KERR, RUSSELL - Key Persons
Alex maintains a general real estate practice, assisting clients with transactions and other related matters. He has experience as a general corporate attorney and as a litigator.
Practice Areas
Business and Corporate Law
Kerr Russell attorney, Ashley Racette, recently reviewed The Triumph of Rosemary, by Judge Marylin E. Atkins. Ashley's review is posted in the September-October edition of the Detroit Bar Association's Detroit Lawyer, page 5.
, steadily grew the firm's trial practice and held a reputation of being an outstanding litigator. His many achievements include serving as one of the faculty founders of the Wayne Law Review after graduating with honors from the University of Michigan Law School. There was scarcely a major case in federal or state court in the Detroit area during Russell's forty-plus years in the courtroom that did not find him listed among the counsel of record. Russell also served as President of the Detroit Bar Association in the early 1970s.
Brandon supports clients in general litigation matters, with a special interest in malpractice defense and municipal and appellate matters.
Practice Areas
Litigation and Dispute Resolution
Bio
Prior to joining Kerr Russell, Brandon graduated cum laude from Wayne State University Law School where he worked as a research assistant for Wayne Law faculty. He served as an assistant editor of the Wayne Law Review and participated in the Transactional Law Competition and Transactional Law Invitational. While in law school, Brandon also worked as a judicial intern at the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. He holds a B.A. in History from Michigan State University and a M.A. in History from University College Cork in Cork, Ireland.
Job Titles:
- Practice on Defending Healthcare Professionals
Chaoyi Ding focuses her practice on general business and corporate law, with an emphasis on international business transactions.
Practice Areas
Business and Corporate Law
Chris Haning has 30 years of experience as a litigation paralegal. This includes medical malpractice, legal malpractice, commercial litigation, complex litigation including toxic tort, product liability, personal injury, medical device, pharmaceutical and insurance litigation. At Kerr Russell, she focuses on medical malpractice and commercial litigation.
Chris graduated from Central Michigan University in 1983 with a degree in journalism and obtained her Legal Assistant Certificate from Oakland University.
Prior to joining Kerr Russell, Chris served as a paralegal at Howard & Howard and Wise & Marsac. She has extensive experience as a paralegal and case manager.
Practice Areas
Litigation and Dispute Resolution
Curtis J. DeRoo has 30 years of experience as a tax attorney and general business advisor.
Bio
Curtis co-chairs the firm's Estate and Trust Planning and Estate Administration Department.
Curtis drafts Wills, Revocable and Irrevocable Trusts, Powers of Attorney, and Medical Powers of Attorney, as well as sophisticated estate planning tools such as Prenuptial Agreements, Irrevocable Insurance Trusts, Qualified Personal Residence Trusts (QPRT), Charitable Gifting, Charitable Trusts, Family Limited Partnerships, large Retirement Account (e.g. IRA) planning, and Family Foundations. He also settles estates in and out of probate, by counseling both corporate and non-corporate fiduciaries, and by completing all necessary tax returns, including income tax and estate tax returns. Curtis is also experienced in contested decedent estates on behalf of estates, family members and creditors.
In his corporate practice, Curtis advises family-held businesses and non-profit groups. His work includes the formation of partnerships, both profit and non-profit corporations, limited liability companies, tax advice, employment relations, executive compensation, real estate matters, drafting of contracts, mergers and acquisitions, succession planning, and retirement planning for business owners and wealthy individuals.
Curtis also creates and advises ERISA retirement plans, including pension, profit sharing, 401(k) and ESOPs. A growing segment of his practice concerns advising clients on health care issues as relates to the Affordable Care Act.
Curtis is listed in The Best Attorneys in Michigan®, Woodward/White, Inc., and is repeatedly in The Best Lawyers in America©.
Dan Beyer is a seasoned trial attorney with nearly 40 years of experience, having tried over 50 cases in the Michigan Circuit and District courts and the Federal Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.
Practice Areas
Litigation and Dispute Resolution
Job Titles:
- Attorney
- Editor
- Chairman of the Drafting Committee of the State Bar of Michigan Representative Assembly
- Co - Chair of the Professional Liability & Health Care Section of Michigan Defense Trial Counsel
- Part of Original Equipment Suppliers Association 's Young Leadership Council Graduating Class
Kerr Russell attorney Daniel J. Ferris was recently published in the Detroit Medical News. His article discusses the litigation by the State of Michigan to end the vaping epidemic. The full article can be found HERE on page 22.
