Christine D. Oldani

Christine D. Oldani is a partner in the firm’s Detroit office who specializes in appellate law, governmental law and professional liability law. In 2006, Ms. Oldani was identified as one of Michigan’s Super Lawyers in appellate practice.

Ms. Oldani has over thirty years experience representing municipal/governmental clients. She also has extensive experience in the area of professional liability appeals and has numerous published appellate decisions to her credit. These include many of the leading cases in the area of professional negligence law. In addition, Ms. Oldani lends research and writing assistance to trial attorneys litigating all types of professional liability cases.

Representative Client Work

• Argued over 100 times in the Michigan appellate courts
• Has over 100 published decisions in her name
• Authored numerous amicus briefs on behalf of governmental clients
• Drafted legislation and consulted on legislation for governmental clients
• Drafted ballot proposals on behalf of municipalities

Notable Cases

• Fejedelem v Kasco, 269 Mich App 499 (2006) [no negligent misrepresentation claim against accountant in absence of justifiable reliance] 
• Manzo v Petrella, 261 Mich App 705 (2004) [re causation, i.e. “suit with a suit, in a legal malpractice action]
• Pohutski v City of Allen Park, 465 Mich 675 (2002)  [no common law trespass nuisance exception to governmental immunity]
• Estate of Mitchell v Dougherty, 249 Mich App 668 (2002)  [applicaton of “attorney judgment” rule in legal malpractice action]
• Persinger v Holst, 248 Mich App 499 (2001)  [suit by beneficiaries against testator’s attorneys]
• Hatch v Grand Haven Charter Township, 461 Mich 457 (2000) [bike path not a sidewalk within meaning of defective highway exception to governmental immunity]
• Maiden v Rozwood, 461 Mich 109 (1999) [duty of assistant county medical examiner owed to public at large, not to criminal suspect]
• Mieras v DeBona, 452 Mich 278 (1996) [contours of negligence case against will-drafting attorney]
• Simko v Blake, 448 Mich 648 (1995) [exercise of judgment rule adopted in legal malpractice cases]
• Mason v Wayne County Bd. of Comm’rs, 447 Mich 130 (1994) [reversal of $4 million judgment against county on basis of governmental immunity]
• Charles Reinhart Co. v Winiemko, 444 Mich 579 (1994) [proximate cause in appellate malpractice case is question of law for court]
• Atlanta Int’l Ins. Co. v Bell, 438 Mich 512 (1991) [attorney owes no duty to insurance company that retained defense counsel]
• Friedman v Dozorc, 412 Mich 1 (1981) [attorney owes no duty to client’s adversary in litigation]
• O’Brien v Hazelet & Erdel, 410 Mich (1980) [constitutionality of Michigan’s statute of repose, MCL 600.5839, governing design professionals]

Professional Affiliations

• Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association
• State Bar of Michigan (Member, Representative Assembly, 1991-1994; Fellow of the Michigan State Bar Foundation, Appellate Practice and Public Corporation sections)
• Michigan Supreme Court Historical Society (Trustee)
• American Academy of Appellate Attorneys (Fellow)

Community Involvement

• University of Detroit School of Law Alumni Association

Publications and Lectures

• “Summary Disposition and the Rocket Docket” ICLE, December 2005
• “Governmental Immunity after White v Beasley,” Michigan Judicial Institute (2004)
• “Public Officials’ Liability: Some Protections for Municipal, Township and County Officials,” Michigan Municipal League, June 1992
• “Practicing Law Under the Michigan Tort Reform Statutes – 1986, “Institute of Continuing Legal Education Seminar, September 16, 1986
• “New Tort Legislation and Related Insurance Issues – 1986, “Institute of Continuing Legal Education Seminar, February 2, 1986
• “Governmental Immunity: A Call for Legislative Action, “Michigan Bar Journal, May 1984
• “Update of Michigan Law Concerning the Tort Liability of Public Corporations, “Public Corporation Newsletter, State Bar of Michigan, June 1982

Publications

• Supreme Court Orders Snow Covered Curbs can be 'Open and Obvious'
• When is a Final Order Really ‘Final’?

News

• Plunkett Cooney attorneys among ‘Best’ in America
• Plunkett Cooney Attorneys Named 2007 Michigan 'Super Lawyers'