Matthew Nelson is a partner in the Firm's Grand Rapids office specializing in litigation at both the trial and appellate levels. Mr. Nelson advises clients in commercial and employment disputes. Additionally, he advises nonprofit and religious organizations regarding abuse prevention.

Mr. Nelson has experience in all levels of state and federal courts. His appellate experience includes representing clients in the Indiana and Michigan appellate courts. Mr. Nelson is a co-founder of the WNJ Appellate Practice Group's One Court of Justice Blog, which provides comprehensive and timely analysis of the Michigan appellate courts.

Representative Experience

• Tomecek v. Bavas, 759 N.W.2d 178 (Mich. 2008):  Obtained ruling favorable to plaintiffs in an easement dispute involving the Land Division Act
• Successfully represented amicus curiae in Michigan Supreme Court presenting arguments against broadening Michigan's statutory conversion law that were subsequently adopted by the court
• Echelon Homes, LLC v. Carter Lumber Co., 694 N.W.2d 544 (Mich. 2005): Successfully represented Michigan Bankers Association as amicus curiae in Michigan Supreme Court presenting arguments against broadening Michigan's statutory conversion law that were subsequently adopted by the court
• Metro v. Amway Asia-Pacific Ltd., 2006 WL 2035510 (Mich. Ct. App. 2006): Part of WNJ team that persuaded Michigan Court of Appeals to reject $1 billion claim in class litigation alleging oppression and breach of fiduciary duty in a squeeze out
• Part of WNJ team that persuaded Michigan Court of Appeals to reject $1 billion claim in class litigation alleging oppression and breach of fiduciary duty in a squeeze out
• Successfully obtained a writ of certiorari to the United States Supreme Court in a case involving a class-of-one under the equal protection clause
• Sherrills v. Beison, 2006 WL 2701057 (W.D. Mich. 2006), aff'd 242 Fed. App. 332 (6th Cir. 2007): Obtained summary judgment against plaintiff's claims of racial discrimination and retaliation under Title VII and 42 U.S.C. § 1981. Affirmed on appeal by the Sixth Circuit
• Represented the Defense Research Institute, the nation's largest association of defense attorneys, as amicus curiae in support of a petition for a writ of certiorari from the United States Supreme Court
• Ensquist v. Oregon Department of Agriculture, 128 S. Ct. 977 (2008):  Provided substantial assistance to plaintiff's attorney to successfully obtain a writ of certiorari from the United States Supreme Court
• Gay v. Morgan (United States Supreme Court):  Represented the Defense Research Institute, the nation's largest association of defense attorneys, as amicus curiae in support of petitioner for a writ of certiorari from the United States Supreme Court
• Convinced District of Columbia Circuit to summarily dismiss appeal from summary judgment on procedural grounds
• Persuaded Sixth Circuit to affirm summary judgment in Title VII discrimination and retaliation case
• Part of WNJ team that obtained reversal of trial court order denying sanctions against plaintiff for bringing frivolous employment claims from the Michigan Court of Appeals
• Participated as part of a team that successfully obtained leave to appeal settlement privilege issues to the Sixth Circuit
• Paluscsak v. American Litho, Inc. (Northern District of Ohio):  Obtained summary judgment against plaintiff's claims of improper classification of plaintiff as an exempt administrative employee under the Fair Labor Standards Act
• EEOC v. Spectrum Health Worth Home Care, Inc. (Western District of Michigan):  Convinced EEOC to settle race and sex discrimination claims under Title VII for consent decree requiring no economic damages
• Successfully defended appeal of trial court's denial of summary judgment in the Indiana Court of Appeals
• Boyd v. Pflugrad (In re Pflugrad):  Successfully represented Trustee in action to sell bankruptcy estate's interests in jointly held assets Filler Specialties
• Participated in numerous other appeals in the Michigan Court of Appeals and the Sixth Circuit
• Indiana Insurance Co. v. Estate of Laurel Erb (Grant County, Indiana Circuit Court):  Obtain summary judgment against plaintiff and multimillion dollar settlement in an insurance coverage dispute
• Hood v. JL French Co. (Western District of Michigan):  Successfully defended second tier automobile parts supplier in a race discrimination suit brought by six former employees under Michigan's Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act
• Day v. HME, Inc. (Kent County Circuit Court):  Obtained dismissal of plaintiff's race discrimination claims under Michigan's Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act; successfully appealed trial court's order denying sanctions against plaintiff for bringing frivolous claims
• Citiplate v. American Litho, Inc. (Kent County Circuit Court):  Successfully defended local small business client against trade secret and non-compete claims
• Kraker v. Howard Miller Clock Company (Ottawa County Circuit Court): Obtained summary judgment against plaintiff's Family Medical Leave Act interference and retaliation claims

Bar Associations

Publications

• The Federal Pleading Standard:  A Year After Bell Atlantic v. Twombley

• New Pregnancy Discrimination Case Eases the Burden for Federal Employment Retaliation and Pregnancy Discrimination Claims
• Human Resources Alert

Professional Affiliations

• Defense Research Institute
  
• Michigan Defense Trial Counsel
  

Community Affiliations

• Dutton United Reformed Church
  Chair of Building Finance Committee
  

News

• Warner Norcross Attorneys Receive Law Review Award
• Warner Adds Four New Partners, Strengthening Its Litigation Team