Edward D. Plato
A prominent litigator for over 25 years in both state and federal courts, Ed Plato has handled over 400 major lawsuits to successful conclusion. His clients are confident in his ability to handle complex litigation cases from beginning to end. He has been admitted in practice before all Michigan trial courts, the Michigan Court of Appeals and the Michigan Supreme Court. In the federal system, Mr. Plato has been admitted and practiced in the United States District Courts in Michigan and the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. Mr. Plato was designated a Michigan "Super Lawyer" in both 2006 and 2007 by the national publication, Law & Politics. Super Lawyers are the top 5 percent of attorneys in the state as chosen by their peers and through the independent research of Law & Politics. He was also appointed in 2006 as Corporation Counsel for the City of Taylor, Michigan. Mr. Plato has acted as liability defense counsel for several municipalities, school districts, construction companies, contractors, commercial businesses, insurance companies, and the Michigan Municipal Risk Management Authority. He has been a featured speaker at the annual conventions of the Michigan Municipal League and the Michigan Association of Municipal Attorneys as well as statewide workshops by the Southeastern Michigan Council of Governments.
Contact Information
Farmington Hills Office
Phone: (248) 489-4100
Fax: (248) 489-1726
Practice Areas
- Construction Law
- Municipal Law
- Business
- Insurance Defense
- Police Practices
- Constitutional Rights
- Employment and Labor
- Sewers and Drainage Districts
Experience / Expertise
- Extensive trial experience in both state and federal court
- Defending municipalities in litigation
- Special expertise in constitutional law, including police liability, civil rights and First Amendment claims
- Representing businesses, contractors and engineers in contract disputes and construction litigation
- Representing and defending employers
- Class action litigation
Education
- Michigan State University College of Law (Formerly Detroit College of Law), JD 1978.
- Recipient of American Jurisprudence Achievement Award
- Central Michigan University, BS with honors 1975
Professional Activities / Memberships
- State Bar of Michigan, Negligence, Employment and Municipal Sections
- Oakland County Bar Association
- The Michigan Association of Municipal Attorneys
- Southeast Michigan Council of Governments
- Association of Underground Contractors
Community Activities / Involvement
- Volunteer and teacher for Angels Place, homes for adult developmentally disabled individuals in Southeast Michigan
- Southeast Michigan Counsel of Governments (SEMCOG) Basement Flooding Liability Task Force, involved in the legislative process as part of the work group resulting in the passing of the new sewer liability statute, Public Act 222
Publications / Presentation
- Speaker on excessive force by police officers, protecting against and defending jail suicides, the scope of proper search & seizure
- Speaker on defending claims of sexual discrimination in the workplace, defending employment termination claims, proper procedures for employment
- Speaker on defending construction site accidents, investigating the construction site accident, interpreting construction indemnity agreements, and loss prevention
- Speaker at statewide workshops put on by the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG), the Michigan Municipal League, and the annual convention of the Michigan Association of Municipal Attorneys
Awards
- 2006 & 2007 - Designated Super Lawyer by Law & Politics in the areas of Government/Cities/Municipalities, Construction Litigation, Employment Litigation: Defense
