2008 Excellence in Defense Award Recipients
Lansing, MI, March 24, 2008—The Michigan Defense Trial Counsel (MDTC) has announced that both Saginaw attorney J. Michael Fordney and Flint attorney Walter P. Griffin have been selected to receive the Sixteenth Annual Excellence in Defense Award.
They will be honored Saturday, May 17, 2008 at the Annual Awards Banquet as a highlight of MDTC’s Annual Meeting and Conference being held at Ann Arbor Marriott Ypsilanti at Eagle Crest, Ann Arbor, Michigan. The award was established by MDTC to honor civil defense counsel who have demonstrated superior professionalism and advocacy skills, and have contributed significantly to his or her communities and the defense trial bar.
J. Michael Fordney, after attending the U.S. Navel Academy, obtained a B.B.A. from the University of Notre Dame in 1962 and a J.D. from the University of Detroit School of Law in 1967.
Mr. Fordney is a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, and retains Diplomat Status within the American Board of Trial Advocates. He maintains a professional association with the International Association of Defense Counsel, State Bar of Michigan, Michigan Defense Trial Counsel, American and County Bar Associations, and is a Life Fellow of the Michigan State Bar Foundation. He has been a lecturer for the State Bar of Michigan, Michigan Defense Trial Counsel, American Board of Trial Advocates, American College of Trial Lawyers, and the International Association of Defense Counsel. He was named the 2006 Lawyer of the Year by the Michigan Lawyers Weekly.
Mr. Griffin was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, July 17, 1945. He attended Tulane University of Louisiana, graduated in 1967. He is a 1970 graduate of the Wayne State University School of Law. Mr. Griffin was 1st Lieutenant in the JAGC, U.S. Air Force between 1970 and 1972. He maintains memberships in the Genesee County Bar Association (past president), State Bar of Michigan (past chairperson of the Negligence Section); American Bar Association and Michigan Defense Trial Counsel (past president); Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. Mr. Griffin was the recipient of the 2001 Michigan Trial Lawyers Association Respected Advocate Award for Defense Counsel.
Mr. Griffin maintains a trial practice including personal injury law, municipal law, general defense litigation and medical/legal litigation with a specialty in professional liability defense. He also practices in the area of municipal law.
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Madelyne C. Lawry
Michigan Defense Trial Counsel, Inc.
(517) 627-3745
MICHIGAN DEFENSE TRIAL COUNSEL ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF SIXTEENTH ANNUAL “EXCELLENCE IN DEFENSE AWARD”
Further information on the Annual Meeting and Conference, or on the Michigan Defense Trial Counsel, is available by calling the MDTC Executive Director, Madelyne Lawry, at (517) 627-3745.
J.Michael Fordney
Fordey & Coffey
206 S Webster St
PO Box 6340
Saginaw, MI 48608
Phone: (989) 791-7060
Fax: (989) 791-8009
Walter P. Griffin
Cline Cline & Griffin PC
503 S Saginaw St
Ste 1000
Flint, MI 48502
Phone: (810) 232-3141
Fax: (810) 232-1079