TOV Injury and Safety Blog

Million Dollar Advocates

        Firm attorney Dan O'Neil recently joined George Thompson as a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum.    The Forum is limited to attorneys who have served as "principal counsel" in cases where they have won million dollar or multi-million dollar verdicts, awards and settlements.  The Forum was created in 1993 to acknowledge "excellence in advocacy" and fewer than one percent of the nation's attorneys qualify for membership.  Our firm has achieved more than ten qualifying recoveries in contested settings.  The firm or individual attorneys in the firm have also been listed in the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers, the LawDragon 500, and the Superlawyers' "Top Lawyers in Michigan".  It has been accorded the highest possible rating for skill and ethics from the most prominent rating organization in the country and it was a finalist for the Primerus Group's annual Community Service Award.

George Thompson among "Law Dragon 500"

       Our partner, George Thompson, was recently advised that he is again a finalist for identification as one of the 500 top lawyers in America, according to the LawDragon rating agency.  He already enjoys the agency's top rating.  This is not a paid endorsement, nor did we arrange or nominate Mr. Thompson for this identification.

Michigan Super Lawyers: The Top Attorneys in Michigan

     For the second straight year, an agency has canvassed more than 30,000 Michigan lawyers in an attempt to identify the best of the best.  For the second year, it has named our partner, George R. Thompson, as one of the "Top Attorneys in Michigan" in its publication that accompanied the September 12 edition of the Detroit News.  While no "beauty contest" of this nature is entirely reliable, this is not a "paid" or "purchased" endorsement and the entire membership of the State Bar is invited to participate.  All candidates are evaluated on 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement.  These factors include Verdicts and settlements, scholarly lectures and writing, honors and awards, special certification and community service, among other qualities.  No other Plaintiff [victim's representative] personal injury attorney from the Traverse City area was identified in either year.

DAN O’NEIL RE-APPOINTED TO EXECUTIVE BOARD OF MICHIGAN ASSOCIATION FOR JUSTICE

Our partner Dan O’Neil has been re-appointed to serve as a member of the Executive Board of the Michigan Association For Justice (formerly the Michigan Trial Lawyers Association) for 2007. Dan has been a member of Association since 1990 and a member of the Board for 10 years.

The Michigan Association for Justice is an organization of 2000 Michigan lawyers who are dedicated to helping working families seek justice when they are injured by unsafe products, drunk drivers or another person’s negligence. Association members work to promote safety for all Michigan citizens by standing up for individual and corporate account ability and responsibility.

Thompson, O’Neil and VanderVeen has a long history of supporting the Michigan Association for Justice. All of the partners are members of the Association and provide financial support, serve on its committees and regularly teach other lawyers on trial advocacy and other legal topics at Association sponsored seminars.