By Paul Janczewski
Legal News
At an early age, some people look toward the future with an eye on a career in the medical field. Others aspire to careers in law.
But Lynn Foley had no such ambitions while growing up. But, through circumstance, family events and brotherly influence, she ended up in both. Now, Foley, 55, of Brighton, proudly displays two degrees on her office wall - one in nursing and the other in law.
And she's parlayed those two distinct professions into a successful career as a plaintiff's attorney in medical malpractice cases as co-founder and partner at the Livonia law firm of Cochran, Foley & Associates.
Foley was born in Detroit in 1957 and graduated from high school in 1976. Before graduating, she had no idea what she was going to do with her life.
"I was 17, and who knows what you want to do at that point," she said.
She had developed an interest in journalism and writing through her father, Michael Foley, who worked at a now-closed downtown Detroit newspaper. Her father had always wanted to become an attorney, too. So at an early age, she had already felt a small tug towards journalism and the law.
But it all came crashing down when her father died. And he was the bread-winner of the family.
"We were financially strapped," Foley said.
She, her mother, Shirley, and two brothers, Michael and John, were left alone. Michael, who was in medical school, and is now a doctor, began "looking out for me," she said, and suggested she enter University of Michigan School of Nursing.
Just before graduating, she met her future husband, who was in law school, as was her other brother, John, who is now a family lawyer in the greater Detroit area.
"And I thought, 'OK, maybe I'll think about law school.'"
Foley got a job at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, working as a medical-surgical nurse, handling neurology and urology patients, but decided to enter Wayne State University School of Law in the fall of 1980.
Foley had an adjustment period.
"In nursing, everything's black or white, answers are right or wrong or multiple choice," she said. "But in law school, you're writing essays, arguing different points, and there really isn't always a right answer. You could see (a problem) both ways.
By her second and third year, Foley got it.
"I was fully integrated into the new way of thinking, and it wasn't much of a problem after that," she said.
Something else occurred. Foley said she developed a "passion" for law.
Foley attended law school full time, and worked as a nurse on weekends at various hospitals through an agency, filling in shifts where she could pick up the work.
And then she discovered medical malpractice work, which was a great way to meld the two disciplines. After graduating in 1983, Foley landed a job at the Southfield firm of Meklir, Schreier, Nolish & Friedman, and found a mentor in Sherwin Schreier. Foley saw other law school graduates having a difficult time finding jobs after law school.
"But with a nursing background, it made me stand out from the pack," she said.
Foley worked there for 10 years, getting referrals for some cases from her old law school friend, Terry Cochran. In 1994, the two decided to open their own firm.
For the past 19 years, Foley, a senior partner, heads the medical malpractice department there. She also handles product liability claims against the manufacturers of faulty medical devices. The firm also has a satellite office in Flint, and handles a wide variety of personal injury cases.
Foley's clients have been rewarded with her expertise. Foley has particular interests in cases involving women's and children's health issues, especially birth trauma cases. She won more than $16 million in a birth trauma cases several years ago in Wayne County Circuit Court, and negotiated confidential multi-million dollar settlements in cases involving babies born with Spinal Bifida and Downs Syndrome, and for a man who suffered brain damage when bleeding in his abdomen was not properly diagnosed and treated.
Nursing and the law are her perfect fit.
"I'm constantly learning about medicine, and I'm able to use that in a different way to help people."
"This business can be tough, stressful and contentious, but I enjoy it," Foley said.
"When you accomplish the goal of helping someone, it's a very gratifying feeling, and that's what keeps me going."
She is married to John Ayaub, a tax attorney. They have three children--Michael, Katelyn and Caroline --and live in Brighton.
Published: Mon, May 6, 2013
––––––––––––––––––––
Subscribe to the Legal News!
http://legalnews.com/Home/Subscription
Full access to public notices, articles, columns, archives, statistics, calendar and more
Day Pass Only $4.95!
One-County $80/year
Three-County & Full Pass also available
