Bio

Ridley S. Nimmo, II is a partner in the firm's Flint office. He is a member of the Litigation, Governmental and Labor & Employment Law practice groups. His practice is focused in the areas of civil litigation, municipal law, real property law, employment litigation, consumer litigation, regulatory law, construction liability and professional liability.

Mr. Nimmo represents major corporations and retailers in litigation and regulatory matters throughout the state of Michigan. He has an extensive dispositive motion track record, including successful motions for summary judgment and summary disposition in state and federal courts in a broad range of litigation cases including adverse possession; commercial litigation; constitutional law; construction litigation; consumer litigation; dram shop litigation; employment law and discrimination claims; equine law; governmental immunity; motor vehicle liability; premises liability; product liability; professional liability; real property law; takings claims and zoning law.

Mr. Nimmo, who graduated first in his class at Thomas M. Cooley Law School, previously served as a law clerk to the Chief Judge of the Genesee County Circuit Court. He also previously served as an Adjunct Professor of Legal Methods at Thomas M. Cooley Law School.

Representative Client Work

  • Serves as the city and village attorney for two area municipalities, and he has successfully represented a number of other Michigan municipalities and governmental entities in litigation throughout the state.
  • Successfully defended a Michigan municipality in a jury trial involving a trespass nuisance sewer back up claim under the Hadfield/Li/CS&P standard (essentially strict liability) and obtained a no cause for action verdict in favor of the municipality.
  • Represents major corporations and retailers in litigation and regulatory matters throughout the State of Michigan, including complex litigation and serious injury cases.

Professional Affiliations

  • Genesee County Bar Association  (Director, 2007 – 2010; Past Committee Chairperson Federal Civil Practice)
  • Saginaw County Bar Association
  • Chicago Bar Association  
  • State Bar of Michigan
  • Illinois Bar Association
  • American Bar Association
  • The Centennial American Inn of Court (Past Membership Chairperson) 
  • Michigan Defense Trial Counsel (Past Regional Chairperson and Present Municipal and Government Liability Chairperson) 

Community Involvement

  • Thomas M. Cooley Board of Governors (Class Representative)

Fraternities

  • Phi Alpha Delta

Publications and Lectures

  • Speaker\Presenter – Effective Cross Examination
  • Speaker\Presenter – Evidence Jeopardy
  • Speaker\Presenter – How to Successfully Handle and Prosecute Building Code/Zoning Code/Dangerous Building Violation Matters
  • Speaker/Presenter – Local Rules and Motion Practice (Federal Civil)/Genesee County Bar Association
  • Speaker/Presenter – Public-sector employment law
  • Co-author: “The ‘2-Inch Rule’ and its Application to Governmental Immunity”
  • Speaker/Moderator - Exceeding Client Expectations
  • Author: "Freedom of Information Act Reference Guide"

Credentials

Education

  • Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School, summa cum laude, J.D., 1995
  • Saginaw Valley State University, summa cum laude, B.S., 1990
  • Delta College, A.S., 1988

Admissions

  • Michigan, 1996
  • Illinois, 1997
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, 1998
  • U.S. Supreme Court, 2008
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan, 2010

Honors/Awards

Honors & Recognitions

  • Thomas M. Cooley Law Review, Assistant Editor
  • Michigan Opinion Notes Writer
  • Scholastic Review Board Member
  • American Jurisprudence Awards in Administrative Law, Civil Procedure, Criminal Procedure, Equity and Remedies, and Tort Law
  • Certificates of Merit in Computer Assisted Legal Research and Scholarly Writing
  • Corpus Juris Secundum Award in Civil Procedure
  • State Bar of Michigan Negligence Section Scholarship
  • James E. Burns Memorial Award for Scholastic Excellence
  • Moot Court Finalist

Insights

Speaking Engagements