Hilary A. Ballentine

Hilary A. Ballentine is a member of the firm’s Detroit office who concentrates her practice exclusively in appellate law. Her practice includes general liability, municipal, construction, constitutional and medical liability appeals, among others. Ms. Ballentine is admitted to practice in both state and federal courts, including the Michigan Court of Appeals, the Michigan Supreme Court and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.

A magna cum laude graduate from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law in 2006, Ms. Ballentine served as the managing editor of Law Review. While attending law school, she received numerous academic awards and was also inducted into Alpha Sigma Nu and the Justice Frank Murphy Honor Society. Ms. Ballentine received her undergraduate degree, with high distinction, from the University of Michigan – Dearborn in 2003.

Representative Client Work

• Successfully upheld summary disposition on contractual release provision in a case tried before the Michigan Court of Appeals
• Successfully drafted an amicus curiae brief on behalf of the Michigan Defense Trial Counsel on the issue of the applicability of the Michigan Consumer Protection Act to the conduct of residential builders
• Defended numerous municipal and medical clients in state and federal appeals courts, including the Michigan Supreme Court and the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit

Professional Affiliations

• Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association
• State Bar of Michigan
• Michigan Defense Trial Counsel (Member, Board of Directors, 2011-2013; Co-Chair, Appellate and Amicus Curiae Committee)
• Barrister, University of Detroit Mercy School of Law American Inn of Court Program
• Michigan Appellate Bench Bar, Planning Committee

Publications and Lectures

• Allstate Insurance Company v McCarn, 83 U. Det. Mercy L. Rev. 25 (Fall 2005)
• "Medical Malpractice Decisions: A Review of Notable Michigan Appellate Court Decisions," Plunkett Cooney Medical Liability seminar, 2008
• "Supreme Court Further Narrows Appellate Jurisdiction to Review District Court Remand Orders," Plunkett Cooney Rapid Report

Publications

• Supreme Court Lessens 'Serious Impairment of a Body Function' Burden Required in Auto Negligence Cases

News

• Massaron Ross, Ballentine contribute to eminent domain book
• Plunkett Cooney attorney named ‘Up & Coming Lawyer’