Audrey J. Forbush

Representative Client Work

• Obtained summary judgment in federal court for officers involved in fatal shooting based on qualified immunity 
• Successfully defended police officers at trial in a false arrest/excessive force matter where the plaintiff sought over $4 million in compensatory and punitive damages
• Successfully defended a municipality at trial in a police pursuit case wherein two pedestrians were struck and killed by the fleeing felons
• Successfully represented municipal officials in federal court with regard to civil rights claims brought as a result of an alleged wrongful termination. Summary judgment was granted on all charges.
• Represented hospital on a medical malpractice wrongful death claim arising out of care and treatment of a diabetic patient. No cause jury verdict.
• Represented police officers in state and federal court who were accused of multiple civil rights violations and state law claims related to an arrest of a minor. Motions for summary judgment and summary disposition were granted in both venues.
• Represented municipality and police officials who were sued for violation of the Whistleblower Protection Act and sexual harassment. After extensive discovery, a motion for summary disposition was granted.

Professional Memberships

• Genesee County Bar Association (Public Corporation Section, Board Member)
• State Bar of Michigan (Governmental Law Section; Board of Directors, Vice President, 2022; Treasurer, 2021)
• Law Enforcement Action Forum (LEAF)
• Michigan Association of Municipal Attorneys
• American Board of Trial Advocates
• DRI (Professional / Code of Ethics Committee; Governmental Liability Committee)

Publications and Lectures

• "Police Internal Review Boards and Citizen Oversight," Presenter, MAMA/PCLS Summer Conference, June 2017
• "Guns in the Workplace," Co-presenter, MML Summer Conference, June 2017
• "Correctional Law Update," Presenter, Genesee County Sheriff Department, May 2017
• "Law Enforcement Civil Liability Management," Presenter, LEORTC, April 2017 and August 2016
• "Department of Justice's Focus on Police Treatment of Mentally Ill," Co-presenter, Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police Winter Conference, February 2017
• "Emergency Vehicle Liability," Panelist, MML Convention, March 2016
• "Police Body Cameras," Presenter, MML Fall Convention, September 2016
• "Correctional Law Update," Presenter, LEORTC, August 2016
• "Sexual Harassment: What is it? How to Prevent it, Co-Presenter, City of Woodhaven, September 2015
• "Issues About Police Recording," Co-Presenter, Law Enforcement Officers' Regional Training Consortium, August 2015
• "Hot Topic: Police Body Cameras," Presenter, Michigan Municipal League Conference, August 2015
• "What to do When you Hear the Whistle," Presenter, Michigan Local Government Management Association Summer Workshop, July 2015
• "Whistleblower and Retaliation Claims," Presenter, Michigan Municipal League Employment Law Seminar, Spring 2015
• "Whistleblower and Retaliation Claims," Presenter, Michigan Local Government Management Association Conference, July 2015
• "Normalization of Deviance in the Workplace – Enforcing policies and procedures/implementing discipline," Presenter, Thumb Area Managers (Thumb Nuts) Conference, June 2015
• "They are Killing Themselves out There," Co-Presenter, MACP Mid-Winter Vehicle Ops Conference, February 2015
• “Correctional Law Update,” Presenter, Law Enforcement Officers' Regional Training Consortium, January 2015
• "Wrongful Prosecution," Presenter, NLC-RISC, October 2014
• “Correctional Law Update,” Presenter, Law Enforcement Officers' Regional Training Consortium, October 2014
• "Fourth Amendment v Michigan State Law Evaluation of Use of Force," Presenter, Law Enforcement Action Forum, January 2013
• "How to Prevent Retaliation Claims," Presenter, Michigan Municipal League Employment Law Seminar, January 2013
• “Correctional Law Legal Update and Excited Delirium,” Presenter, Charlevoix County, October 2012
• “Use of Force – State Law (Odom) v. Constitutional Claims (Graham) and the Importance of the Different Standards,” Featured Speaker, Michigan Sheriff’s Association Annual Conference, Traverse City, October 2012
• “Admissions and Confessions and Constitutional Law,” Instructor, LEORTC Police Academy, Genesee County, September 2012
• “Michigan’s New Fireworks Law and Issues Relevant to Law Enforcement,” Presenter, MACP Conference, Boyne Highlands, June 2012
• “Correctional Law Update,” Presenter, Ludington, May 2012
• “Analysis & Opinion,” Presenter, Annual Saginaw County Manager’s meeting, April 2012 
• “Police Issues Facing Detroit,” Panel Member, Foreign Study FIANNA Group, April 2012
• “Correctional Law Update,” Presenter, Muskegon, April 2012
• “Correctional Law Legal Update,” Presenter, Muskegon, March 2012
• Michigan Association of Chief’s of Police Winter Conference, Featured Speaker, February 2012
• “Correctional Law Update,” Presenter, Genesee County, February 2012
• Excited Delirium Seminar, Presenter, LEORTC, January 2012
• “Correctional Law Legal Update,” Presenter, Saginaw County, December 2012
• LEAF Newsletter, Co-Author, quarterly publication on training issues in law enforcement