Daniel Ferris serves as editor of "Damages and Remedies in Michigan" (4th edition) for Institute of Continuing Legal Education
Kudos to Kerr Russell member Daniel Ferris who served as editor of the recently published Damages and Remedies in Michigan, a leading litigation treatise published by the Institute of Continuing Legal Education. Fellow editors included Barbara A. Patek, Mark Granzotto, and David H. Freedman. You can order the publication here- from the website:
Daniel J. Ferris, member, has been appointed Chair of the Drafting Committee of the State Bar of Michigan Representative Assembly. In 1971, the State Bar Board of Commissioners requested the Supreme Court create a "representative assembly".
Congratulations to Daniel Ferris (depicted fifth from the left on the back row in the above image) who is a member of the latest Original Equipment Suppliers Association (OESA) Young Leadership Council's graduating class: "This week, we 'graduated' our 4th Young Leadership Council. Best of luck as you continue to grow in your careers."
Congratulations to Daniel Ferris who was recently appointed Co-Chair of the Professional Liability & Health Care Section of Michigan Defense Trial Counsel. Dan handles matters involving class action, commercial disputes, corporate law, employment law, insurance, licensing, litigation, products liability, and professional liability defense.
Job Titles:
- Dentists
- Health Care Attorney
- Health Care Professionals
- MSMS Legal Counsel
- Patrick Haddad, Katherine Cser Conduct "Ask the Experts" Panel at Michigan State Medical Society 's 7th Annual Spring Scientific Meeting
Health Care attorney, Daniel Schulte, discusses whether reports to the National Practitioner Data Bank may be made in an effort to collect in a billing dispute in the latest issue of The Journal of The Michigan Dental Association (February 2022).
Health Care attorney, Daniel Schulte, responds to questions regarding dental fees secured through network leasing companies in the latest issue of The Journal of The Michigan Dental Association (January 2022).
Health Care attorney, Daniel Schulte, responds to questions regarding whether it is a HIPAA violation to ask patients and employees to disclose their vaccination status in the latest issue of The Journal of The Michigan Dental Association (December 2021).
Health Care attorney, Daniel Schulte, discusses Michigan's Department of Insurance and Financial Services' response to the delayed claims experienced by many healthcare providers in the latest issue of The Journal of The Michigan Dental Association (November 2021).
Health Care attorney, Daniel Schulte, discusses whether a group of general dentists can advertise specialty services, in the latest issue of The Journal of The Michigan Dental Association (June 2021).
Health Care attorney, Daniel Schulte, discusses how antitrust laws cannot be ignored by dentists and reviews several important tips for the latest issue of The Journal of The Michigan Dental Association
Health Care attorney, Daniel Schulte, discusses non-compete agreements and liquidated damages provisions in employment contracts for the latest issue of The Journal of The Michigan Dental Association (April 2021).
Health Care attorney, Daniel Schulte, discusses a potential settlement in the Blue Cross Blue Shield antitrust litigation and addresses a question regarding dentists hiring physician assistants in the latest issue of The Journal of The Michigan Dental Association (January 2021).
Health Care attorney, Daniel Schulte, answers questions related to the definition of "health care provider" as it relates to the Families First Coronavirus Response Act in the latest issue of The Journal of The Michigan Dental Association (December 2020). Question: One of my employees who is not directly involved in patient care (she does billing, and other office work for my practice) is very upset with me. She claims that she had a situation months ago that would have qualified her for paid leave, and now that the definition of "health care provider" has changed under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act ("FFCRA") she says I owe her back pay. Is this true? She also claims that I should have brought this to her attention and to others who are now eligible for this paid leave. Did I have to amend the notice I have in my office when the definition of "health care provider" changed?
Health Care attorney, Daniel Schulte, answers questions related to patient's access to medical records in the latest issue of The Journal of The Michigan Dental Association (November 2020). Question: I have a patient owing me a large balance that I have unsuccessfully been attempting to collect. The patient is now requesting that I provide a copy of her records to another dentist. Can I require her to pay the copy fee in advance? Would it be illegal to have an office policy providing patients free copies of their records if their account is paid in full, charging only those patients who have past due balances for their copies?
