KAUFMAN - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Partner / Location: Farmington Hills, Michigan
"Founder of Kaufman, Payton & Chapa, Alan Jay Kaufman personally represents national, international and regional companies in a broad spectrum of corporate, insurance, litigation, and business planning matters. He received his B.A. from Michigan State University in Finance and Insurance Law and earned a J.D. from Notre Dame Law School in 1973. He continued his law studies in England, concentrating in insurance, corporate and comparative international law at Oxford and the University of London, London School of Economics.
Kaufman is involved in the American Bar Association's Tort and Insurance Law Section. He is also co-chair of its Other Professional Liability Sub-Committee; Excess/Surplus Lines and Reinsurance Law; and Self-Insurers and Risk Managers committees.
Kaufman is currently an arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association and a mediator for the Michigan Circuit Courts. He is a member of the Michigan State University Foundation board of directors and an active author and public speaker. Kaufman was also the former chairperson of the Detroit Bar Association International Law Section for over ten years (1985-1996).
Kaufman is also involved as a board member with numerous civic and community organizations including the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, the Founders Junior Council of the Detroit Institute of Arts and the Detroit Area Boy Scouts of America.
Job Titles:
- Vice President, Comerica Bank
Job Titles:
- Associate / Location: Farmington Hills, Michigan
Dan is a graduate of Michigan State University with a degree in History, and University of Wisconsin Law School. While attending law school, Dan worked for UW's Mediation Clinic, UW's Legal Assistance to Institutionalized Persons Clinic, the Federal Public Defender for Western Wisconsin and Dane County Corporation Counsel's Office. After returning home to Michigan, Dan worked as an associate attorney for a top judgment earning Plaintiff's attorney and as an associate attorney with another well-respected defense firm.
Dan has been recognized as a Super Lawyer Rising Star in 2019, 2020, and 2021 and as a Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in 2021. He serves as a member of the Governing Council of the Litigation Section for the State Bar of Michigan. Dan was also recognized in the State Bar of Michigan's Pro Bono Honor Roll in 2019, and he has worked with multiple local organizations to provide pro bono legal assistance to low income individuals.
Job Titles:
- President, Financial Network, Incorporated
Honors and Awards
Selected to Michigan Super Lawyers, 2009
Selected to Michigan Super Lawyers, 2008
Detroit Bar Association, Chairperson of the Year
Jerusalem Award, State of Israel
Job Titles:
- Partner, Retired / Location: Farmington Hills, Michigan
Donald Payton is a highly respected trial attorney with extensive litigation experience in insurance and commercial legal issues.
A graduate of Michigan State University, Payton earned a J.D. from Michigan State University College of Law and has practiced law since 1977.
Payton is a Court Appointed Mediator, and active in many professional associations, including the State Bar of Michigan, the Association of Defense Trial Counsel and the Michigan Defense Trial Counsel and the Association of Defense Ski Attorneys.
Frank A. Misuraca is a shareholder with the firm. He is an experienced litigator. Mr. Misuraca has concentrated his practice in dramshop law, employment practice and professional negligence. He has also been extensively involved in mediating lawsuits through the state's case evaluation process. He currently serves on the board of directors for the Association of Defense Trial Counsel.
Mr. Misuraca attended the University of Michigan and received his undergraduate degree in Psychology. Before pursuing a legal education he was selected as Peace Corps volunteer, performing health work in Africa.
Mr. Misuraca received his J.D. degree, cum laude , from the Detroit College of Law at Michigan State University. While in law school, Mr. Misuraca was elected Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of International Law and Practice , and he served an internship with the U.S. District Court. He was admitted to the State Bar of Michigan in 1996.
Mr. Misuraca's diverse litigation experience, extensive research skills and writing strengths, have earned him the reputation as a zealous advocate for his clients.
Karen G. Szoke received a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration with High Distinction from the University of Michigan. She then went on to obtain her Juris Doctorate, Cum Laude, in 1990 from Wayne State University Law School. While in law school, Ms. Szoke served as a judicial law intern for Justice Patricia Boyle. She was also on Wayne State University Law School's National Moot Court team, where she won many prestigious awards as both briefwriter and oralist.
In November of 1990, Ms. Szoke was admitted into the State Bar of Michigan. She has over 28 years of litigation experience in the areas of first party no-fault claims, premises liability, products liability, construction litigation, medical malpractice, employment law, and appellate work. Ms. Szoke has also published extensively in the area of health care litigation.
Ms. Szoke joined Kaufman, Payton, & Chapa, P.C. in September of 2018. Her primary area of practice at the firm is defending claims for first party no fault and premises liability litigation.
Chapa is an aggressive, experienced litigator. He concentrates in insurance coverage and commercial litigation, as well as professional, liquor, premises, products and general liability.
A graduate of Michigan State University, Chapa advanced to Wayne State University Law School, where he earned his J.D. in 1987. He is admitted to the Michigan and Florida Bars and serves as a court appointed mediator and private arbitrator.