TOV Injury and Safety Blog

Thompson again named one of Michigan's "Top 100 Trial Lawyers"

This year, The National Trial Lawyers organization again invited our partner, George Thompson, into membership in the "Top 100" honorary organization.  Membership is by invitation only and is "extended to those individuals who exemplify superior qualifications, trial results, and leadership" in their respective states.  If you hang around long enough in a profession, you have the opportunity to fool enough people to be invited into these kinds of organizations.

Dan O'Neil to be a featured speaker at the Upper Michigan Legal Institute

This year, our partner Dan O'Neil was asked to lecture on the topic "Effective Cross Examination Techniques" at the 2012 Upper Michigan Legal Institute on Mackinac Island. The UMLI is sponsored by the State Bar of Michigan and is the State Bar's only continuing legal education seminar held in northern Michigan annually.  Mr. O'Neil is one of four experienced attorneys who will be asked to provide advice to practicing northern Michigan lawyhers at this year's Institute.  He will be the only attorney speaking on topics related to insurance, personal injury or trial practice.

Mr. Thompson has been asked to lecture at the annual Institute on two prior occasions.

George Thompson again identified as one of State's best lawyers

The Michigan Super Lawyers magazine for 2011 again identifies our partner, George Thompson, as one of the best lawyers in Michigan.  He has been identified through this process as one of the top lawyers advocating for seriously injured people every year the list has been published.  We have not bothered to become familiar with how the editors select the list of "top lawyers," but the magazine claims that it involves an examination of the lawyer's credentials and a survey of practicing lawyers. The designation is not something that a lawyer can apply for, nor is it something lawyers can influence through purchasing advertising.

Thompson listed again among nation's "3000 leading lawyers."

The national LawDragon  Magazine has informed our partner, George Thompson, that he will be listed in the 2011 publication:  Thompson has been listed in the magazine for about a decade--we think each year since the magazine's "leading lawyer" list was created.

Dan O'Neil asked to testify before Michigan's Legislature

The State House has asked Dan O'Neil and several other experienced attorneys to testify before a committee investigating the current state of personal injury law in Michigan.  There is a perception among some Republican legislators that members need to be better informed regarding how the injury claims process actually works and what injury victims can reasonably expect under the law.  It would be nice to anticipate that the explanations of experienced attorneys might "trump" the money invested by special interests [primarily the Chamber of Commerce and the insurance industry] in propaganda, however, life experience tells us that this isn't likely to be the case. In any event, we're proud that Dan was asked to discuss these issues and proud of him for giving up two days in Lansing to make a sincere effort to inform.

Thompson identified as "Superlawyer" for fifth consecutive year (each year the designation has been published).

Thomson-Reuters has identified Michigan's best lawyers each year since 2006.  For the fifth consecutive year--each year the list has been published--George Thompson was included as one of the best lawyers in the State. The stated goal of the publication is to "create a credible, comprehensive and diverse listing of outstanding attorneys" through peer review, research and editorial judgment.  The publisher limits inclusion on the list to fewer than five percent of Michigan's lawyers.

Mr. Thompson again honored by Lawdragon

This week, Mr. Thompson was notified that he was again included in the so-called "Lawdragon 3000" best lawyers in America.  We have no idea how these attorneys are selected or what criteria is used.  We do know that we did not solicit or request inclusion in the publication.

Attorney Thompson again among the finalists for LawDragon 500 best attorneys in the U.S.

On February 24, our attorney George Thompson was notified that he had again been designated as a finalist for inclusion as one of Lawdragon's Top 500 U.S. attorneys, designated the "Leading Lawyers in America."  Nationwide, 3,000 attorneys are awarded the status of "finalists" in this selection process, which apparently results from peer review and client evaluation.  We did not nominate Thompson for inclusion, nor did we participate in his selection or evaluation.  The full list of three thousand 2010 "Leading Lawyers" is apparently available on-line at http://www.lawdragon.com/index.php/newdragon/ld_3000_10/.

Attorney O'Neil asked to speak at Michigan Association of Justice seminar; to conduct Law School Mock Trial competition

The Michigan Association of Justice requested that Dan O'Neil address employment and wrongful discharge issues at the Association's "Seminar in the Snow" during February of 2010. At the end of the month, at the request of the National  Board of Trial Advocacy and Michigan State's School of Law, O'Neil will preside over sessions of the moot court competition between several regional law schools.

Thompson again recognized as "Superlawyer," in Top Lawyers in Michigan

The 2009 edition of "Superlawyers" again recognized our partner, George Thompson, as one of the "Top Lawyers in Michigan."  The publication honors attorneys based upon a combination of verdict and settlement results, peer rating, scholarly publications, certifications and honors, and community involvement.  Thompson has been named to the list each year that Superlawyers has been published in Michigan.

