PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

Association of Defense Trial Counsel (Board Member, Secretary)
Oakland County Bar Association
Defense Research Institute
Oakland County Inns of Court
Association of Professional Responsibility Lawyers
State Bar of Michigan
—– Negligence and Employment Section
—– Representative Assembly

PROMINENT OUTCOMES

Argued and won a summary disposition and subsequent dismissal for legal clients in a legal-malpractice case stemming from a personal-injury accident at the plaintiff’s apartment complex. (July 2018)

Obtained summary disposition for a shopping center owner who was sued for allegedly failing to maintain the property. Colleen was able to demonstrate to the Court that the condition was open and obvious, and that the property owner was not liable for the injuries from plaintiff’s slip and fall. (October 2017)

Successfully argued for the reinstatement of an attorney client’s law license, which was suspended due to trust account violations. (September 2017)

Secured a summary disposition in a medical malpractice case by demonstrating to an arbitrator that the plaintiff’s underlying employment case was without merit. Plaintiff was terminated from his position as a police officer due to his inappropriate conduct with a minor. Plaintiff’s union refused to take the matter to arbitration.  Burke’s client represented Plaintiff in efforts to secure unemployment benefits and post-termination events with the employer. Colleen successfully argued that even if Plaintiff was able to take his claim for wrongful termination to arbitration, the arbitrator would have agreed with the municipality and upheld the termination. (2016)

Won a summary judgment for an assistant city attorney in Oakland County Circuit Court who was sued for malicious prosecution and abuse of process. (2015)

Obtained summary disposition relief for a local bank who was sued under a premises liability theory for an alleged defect to an entrance door that caused injury to a young child. (2015)

Argued and won a summary disposition motion for a paraffin wax manufacturer and distributor who was sued by a utility worker for significant burn injuries related to the use of the wax in an underground manhole. (2014)

Obtained summary disposition for an attorney-client who was sued by the spouse of a former client for his work relating to the drafting of a trust agreement. The court agreed with Colleen’s argument that the attorney owed no duty to the former client’s spouse. (2013)

SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

Guest speaker in New York on Lawline on the topic of Risk Management Practices for Small Firms and Solo Practitioners (August 2017)

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Colleen is an active volunteer in the Our Lady of Sorrows Parent Group and a current board member of the Catholic Central Mother’s Club.