Stearn Named Super Lawyer 2nd Year in a Row

The Law Offices of Todd J. Stearn, P.C. is proud to announce that Todd has been named a Super Lawyer for the second straight year in a row by the prestigous Super Lawyer magazine.  Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The selection process is multi-phased and includes independent research, peer nominations and peer evaluations.  Super Lawyers magazine features the list and profiles of selected attorneys and is distributed to attorneys in the state or region and the ABA-accredited law school libraries. Super Lawyers is also published as a special section in leading city and regional magazines across the country.

Governor Snyder Signs Michigan Criminal Records Bill

Governor Rick Snyder has signed legislation giving Judges more discretion over when to expunge criminal records. Under old law, a Judge could not clear a person's record if it contained more than one offense. Under the new measure, a Judge can expunge a criminal record if there are up to three minor offenses on it. A minor offense is defined as a misdemeanor or ordinance violation with a maximum 90 day penalty and maximum $1,000.00 fine that was committed when the person was 21 years old or younger. Serious crimes can't be expunged. A person must wait five years before asking.

Another Successful Year

The Law Offices of Todd J. Stearn wants to thank everyone who made this year such a success. Significant accomplishments this year included (1) being named a Super Lawyer, (2) the addition of another attorney and secretary, (3) the highest gross settlements on personal injury cases in history and (4) the most success in defending criminal cases ever. Stay tuned to see what next year brings.

Stearn Wins Back to Back Trials Against State Farm

What should you do when State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company denies your insurance claim? Call Todd J. Stearn, of course!

In seperate trials lasting a total of fifteen (15) days, Stearn got two (2) seperate jury trial verdicts against State Farm.

In the first case, State Farm had denied No-Fault insurance claims worth more than $100,000.00. After eight (8) trial days spanning almost three (3) weeks, a Wayne County jury awarded Stearn virtually every penny he asked for. After the trial, the Court awarded an addtional $70,000.00 attorney fee.

In the second case, State Farm refused to offer any more than $10,000 to settle a man's claim for pain and suffering relating to soft tissue injuries he sustained in a car crash. Again, a Wayne County jury spent seven (7) trial days listening to the testimony of witnesses and doctors and to Stearn's arguments, eventually awarding $42,000.00.

Stearn Named 2010 Super Lawyer

The Law Offices of Todd J. Stearn, P.C. is proud to recognize Todd J. Stearn as a 2010 Super Lawyer as published by Super Lawyers Magazine, a division of Thomson Reuters. The process is based on 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement and the selection is limited to the top 5% of lawyers in the State of Michigan. Congratulations Todd!

Supreme Court Finally Fixes Auto Law

After six long years, the Michigan Supreme Court has finally repaired the broken Michigan No-Fault law. In a 5-4 decision, the Michigan Supreme Court determined that an injured victim of a car accident need not be permanently injured or catastrophically injured in order to receive compensation for his or her injuries. "This gives hope to all of those injured in car accidents who have previously been denied just compensation," said attorney Todd Stearn.

Stearn Awarded Prestigious AV Rating

Todd J. Stearn is proud to announce that Martindale Hubbell has awarded him its highest legal rating for both legal ability and ethics. The "AV" rating means that Stearn's peers have rated him preeminent, which is the highest rating possible and defined by Martindale Hubbell as "the pinnacle of professional excellence earned through a strenuous peer review rating process that is managed and monitored by the world's most trusted legal resource."

Great Week for Criminal Defense Cases at the Law Offices of Todd J. Stearn, P.C.

This week, the Law Offices of Todd J. Stearn, P.C. got two seperate criminal cases dismissed. In the first, a 40 year old man was wrongfully accused of assaulting a young woman. Todd J. Stearn successfully proved that the police had charged the wrong man. In the second case, Todd J. Stearn, convinced a Judge that a man accused of drunk driving should not be convicted because he had been responsible enough to pull into a parking lot when he realized he was intoxicated. Both men were extremely gratified to have been exonerated.

Bausch & Lomb Pays for Defective Contact Lens Solution

After more than a year of litigation, Bausch & Lomb agreed to pay a client of the Law Offices of Todd J. Stearn, P.C., a high six figure settlement for corneal damage suffered from a defective contact lens solution. The solution allowed bacteria, called fusarium, to grow on contact lens' and eventually injure eyes.

The Law Offices of Todd J. Stearn joined dozens of other law firms in a Multi-District Federal Lawsuit arising out of the defective contact lens solution.

