LITIGATION

• Defended international auto supplier against breach of contract claims brought by a manufacturers representative in the amount of $48 million. After conducting extensive discovery and winning several key motions, the Draper Law Firm was able to resolve the lawsuit for less than three percent of the original claim. 
  

• Successfully defended international auto supplier against $5 million claim brought by sales representative in the United States District Court in Ohio. After Firm conducted extensive discovery involving thousands of documents and numerous depositions, case settled for $20,000.

• Represented and brought a Countersuit on behalf of accounting firm being sued by former client. Obtained complete dismissal of all claims brought against accounting firm and won a judgment for the full amount of damages claimed against the former client.

• Represented international auto supplier who had accounting employee embezzle over $300,000. Firm obtained Temporary Restraining Order within 24 hours from learning of the loss, and seized over $200,000 from the embezzler's numerous out of state bank accounts. Also assisted County Prosecutor in their successful pursuit of felony charges against former employee, including full restitution Order and incarceration.

• Obtained complete dismissal of ERISA benefits action brought against client, alleging improper siphoning of benefit funds. After having the case removed to Federal Court, The Draper Law Firm successfully argued a motion for summary judgment, resulting in the Court issuing an order dismissing all claims.
  

• Obtained significant settlement for client, smoke and coffee retailer, against landlord for business damages caused by leaking and water damage. Claim originally denied by Defendants and their insurance companies, but Firm filed suit and aggressively litigated to obtain favorable result.

• Represented City Council candidate in suit against municipality for re-count after client narrowly lost general election.

• Successfully defended one of Michigan's oldest family-owned businesses and 6^th generation owner/manager against claims of hostile work environment sexual harassment and retaliation. Plaintiff claimed that she was verbally and physically harassed by management and other employees and that she was constructively discharged and owed unpaid wages. The Draper Law Firm took the case to trial, where the jury returned a verdict in favor of Defendants on all counts, granting a complete victory for both the business and the individually named manager.

• After having business licenses seized by law enforcement, The Draper Law Firm filed a motion for an emergency temporary restraining order in Federal Court, alleging deprivations of client's constitutional rights and petitioning the Court for the return of those licenses. Through relentless behind-the-scenes work, The Draper Law Firm was able to get the licenses re-instated through stipulation from law enforcement and the attorneys defending the action on behalf of the government, despite the fact that the Federal Judge denied the Motion for Temporary Restraining Order. The time between The Draper Law Firm being retained and the reinstatement of the business licenses was less than 48 hours.

• Successfully represented heating and cooling contractor in a project dispute with a Metro Detroit municipality which could have resulted in the full forfeiture of contractor's bond. With time acting against its client, The Draper Law Firm was able to quickly resolve the dispute completely in favor of the contractor, without having to take the matter to arbitration or before the Courts.
  

INSURANCE DEFENSE

• Successfully argued a Motion to Dismiss a wrongful death lawsuit filed against Firm client night club where Plaintiff's decedent was shot and killed. Claim exceeded client's insurance policy limits.
  
  
• Tried to a jury and obtained complete dismissal of claims of alleged assault by firm client major bar chain's security personnel. Injuries included serious debilitating knee injury and multiple surgeries.
  
  
• Obtained dismissal of all counts brought by two Plaintiffs against client bar and bartender who allegedly assaulted Plaintiffs with beer bottle and pool cue ball. Trial lasted two weeks in Circuit Court.

BUSINESS TRANSACTIONS

• Structured and completed sale of client's declining retail business to one of Michigan's largest municipalities, allowing client to take proceeds and invest in new, more lucrative business. Negotiations and approvals obtained from City's law department, City Council and Downtown Development Authority.

• Represented international IT company in the sale of the majority of its U.S.-based assets. The transaction involved the sale of interests in real estate, trade names, web addresses as well as company's equipment and inventory. The Draper Law Firm also resolved a number of complicated liabilities with various creditors that the company was holding.

• Represented and counseled a closely-held, Detroit-area business in an asset sale disposing of all of its business property. The sale resulted in nearly $1 million net gain to the business owner.
  
  
• Drafted all transfer documents and negotiated the sale of client's party store, part of major Metro Detroit chain, including transfer of liquor license.

LIQUOR LICENSING

• Obtained newly issued liquor license for east side Italian restaurant and received approval from Michigan Liquor Control Commission and local municipality. Successfully argued to City Council that client should be awarded one of two licenses issued.

• Successfully represented business that had certain permits connected to its liquor license revoked by the State of Michigan. The revocation was preventing the Firm's client from selling the business for its full market value.  After extensive discussions with various Michigan licensing officials, The Draper Law Firm was able to have the permits reinstated so that the sale of the business could go through.