Health Care attorney, Daniel Schulte, discusses vendor contracts and changes to contractual obligations in light of the pandemic for the latest issue of The Journal of The Michigan Dental Association (October 2020). Recently the MDA has received several questions regarding vendor contracts, including contracts for supplies, technology, and other products and services, as well and employment and independent contractor agreements, buy-in and buy-out arrangements, etc. The questions all note that at one time the contract made financial sense, but due to the pandemic they no longer do. Members are seeking advice whether it is possible to change contractual obligations due to this unexpected change in circumstances.
Health Care attorney, Daniel Schulte, answers questions related to collecting past-due balances from patients. The Q&A can be found in the Journal of The Michigan Dental Association (September 2020) Question: Due to employment disruptions caused by the COVID-19 crisis our practice has several patients who no longer have dental benefits. They are now cash payers. Many of them have past-due balances. Sending reminder statements to their home addresses in getting us nowhere. Can I have my staff call them and ask for payment? Can I call them at work if they have a new job? Should I have them call later at night when we expect they would be home?
Health Care attorney, Daniel Schulte, answers questions related to the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. The Q&A can be found in the Journal of The Michigan Dental Association (August 2020) Question: My practice reopened a couple of weeks ago. The number of patients we are seeing has steadily increased. I have an employee who refused my recall to work due to child care issues. I let this go at first because I could get by without her. However, I really need her to return to work. She is continuing to refuse and now tells me that federal law passed as a result of COVID-19 requires me to provide her with paid leave since the reason she cannot return is due to child care issues.
Health Care attorney, Daniel Schulte, answers questions related to fears arsing from returning to work amid the coronavirus crisis. The Q&A can be found in the Journal of The Michigan Dental Association (July 2020) Question: An employee is refusing to return to work. She tells us that she is afraid of COVID-19 infection and this fear is causing her to lose sleep and have anxiety and depression. Could her suspected history of anxiety and depression (heightened by the COVID-19 crisis) be deemed a disability under some law?
Health Care attorney, Daniel Schulte, answers recent questions related to the coronavirus crisis. The Q&A can be found in the Journal of The Michigan Dental Association (June 2020) Question: I suspect that many of my employees are going to be hesitant to come back to work due to the fear of infection. If I ask an employee to return to work and he or she refuses, what can I do?
Health Care attorney, Daniel Schulte, answers questions related to the CARES Act. The Q&A can be found in the Journal of The Michigan Dental Association (May 2020) Question: Can you provide a summary of the tax law changes made in March that will help me offset the financial losses that I have mounting due to the COVID-19 crisis?
Health Care attorney, Daniel Schulte, answers questions related to the sale of a dental practice. The Q&A can be found in the Journal of The Michigan Dental Association (April 2020) Question: I am a probate attorney assisting the widow of a deceased dentist in the sale of his dental practice. What are the specific legal considerations I should keep in mind when selling a dental practice? My client is not a dentist and I assume she cannot hire a dentist and continue the practice. Can she keep it in operation by engaging a dentist while trying to sell?
Health Care attorney, Daniel Schulte, answers questions related to the timing of a lawsuit against Delta Dental. The Q&A can be found in the Journal of Michigan Dental Association (March 2020) Question: I have been reading about the recent antitrust cases filed against the Delta Dental Association and the state Delta Dental plans. This arrangement has been in place for many years. We have all known about the anticompetitive behavior alleged in these complaints and the adverse effect it has had on dentists and patients for a long time. Is there a reason why the lawsuits were recently filed? Is there a reason this was not done before now?
Health Care attorney, Daniel Schulte, answers questions regarding what to do when dissatisfied with a carrier's reduction or denial of a workers' compensation claim. The Q&A can be found in the Journal of Michigan Dental Association (February 2020) - Question: A year or so ago, a patient came to see me who needed dental work due to an injury suffered on the job. I held off doing crowns because I believed endodontic treatment was going to be necessary. I did composites and accepted what his employer's workers' compensation insurer paid. Now, the patient and returned, needing the root canal treatment and crown as a result of the original trauma. However, the workers' compensation carrier refuses to pay for the needed endodontic therapy and a restorative core and crown, stating it already covered the care needed at the time of the injury. Is there a mechanism to appeal this decision?
