Two attorneys with the law firm Warner Norcross & Judd LLP have been recognized with 2017 Distinguished Brief Awards from the Thomas M. Cooley Law Review.
Matthew T. Nelson was recognized for his authorship of an application for leave to appeal in Fremont Insurance Co. et al. v. Gro-Green Farms, Inc., which was submitted in the 2015-16 term to the Michigan Supreme Court on behalf of the Gro-Green Farms, Inc. The case involves the use of debunked expert testimony to identify the cause of a barn fire. This is the third time that Nelson, a partner with the firm and chair of its Appellate & Supreme Court Practice, has received the Distinguished Brief Award.
Conor B. Dugan was recognized for his authorship of an application for leave to appeal in Reffitt v. Bachi-Reffitt, which was submitted in the 2015-16 term to the Michigan Supreme Court on behalf of Kevin Reffitt. The case involves the question of whether insurance proceeds constitute marital property where the insurance policy was paid with non-marital funds and named only one spouse as a beneficiary.
Now celebrating its 32nd year, the award is given in recognition of the most scholarly briefs filed before the Michigan Supreme Court as determined by a panel of jurists. The briefs are evaluated on the basis of:
Nelson concentrates his practice on appellate litigation and has successfully represented clients in the U.S. Supreme Court, the Michigan Supreme Court and Court of Appeals, and in numerous federal courts of appeal. He represents manufacturers, contractors, financial institutes and other employers, working on issues for the DRI – The Voice of the Defense Bar, Council of Christian Colleges and Universities, Michigan Defense Trial Counsel and the Michigan Health & Hospital Association, among others.
Active professionally and in the community, Nelson serves on the board of the Michigan Appellate Bench Bar Conference Foundation and is vice-chair of DRI’s national amicus committee. He also serves as the chairperson of the board of trustees for Kuyper College, on the National Advisory Committee for Dordt College in Iowa. Nelson has been named to Best Lawyers in America and Michigan Super Lawyers, which also named him a Rising Star.
Dugan has successfully represented clients in the U.S. Supreme Court, the Michigan Supreme Court and Court of Appeals, and in numerous federal courts of appeal on issues ranging from agriculture and the environment to municipal and criminal law. Dugan serves on the boards of the Michigan Defense Trial Counsel and Catholic Charities West Michigan. He is also the treasurer for the Catholic Lawyers Association of Western Michigan. Dugan has been named a Rising Star by Michigan Super Lawyers.
Both contribute regularly to the firm’s One Court of Justice blog, which tracks appellate cases and decisions in Michigan.
About Warner
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