Plunkett Cooney announces four attorneys as its newest shareholders

Plunkett Cooney, one of the oldest and largest law firms in Michigan, recently named John P. Deegan, Michael A. Fleming, Michael J. Hagerty and Ellen Bartman Jannette as shareholders of the firm.

“These four outstanding lawyers share an unyielding commitment to the pursuit of excellence and a dedication to quality in the service of clients,” said Anthony J. Rusciano, Chairman of Plunkett Cooney’s Board of Directors. “To achieve this professional milestone, they have demonstrated highly effective and consistent performance in productivity, business development and contributions to our firm and to the community.” 

John (Jack) P. Deegan is an attorney in the firm’s Petoskey office who has a broad base of litigation experience in the areas of motor vehicle negligence, product liability, premises liability, medical malpractice, workers’ compensation, ski area liability, property disputes, will and trust/estate litigation and commercial disputes. He also serves as a case evaluator in Emmet and Charlevoix County Circuit Court on various civil matters. Deegan received his law degree from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law in 1995 and his undergraduate degree from Albion College in 1992.

A member of the firm’s Bloomfield Hills office, Michael A. Fleming focuses his practice in the areas of banking and finance law, creditors' rights and bankruptcy. He represents clients in commercial and secured transactions, including loan workouts, foreclosures and commercial loan collections, as well as business reorganizations, debtor and creditor’s rights, and probate and estate administration. A magna cum laude graduate from University of Michigan-Dearborn in 1982, Fleming received his law degree, cum laude, from Wayne State University Law School in 1985.

Michael J. Hagerty joined Plunkett Cooney's Title Insurance Law Practice Group after spending over 18 years serving as general counsel of Metropolitan Title Company. He has extensive experience representing title insurance companies; real estate buyers, sellers and developers; and lenders in transactional and litigation matters. A member of the firm’s Bloomfield Hills office, Hagerty has served as president of the Michigan Land Title Association and is a former member of the organization’s board of directors and numerous standing and ad hoc committees. He received both his undergraduate and law degrees from University of Detroit in 1975 and 1978 respectively.

Ellen Bartman Jannette is an attorney in the firm’s Bloomfield Hills office who focuses her practice in the areas of insurance coverage and professional liability. Jannette represents insurance carriers in insurance coverage disputes, particularly in the areas of environmental contamination and construction defect.  Her professional liability practice includes defense of malpractice claims against real estate professionals, attorneys and accountants in state and federal courts. She also represents professionals before state of Michigan licensing and professional agencies. A cum laude graduate from University of Pittsburgh in 1984, she earned her law degree from Wayne State University Law School in 1988.

Jannette and Fleming have earned Martindale-Hubbell’s highest rating-AV^®. AV is a registered certification mark of Reed Elsevier Properties, Inc., used in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards, and policies. Martindale-Hubbell is the facilitator of a peer review rating process. Ratings, which fall into the categories of legal ability and general ethical standards, reflect the confidential opinions of members of the bar and judiciary.

Established in 1913, Plunkett Cooney employs more than 150 attorneys in nine Michigan cities, Columbus, Ohio and Indianapolis, Indiana. The firm has received Martindale-Hubbell’s highest rating AV^®, as well as awards and recognition for diversity, law firm management innovation and for being considered among the top workplaces in Michigan. 

For more information about the promotion of John P. Deegan, Michael A. Fleming, Michael J. Hagerty and Ellen Bartman Jannette to shareholder, please contact the firm’s Practice Development Manager, John E. Cornwell at (248) 901-4008.

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