Health Care attorney, Daniel Schulte, answers questions relating to the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB). The Q&A can be found in the Journal of the Michigan Dental Association (January 2020) - Question: My attorney and I are getting close to settling a malpractice claim. The deductible on my malpractice insurance policy is nearly exhausted from my legal fees. I am being advised to consider avoiding a report to the National Practitioner Data Bank ("NPDB") by paying the settlement amount myself. How does this make sense? Should I not use my available coverage? Can you explain what the NPDB is and how this affects me?
Health Care attorney Daniel Schulte provides insight into the most common questions asked regarding dental records. The complete Q&A can be found in the Journal of the Michigan Dental Association (December 2019).
Health Care Attorney Daniel Schulte Answers Questions in the Journal of the Michigan Dental Association (November 2019) - Question: I received a notice from a dental plan I began participating with a year or so ago. It is denying payment of several of my claims and seeking a refund of past payments. The explanation I received was that I used incorrect codes and should not have billed for treatment until it was complete. The dental plan representative keeps saying that I am committing fraud (even suggested that I may have committed a crime). I may have made a mistake but is that fraud?
Health Care Attorney Daniel Schulte Answers Questions in the Journal of the Michigan Dental Association (October 2019) - Question: I use marijuana recreationally. I know several dentists who use marijuana for medical reasons. What will be the consequences if the Michigan Board of Dentistry becomes aware of this? Is our controlled substance license of DEA registration in jeopardy? Could our employers terminate us based on marijuana use?
Health Care Attorney Daniel Schulte answers questions in the Journal of the Michigan Dental Association (September 2019) - Question: I received a letter from an investigator working for the Bureau of Professional Licensing within the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs ("LARA"). It states I am the subject of an investigation by LARA regarding a possible violation of the Michigan Public Health Code (the "Code"). It further requests a meeting with the investigator. I have no idea what violation is being referred to or who made a complaint. How do I find this out? Should I meet with the investigator? What could happen as a result of this investigation?
Health Care Attorney Daniel Schulte answers questions in the Journal of the Michigan Dental Association (August 2019) - Question: The employment agreements I have been given do not seem fair. When I object, I am told things like "the associate before me signed it", "it is a standard agreement" and "our attorney thinks it is reasonable". What provisions should I insist on to ensure basic fairness in my employment agreement without making myself look unreasonable?
Kerr Russell attorneys Daniel Schulte, Patrick Haddad, and Katherine Cser arrived bright and early for the "Ask the Experts" panel at Michigan State Medical Society's 7th Annual Spring Scientific Meeting in Dearborn on May 17. Discussing opioid legislation, professional liability insurance, electronic medical records, identifying and preventing workplace harassment, accessibility, patient/physician relationship, and other topics.
Edward C. Cutlip, Jr. has more than 25 years of broad litigation experience representing clients in a wide range of cases, ranging from simple disputes to the coordination of defense efforts in mass tort litigation involving thousands of claims.
Practice Areas
Litigation and Dispute Resolution
Job Titles:
- Attorney
- Chairman
- Captive Insurance Attorney
Kerr Russell attorney Eric I. Lark discusses the benefits of captive insurance for manufacturers in the Michigan Manufacturers Association MiMfg magazine (p. 26 July 2020).
Kerr Russell Captive Insurance attorney, Eric I. Lark, was recently interviewed by Captive International. The article discusses the number of global captives set to return to growth in 2020.
Kerr Russell attorney Eric I. Lark spoke at the Cayman Captive Forum Conference last week. He and other panelists discussed loss control and claims handling in captive insurance. Eric specifically discussed how losses are the number one killer of captives, especially group captives.
Kerr Russell attorney Eric Lark explains that due to a number of factors group captives continue to flourish. The article is published in the November 2019 issue of Captive Insurance Times.
Eric I. Lark was recently interviewed by Michigan Lawyers Weekly. In the interview, he discusses how he helped create the Stephen H. Schulman Outstanding Business Lawyer Award and his honor to be receiving the award this year.
