James J. Murray
Partner
- Licensed Since: 1987
- Joined Firm: 1984
- Partner Since: 1998
303 Howard Street
Petoskey, MI 49770
TEL: (231) 348-6413Petoskey, MI 49770
FAX: (231) 347-2949
Areas of Practice
- Banking, Bankruptcy & Creditors' Rights Law
- Commercial Litigation
- Direct Representation of Municipalities
- Real Estate Law
- Title Insurance Law
- Zoning & Land Use
Honors & Awards
- Detroit College of Law Review, 1985-1986
- Dewitt C. Holbrook Scholar, 1985-1986
Education
- Detroit College of Law, magna cum laude, J.D., 1987
- Michigan State University, B.A., 1982
Bar & Court Admissions
- Michigan, 1987
James J. Murray has been a shareholder at Plunkett Cooney since 1998 and joined the firm in 1984. Mr. Murray relocated to the Petoskey office in 1988 where he concentrates his practice in the areas of business law, real estate, commercial and title insurance litigation, and municipal law.
Mr. Murray is currently the city attorney for Boyne City, the City of Petoskey and Bay Township. He also has represented numerous other municipalities in the defense of zoning and land use disputes. Mr. Murray also serves on the Board of Directors for both the Michigan Association of Municipal Attorneys and the Michigan Legal Defense Fund.
Representative Client Work
- Corporate counsel to manufacturing business with over $80 million in sales per year and plants located in Michigan, Tennessee, and Indiana
- Corporate counsel to ferry boat passenger service and other businesses located on Mackinac Island
- Involved in franchise issues and proceedings before the Michigan Public Services Commission
- Represents numerous banks and title companies
- Serves as City Attorney to both the City of Boyne City and City of Petoskey, with combined budgets of over $30 million. Mr. Murray provides legal services to all departments, prosecutes civil infractions, including zoning violations and provides opinions on all legal affairs
- Trial attorney who successfully defended the City of Manistee against environmental liability in the landmark case of Nemeth v Abonmarche Development, Inc., 456 Mich 851; 568 NW2d 89 (1997)
- Pro bono legal services to many non-profit organizations throughout the state of Michigan
Municipal Experience
- City Attorney, Boyne City
- Township Attorney, Bay Township
- City Attorney, City of Petoskey
- Michigan Association of Municipal Attorneys (Member, Board of Directors)
- Michigan Municipal League Legal Defense Fund (Member, Board of Directors)
Professional Affiliations
- Emmet-Charlevoix County Bar Association (Past President, 1996-1997)
- State Bar of Michigan
- American Bar Association
- Serves on the Grievance Panel for the State Bar of Michigan
Community Involvement
- Les Cheneaux Community Foundation (Member, Board of Directors)