During a traffic stop in Michigan, a young man was pulled from his vehicle and searched. When he asked an officer why he'd been stopped, a second officer walked up and punched him in the face hard enough to knock him unconscious. Three attorneys rejected the case, but Christopher Trainor took it to trial. The defense initially offered $25,000 to settle, then $75,000 as trial approached, but Trainor advised his client to reject both. When the officer later tried to intimidate the young man inside the courtroom itself, Trainor positioned himself between them, making clear the intimidation would stop. The jury agreed the harm was worth far more than the defense's lowball offers: they returned a $4.91 million verdict, and with attorney fees, costs, and post-judgment interest, the final judgment exceeded $6.2 million—a statement that a citizen's right to ask a lawful question without being assaulted by a uniformed officer is foundational, not a technicality, and that a badge doesn't grant immunity from accountability.
Police Misconduct Full story
$6,200,000 Jury awarded $4.91 million after an officer repeatedly struck the handcuffed client during a traffic stop; fees, costs, and interest brought the final judgment above $6.2 million.
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→ Police Misconduct
$5,800,000 Client beaten by police officer after exiting his car; traumatic brain injury and fractured neck.
Police Misconduct
$5,500,000 Police misconduct resulting in severe injuries.
A Michigan teacher was stopped at a red light when a Detroit Water and Sewerage Department van crashed into the back of his car without braking.
Witnesses said the city driver appeared to be looking at a device before impact. The crash caused a traumatic brain injury, cervical and lumbar herniated discs, and years of work disruption. The City's only formal offer was $25,000; the Wayne County jury awarded $5.2 million.
Auto Accident Full story
$5,200,000 Wayne County jury verdict for a Michigan teacher rear-ended by a Detroit Water and Sewerage Department van.
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→ Wrongful Death
$5,000,000 Wrongful death in a semi-truck accident.
The Michigan Legal Center, Law Offices of Christopher J. Trainor & Associates secured a $4,500,000+ settlement on behalf of the family of a union member who tragically lost his life in a motor vehicle accident. Despite the defense vigorously disputing liability and making no settlement offers, Michigan Legal Center remained committed to holding the responsible party accountable and achieved a significant recovery for their client. While no amount of money can replace a loved one, Michigan Legal Center is proud to obtain justice for this family.
Wrongful Death
$4,500,000+ Settlement for the family of a union member killed in a motor vehicle accident. The defense disputed liability and made no settlement offers.
Case summary available Wrongful death civil rights case — client choked while protesting brother's arrest.
Personal Injury
$2,800,000 Lady Knocked down by a pitbull; minor traumatic brain injury.
Personal Injury
$2,150,000 Personal injury.
Motorcycle Accident
$2,100,000 Motorcycle accident.
Auto accident.
Whistleblower case.
Motorcycle Accident
$1,435,000 Client hit by drunk driver on motorcycle; traumatic brain injury and lumbar spine fractures.
Auto accident.
Wrongful Death
$1,250,000 Wrongful death — vehicle rear-ended by speeding car; underinsured motorist policy limits.
Truck Accident
$1,200,000 Commercial truck accident; client sustained back, neck, and head injuries.
Police Misconduct
$1,200,000 Police brutality.
Auto accident.
Truck Accident
$1,100,000 Semi-truck collision causing neck, back, and head injuries.
Auto Accident
$1,000,000+ Child hit by car on bicycle — case reopened for lifetime benefits.
Auto Accident
$1,000,000+ Hit-and-run — client receives lifetime uninsured motorist benefits.
Police Misconduct
$1,000,000 Police brutality.
Hit by truck on bike.
Negligence against corporation; client suffered brain damage.
Improper handling of deceased body by funeral directors.
Jail injury caused by corrections officers.
Police Misconduct
$800,000 Police shooting case.
Police Misconduct
$785,000 Police shooting a man protecting his child.
Wrongful arrest.
Motorcycle Accident
$750,000 Motorcycle accident, policy limits.
Auto accident.
Truck t-boned client's car; lumbar spine surgery and cervical herniated disc.
Sexual harassment case against Mayor and City government.
Auto accident.
Hit by garbage truck.
Bobby Craft II was riding his motorcycle home when a homeowner's dog ran from the yard into the road and hit the front tire of his motorcycle.
