MARK E. STRAETMANS

BIRMINGHAM OFFICE

Education

  • B.S., Wayne State University, 1975
  • J.D., cum laude, Detroit College of Law, 1978

Bar & Court Admissions

  • State of Michigan
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin

Professional Memberships

  • American Bar Association – Business Law, International Law, and ADR Sections
  • State bar of Michigan – Business Law, International Law, and ADR Sections

Mohammad Al-Mehdi v. Hafezi, No. 238520 (Mich. Ct. App. July 15, 2003)
Life insurance benefit dispute where plaintiff’s claim was dismissed due to misrepresentations in the application for coverage.

Lafarge Corp. v. Altech Environment, U.S.A., 220 FSupp2d 823 (ED Mich 2002)
Breach of contract regarding environmental equipment/liability for consequential damage/jurisdiction dispute. This case involved a breach of a contract to provide and install environmental monitoring equipment and a claim for consequential damages. The court determined that jurisdiction over our client’s French parent was lacking.

McGuire v. Reliance Std. Life Ins. Co., 2000 US App LEXIS 786 (6th Cir 2000)
ERISA life insurance benefits dispute where the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the doctrine that evidence not first presented to our client, an ERISA plan administrator, could not be considered by a reviewing court.

Hershey v. Massachusetts Mut. Life Ins. Co., 2000 US Dist LEXIS 9419 (WD Mich 2000)
In this disability insurance benefit dispute, summary judgment was granted to the defendant insurer based upon the definition of disability in the policy.

Great West Life and Annuity Ins. Co. v. Titan Indem. Co., 1997 US Dist LEXIS 4261 (ED Mich 1997)
This was a priority among insurers dispute involving ERISA preemption of the Michigan no-fault insurance law. We persuaded the court that the plan language preempted the state insurance code.

R. E. Harrison Co. v. Andary, No 116884 (Mich Ct App July 30, 1990)
Lease option to purchase dispute. The Michigan Court of Appeals reversed a trial court decision that our client had not timely exercised an option to purchase real estate that was part of a written lease agreement.

Mannino v. Dominion Life Assur. Co., 539 FSupp 323 (ED Mich 1982)
We obtained a dismissal of plaintiff’s claims for life insurance benefits based upon misrepresentations in the insured’s application for coverage. The key issue was that evidence of defendant’s underwriting standards could not be rebutted by the testimony of an underwriting expert unfamiliar with the standards of the defendant company.

Mark Straetmans
Shareholder

BIRMINGHAM OFFICE 
Tel: (248) 645-9680
Fax: (248) 645-1233

Mark Straetmans
Shareholder

BIRMINGHAM OFFICE 
Tel: (248) 645-9680
Fax: (248) 645-1233

Education

  • B.S., Wayne State University, 1975
  • J.D., cum laude, Detroit College of Law, 1978

Bar & Court Admissions

  • State of Michigan
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin

Professional Memberships

  • American Bar Association – Business Law, International Law, and ADR Sections
  • State bar of Michigan – Business Law, International Law, and ADR Sections

Mohammad Al-Mehdi v. Hafezi, No. 238520 (Mich. Ct. App. July 15, 2003)
Life insurance benefit dispute where plaintiff’s claim was dismissed due to misrepresentations in the application for coverage.

Lafarge Corp. v. Altech Environment, U.S.A., 220 FSupp2d 823 (ED Mich 2002)
Breach of contract regarding environmental equipment/liability for consequential damage/jurisdiction dispute. This case involved a breach of a contract to provide and install environmental monitoring equipment and a claim for consequential damages. The court determined that jurisdiction over our client’s French parent was lacking.

McGuire v. Reliance Std. Life Ins. Co., 2000 US App LEXIS 786 (6th Cir 2000)
ERISA life insurance benefits dispute where the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the doctrine that evidence not first presented to our client, an ERISA plan administrator, could not be considered by a reviewing court.

Hershey v. Massachusetts Mut. Life Ins. Co., 2000 US Dist LEXIS 9419 (WD Mich 2000)
In this disability insurance benefit dispute, summary judgment was granted to the defendant insurer based upon the definition of disability in the policy.

Great West Life and Annuity Ins. Co. v. Titan Indem. Co., 1997 US Dist LEXIS 4261 (ED Mich 1997)
This was a priority among insurers dispute involving ERISA preemption of the Michigan no-fault insurance law. We persuaded the court that the plan language preempted the state insurance code.

R. E. Harrison Co. v. Andary, No 116884 (Mich Ct App July 30, 1990)
Lease option to purchase dispute. The Michigan Court of Appeals reversed a trial court decision that our client had not timely exercised an option to purchase real estate that was part of a written lease agreement.

Mannino v. Dominion Life Assur. Co., 539 FSupp 323 (ED Mich 1982)
We obtained a dismissal of plaintiff’s claims for life insurance benefits based upon misrepresentations in the insured’s application for coverage. The key issue was that evidence of defendant’s underwriting standards could not be rebutted by the testimony of an underwriting expert unfamiliar with the standards of the defendant company.

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The Law Firm of Berry Moorman P.C. provides legal representation and services in matters ranging from estate and succession planning, to labor and employment, tax, business formation and growth, mergers and acquisitions, financing and contractual transactions, family...

Berry Moorman attorneys recognized as Leading Lawyers

The Law Firm of Berry Moorman P.C. provides legal representation and services in matters ranging from estate and succession planning, to labor and employment, tax, business formation and growth, mergers and acquisitions, financing and contractual transactions, family...

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