Eric I. Lark has been selected to receive the 2019 Stephen H. Schulman Outstanding Business Lawyer Award. He will be presented with this honor at the 31st Annual Business Law institute, on October 4, 2019.
Congratulations to Kerr Russell member Eric Lark who was recently re-elected chair of the Northville Township Planning Commission. He has served as chair since January 1, 2016. He has been a member of the planning commission since January 1, 2013.
On April 5, Kerr Russell member Fred Herrmann (antitrust, litigation, dispute resolution) was honored at a luncheon, held at the Detroit Marriott - Troy, alongside the rest of Michigan Lawyers Weekly's "Leaders in the Law" Class of 2018. Kerr Russell attendees included Jim Cambridge, Jason Bank, Dan Schulte, Dan Ferris, Jeff May, Anna Valk, Ashley Racette, and Roy Sexton. Fred's wife Mindy Herrmann was there as well. (Picture left. To the left, Fred receives his award from Opinion Editor Agenique Smiley.
Michigan Medicine, the official magazine of the Michigan State Medical Society (May/June 2019) Question: Can you advise us of the ways to report illegal and unethical conduct?
Journal of the Michigan Dental Association (May 2019) Question: One of my employees recently tested positive for THC, indicating marijuana use. The drug screen was administered to this employee due to our employee manual provision requiring that employees submit to random drug screens. Our employee manual also provides that we have a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to the use of marijuana and other illegal drugs. I consider marijuana to be illegal despite what Michigan voters did last year, because marijuana is still illegal under federal law. When confronted with the test results, this employee showed me her medical marijuana card and said I couldn't terminate her. Is this true?
2018 Detroit Heart Walk a great (if rainy) success - Kerr Russell colleagues contribute over $6,000 Kerr Russell's participation in the 25th anniversary Detroit Heart Walk, benefiting the Southeast Michigan American Heart Association, was a great success, with Kerr Russell colleagues raising $6,230 to contribute to the cause. This was in addition to the firm's overall sponsorship and to member Jason Bank's leadership on the Heart Walk's executive cabinet.
Journal of the Michigan Dental Association (May 2018) - Question: I have heard quite a bit lately about issues with dental plans. Sometimes audits are conducted and refunds are sought other times there are different contract issues. Some dentists use the term "noncovered services" others refer to "disallowed services". Are they the same thing? If not, what is the difference?
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Business Law Section of the State Bar
Kevin Block, Chair of the Business Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan, will be providing opening remarks at the 31st Business Law Institute Conference. The conference will take place on October 4, 2019. The Business Law Section will honor Kerr Russell's Eric Lark as the recipient of the prestigious Stephen H. Schulman Outstanding Business Lawyer Award.
Our Member attorney, Michael (Max) A. Sneyd, manages our pro bono practice and is advised by Kerr Russell's executive committee. If you are interested in pro bono representation, please email Max by clicking on the email button below.
From the Detroit Bar Association: "Congratulations to Mayor Mike Duggan who was presented the Dennis Archer Public Service Award by the Detroit Bar Foundation Thursday, November 16 at the Detroit Yacht Club. Also congratulations to the Detroit Bar Legal Scholars for their original legal work product that advances the field of law and our Corporate Citizen Outreach Recognition of DTE Energy, Matrix Human Services, Ally Financial and General Motors Company."
Job Titles:
- Outstanding Business Lawyer Award, Founder
Named partner, Stewart Kerr, who joined the firm in 1947, was previously the head of the US Justice Department's Antitrust Division office for Detroit, where he had successfully prosecuted key antitrust and War Price Act cases during World War II. Kerr was among the founders of the American Bar Association's Antitrust Law Section in the early 1950s and the State Bar of Michigan's corresponding group later that decade. Kerr is credited with helping to write the US antitrust laws, and his leadership established the firm in the complex field of antitrust practice. He served on the prestigious US Attorney General's Antitrust Commission in the mid-1950s, and continued to be involved until his retirement. Later generations of attorneys within the firm have followed Kerr to become members of the ABA Section's national governing council and committees, and chairs of the State Bar's Antitrust and Trade Regulation Section.