Mike Morse Injury Law Firm

Attorney Mike Morse

Bar Admissions:

• Michigan, 1992
• Wisconsin, 1981

Education:

• University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, Detroit, Michigan, 1992
  • Juris Doctor
  • Honors: cum laude
  • Honors: With Honors
• University of Arizona, 1989
  • Bachelors of Science
  • Honors: with honors
  • Major: Business

Professional Memberships and Achievements:

• Michigan Association for Justice (Member)
• State Bar of Michigan, 1992 - Present (Member)
• American Association for Justice, 1992 - 2010 (Member)
• Michigan Association for Justice (Executive Board Member), 1992 - Present
• Michigan Board of Chiropractic, 2008 - Present (Member)

Languages Spoken:

• Arabic

Attorney Allen Ayoub

Bar Admissions:

• Michigan, 2014

Education:

• Thomas M. Cooley Law School, Lansing, Michigan, 2014
  • Juris Doctorate
  • Honors: magna cum laude
  • Honors: Third in his Class of 329
  • Honors: Certificates of Merit
  • Honors: Teaching and Graduate Assistant
  • Law Review: Thomas M. Cooley Law Review, Senior Associate Editor
• University of Michigan Dearborn, 2010
  • Bachelor of Political Science
  • Honors: With High Distinction

Professional Memberships and Achievements:

• State Bar of Michigan

Attorney NJanieasha Freelove-Sewell

Attorney Janieasha Freelove-Sewell - Southfield, MI

Bar Admissions:

• Michigan, 2017

Education:

• Michigan State University College of Law, East Lansing, Michigan, 2017
  • Juris Doctor
  • Honors: Member, Volunteer Advocates of Mid-Michigan
  • Honors: Research Assistant, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
  • Law Journal: Journal of Animal and Natural Resources Law, Associate Editor
• Georgetown University, 2008
  • B.A., Bachelor of Arts
  • Major: Spanish
  • Major: English

Professional Memberships and Achievements:

• National Association of Women Lawyers
• Women Lawyers Association of Michigan
• Michigan Association for Justice

Attorney Eric Simpson

Bar Admissions:

• Michigan, 1997
• North Carolina, 1998
• Texas, 2006

Education:

• Thomas M. Cooley Law School, Lansing, Michigan, 1997
  • Juris Doctor
  • Honors: cum laude
• Michigan State University, 1993
  • Bachelor of Arts
  • Major: Communication Arts

Professional Memberships and Achievements:

• State Bar of Michigan
• North Carolina State Bar
• State Bar of Texas
• Michigan Association For Justice

Attorney Keith Banka

Bar Admissions:

• Michigan, 2001
• U.S. District Court Eastern District of Michigan

Education:

• Wayne State University Law School, Detroit, Michigan
  • Juris Doctor
  • Honors: Honors Distinction in Legal Research and Writing
  • Honors: Recipient of the WSU Board of Governors' Scholarship
• Central Michigan University
  • Honors: Recipient of the Centralis Scholarship
  • Honors: Recipient of the State of Michigan Competitive Scholarship
  • Major: Political Science and Government

Attorney  Paige Stiger

Paige Stiger graduated from Howard University in Washington, DC with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. She then earned her law degree from Wayne State University Law School as a recipient of the Judge Damon Keith Scholarship. While in law school Paige not only was a full time student, she was also a part of the Black Law Student Association, Moot Court, was an extern at the State Appellate Defender Office and was an employee at the Mike Morse Law Firm. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, spending time with family, and binge watching her favorite shows.

Attorney Cole Schmidt

Bar Admissions:

• Michigan, 2015

Education:

• Michigan State University College of Law, East Lansing, Michigan, 2014
  • Juris Doctor
• Northern Michigan University, 2009
  • Bachelor of Arts
  • Major: English

Attorney Steven Batsikouras

Steven Batsikouras graduated from Michigan State University, James Madison College with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Theory and Constitutional Democracy. He then earned his law degree from Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School.

During law school, Steven graduated top in his class with honors, earned numerous Certificate of Merit awards, served as Associate Editor on the Law Journal, President of the Intramural Sports Organization, Founder of the Cooley Golf Group, Board Member of the Grade Appeals Board, Board Member and First Year Chair of Moot Court, and as coach of the Cooley Softball Group.

