Michigan Supreme Court announces appointments to Model Civil Jury Instructions committee

LANSING, MI--December 22, 2011 - The Michigan Supreme Court announced its appointments to the Committee on Model Civil Jury Instructions, which drafts standard instructions for juries in civil cases. The 21-member Committee on Model Civil Jury Instructions, created under Supreme Court Administrative Order No. 2001-6, is composed of judges and attorneys appointed by the Supreme Court. Members are appointed for three-year terms and may be reappointed for two additional terms. The Court appointed Judge Michael R. Smith, Hillsdale County Circuit Court, to succeed Judge Brian R. Sullivan, Wayne County Circuit Court. Also appointed was Grand Blanc attorney Thomas W. Waun, principal in the law firm of Waun & Parillo P.L.L.C., to succeed attorney David S. Mittleman of Church Wyble P.C., Lansing. The Court also reappointed the following committee members: Helen K. Joyner, Fieger Fieger Kenney Giroux & Danzig P.C., Southfield Mark T. Boonstra, Miller Canfield Paddock & Stone P.L.C., Ann Arbor Judge James R. Redford, Kent County Circuit Court Judge Michael D. Warren, Oakland County Circuit Court Thomas Van Dusen, Bodman P.L.C., Troy Each will serve a three-year term from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2014. Other committee members include: Judge Alfred M. Butzbaugh, Berrien County Trial Court (chair) Judge Jane M. Beckering, Michigan Court of Appeals, Grand Rapids Mark R. Bendure, Bendure & Thomas P.C., Detroit Hon. Patricia J. Boyle, Kienbaum Opperwall Hardy & Pelton P.L.C., Birmingham W. Mack Faison, Miller Canfield Paddock & Stone P.L.C., Detroit Elizabeth Phelps Hardy, Kienbaum Opperwall Hardy & Pelton P.L.C, Birmingham Gary P. Gordon, Dykema Gossett P.L.L.C., Lansing Judge John A. Hohman, Jr., Monroe County Probate Court Daniel J. McCarthy, Lippitt O'Keefe P.L.L.C., Birmingham Judge Douglas B. Shapiro, Michigan Court of Appeals, Lansing Noreen L. Slank, Collins Einhorn Farrell & Ulanoff P.C., Southfield Joseph C. Smith, Smith & Gibson P.C., Southfield Paul C. Smith, Michigan Department of Human Services, Detroit Judge Donald A. Teeple, Sanilac County Circuit Court Civil jury instructions are given in each civil case tried to a jury. Topics include the duties of the jury, trial procedure, and the law applicable to the case. The Model Civil Jury Instructions are online at http://www.courts.mi.gov/mcji-index.htm . The web site also includes information on how to contact the committee to comment on existing or proposed jury instructions, or to suggest new instructions. Published: Thu, Dec 29, 2011