Edward M. Turfe

Edward M. Turfe is a member of the firm’s Litigation Department who has a diverse complex and general litigation practice in state and federal courts. His extensive motion and trial practice includes the areas of motor vehicle liability, product liability, real estate, alternative dispute resolution, trucking and transportation, consumer defense law, construction liability, employment liability, premises liability and mold/toxin liability.

Mr. Turfe has particular expertise in the area of commercial and residential real estate management liability, including negligence claims, toxic exposure matters, employment disputes and statutory claims and violations. 

Among Mr. Turfe’s clients are property owners and management companies, telecommunications entities, construction companies, municipalities and their officers, major retail chains and product manufacturers. His clients appreciate Mr. Turfe’s candid approach to litigation, which takes into consideration the cost-benefit of potential case resolution to achieve their business goals and mitigate legal costs.

Representative Client Work

• Successfully tried cases on behalf of municipalities, real estate management companies and product manufacturers involving complex damage issues, including closed-head and traumatic brain injuries and death
• Successfully defended several class action lawsuits on behalf of municipalities, involving claims of trespass-nuisance
• Routinely provides legal advice to real estate and commercial clients to help them avoid future litigation and liability.
• Obtained motion for summary judgment in million-dollar disability discrimination claim by an employee against a residential real estate company

Professional Affiliations

• Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association
• Arab-American Bar Association
• State Bar of Michigan (Negligence, Litigation and Tort & Insurance sections)
• American Bar Association
• Michigan Defense Trial Counsel
• Defense Research Institute

Publications and Lectures  

• “Recent Developments in Governmental Liability,” Tort and Insurance Law Journal, American Bar Association, Volume 34, No. 2 (1999), co-authored with Madeline J. Meacham and Benjamin E. Griffith
• “Recent Developments in Governmental Liability,” Tort and Insurance Law Journal, American Bar Association, Volume 33, No. 2 (1998), co-authored with Mary Massaron Ross
• “Constitutional Law-Due Process-The Trial Judge Must Conduct an In Camera Review of a Complainant’s Privileged Communications When the Defendant can Establish a Reasonable Probability that Material Information Exists in Such Communications.”  People v Stanaway, 521 N.W. 2d 557 (Mich 1994), cert denied, 115 S. Ct. 923 (1995). 72 U. Det. Mercy L. Rev. 653 (1995)

Publications

• Court Ruling May Significantly Limit Premises Liability Claims Against Landlords
• Michigan Supreme Court to Define Duty Owed by Residential Landlords
• Michigan Court of Appeals Overturns Itself to Hold Apartment Management Liable in Snow/Ice Cases
• Michigan Court of Appeals Overturns Itself to Hold Apartment Management Liable