Additionally, while in law school, he worked as a Judicial Law Clerk for the Honorable Judge Mark S. Switalski of the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit Court in Macomb County, at a boutique personal injury law firm, and with a criminal defense solo practitioner. Steven participated in various Pro Bono services, such as assisting JAG officers and volunteer attorneys with drafting wills and power of attorney for deploying soldiers at Camp Grayling (Service to Soldiers). He also successfully presented and argued to set aside criminal convictions in front of the Third Judicial Circuit Court of Michigan through the Detroit Metro Bar Association Expungement Program.

Fun facts: Steven has ran with the bulls in Pamplona, Spain, gone skydiving over the Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes, toured the cities of Rome and Athens, snowboarded down the Rocky Mountains, rafted the Gauley River in West Virginia, sailed off the coast of Key West, and scaled ancient ruins in the Yucatan Peninsula. Also, he looks forward to one day swimming with great white sharks off the coast of South Africa.

Attorney Ryan VanStone

Bar Admissions:

• Michigan
• U.S. District Court Eastern District of Michigan, 2015

Education:

• University of Notre Dame London Law Center, London, England, 2014
  • J.D.
• Michigan State University, 2008
  • B.A.
• University of Cambridge, Magdalene College, 2006
  • Major: Global Business Law
  • Major: Finance

Professional Memberships and Achievements:

• Michigan Bar Association

Attorney Jake Yeater

Attorney Jake Yeater - Southfield, MI

Bar Admissions:

• Michigan, 2009
• Ohio, 2016

Education:

• Thomas M. Cooley Law School, Lansing, Michigan, 2005
  • Honors: cum laude
  • Honors: Participated in Law Review as the Scholarly Writing Editor, Law Journal, Moot Court, and Mock Trial
  • Honors: Top 5% of his class
  • Honors: Eugene Krasicky Award
• University of Findlay, 2005
  • B.A.
  • Honors: cum laude
  • Major: Criminal Justice
  • Major: Law
  • Major: Liberal Arts

Professional Memberships and Achievements:

• Michigan Bar Association (Member)
• Michigan Association for Justice

Attorney Paul Wheatley

Bar Admissions:

• Michigan, 2011

Education:

• Thomas M. Cooley Law School, Lansing, Michigan
  • Juris Doctor
  • Honors: Law school scholarship
  • Major: Environmental Law
• Michigan State University, 1999
  • Bachelor’s Degree
  • Minor: Environmental journalism
  • Major: Journalism

Professional Memberships and Achievements:

• Michigan Bar Association

Attorney James Wendt

Bar Admissions:

• Michigan, 2011

Education:

• Wayne State University Law School, Detroit, Michigan, 2011
  • Juris Doctor
  • Honors: Received honors for legal research and writing
  • Honors: Top 15%
• Eastern Michigan University, 2007
  • Bachelor of Business Administration
  • Honors: Most Outstanding Junior Class Business Student
  • Honors: Most Outstanding Senior Class Business Student
  • Major: Computer Information Systems

Professional Memberships and Achievements:

• Michigan Bar Association

Attorney Brent Thomas

Attorney Brent Thomas - Southfield, MI

Education:

• Suffolk University Law School, Boston, Massachusetts, 2003
  • Juris Doctor
  • Honors: cum laude
  • Honors: Michigan State Appellate Defender’s Office
  • Honors: Environmental Protection Agency
• Northeastern University, 2000
  • B.S., Bachelor of Science
  • Honors: Northeastern University, Division I Men’s Ice Hockey team, Member

Attorney Robert Silverman

Bar Admissions:

• Michigan, 1995
• New York
• U.S. District Court Eastern District of Michigan

Education:

• Detroit College of Law, Detroit, Michigan, 1995
  • Juris Doctor
  • Honors: magna cum laude
  • Law Review: The Detroit College of Law Review., Author
• University of Michigan, 1992
  • Bachelor’s Degree
  • Honors: With High Distinction
  • Major: Kinesiology

Attorney Joshua Shope

Bar Admissions:

• Michigan

Education:

• The University of Michigan Law School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 2010
  • J.D.
  • Law Journal: Michigan Journal of Race and Law, Associate Editor
• University of Michigan, 2006
  • B.A., Bachelor of Arts
  • Honors: magna cum laude
  • Major: Psychology

Professional Memberships and Achievements:

• State Bar of Michigan (Member)

Attorney Perry Schneider

Bar Admissions:

• Michigan, 1997

Education:

