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Active Litigation


   




ABOUT OUR LEGAL COUNSEL:

MARK A. PORTER obtained a Master of Arts in Labor Relations from Wayne State University in 1986, and his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Detroit in 1988. His areas of practice include labor and employment law; criminal law; and regulatory law. In addition, he represents both individual and business clients before various State and Federal administrative agencies.

Mark is a retired police officer with 29-years of street experience in Detroit and Oakland County, Michigan, and was awarded a medal for bravery while serving at the Royal Oak Police Department in 1996. His practice includes the representation of public safety personnel in both administrative and criminal hearings; and he specializes in criminal defense work for police and corrections officers.

He was the in-house Labor Counsel for the Michigan State Police Troopers Association from 2000-2004, and during that time he successfully argued several cases before the Michigan Court of Appeals on behalf of the Association. He is the author of the article “When the Cop Becomes the Suspect: a Primer on Garrity,” which is published in the 2002 Criminal Law Review of the Michigan State Bar; and he is a columnist for The Peace Officer, published by the Michigan Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police. He is also on the roster of approved lawyers at both the Fraternal Order of Police Legal Defense Fund at fop.net, as well as the Professional Law Enforcement Association, at plea.net.  He is a member of these legal associations and organizations:  American Bar Association, Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan, American Association for Justice, State Bar of Michigan Sections; Animal Law, Administrative Law, Appellate Law, Litigation.

Co-Counsel JAMIL (JIM) AKHTAR is an a
ttorney in private practice specializing in Labor, Employment and Discrimination Law.  He is a former Ad Hoc Hearing Officer for the State Civil Service Commission, hearing cases related to all matter associated with employee grievances with state employees in the classified service.  Labor Arbitrator with the American Arbitrator Association. He is also a former Assistant Wayne County Executive, Chief Labor Relations Negotiator for Wayne County and Labor Attorney with the Law Firm of Cox & Hodgman (1988-1991).  General Counsel Volunteers of America- Michigan/25 years,  President Wayne County Sheriff's Local 502 for 10 years, Founder and first President of the Deputy Sheriff's Association of Michigan. Retired Detective Wayne County Sheriff's Department and Former Fact Finder and Arbitrator for the Michigan Employment Securities Commission (MERC). A graduate of Wayne State University, Economics and Political Science, BA, 1972; Detroit College of Law, (specializing in labor and employment law) JD, 1985.

He is currently a Trial Lawyer admitted to practice before the United States Surpreme Court, Michigan Supreme Court, Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, U.S. District Court Eastern District of Michigan, U.S. District Court Western District of Michigan and the U.S. District Court Northern District of Ohio. And a Member of the American Arbitration Association, Michigan Bar Association, Labor Law Section; Wayne County Mediator/employment and labor panel.

LEGAL UPDATE MAY 02, 2018

LEGAL UPDATE AUGUST 03, 2016

LEGAL UPDATE JANUARY 18, 2016

LEGAL UPDATE JANUARY 24,2015

LEGAL UPDATE SEPTEMBER 11 2015

LEGAL UPDATE AUGUST 13, 2014

LEGAL UPDATE OCTOBER 22, 2014