Bio

A partner in the firm's Grand Rapids office, Michael Slater has spent his entire career defending the interests of insurance companies and their insureds. He is a member of the firm's Transportation Law Practice Group.

Mr. Slater devotes most of his current practice to the investigation of fraudulent or suspicious claims, particularly those involving motor vehicle accidents. He has tried more than 30 cases to verdict and has earned dismissals on countless other matters prior to trial. Mr. Slater frequently speaks on issues relating to fraudulent matters, providing strategies to insurance personnel to investigate and defend these non-meritorious claims.

Admitted to practice in all state and federal courts in Michigan, Mr. Slater is a member of the State Bar of Michigan and Grand Rapids Bar Association.

Representative Client Work

  • Represents national insurance company throughout the state of Michigan, handling motor vehicle accident cases and resolving numerous files on the insurer’s behalf
  • Retained by national insurance carrier to handle its most complex medical fraud provider litigation projects, complex attendant care matters and extra-contractual litigation
  • Represents national insurance company in various no-fault related matters
  • Successfully represented national insurance carrier on MCCA related claims, including attendant care, home modification and van agreement matters

Notable Cases

  • Latasha Anthony v State Farm Mutual Automobile Ins. Co., Wayne Co Circuit Court
  • Walker v State Farm Mutual Automobile Ins. Co, Wayne County Circuit Court
  • Lucaj v State Farm Mutual Automobile Ins. Co., Wayne County Circuit Court
  • Hazel Green v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Ins. Co, Wayne County Circuit Court
  • Warren Chiropractic v State Farm Mutual Automobile Ins. Co, 36 District Court, Detroit
  • Armisted, et.al v State Farm Mutual Automobile Ins. Co, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
  • Watson v State Farm Mutual Automobile Ins. Co, Oakland County Circuit Court
  • Watson v State Farm Mutual Automobile Ins. Co, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
  • Jerry Wagner v State Farm Mutual Automobile Ins. Co, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan 
  • Belanger v Dean Transportation, Ingham County Circuit Court
  • Van Dellen v Terra Verde Landscaping, 61st District Court
  • Vandervrede v Great Lakes Casualty Ins. Co, Ottawa County Circuit Court
  • Nardi v Liberty Mutual Insurance Company, Summit County (Ohio) Court of Common Pleas

Professional Affiliations

  • Grand Rapids Bar Association
  • State Bar of Michigan

Publications and Lectures

  • Effectively Communicating with (and Getting Reimbursed by) the MCCA webinar, 2013
  • Dos and Don'ts of Defending Attendant Care Claims in Michigan, 2012
  • Personal Injury Solicitation in Metro Detroit, MI-IASIU, Southfield, MI, 2011
  • Issues in Employer Liability and Subrogation, Lansing, MI, 2009
  • Issues in Discrimination Seminar, Lansing, MI, 2007
  • Second Annual Essential Medical and No-Fault Seminar, Grand Rapids, MI, 2006
  • USERRA and the Rights of Returning Service Men and Women, Grand Rapids, MI, 2005
  • Essential Medical and No-Fault Seminar, Grand Rapids, MI, 2005

Credentials

Education

  • Case Western University School of Law, J.D., 1998
  • Lawrence University, B.A., 1995

Admissions

  • Ohio, 1998
  • Michigan, 2003
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, 2003
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan, 2003

Insights

Speaking Engagements