Archive for the ‘News’ Category

Kelly Law Offices negotiated a $100,000.00 settlement for a 39 year old women who sustained a closed head injury, a right foot drop, and a urinary tract obstruction commonly known as a cauda equinas syndrome in a roll over crash.

The client was a passenger in the vehicle traveling East on 10 Mile Road near it’s intersection with Myer’s Lake Road. The Defendant traveling West was pulling a small trailer that was improperly hitched. As the vehicles approached each other the trailer broke loose, crashed into the vehicle the client was a passenger in, instantly killing the driver and subsequently causing the vehicle to roll over several times.

The Defendant motorist was insured with policy limits of $100,000.00 which were paid by his insurance company. The client was unemployed, but all of her medical bills and rehabilitation expenses were paid by her no-fault carrier. The settlement represented recovery for pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment of life.

Kelly Law Offices, P.C. negotiated a $100,000.00 settlement for a 42 year old woman who sustained wrist, leg, and internal injuries in a head on collision. The Client was proceeding East on 28th Street in morning rush hour traffic. The Defendant motorist was traveling West and crossed into the client’s lane causing a head on collision. The Defendant motorist was insured with policy limits of $100,000.00, which were paid for by his insurance company. All of the client’s lost wages, medical bills and rehabilitation expenses were paid by her no-fault carrier. The settlement represented recovery for pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment of life.

Kelly Law offices, P.C. negotiated a $60,000.00 settlement for a 43 year old woman who sustained the aggravation of a preexisting back condition in a low impact collision. The client was traveling on I-94 in the Chicago area, when she was caught in a bumper to bumper traffic jam. She received a minor bump from the vehicle behind her. Due to the minimal damage both vehicles left the scene without reporting the incident to the Chicago Police Department.

The client had suffered prior back problems, but she had been symptom free for years. However the impact caused the symptoms to reappear requiring physical therapy and pain killing medication. The client was unemployed but all of her medical bills were paid for by her no-fault carrier. The settlement represented recovery for pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment of life.

Kelly Law Offices, P.C. obtained a $60,000 settlement for a 79-year-old woman who sustained a fractured pelvis when struck on a cross walk while riding a motorized scooter.

The woman was crossing an intersection in Ottawa County, Michigan on her motorized scooter when she was struck by a motorist. Plaintiff sustained a fractured pelvis, which required 6 weeks of nursing care and therapy. When fully recovered, she was able to return to her residence and no longer needs therapy or attendant care.

Defendant was insured with policy limits of $50,000 and offered to settle for $45,000 before suit was filed, in addition to payment of Plaintiff’s medical expenses in the amount of $15,000.

Kelly Law Offices, P.C. successfully negotiated a confidential settlement for the estate of a 14-year-old suicide victim The victim’s death resulted from the youth hanging herself in a shower stall after asking permission to use the restroom of a residential home for troubled teens, where the youth was then seeking treatment. The estate claimed that the facility was negligent for failing to properly supervise the troubled youth and for maintaining an unsafe premises, since it did not use breakaway bars in the showers to prevent such hangings.

The Defendant denied liability, but agreed to a facilitative mediation, which resulted in the confidential settlement.

Michael F. Kelly has again been invited to participate in the Institute of Continuing Legal Education’s (ICLE) 2009 Drunk Driving Update Seminar.

Michael F. Kelly has been a faculty member for ICLE for the past 10 years. He has lectured on pretrial motions and demonstrated techniques on how to cross-examine an arresting officer and breathalyzer operator. This year, he will lecture and demonstrate the proper techniques to cross-examine a forensics scientist from the Michigan State Police Crime Lab.

The program is presented in Grand Rapids and Plymouth, Michigan where it will be broadcast throughout the state via live webcast. Dates and times – TBA

For more information on ICLE and Michael F. Kelly’s participation with the organization, click here.

Download event information and invite (PDF)

A skier was injured when struck in the back by a paddle on a paddle tow rope and dragged 150 yards before another skier hit the emergency button to stop the mechanism. The ski area was required to have an operator on duty, who would stop the mechanism when a skier was in distress. Either the operator was not on duty or, if so, failed to act. The skier sustained a torn ACL. A confidential settlement was reached following case evaluation by a panel of three attorneys.

Husband and wife, passengers on an Amtrak train, were injured when they were thrown from their seats as a result of the engineer’s rear-ending another train. The husband suffered a torn meniscus and right shoulder injury. The wife suffered a chipped tooth, TMJ injury and back injury.

Kelly Law Offices, P.C. engaged in vigorous negotiations with Amtrak, which resulted in a six figure settlement without filing suit.

Michigan Lawyers Weekly, January 10, 1994

The “Ask the Lawyers” show on public television station WGVU- TV, Grand Rapids, produced in cooperation with the Grand Rapids Bar Association, devoted a special broadcast December 2 to Michigan’s drunk driving laws.

Pictured at the broadcast (left to right) are host Gary Allen; Hon. Susan A. Jonas; attorneys Michael F. Kelly and Frank S. Spies; and Michigan State Police Trooper Graves.