Bio

An attorney in the firm’s Flint office, Rhonda R. Stowers has an extensive litigation practice that includes general liability, governmental law, commercial liability, transportation law and real estate. 

Ms. Stowers has defended numerous premises, employment, first-party No-Fault and third-party motor vehicle negligence claims, product and general liability cases on behalf of religious institutions, businesses, insurance companies, employers, landlords, manufacturers and retailers. She has also successfully represented commercial clients in creditors' rights and bankruptcy matters.

As part of her governmental law practice, Ms. Stowers advises and defends numerous municipalities on a range of issues, including the Freedom of Information Act, the Open Meetings Act, federal and state constitutions, civil rights, cannabis, zoning, charter amendments, ordinance drafting, and employment-related matters. She has also handled numerous misdemeanor prosecutions, and she has the distinction of having taught classes on search warrants and civil litigation for the Law Enforcement Officers Regional Training Commission.

In addition, Ms. Stowers represents homeowners, lenders and mortgagors in real estate litigation involving such title-related claims as vesting, title-clearing and access, and boundary disputes. She also has expertise in the areas of judicial foreclosures and foreclosures by advertisement, deed drafting and enforcement, and residential leases.

Representative Client Work

  • Obtained judgment and recovery in a collections action against a rental property owner who defaulted on an investment loan
  • Successfully defended claims of accounting, conversion, fraud, and alleged violations of the Non-Profit Corporation Act against officers of a religious institution
  • Obtained dismissal in a Freedom of Information Act case in which the municipality failed to timely respond
  • Obtained summary disposition against a claim for sales commissions filed by a company’s former representative and obtained damages on the counter-claim in favor of the defendant business
  • Obtained summary judgment on behalf of sheriff in a case involving an alleged wrongful search case of a visitor to a jail
  • Drafted successful motion for summary judgment in favor of premises owner sued due to injuries allegedly caused by cracked concrete near entrance of store
  • Received summary judgment in deadly force case involving unarmed individual affirmed at the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals
  • Successfully litigated the re-platting of a subdivision against more than 50 defendants in order to protect client’s property

Professional Affiliations

  • Genesee County Bar Association
  • State Bar of Michigan
  • Michigan Association of Municipal Attorneys (Board of Directors, 2020 - 2023)
  • Michigan Municipal League Legal Defense Fund (Board of Directors, 2020-2023)

Publications

  • "We Aren't in Kansas Anymore! Open Meetings Act – Legal Update, Fiduciary Duties," presenter, State Bar of Michigan Government Law Section Annual Winter Education Seminar, Feb. 9, 2024
  • “Ask the Experts,” MiCIA magazine, Volume 5 #4 2023
  • The Eighth Amendment Chapter - Sword and Shield, ABA, 2021
  • Constitutional Rights of Public Employees Chapter – Sword and Shield, ABA, 2015
  • "Get Ready - Changes Are Coming to the Freedom of Information Act," Plunkett Cooney Rapid Report, 2015
  • “Citizen Ride-Along Programs: A Review of the Law,” Law Enforcement Action Forum, 2014
  • “The Ter Beek Decision:  An Ordinance Banning Medical Marihuana Goes Up in Smoke,” Michigan Public Risk Management Association, 2014
  • “User’s Guide to Qualified Immunity,” DRI – For the Defense Magazine, July 2013
  • "FOIA:  The Cost of Doing (Government) Business," Michigan Public Risk Management Association, 2013
  • "The Cracks are Fixed in the Sidewalk: 2 Inch Rule," Plunkett Cooney Rapid Report, April 6, 2012
  • "Michigan Supreme Court Takes Notice of Statutory Notice Provisions"
  • "Law Enforcement and Social Media," Law Enforcement Action Forum, 2011
  • "Memorandum of Law Concerning the Use of Law Enforcement Officers in Schools," Law Enforcement Action Forum, 2011 
  • "Persons in Custody: A Review of the Law," Law Enforcement Action Forum, 2011
  • "Rules for Law Enforcement Operations," Law Enforcement Action Forum, 2011
  • "Use of Weapons," Law Enforcement Action Forum, 2011
  • "Post Force Reporting Process: A Review of the Law," Law Enforcement Action Forum, 2011
  • "Use of Force: A Review of the Law," Law Enforcement Action Forum, 2011
  • "Memorandum of Law Concerning Utilization of Reserve and/or Volunteer Officers," Law Enforcement Action Forum, 2011 
  • Legislature May Need to Step up on Sidewalk 2" Rule to Protect Local Units," Michigan Public Risk Management Association, 2010

Seminars

  • Impact of Supreme Court Ruling on Post-Employment Benefits and Labor Contracts, Michigan Public Risk Management Association, July 2015
  • A day in the Life of Human Resources, Michigan Municipal League, Saginaw County Risk Managers, 2014
  • The Big Chill Webinar on premises liability, Plunkett Cooney's Tort & Litigation Practice Group, 2014
  • Freedom of Information Act: An Overview, Lorman Education Services, 2014
  • Legislative Update, Michigan Public Risk Management Association, 2014
  • Cars, Contractors and Qualified Immunity: Legal Update, Michigan Public Risk Management Association, 2013
  • Risk Management Review: Anatomy of an Analysis & Opinion, County of Saginaw, 2012
  • Michigan Public Risk Management Association - Auto Tort Liability Update, 2011
  • Dower, Homestead and Other Marital Problems, Dallas, Texas, 2010

Fraternities

  • Psi Chi – National Honor Society in Psychology

Credentials

Education

  • University of Michigan Law School, J.D., 2001
  • University of Michigan - Flint Honors Program, B.S., 1998 Clinical/Community Psychology

Admissions

  • Michigan, 2002
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, 2005
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan, 2013

Honors/Awards

Honors & Recognitions

  • Pro Bono Attorney of the Year, Legal Services of Eastern Michigan - Genesee County Bar Association, 2013
  • Maize and Blue Distinguished Scholarship Award
  • National Collegiate Natural Sciences Award
  • Angell Scholar
  • Class Scholar
  • Flint Scholar
  • Chancellor’s Scholarship
  • Michigan Competitive Scholarship
  • Honors Program Scholarship

Insights

Blog Posts