Retired trial lawyer, David Conrad Coey died Jan. 23 in Florida at age 85. Coey and his wife Barbara wintered in Florida for several years but considered East Lansing home.
A native of the South side of Chicago where he became "street smart" and learned the importance of hard work, Coey once worked as a gravedigger and was on the crew that dug Al Capone's grave.
At 17, his family moved to East Lansing where he attended East Lansing High School, played football and made many lifelong friends.
Coey attended Michigan State University for two years before serving four years in the U.S. Navy, where he saw the world, learned navigation, and developed a lifelong passion for sailing. After the Navy, he returned to MSU to earn his undergrad degree and became a "Spartan" for life.
He matriculated at the University of Michigan Law School and earned his LLB. During the summers, he worked dangerous underground construction to pay the bills.
Coey returned to Lansing to commence a law practice that would extend over 50 years. He began with the Foster, Foster, Campbell and Lindemer firm and became a named partner with the firm's name changing to Foster, Swift, Collins and Coey. He later became Senior Counsel for Dickinson Wright PLLC's Lansing office.
Over the years, Coey tried many cases, in Michigan and in several others states, including Criminal, Workers Comp, Products Liability, Negligence, Environmental, Corporate, Insurance and Commercial.
Coey was named the Leo Farhat Outstanding Attorney, the highest honor bestowed by the Ingham County Bar Association. He also received the Excellence in Defense Award, the top honor of the Michigan Defense Trial Counsel. He was inducted as a Fellow of the national American College of Trial Lawyers. He was a member of the Defense Research Institute. He also was selected to several other prestigious legal fellowships and memberships, including the American Board of Trial Advocates, The American Bar Foundation and the Michigan State Bar Foundation.
Coey is survived by his wife Barbara, sons David and Kurt, daughter Deborah, and six grandchildren.
A memorial celebration will be held 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., Thursday, May 12, at the University Club in East Lansing.
Published: Thu, Mar 24, 2016
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