Attorneys: Paul F. Doherty
Paul F. Doherty is one of the co-founders of Morris & Doherty, P.C. and has practiced since 1984. Mr. Doherty has developed a reputation for handling complex litigation matters and is often called upon to take on cases other lawyers felt were unwinnable.
Mr. Doherty is “AV” rated (the highest rating) by Martindale Hubbell and was recently selected by his peers as a “Michigan Super Lawyer.”
Cases
Handling a wide range of cases, Mr. Doherty has years of courtroom trial experience and has negotiated settlements for individuals and corporations, including these recently concluded cases:
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Lead counsel in a class action involving 90,000 claimants. The multimillion dollar settlement went to reimburse primarily small businesses that leased office equipment and were cheated at lease end. A significant settlement was also obtained for two former employees of the leasing company who refused to participate in the fraud and “blew the whistle” on the illegal practices.
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Co-trial counsel in extremely complex product liability cases involving damage to large dairy farming operations. Conducted jury trials in federal court in Rome, Georgia (2 week trial) and Lansing, Michigan (8 week trial).
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Lead counsel on behalf of a young boy who was not properly treated in a local emergency room and sustained brain damage. After several attorneys turned the family away, Mr. Doherty took on the case and eventually obtained nearly $3.5 million for the family to properly care for the child.
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A $1.5 million jury verdict on behalf of a former City of Detroit mayoral candidate whose accounting practice was wrongfully denied work pursuant to a contract with an international accounting firm.
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Lead counsel in Florida litigation on behalf of a severely brain damaged girl against companies based in Maryland for injuries sustained by the girl after she rode her bike into the path of a car. Despite significant comparative negligence on the girl’s part, a policy limit settlement of $1 million was obtained.
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Lead counsel in Pennsylvania litigation for a medical doctor who was injured after a semi-truck struck the vehicle in which he was traveling. After proving the truck driver violated the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Act, a $1.9 million settlement was obtained.
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Successfully litigated and settled a claim on behalf of a journeyman iron worker who fell off of a building under construction. The general contractor claimed the iron worker was completely at fault. A $1.3 million settlement was reached.
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Represented a Connecticut resident who was injured in a single vehicle, roll-over accident while traveling through Michigan. Mr. Doherty obtained a $1 million settlement for her pain and suffering and nearly $200,000 in no-fault benefits.
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Mr. Doherty recently convinced a hospital to settle a claim for $1.6 million on behalf of a young man who died after surgery to repair a broken ankle. The hospital failed to properly monitor the young man who had a significant heart problem. The case was settled without the necessity of filing a lawsuit.
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Just two weeks before trial, Mr. Doherty was retained by a local attorney to act as trial counsel in a case involving a 61 year old man who sustained a shoulder injury after falling. The highest offer to settle was $15,000. The jury returned a verdict of $338,000.
OTHER EXPERIENCE
Mr. Doherty was appointed by the Wayne County Circuit Court to act as Plaintiff’s Liaison Counsel on behalf of the State of Michigan to the Federal Multidistrict Litigation involving a defective medical product. Mr. Doherty was also selected as a member of the Plaintiff’s Steering Committee for cases consolidated in the Wayne County Circuit Court.
- Member: 1982-1983, Editor 1983-1984, University of Detroit Law Review
- Member: State Bar of Michigan and American Bar Association, Association of Trial Lawyers of America and Michigan Trial Lawyers Association
- Published Articles: “Jurisdiction and Venue,” Vol. 1, Michigan Civil Procedure, The Institute of Continuing Education, 1999; “Lawyer Communication With Prospective Clients: Ethics vs. The First Amendment,” 61 University of Detroit Law Review 403, 1984; Mass Tort and Multidistrict Litigation: Inevitable Partners?” Laches, Vol. No. 374, 1997
PERSONAL
Mr. Doherty and his wife, Canice, are the proud parents of four daughters. The Doherty family resides in Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan.
Mr. Doherty is a past President of the Catholic Lawyers Society, is a member of the Incorporated Society of Irish American Lawyers, and is a member of the Detroit Athletic Club where he plays squash.