Law Office Moves into Bigger and Nicer Space

The Law Offices of Todd J. Stearn, P.C. officially moved its offices into a bigger and nicer space located at 17000 W. Ten Mile Rd., 2nd Floor, Southfield, MI 48075. Todd will continue to represent clients in a variety of litigation matters including personal injury, criminal defense and business litigation. The new office is conveniently located near I-696, the Southfield Fwy and the Lodge Fwy. Call Todd to set up a time to come visit his new offices.

Justice Marilyn Kelly Elected Chief Justice

In a vote that signals the days of a splintered Michigan Supreme Court are far from over, a 4-3 majority chose Marilyn Kelly to serve as chief justice for the next two years. Republican Justices Maura D. Corrigan, Robert P. Young Jr. and Stephen J. Markman -- the remainder of what Weaver had previously dubbed the "majority of four" -- dissented. The fourth member of the group had been Clifford W. Taylor, who was chief justice when he lost his re-election bid to the court's newest justice, Diane M. Hathaway, in November.

9 Year Conservative Era Ends on Michigan Supreme Court

Conservatives' nine-year reign on the Michigan Supreme Court ended this week when Republican Chief Justice Clifford Taylor worked his last day, clearing the way for a more liberal judge who beat him in the November election. Democrat Diane Hathaway's swearing-in next week likely will lead to different rulings by the high court, but it remains unknown if the shift will be sweeping or narrow. GOP justices still hold a 4-3 advantage, and the outcome in key cases will be controlled by a swing justice: Republican Elizabeth Weaver. She typically rules against criminal defendants yet is less likely to vote with conservatives to restrict lawsuits filed by injured motorists, workers and environmentalists. With the change in power nearing, the court in December issued a number of decisions earlier than normal. Justices ruled in 19 of 23 cases they heard since the term began in October. Seven were 4-3 rulings with Taylor and three Republicans in the majority and Weaver and two Democrats in the minority.

Stearn Wins Criminal Case

The Law Offices of Todd J. Stearn scored another victory last week when the Livingston County Prosecutor's Office dropped a charge of reckless driving against one of Stearn's clients. Stearn stated, "My client was not guilty and we persuaded the Prosecutor's Office that it would be very difficult to prove their case even though they had threatened to bring more than 20 witnesses to testify at trial." Reckless driving has a maximum penalty of 90 days in jail, an automatic suspension of a driving license and carries six (6) points on a driving record.

New Supreme Court Justice

Incumbent Chief Justice Clifford Taylor of the Michigan Supreme Court conceded defeat to his challenger, Democratic nominee Diane Hathaway. Hathaway's win signals a major shake-up, reducing a 5-2 Republican majority to 4-3 on the state's highest court, where one of the Republican-nominated justices, Elizabeth Weaver, has been a frequent dissenter from majority opinions. Taylor is the first sitting Supreme Court justice to lose his seat since Republican nominee Dorothy Comstock Riley ousted Thomas Giles Kavanagh in 1984. He is the first sitting chief justice defeated at the polls since statehood.

Since Cliff Taylor has been on the Court, the Republican dominated court has frequently trounced on individual's rights in favor of big business and insurance companies. The Court has made it much more difficult for injured victims to collect for injuries suffered in car accidents, slip and falls and from medical malpractice.

Worker's Compensation Update

On October 1, 2008 the Michigan Supreme Court decided a new case entitled Lofton v. Autozone, Inc. The Court decided that the worker's compensation magistrate will now compute wage loss benefits based on what the injured employee remains capable of earning. In other words, if an employee suffers a personal injury on the job and is entitled to benefits, the judge will reduce the amount he or she is entitled to based upon what the employee should be able to earn in other employment. This means that a person that was earning $15.00 per hour as a physician's assistant who cannot go back to work as a PA, but who can go back to work flipping burgers for $6.00 per hour, may have his or her wage loss benefits reduced by $6.00 per hour.

Dog Bite Verdict

Todd J. Stearn received a generous jury verdict for a client who was injured by an unprovoked dog bite. An Oakland County jury took less than an hour to award a significant amount of money to a Royal Oak resident who suffered scarring to her calf and emotional injuries from the bite. The defense attorney had never offered any more than nuisance value to settle the case. This was yet another win for the Law Offices of Todd J. Stearn, P.C.

Announcing New Law Firm

The Law offices of Todd J. Stearn officially began representing clients on October 1, 2008. Todd Stearn will be representing clients in all aspects of litigation, including personal injury, criminal defense, business litigation, real estate litigation and all other types of lawsuits. For a free consultation contact Todd at todd@tjslawfirm.com or 248-744-5000.