• Wayne State University Law School, Detroit, Michigan
  • Juris Doctor
• Michigan State University, 1992
  • Bachelors of Fine Arts
  • Honors: With Honors

Professional Memberships and Achievements:

• Michigan Bar Association
• National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives

Attorney Julia Opiela

Bar Admissions:

• Michigan
• District of Columbia

Education:

• Michigan State University College of Law, East Lansing, Michigan, 2015
  • Juris Doctor
  • Honors: International Law Society, Member
  • Honors: Trustee Fieldman and Weiner Endowed Scholarships, Recipient
• Michigan State University, James Madison College, 2012
  • B.A., Bachelor of Arts
  • Honors: Global Ambassador, Clinton Global Initiative University, Clinton Foundation
  • Honors: President Clinton Scholar, American University Dubai
  • Major: Political Theory and Constitutional Democracy

Professional Memberships and Achievements:

• American Bar Association
• National Association of Women Lawyers

Attorney Marc Mendelson

Bar Admissions:

• Michigan, 1995

Education:

• Detroit College of Law, Detroit, Michigan, 1994
  • Juris Doctor
  • Honors: magna cum laude
• Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, 1987
  • General Business Administration

Professional Memberships and Achievements:

• Michigan Bar Association (Member)

Attorney Lewis Melfi

Bar Admissions:

• California, 2008
• Michigan, 2010

Education:

• Loyola University New Orleans College of Law, New Orleans, Louisiana
  • Honors: cum laude
• University of Michigan
  • Bachelor of Science
  • Major: Biology

Professional Memberships and Achievements:

• Michigan Bar Association

Attorney Laura McLeod

Bar Admissions:

• Michigan, 2017

Education:

• University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, Detroit, Michigan, 2008
  • Juris Doctor
• University of Michigan, 2005
  • B.A., Bachelor of Arts
  • Major: Political Science
  • Minor: English

Professional Memberships and Achievements:

• Michigan Bar Association

Attorney Katrina Martin

Bar Admissions:

• Michigan, 2010

Education:

• Thomas M. Cooley Law School, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 2010
  • J.D.
  • Honors: Certificate of Merit
• Michigan State University, 2005
  • B.A.
  • Major: Political Science

Professional Memberships and Achievements:

• State Bar of Michigan, Family Law Section, Employment Law Section

Attorney Helen Casey

Bar Admissions:

• Michigan, 2010

Education:

• Wayne State University Law School, Detroit, Michigan, 2010
  • Law Review: The Wayne Law Review, Assistant and Associate Editor
• Saint Mary's College, Notre Dame IN, 2007
  • B.A.
  • Honors: With Honors
  • Major: Political Science
  • Major: German
  • Minor: Philosophy

Professional Memberships and Achievements:

• Michigan Bar Association

Attorney James Lane

Bar Admissions:

• Michigan, 2011

Education:

• Michigan State University College of Law, East Lansing, Michigan, 2008
  • Juris Doctor
  • Major: Criminal Law Concentration
• Michigan State University Eli Broad College of Business, 2005
  • Bachelors of Arts
  • Major: Marketing

Professional Memberships and Achievements:

• State Bar of Michigan
• Michigan Association for Justice

Attorney Jeff Kerby

Bar Admissions:

• Michigan, 2011
• U.S. District Court Eastern District of Michigan, 2014
• U.S. Federal Courts

Education:

• Wayne State University Law School, Detroit, Michigan, 2011
  • J.D.
  • Honors: Wayne Law Moot Court team, Member
  • Law Review: Wayne Law Review, Member
• Wayne State University, 2008
  • Honors: cum laude
  • Major: Criminal Justice

Professional Memberships and Achievements:

• Oakland County Bar Association, 2011 - Present (Attorney Member)

Attorney Andrew Kata

Andrew was born and raised in southeast Michigan. He attended Western Michigan University where he earned a degree in Political Science and graduated Cum Laude in 2007. He subsequently obtained his Juris Doctor Degree from Michigan State University College of Law in 2010 while law clerking for the State of Michigan in Lansing and a general practice law firm in Okemos. Over the course of his legal career, he has specialized solely in Social Security Disability. He manages the Social Security Disability Practice Group and zealously represents clients in Social Security hearings all over the state of Michigan 

Attorney Dan Hohf

Dan Hohf graduated from Western Michigan University in 2009 with a Bachelor’s Degree in History. While at WMU, he served as a Museum Technician at the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area in Pennsylvania as well as at the Kingman Museum in Battle Creek, Michigan. He joined the Mike Morse Law Firm team in 2011 as a paralegal and eventually went on to earn his law degree from Wayne State University Law School in 2019. While attending law school, he remained employed at the Mike Morse Law Firm as well as served as a Judicial Extern for the Honorable Edward Ewell, Jr. in the Wayne County Circuit Court. He currently works in the litigation department with a primary area of focus on Michigan No-Fault Auto Law and Automobile Negligence, Premises Liability, General Negligence and Dog Bite Liability.