He suffered right hip, lower back, and right shoulder injuries, later requiring right hip arthroscopy. Michigan Legal Center recovered the full liability policy limit from the dog owner's insurer and the full medical-pay policy limit for his medical expenses.
Motorcycle Accident Full story
$520,000 Motorcyclist injured when an off-leash dog ran into the road and hit his front tire, causing hip surgery.
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→ Client was walking home when police stopped him. 5 officers attacked and beat him. The officers used excessive and unnecessary force. The client had a broken eye socket, skull fracture, and broken ribs. Surgery was required. The client had a traumatic brain injury and mental trauma from the incident. We sued the officers and got our client the settlement he deserved.
Police Misconduct
$500,000 Client was walking home when police stopped him. He was brutally beaten and sustained major injuries requiring surgery.
Case summary available Rear-end accident causing back injuries.
False arrest, false imprisonment, and malicious prosecution.
Client fell in a hole causing a fractured hip.
Slip and fall.
Auto accident.
Wrongful arrest.
Back and neck injuries from auto accident.
Broken arm and leg in automobile accident.
Medical transport failed to secure scooter in van.
County government civil rights violations including Judge and Sheriff.
Illegal search and seizure and excessive force by police.
Police unlawfully raided home, held occupants at gunpoint.
Wrongful termination.
On Kelly Rhodes's second day working as a prison laundry porter, a loaded industrial cart fell from a truck and caused skull fractures, brain injuries, and other serious harm.
Amy DeRouin argued Rhodes's appeal. In a published decision, the Sixth Circuit reinstated Eighth Amendment claims against two prison officials and returned the case to federal court. The case later resolved, with Michigan reporting a $300,000 payment.
Civil Rights Full story
$300,000 Settlement after the Sixth Circuit reinstated Eighth Amendment claims arising from a severe prison laundry-work injury.
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→ A Black man in Battle Creek was searched and arrested because he was standing near someone police suspected might have a handgun. When that person went inside an apartment, officers grabbed our client and frisked him even though they had no evidence he had done anything wrong.
When he asked why he was being searched, officers tackled and arrested him. They claimed he was resisting and obstructing. Shawn Cabot represented him as the court denied qualified immunity and allowed his Fourth Amendment claims to continue.
Civil Rights Full story
Civil Rights Settlement Client tackled and searched by police officer for standing near a different suspect
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→ Michigan State Police searched the Elliot family’s Harrison home during an armed-robbery investigation even though the suspected robbers were already in custody and no member of the family was charged.
Michigan Legal Center helped the family win summary judgment on the central Fourth Amendment issue, defeated qualified immunity on that claim, and protected the win when the Sixth Circuit dismissed the troopers’ immediate appeal.
Civil Rights Full story
Fourth Amendment Win State Police home-search case preserved a rare plaintiff-side summary judgment and published Sixth Circuit ruling.
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→ Ehsan Ouza was arrested for domestic assault after calling police for help during a domestic disturbance at her home.
Michigan Legal Center took the case to the Sixth Circuit, which affirmed that her excessive-force claim could go forward, revived her false-arrest claim, and revived her municipal-liability claim against Dearborn Heights.
Civil Rights Full story
Sixth Circuit Civil Rights Win Dearborn Heights arrest case revived false-arrest, excessive-force, and municipal-liability claims in the Sixth Circuit.
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→ Leticia Rudolph said officers entered her home during a late-night welfare check, seized her for a psychiatric evaluation, used excessive force, and ignored her repeated complaints that the handcuffs were too tight.
Shawn Cabot argued her case before the Sixth Circuit. The published decision affirmed the denial of qualified immunity on her unlawful mental-health seizure and two excessive-force claims.
Civil Rights Full story
Sixth Circuit Civil Rights Win Mental-health seizure appeal preserved three Fourth Amendment claims against Fruitport Township officers.
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→ A Michigan woman warned police that a prior surgery left her right wrist fragile and less flexible, and she asked not to be handcuffed behind her back.
Officers ignored the warning. During the handcuffing, her wrist was forcibly bent, she heard it snap, and later medical records showed a fracture through the area where the wrist bones had previously been fused.
Police Misconduct Full story
Police Misconduct Result Officers broke a client's surgically repaired wrist after ignoring her warning about behind-the-back handcuffing.
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