Attorney Profile

Donald L. Payton 
Farmington Hills, Michigan
Partner
phone (248) 626-5000
fax (248) 626-2843
email Email Me

Donald Payton is a highly respected trial attorney with extensive litigation experience in insurance and commercial legal issues.

A graduate of Michigan State University, Payton earned a J.D. from the Detroit College of Law and has practiced law since 1977.

Payton is a Court Appointed Mediator, and active in many professional associations, including the State Bar of Michigan, the Association of Defense Trial Counsel and the Michigan Defense Trial Counsel and the Association of Defense Ski Attorneys.

Areas of Practice:
Personal Injury -- Defense
Security Guard Defense Nursing Homes
Insurance Law
Products Liability Law
Subrogation
Construction Accidental
Litigation Percentage:
100% of Practice Devoted to Litigation
Bar Admissions:
Michigan, 1977
U.S. District Court Eastern District of Michigan, 1977
U.S. District Court Western District of Michigan, 1984
U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit, 1980
U.S. Court of Appeals 7th Circuit, 1985
U.S. Court of Appeals 4th Circuit, 1999
Education:
Detroit College of Law, Detroit, Michigan, 1977
J.D.


Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, 1971
Major:  Social Science
Major:  Pre-Law


Published Works:
Liquid Liability Law (Co-Author Mosler), Matthew Bender, 1987-1991, 1987


Representative Cases:
ADBA v. Federal Insurance Co., 990 F.Supp 936 (U.S. District Court 1997)
Barr v. Mt. Brighton, 215 M.A. 512 (Michigan Court of Appeals 1996)
Representative Clients:
Nationwide Insurance Co.
U.S. Liability
A.I.G.
Scottsdale Insurance Co.
Colony Insurance Group
Associated Claims Enterprises
Classes/Seminars Taught:
Premise Liability, I.C.L.E., 1990


Product Liability, Michigan Chamber of Commerce, 1991 - 1993


Mock Trial Judge at DCL, 1998 - 2000


Instructor, Michigan Mock Trial, 1994 - Present


Trial Advocacy, Wayne State Law School, 1990 - 1991


Past Employment Positions:
Farmers Insurance Group, 1973 - 1975


Secura Insurance Co., 1976 - 1977


Law Offices of Charles F. Decker, Associate, 1978 - 1979


Sinelli and Decker, Associate, 1977 - 1978


U.S. Army Reserves, Captain, 1971 - 1978


Fraternities/Sororities:
Sigma Chi