Attorney Kelli Hawkins

Education:

• Michigan State University College of Law, East Lansing, Michigan, 2011
  • Juris Doctorate
  • Honors: summa cum laude
  • Honors: Dean’s List
  • Honors: Appellate Moot Court
  • Honors: Jurisprudence Award in Insurance Law
• Michigan State University, 2007
  • B.S., Bachelor of Science
  • Major: Psychology

Professional Memberships and Achievements:

• Michigan Bar Association

Attorney Chris Filiatraut

Bar Admissions:

• Michigan, 1996
• U.S. District Court Western District of Michigan
• U.S. District Court Eastern District of Michigan

Education:

• University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, Detroit, Michigan, 1996
  • Juris Doctorate
• Wayne State University, 1993
  • Bachelor of Arts
  • Honors: cum laude
  • Major: History

Professional Memberships and Achievements:

• Michigan Bar Association (Member)

Attorney Joshua Farr

Bar Admissions:

• Michigan, 2010

Education:

• Thomas M. Cooley Law School, Lansing, Michigan, 2010
  • Honors: cum laude
• Central Michigan University, 2003
  • Bachelor of Science
  • Major: Philosophy and Political Science

Professional Memberships and Achievements:

• Michigan Bar Association

Attorney Patricia Dooley

Bar Admissions:

• Michigan, 1991
• Illinois, 1992

Education:

• Detroit College of Law, Detroit, Michigan, 1991
  • J.D.
  • Honors: cum laude
• Michigan State University, 1988
  • B.S.
  • Major: Economics and Psychology

Professional Memberships and Achievements:

• Michigan Bar Association

Attorney James Demates

Bar Admissions:

• Michigan, 2014

Education:

• Michigan State University College of Law, East Lansing, Michigan, 2014
  • Honors: magna cum laude
  • Honors: Member of Moot Court and Commercial Arbitration
• Michigan State University, 2011
  • Bachelor’s Degree

Professional Memberships and Achievements:

• Michigan Bar Association

Attorney Donald Cummings

Education:

• University of South Carolina School of Law, Columbia, South Carolina
  • Honors: With Honors
  • Honors: Order of the Wig and Robe
  • Honors: Order of the Coif
• Truman State University
  • Bachelor of Science
  • Honors: Varsity Wrestling Team
  • Honors: Academic All-American Wrestling Team Member
  • Major: Biology

Professional Memberships and Achievements:

• Michigan Bar Association (Member)

Attorney Tony Chapman

Bar Admissions:

• Michigan, 2008

Education:

• Thomas M. Cooley Law School, Lansing, Michigan, 2006
  • Juris Doctor
  • Honors: cum laude
• University of Michigan, 2002
  • Bachelor of Arts
  • Honors: cum laude
  • Honors: Awarded the Maize and Blue Scholarship
  • Major: Secondary Education

Professional Memberships and Achievements:

• Michigan Bar Association

Attorney Tom Calcatera

Education:

• University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, Detroit, Michigan, 1979
• Wayne State University, 1976

Professional Memberships and Achievements:

• Michigan Bar Association.

Attorney Matthew Bates

Bar Admissions:

• Michigan, 2008

Education:

• Wayne State University Law School, Detroit, Michigan, 2008
  • Honors: Law School Representative, University Student Council
  • Honors: President , Student Bar Association Board of Governors
  • Honors: Campus Life Leadership Award for Outstanding Graduate/Professional Student Leader
  • Honors: Member, Student Trial Advocacy Program
  • Honors: Winner, Donald Barris Mock Trial Competition
• Western Michigan University, 2005
  • B.A.
  • Honors: cum laude
  • Major: Public Law
  • Major: Philosophy

Professional Memberships and Achievements:

• Michigan Bar Association (Member)

Attorney Austin Bruce

Bar Admissions:

• Michigan

Education:

• Wayne State University Law School, Detroit, Michigan, 2019
  • J.D.
• Michigan State University, 2015
  • Minor: Economics
  • Major: Political Science

Languages Spoken:

• Spanish

Attorney Alex Kassa

Alex Kassa graduated from Oakland University with a Bachelor of Science in General Management. He went on the earn his law degree from University of Detroit Mercy School of Law where he graduated cum laude. At Detroit Mercy, Alex earned a CALI Excellence for the Future Award in U.S. Basic Federal Income Tax and received the Ayar Law Group Scholarship for Tax Excellence.

