Robert A. Callahan

Robert A. Callahan joined Plunkett Cooney in 1996, and became a partner in 2001. Mr. Callahan concentrates his practice in the area of general civil litigation with an emphasis on municipal law, real estate law and labor and employment litigation.  He serves as Village Attorney for the Villages of Cassopolis and Marcellus.

Mr. Callahan received his legal education at Drake University, from which he graduated in 1991.  While in law school, Mr. Callahan served as an Editor for the Drake University Law Review.  He earned his undergraduate degree from Northern Illinois University in 1979.

Representative Client Work

• Successfully defended a dram shop lawsuit in which the plaintiff experienced a severe closed head injury and blindness. The lawsuit was dismissed with prejudice without payment of any funds after a motion for summary disposition was filed on a reservation of rights issue.
• Successfully tried and received a judgment of no cause of action in favor of a village and police officers in a case alleging excessive use of force during the plaintiff’s arrest. The case was tried in federal court with the plaintiff demanding $750,000
• Successfully tried and received a judgment of no cause of action against the plaintiff in state court lawsuit alleging sexual assault by a police officer
• Served on a "blue ribbon" arbitration panel in a debt collection and credit dispute with major leasing company
• Defended individual and class action claims stemming from alleged violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and the Fair Credit Reporting Act 
• Received summary judgment in a federal lawsuit against a village, police department and its chief of police, alleging sex discrimination, wrongful termination and hostile work environment
• Received an order of summary judgment and summary disposition in federal and state court lawsuits brought by a former police officer against a village and the village manager, alleging wrongful termination, deprivation of property without due process of law and age discrimination
• Received an federal court order of summary judgment in an action brought by a former police officer alleging that he was terminated as a result of reverse discrimination, that he was deprived of property without due process of law, and that his termination violated Title VII and various state civil rights statutes
• Successfully represented township and township officials in a lawsuit alleging violation of the Michigan Opening Meetings and Freedom of Information Act statutes. Following court proceedings, the court imposed sanctions on plaintiff
• Successfully represented a village as village attorney in a lawsuit brought by a citizen, alleging violation of state Open Meetings and Freedom of Information Act statutes. As a result of representation, the court imposed sanctions on plaintiff
• Successfully represented a title insurance carrier in a lawsuit brought by an insured, alleging breach of fiduciary duties, breach of contract, and negligence in conjunction with search of chain of title and preparation of title insurance documents
• Successfully represented an adult foster care home against a complaint alleging negligence and malpractice in the care and treatment of resident, which developed necrotic fasciitis in leg, which required amputation.
• Received a judgment of summary disposition from court, and the case was affirmed by Michigan Court of Appeals
• Received a ruling of summary judgment on behalf of a food manufacturing company in a multi-party federal commercial liability lawsuit, in which the plaintiff sought damages in excess of  $800,000

Professional Affiliations

• Kalamazoo County Bar Association
• State Bar of Michigan
• Michigan Association of Municipal Attorneys (MAMA)

Community

• American Inns of Court – C. Edwin Moore Chapter, Des Moines, Iowa
• Grand Knight – St. Martin of Tours Knights of Columbus Council #13305 (2003-2007)

Lectures

• Public Employment Law Seminar for Michigan Municipal League, Kalamazoo, May 2007
• Examining and Resolving Title Issues, Grand Rapids, June 2007
• Family and Medical Leave Act, Lansing, June 2005