requirements, April, 2006
• The Terms of Operating Agreements may be Very Flexible, April, 2006
• Why Every Person Needs an Estate Plan, April, 2006
• Michigan Court of Appeals Held 'Bare Bones' Affidavit of Merit is Sufficient, March 17, 2006
• Filing a Notice of Non-Party Fault can Increase Defendants' Exposure, March 6, 2006
• 'Present and Working' at Hospital is Not a Material Fact that Doctors are Employees, February 21, 2006
• Appellate Courts Rule on Employer Liability for Third Party Sexual Harassment, February 17, 2006
• Supreme Court Clarifies Statute of Limitations for Construction Malpractice Claims, February 16, 2006
• Obstetrician Not Qualified to Testify About Midwifery Standards, February 6, 2006
• Defendant Wins $1.6 Million in Attorney Fees After Plaintiff Found to Have Concealed Evidence, January 30, 2006
• Statute of Limitations Runs from Date of Sale in Michigan Consumer Protection Act Claims, January 20, 2006
• Supreme Court Clarifies Employer Liability in Sexual Harassment Cases, January 12, 2006
• Updates on the Family Medical Leave Act and the Social Security Number Privacy Act, January 12, 2006
• Wage Issues–Are You Compliant?, January 12, 2006
• Court Grants Statutory Rebuttal Presumption of Non-Liability to Qualified Manufacturers, January 9, 2006
• Informed Consent Does Not Include Surgeon’s Success Rate, January 6, 2006
• Court Says Surfing Web Sites Not Enough to Verify Expertise of Defendant Doctors, January 4, 2006
• 2005 - The Year in Review, 2006
• Appeals Court Rules That Employer Can Be Properly Named as a Non-Party at Fault, December 29, 2005
• Statute of Limitations Runs from Date Defamatory Statement Made Not Published, December 21, 2005
• Croskey Re-Visited-Restrictions to Ex Parte Meetings Reduced, December 15, 2005
• City Violates Federal Law in Denying Church's Rezoning Request, November 29, 2005
• Expert Who Signs Affidavit of Merit Need Not be Qualified to Testify Regarding Proximate Cause, November 18, 2005
• Defendants Risk Court Sanctions by Conducting Non-HIPAA Compliant Ex-Parte' Interviews, November 16, 2005
• Eggleston Weakened by Recent Appellate Court Decisions, November, 2005
• Michigan Statutory Caps Apply to a Failure-to-Stabilize EMTALA Claim, November, 2005
• Proper Application of Zoning Laws Results in Dismissal of $800 Million Claim, November 1, 2005
• Why every person needs an estate plan, November, 2005
• A Second Notice of Intent to File A Claim Can Serve to Toll Statute of Limitations, October 7, 2005
• Plaintiff's Whiplash Injuries Caused Residual Injuries Which, Under the Totality of the Circumstances, Constituted a Serious Impairment of Body Function, October 6, 2005
• Public Safety Officers Injured by Drunk Patrons Can Sue Bar Owners for Their Injuries, September 16, 2005
• Michigan’s Medical Damages Cap Reduces Federal Jury’s Verdict, August 31, 2005
• Successor Personal Representative Cannot Revive An Untimely Complaint, August 19, 2005
• Trial Court Must Conduct Searching Inquiry Before Determining Expert Testimony Is Unreliable, August 10, 2005
• Supreme Court Upholds Uninsured Motorist Coverage Requirement that Claim or Suit Must Be Brought Within One Year From the Date of the Accident, August 9, 2005
• Supreme Court Overrules Application of Judicial Tolling to the One Year Back Statute of Limitations of Michigan's No-Fault Act, August 5, 2005
• Plaintiffs' Counsel is Permitted to Attend and Videotape Independent Medical Examinations, August 3, 2005
• Res Ipsa Does Not Always Speak for Itself: Expert Testimony Needed to Establish Medical Malpractice, July 21, 2005
• Additional Two-Year Tolling Period is not Automatic for Successor Personal Representatives, July 15, 2005
• A Practitioner’s Guide to the Limits HIPAA Places on Ex Parte Interviews of Michigan Medical Care Providers Related Issues Concerning Discovery of Confidential Information, July, 2005
• Out-of-State Notary Certification Requirement to be Applied Prospectively, July, 2005
• Practice Tips for a Physician Supervising Physician Assistants, July, 2005
• Black Ice Case Reversed by Supreme Court, June 21, 2005
• Apsey Update: Out-of-State Notary Certification Requirement to be Applied, June 16, 2005
• New ‘Cork and Go’ Wine Bill Becomes Michigan Law, June 6, 2005
• Continuing Violations’ Doctrine No Longer Overcomes Statute of Limitations, May 20, 2005
• A Settling Tortfeasor has the Statutory Right to Seek Contribution Under MCL §600.2925a, May 10, 2005
• Courts Continue to Find Serious Impairments in Post Kreiner Era, May, 2005
• Michigan Court of Appeals Varies on Whether Snow and Ice is Open and Obvious, May, 2005
• The Value of Legal Nurse Consultants in Medical Malpractice Claims, May, 2005
• Long-Distance Hauling Company's Placard on Owner/Operator's Tractor is not Enough to Impose Vicarious Liability, April 15, 2005
• Land Owner has No Duty to Remove Vegetation in Public Right-Of-Way, April, 2005
• Are Your Incident Reports Protected?, March, 2005
• Covenants not to compete are permissible for Michigan physicians, March, 2005
• Medical Records Access Act of 2004, March, 2005
• Medical Monitoring Claims Are Not Cognizable Under Michigan Law In the Absence of a Present Physical Injury, January 29, 2005
• Caps on Damages: The ‘Lay of the Land’, October, 2004
• Supreme Court Decision Holds Damage Cap Provision Constitutional, July 6, 2004
• Insurance Coverage Issues Arising from Large Exposure Contaminated Food Claims, January, 2003
• Litigation Update! - Important Appellate Ruling, December 18, 2002
• Constitutionality of Rental Car Damages Upheld, December, 2002
• Michigan Supreme Court Considers Viability of 'Reasonable Expectations' Doctrine, December, 2002
• When is a Final Order Really ‘Final’?, December, 2002

Classes and Seminars

• Collections and Credit Reporting Seminar, Michigan State University Univerisity Club, July 16, 2008 - Present
• MACPA's 2008 Mergers & Acquisitions Conference, Crowne Plaza Hotel, Novi, MI, June 16, 2008 - Present
• Michigan Association of CPAs Spring Management Information Show, Crowne Plaza Hotel, Grand Rapids, MI, June 5, 2008 - Present
• 2008 - Medical Records Law in Michigan Seminar, Crowne Plaza Hotel, 5700 28th Street Southeast, Grand Rapids MI, March 25, 2008 - Present
• 2008 - Medical Records Law in Michigan Seminar, March 12, 2008 - Present

West Practice Categories

Administrative Law, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Banking & Finance Law, Bankruptcy Law, Creditors' Rights, Business & Commercial Law, Civil Rights, Construction Law, Criminal Law, Education Law, Employment Law -- Employee, Employment Law -- Employer, Environmental Law, Estate Planning, Family Law, Health & Health Care Law, Immigration & Naturalization Law, Insurance Law, Title Insurance, International Law, Internet - Cyberspace, Labor Law, Federal Appellate Practice, State Appellate Practice, Products Liability Law, Professional Malpractice Law, Medical Malpractice, Real Estate Law, Municipal Liability, Transportation Law, Trucking