Prominent Outcomes

Obtained summary disposition in Wayne County Circuit Court on behalf of construction company in a negligence claim brought by a subcontractor who was injured on a job site. The plaintiff asserted a claim against the general contractor to recover for catastrophic injuries after falling from the roof of the project. The Court held that plaintiff could not meet the common work area exception to the general rule of non-liability for general contractors, and therefore could not recover from this defendant. (March 2023)

Obtained a six-figure verdict for the plaintiff in the United States District Court (Eastern District) in a first amendment retaliation claim brought by a prisoner against a corrections officer. This case was handled on a pro bono basis, and litigated for nearly six years before trial. (January 2023)

Obtained dismissal of civil rights complaint filed against medical practice arising out of alleged discriminatory treatment of female patient (September 2022)

Obtained summary disposition in Wayne County Circuit Court on behalf of a retiree association in a dram shop claim arising out of a shooting in a bar (July 2022)

Obtained summary disposition in Wayne County Circuit Court on behalf of a major cellular phone company in a negligent hiring and entrustment claim arising out of unlawful use of a customer’s private data (June 2022)

No cause of action verdict in Wayne County Circuit Court in negligence claim against high-end hotel that arose out of allegedly unsanitary conditions in plaintiff’s hotel room (April 2022)

Obtained summary disposition in Monroe County Circuit Court on behalf of a hotel in a premises liability claim arising out of a slip and fall in a parking lot (November 2021)

Obtained summary disposition in Berrien County Circuit Court on behalf of the president of a non-profit board of directors in a claim arising out of allegedly defamatory statements (August 2021)

Obtained summary disposition in Oakland County Circuit Court on behalf of a construction company in an indemnity claim arising out of allegedly toxic insulation installed by the client’s subcontractor (September 2020)

Obtained dismissal of civil rights complaint filed against major retail store in a claim arising out of alleged discriminatory treatment of barefoot customer (November, 2019)

Obtained summary disposition in Saginaw County Circuit Court on behalf of a sheet metal fabricator in a wrongful death and product liability claim (September, 2019)

Obtained dismissal of civil rights complaint filed against a condominium association and its management company in a claim arising out of alleged discriminatory treatment of a co-owner (August, 2019)

Obtained summary disposition in Wayne County Circuit Court on behalf of an insurance company in a claim arising out of an alleged violation of special titling requirements set forth in Section 257.217c of the Motor Vehicle Code (July 2019)

Won summary disposition in Oakland County Circuit Court on behalf of premises owner. The Court found that plaintiff’s claim was barred by the applicable statute of limitations, and dismissed the case in its entirety. (June 2019)

Won summary judgment in the United States District Court (Eastern District) on behalf of client in a legal malpractice claim which arose out of post-judgment divorce proceedings. The court found that plaintiff’s claims were barred by the attorney-judgment rule. (March 2019)

Won summary disposition in Wayne County Circuit Court on behalf of an insurer who rescinded the policy it had issued for no-fault and liability insurance (February 2019)

Won summary disposition in Wayne County Circuit Court in a third-party automobile liability claim. The Court found that the plaintiff was unable to meet the serious impairment threshold and dismissed the claims with prejudice. (November 2018)

Won summary disposition in 36^th District Court on behalf of television streaming company in a fraud and Michigan Consumer Protection Act claim brought by a former customer. (October 2018)

Won summary disposition in Washtenaw County Circuit Court on behalf of an insurer who rescinded the policy it had issued for no-fault and liability insurance. (October 2018)

Successfully defended an auction company in a multi-million dollar premises liability case. The plaintiff was attending an auction when she fell down a three-foot-drop-off created by a missing set of stairs. The auction company moved for summary disposition which was denied by the trial court. The Court of Appeals reversed, holding that the trial court should have granted summary disposition because the defendant lacked possession and control over the property and the hazard was open and obvious. The Supreme Court denied plaintiff’s application for leave to appeal. (April 2018)

Won summary disposition in Wayne County Circuit Court for a restaurant in an implied warranty and food safety act claim arising out of dental injuries allegedly sustained from a foreign object in a salad. (October 2017)

Won summary disposition in Wayne County Circuit Court for a hotel in a case arising out of a slip and fall on water at a wedding reception. (September 2017)

Successful trial result in 61^st District Court on behalf of cable service provider in a breach of contract and unfair collection practices action. (Septemer 2017)

Won summary disposition in St. Clair County Circuit Court for a hotel in a case arising out of an assault on visitor at the premises. The Court granted summary disposition in favor of the defendant hotel finding that there is no duty to anticipate or prevent third-party criminal acts and that the hotel had no notice of any potential threat to the visitor and therefore no duty to act. (July 2017)

Won summary disposition in Oakland County Circuit Court for a paving contractor in a wrongful death claim arising out of a slip and fall in a commercial parking lot. (April 2017)

Won summary disposition in Washtenaw County Circuit Court for a grocery store in a personal injury claim involving an automatic sliding door. (March 2017)

Won summary disposition in Oakland County Circuit Court for a tenant and property owner in a premises liability claim involving a slip and fall in a parking lot (February 2017)

Won summary disposition in Oakland County Circuit Court for a snow removal contractor in a premises liability involving a slip and fall on ice at a commercial establishment. (August 2016)

Successful hearing result in Oakland County Circuit Court for non-profit animal rescue organization. A preliminary injunction was obtained in favor of the client in an adverse possession claim. (July 2016)

Won summary disposition in Wayne County Circuit Court in premises liability case arising out of a trip and fall over a clothing hanger. (June 2016)