As an attorney at the Mike Morse Law Firm, Alex has dedicated his career to protecting accident victims across Michigan.

In his free time, Alex enjoys spending time with family, golfing, and playing basketball.

Attorney John Nachazel Jr.

Bar Admissions:

• Michigan

Education:

• The University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law, Tucson, Arizona
  • Juris Doctor
  • Honors: Chester E. Smith Fellow, 2017-2018
  • Honors: Sol D. Resnick Water Resource Fellow, 2019-2020
  • Honors: CALI Excellence for the Future Award in Water Law
  • Law Review: Arizona Journal of Environmental Law and Policy, Senior Managing Editor
• Michigan State University
  • B.A.
  • Major: Philosohpy & Economics

Attorney Allison Lazette

Allison Lazette-Magnan is a trial attorney who focuses her practice on Michigan No-Fault and Personal Injury Law. Allison has a Bachelor’s Degree from University of Michigan, Ann Arbor and a law degree from MSU Law. Before coming to MMLF in 2021, Allison did defense work for insurance companies for just under 15 years. Allison is joining the team as a pod leader.

In her spare time, Allison enjoys lake activities with her family, including her 7 year old daughter. Allison also enjoys fitness activities, reading, dinners out, traveling, and wine.

Attorney Keith Banka

Keith is an associate attorney who primarily handles the firm’s appellate practice. He is a graduate of Central Michigan University where he was a Centralis Scholarship and a State of Michigan Competitive Scholarship recipient. Keith then attended Wayne State University Law School where he achieved Honors Distinction in Legal Research and Writing and received a WSU Board of Governors’ Scholarship. Since 2001, He has been a member of the State Bar of Michigan and is also admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, the Michigan Court of Appeals, and the Michigan Supreme Court. Over the course of his 15-plus year appellate career, Keith has had numerous successes in the Michigan Court of Appeals and has also argued successfully in front of the Michigan Supreme Court. In his spare time, he enjoys trail running, movies, and shooting pool.

Attorney Daresha McCloud

Daresha McCloud graduated from Bowling Green State University with honors in 2007. She went on to earn her law degree from Thomas M. Cooley Law School. During law school, Daresha was awarded a Certificate of Merit for receiving the highest grade amongst her peers in Torts II and Civil Procedure II. She graduated from law school cum laude in 2012. Since graduating law school, Daresha has primarily devoted her practice of law to representing individuals who have been involved in auto accidents, slip and falls, and dog bites. Daresha also had an opportunity to work as an insurance defense attorney. She has successfully argued cases before the Michigan Court of Appeals. She has also successfully tried a case to verdict in Oakland County Circuit Court.

In her free time, Daresha enjoys spending time with family.

Attorney Melanie Camara

Melanie graduated from the Detroit College of Law Cum Laude in 1986. She received her BS in Business Management from Detroit College of Business Magna Cum Laude in 1982. She then practiced at corporate law firms and insurance defense law firms for the next 35 years. Over that time, she managed an insurance defense law firm for one large insurance company. She has also tried more than 100 lawsuits to a jury verdict. She was one of the prominent trial attorneys for a large national insurance company. Melanie is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates, an invitation only association of experienced trial counsel.

In her spare time, she enjoys international travel with her husband and grown children.  Her family keeps a second home in Senegal, Africa. She also enjoys kayaking, art shows and hiking.

Attorney Bjornrae "BJ" Kemp

Bjornrae Kemp is an associate attorney at the Mike Morse Law Firm. He graduated from the University of Houston in 2009. He went on to earn his law degree from Thurgood Marshall School of Law where he graduated Magna Cum Laude. Since 2020, he has been a member of the State Bar of Michigan and is also admitted to practice law in Texas. Bjornrae has represented accident victims for his entire legal career, recovering millions for his clients.

In his free time, Bjornrae enjoys spending time with family, cooking, and reading.