Christensen receives double distinction

The first week of December was a big one for attorney and Michigan Law alumnus David Christensen, principal of Christensen Law, a personal injury law firm that specializes in helping victims of automobile and truck accidents. On December 2, Christensen was inducted into the American Board of Trial Advocates and just a day earlier was named a 2016 Best of MichBusiness Award winner in the Community Leaders category. Both the ABOTA induction and the Best of MichBusiness Award are emblematic of the role Christensen continues to play, both in the legal profession and in the community he feels so strongly about promoting. In the case of the ABOTA, a foundation that is committed to the preservation of the U.S. 7th Amendment-the right of a civil trial by jury-elevating the standards of legal professionalism, integrity, honor and courtesy aligns with Christensen's character as an attorney. From a community enrichment standpoint, the 2016 Best of MichBusiness honor underscores the importance of giving back to the community, which Christensen does through various ongoing initiatives. Those include his work with the Coalition Protecting Auto No-Fault in Lansing and the Michigan Association for Justice No-Fault Committee. He is a former chair of the committee and is a past chair of the Negligence Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan. Christensen has served on the boards of many organizations treating addiction, including the Washtenaw Council on Alcoholism and Spectrum Treatment and Prevention Services. The Safe Ride Home program and Distracted Driving Scholarship for students are also important community initiatives created by Christensen in the past year both focusing on increasing awareness of consequences of drunk driving and texting while driving. He also served as chairman of the board for the Ann Arbor-based Help Source Agency, whose work has included the operation of social safety agencies such as Big Brothers and Big Sisters, substance abuse programs, teen pregnancy programs and group homes for abused and neglected teens. ABOTA is highly selective in who it invites into the organization. Each member has tried an enormous number of cases, and is held in very high esteem by the legal profession. There are only 112 members of the Michigan Chapter of the ABOTA, out of more than 40,000 practicing attorneys in the state. MichBusiness is powered by MBPA, a statewide organization with a sphere of influence that no other organization of its kind can claim, positively impacting more than 150,000 businesses -1 out of every 3 in the state. Christensen earned his law degree, with honors, as well as a Master's Degree from the University of Michigan. He testifies before the Michigan legislature, and his expertise has led to appointments to key positions that affect the development of Michigan's no-fault law, is a member of the Council of Chief Justices Civil Justice Initiative, and in 2012 was chosen as a "Leader in the Law" by Michigan Lawyer's Weekly. Published: Mon, Dec 26, 2016