Members named by high court to panel drafting jury instructions

The Michigan Supreme Court has announced appointments to the Committee on Model Civil Jury Instructions, which drafts standard instructions for juries in civil cases. The Committee on Model Civil Jury Instructions, created under Supreme Court Administrative Order No. 2001-6, is composed of 21 judge and attorney members who are appointed by the Supreme Court. The committee is charged with ensuring that the Model Civil Jury Instructions are concise, understandable, conversational, unslanted, and not argumentative. Members are appointed for three-year terms, and may be reappointed for two additional terms. New members appointed by the Court include: * Judge Douglas B. Shapiro, Michigan Court of Appeals, Lansing, to succeed Judge Pat M. Donofrio, Michigan Court of Appeals, Troy * Attorney Daniel J. McCarthy, Hyman Lippitt, PC, Birmingham, to succeed attorney Susan H. Zitterman, Kitch Drutchas Wagner Valitutti & Sherbrook PC, Detroit The court also reappointed the following committee members: * Judge John A. Hohman, Jr., Monroe County Probate Court, Monroe * Attorney Noreen L. Slank, Collins Einhorn Farrell & Ulanoff, PC, Southfield * Attorney Angela J. Nicita, Allen Park * Attorney Gary P. Gordon, Dykema Gossett PLLC, Lansing * Attorney Joseph C. Smith, Smith & Gibson, PC, Southfield Each will serve a three-year term from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2012. Other members of the committee include: * Judge Jane M. Beckering, Michigan Court of Appeals, Grand Rapids * Judge Alfred M. Butzbaugh, Berrien County Trial Court, St. Joseph * Attorney Mark R. Granzotto, Mark Granzotto, PC, Royal Oak * Attorney William J. Giovan, Charfoos Giovan & Birach LLP, Detroit (retired judge, Wayne County Circuit Court) * Attorney Elizabeth Phelps Hardy, Kienbaum Opperwall Hardy & Pelton, PLC, Birmingham * Attorney Helen K. Joyner, Fieger, Fieger, Kenney, Johnson & Giroux PC, Southfield * Attorney David S. Mittleman, Church Wyble, PC, Lansing * Judge Christopher M. Murray, Michigan Court of Appeals, Detroit * Judge James R. Redford, Kent County Circuit Court, Grand Rapids * Attorney Mary Massaron Ross, Plunkett Cooney PC, Detroit * Attorney Paul C. Smith, Paul C. Smith PLLC, Royal Oak * Judge Brian R. Sullivan, Wayne County Circuit Court, Detroit * Judge Michael D. Warren, Jr., Oakland County Circuit Court, Pontiac * Judge Brian K. Zahra, Michigan Court of Appeals, Detroit Civil jury instructions are given in each case tried to a jury. Topics include preliminary instructions regarding the duties of the jury, trial procedure, and the law applicable to the case. The instructions are online at http://www.courts.mi.gov/mcji-index.htm. The web site also includes information on how to contact the committee to comment on existing or proposed jury instructions, or to suggest new instructions. Published: Thu, Dec 17, 2009

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