Won partial summary disposition in Oakland County Circuit Court in a construction defect claim obtaining dismissal of plaintiffs’ conversion and promissory estoppel claims. (April 2016)

Won summary disposition in Oakland County Circuit Court on a claim for nuisance and injunctive relief arising out of a dispute between neighbors. (March 2016)

Won summary disposition in Macomb County Circuit Court for a snow removal contractor in a premises liability case arising out of a slip and fall at a condominium complex. The condominium complex filed a third-party complaint against the contractor based on the snow removal contract. The Court dismissed the third-party complaint finding that the primary plaintiff’s injuries were not the result of the contractor’s failure to fulfill its contractual obligations. (January 2016) In a related matter, the primary plaintiff brought a direct claim against the snow removal contractor; summary disposition was also granted in favor of the contractor in that case as the Court found no duty was owed to plaintiff under the circumstances. (February 2016)

Won summary disposition in Macomb County Circuit Court for a snow removal contractor in a premises liability case arising out of a slip and fall on ice at a condominium complex. (2015)

Won summary disposition in Oakland County Circuit Court in favor of restaurant owner in premises liability case involving a trip and fall on a sidewalk. (2015)

Won summary disposition in Oakland County Circuit Court in a premises liability case. Plaintiff alleged that she tripped and fell on a step-down area in a newly constructed concrete island located outside of the defendant’s restaurant location, causing her to sustain serious injuries and related wage-loss. A motion for summary disposition was filed on behalf of the restaurant owner arguing that the condition was open and obvious. The court agreed and granted summary disposition in favor of the restaurant owner and dismissed plaintiff’s claims with prejudice. (November 2015)

Won summary disposition in Oakland County Circuit Court in favor of apartment complex in premises liability case involving a slip and fall in a stairwell. (November 2015)

Won summary judgment in the United States District Court – Western District in favor of manufacturer in a subrogation claim. The court found that the plaintiffs’ claims were barred under the economic loss doctrine and dismissed the complaint against the manufacturer with prejudice. (September 2015)

Successful trial result in Oakland County Circuit Court for non-profit board of directors in declaratory claim filed by former board member. (August 2015)

Won summary disposition in Wayne County Circuit Court for snow removal contractor in premises liability case arising out of a slip and fall on ice in a commercial parking lot. (June 2015)

Won partial summary disposition in Wayne County Circuit Court in favor of audio-video equipment manufacturer in a breach of contract claim involving custom-made teleconference equipment. (June 2015)

Won summary disposition in Wayne County Circuit Court for commercial building owner seeking indemnity against tenant for claims arising out a slip and fall in a bathroom. (April 2015)

Won partial summary disposition in Oakland County Circuit Court in a construction defect claim. The court dismissed plaintiff’s claims in the trial court based on an express agreement to arbitrate in the construction contract. (March 2015)

Won summary disposition in Wayne County Circuit Court for condominium complex in premises liability case arising out of a slip and fall on ice. (February 2015)

Won partial summary disposition in Oakland County Circuit Court in favor of employer in a negligent entrustment claim arising out of a motor vehicle accident. (February 2015)

Won summary disposition in Wayne County Circuit Court, affirmed on appeal, for a property management company in a case arising out of an assault on an employee in the lobby of an office building. The Court granted summary disposition in favor of the defendant management company finding that defendant fulfilled its limited duty of care to promptly notify the police after the unforeseeable criminal attack. (November 2014)

Won summary disposition in Genesee County Circuit Court for gas station owner in a premises liability case arising out of a slip and fall on ice in the station parking lot. (October 2014)

Won summary disposition in Macomb County Circuit Court for condominium complex in premises liability case arising out of a trip and fall on a sidewalk crack. (September 2014)

Won summary disposition in Oakland County Circuit Court in favor of manufacturer in a product liability claim arising out of injuries sustained by use of product. (September 2014)

Won summary disposition in St. Clair County Circuit Court for commercial building owner in premises liability case arising out of a trip and fall on landscaping near the sidewalk area. (August 2014)

Won summary disposition in Macomb County Circuit Court for condominium complex in premises liability case arising out of a slip and fall on ice. (June 2014)

Publications & Speaking Engagements

Motion Granted: A Litigator and Former Judicial Attorney’s Perspective on Effective Motion Practice, Oakland County Bar Association LACHES (June/July 2020)

Scooting Into Liability: As Electric Scooters Rise in Popularity, Concerns Mount, CLM Magazine (February 2020)

Participated as a panelist at the CLM Midwest Conference in Chicago, addressing the topic of electric scooter regulations and developing liability issues. (June 2019)

From Government to Firm: Stepping Outside of My Comfort Zone, Oakland County Bar Association LACHES (February 2019)

Michigan’s Sex Offender Registration Act: Does it Make Communities Safer?  The Implications of the Inclusion of a Broad Range of Offenders, a Review of Statutory Amendments and Thoughts on Future Changes, 84 U DET MERCY L REV 355 (Spring 2007)

While Kari was Vice Chair of the OCBA Criminal Law Committee, she organized the committee’s Brown Bag Lecture Series, moderating many of the lectures within the series as well.

Kari has spoken on a number of topics at various Oakland County Bar Association CLE seminars. She regularly contributes to articles in various legal publications, including Risk and Insurance Magazine and Michigan Lawyers Weekly. In addition, Kari has appeared on a show called “Practical Law” hosted by attorney Henry Gornbein to discuss the judicial process.

Kari has spoken to volunteers at the Women’s Survival Center about the Personal Protection Order process.