Firm again identified in "Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers"

Thompson, O'Neil and VanderVeen was recognized again in 2009 by the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers, a distinction granted to only five percent of all law firms.  This recognition is not the product of an application process and involves no purchase of services or solicitation.  The firm has been recognized in this manner without interruption for nearly twenty years.

Partners advise victims' attorneys on litigation issues

Dan O'Neil and John VanderVeen  both spoke recently to audiences made up of attorneys who handle injury claims.  At the request of the Michigan Association of Justice, VanderVeen talked on the subject of fire claims and O'Neil gave advice dealting with the cross-examination of hostile experts during litigation.

"Top lawyers in Northern Michigan"

A short biography of our firm was included in the issue of Traverse the Magazine on December, 2008 newstands.  The January, 2009 issue of the magazine was designed to recognize northern Michigan attorneys who enjoy the highest rating for ethics and ability as documented by the Martindale-Hubbell rating agency.  Our firm has enjoyed the highest rating possible ("av") for twenty years.

Attorney George Thompson again designated "superlawyer"

For three years, an outside agency has published a listing of the "top lawyers in Michigan", and each year our partner, George Thompson, has been on that short list of "top" attorneys who practice personal injury law, representing victims, in Michigan.  None of the other Traverse City firms who advertise for injury work have a partner who has been included on this list even once.  We think this designation reflects the respect our firm has earned over three decades for its quiet, professional and compassionate mangement of injury victims' rights.

O'Neil addresses local meeting of groups seeking judicial reform

 On Thursday, June 19, 2008, Dan O'Neil spoke at a local non-partisan gathering of concerned citizens seeking judicial reform in Michigan.  The meeting was well-attended, and O'Neil presented statistics from several public sources, documenting the highly partisan and financially skewed decisions emanating from Michigan's highest court.  A summary of that data will be collated and published on this website in the next few days, and will also appear as an article in a respected journal of sociology.  Unfortunately, with the Michigan Chamber of Commerce pledging to spend 20 million dollars in November to protect the judicial seat of its pet Justice, Clifford Taylor (husband of former Governor Engler's chief of staff: can you guess how he came to be appointed to the Court?), broad dissemination of information probably won't be enough to improve the performance of Michigan's Court.

"Who's Who"

George Thompson was recently notified that he had been included in the latest "Honors Edition" of Who's Who Among Professionals and Executives.  He did not buy the book.

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Million Dollar Advocates

        Firm attorney Dan O'Neil recently joined George Thompson as a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum.    The Forum is limited to attorneys who have served as "principal counsel" in cases where they have won million dollar or multi-million dollar verdicts, awards and settlements.  The Forum was created in 1993 to acknowledge "excellence in advocacy" and fewer than one percent of the nation's attorneys qualify for membership.  Our firm has achieved more than ten qualifying recoveries in contested settings.  The firm or individual attorneys in the firm have also been listed in the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers, the LawDragon 500, and the Superlawyers' "Top Lawyers in Michigan".  It has been accorded the highest possible rating for skill and ethics from the most prominent rating organization in the country and it was a finalist for the Primerus Group's annual Community Service Award.

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Michigan Super Lawyers: The Top Attorneys in Michigan

     For the second straight year, an agency has canvassed more than 30,000 Michigan lawyers in an attempt to identify the best of the best.  For the second year, it has named our partner, George R. Thompson, as one of the "Top Attorneys in Michigan" in its publication that accompanied the September 12 edition of the Detroit News.  While no "beauty contest" of this nature is entirely reliable, this is not a "paid" or "purchased" endorsement and the entire membership of the State Bar is invited to participate.  All candidates are evaluated on 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement.  These factors include Verdicts and settlements, scholarly lectures and writing, honors and awards, special certification and community service, among other qualities.  No other Plaintiff [victim's representative] personal injury attorney from the Traverse City area was identified in either year.

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DAN O’NEIL RE-APPOINTED TO EXECUTIVE BOARD OF MICHIGAN ASSOCIATION FOR JUSTICE

Our partner Dan O’Neil has been re-appointed to serve as a member of the Executive Board of the Michigan Association For Justice (formerly the Michigan Trial Lawyers Association) for 2007. Dan has been a member of Association since 1990 and a member of the Board for 10 years.

The Michigan Association for Justice is an organization of 2000 Michigan lawyers who are dedicated to helping working families seek justice when they are injured by unsafe products, drunk drivers or another person’s negligence. Association members work to promote safety for all Michigan citizens by standing up for individual and corporate account ability and responsibility.

Thompson, O’Neil and VanderVeen has a long history of supporting the Michigan Association for Justice. All of the partners are members of the Association and provide financial support, serve on its committees and regularly teach other lawyers on trial advocacy and other legal topics at Association sponsored seminars.

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