• Obtained swift reversal of large Michigan municipality's unilateral decision to seize client's bar liquor license, allowing it to re-open immediately. Firm took swift action, filing for Temporary Restraining Order and Preliminary Injunction in Federal Court.
  
  
• Negotiated with Michigan Liquor Control Commission to allow client bar charged and convicted of dozens of violations, the opportunity to transfer its liquor license rather than suffer complete revocation of the license.

• 19 year old client was charged with and admitted to three separate armed robbery offenses, each carrying potential life sentences, and a drug charge. Extensively negotiated with County Prosecutor and obtained sentence of 90 day boot camp for client.

• Successfully represented real estate development company and its owner in an investigation into alleged fraudulent activities launched by the Michigan Attorney General's Office. Following The Draper Law Firm's intercession, no further inquiries were made into Client's affairs.

• Successfully represented client facing multiple felony charges stemming from an assault.  With a potential maximum penalty of over 15 years in prison, the Draper Law Firm conducted a preliminary examination, during which the Court was persuaded to drop the most serious charge against the client. Following that victory, the Draper Law Firm was able to successfully and swiftly negotiate a final sentence of probation and minimal fines and costs.
  

• After extensive motion practice and hiring ex-FBI agent investigator to support defenses, obtained prosecution's offer of one year under advisement and complete dismissal for client charged with two 20 year felony counts of Possession With Intent to Deliver. (Heroin and Cocaine).

• Defended Treasurer of Southeast Michigan City against embezzlement claims. After the Firm intervened and dealt with Attorney General and law enforcement, no charges were brought and client was able to find similar employment at another municipality.

• Helped client obtain the return of approximately two-thirds of $100,000 seized by local law enforcement agency after he was convicted of numerous interstate felonies.

• Negotiated a plea to a civil infraction of careless driving (a three point offense and a $300 fine) for 18 year old client charged with a five year felony for driving offense. Accident left the victim in a coma with permanent head injuries. Also helped resolve civil lawsuit filed by family of victim within client's insurance policy limits.
  

• Convinced major Metropolitan area City's taxing division to recap taxes on client's apartment building after transfer of ownership. Re-capping resulted in a $10,000 per year assessed real property tax savings for client.

• Represented owner of multi-million dollar high-rise property in Downtown Detroit in various lease agreements and in a number of other matters concerning real property investments and interests.
  

• Successfully argued emergency motion for full release of liens on commercial real property. Court found, based on the Firm's arguments, that property owner would suffer "irreparable harm" if liens were not immediately removed.
  

• Counseled high-profile owner of numerous commercial properties and several hundred residential properties in the reorganization of his real estate portfolio.

• Recovered full insurance proceeds on behalf real estate developer who suffered significant loss as a result of vandalism and theft following the insurance company's initial denial of all claims.

• Restructured client's multiple real estate holding companies in order to maximize fiscal benefits, while simultaneously minimizing liabilities.
  

• The Firm regularly negotiates contracts with nationally-known, popular entertainers appearing in Michigan.  The entertainers span all types of creative media, ranging from movie and network television stars to rappers and rock bands, comedians and authors.

• Venues have included The Gem Theatre, The Music Hall, The Royal Oak Music Theatre, Good Life Lounge, The Millenium Theater, and Andiamo's Celebrity Showroom.

• Represented Metro-Detroit business in contract negotiations after it was selected as a filming location for a major motion picture.
  

OTHER MATTERS

• Defended client against charges that he improperly received disability payments from Big Three automaker. Claims included allegations that client received disability payments while working for family business. Firm obtained complete dismissal of claim in excess of $300,000.
  
  
• Successful arbitration on behalf of candidate for County Commissioner for libel and slander against individual that prepared inaccurate negative campaign literature.
  
  
• Successfully represented CollegeHumor.com against claims brought in Federal Court by individual who had embarrassing photos of her posted on site. Plaintiff claimed that posting caused her to lose her white collar job with Big Three automaker's finance division. Firm was successful in obtaining complete dismissal of case.
  
  
• Defended business owner in Probate Court against claims by Decedent's estate that business owner had taken advantage of and purchased business from Decedent while he was in a weakened mental state. Through aggressive representation, firm caused Decedent's estate to voluntarily dismiss all claims against business owner.

• Successfully represented client who was awarded a significant grant and who was faced with the possibility of having to repay that grant after an institution of higher education gave her a biased and unfair evaluation. Following The Draper Law Firm's aggressive representation, the college agreed to award our client a fair evaluation, thus allowing her to keep her grant and move forward with her business plans.