Buchanan Firm Support Staff Joins Michigan Association for Justice

Buchanan Firm is pleased to announce that Leslie Caliguri, Caiti Hill, and Lynnae Chaff have become associate members of the Michigan Association for Justice (MAJ). Our terrific support staff will be fantastic additions to this valuable organization that’s been fighting for justice for 77 years.

About the MAJ

The Michigan Association for Justice (MAJ) was established in 1945 and is a non-profit membership association that’s dedicated to advancing the needs and interests of trial lawyers in the constant goal of a fair and effective legal system.

The MAJ has more than 1,300 members from across the country. It’s Michigan’s most connected organization of trial lawyers. The MAJ focuses on:

• Working to represent injured Michiganders;
• Strengthening public safety; and
• Protecting the right to a trial by jury.

The Mission of the Michigan Association for Justice is to promote a fair and effective justice system. The organization supports attorneys in their efforts to ensure that any person who’s injured by the misconduct or negligence of others can obtain justice in our courts.

MAJ Code of Conduct

MAJ members have a Code of Conduct that they adhere to in the representation of clients and otherwise in the practice of the profession as trial attorneys. This includes:

• Embracing the commitment to protect the rights of our citizens to pursue fair and just representation in and access to our civil justice system
• To defend the right to trial by jury;
• To diligently adhere to the Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct; and
• To conduct ourselves with the highest degree of civility towards one another, the bar, the bench, and our community.

With that in mind, MAJ members pledge to abide by some of the important principles including the following:

• Explain the fees the law firm will charge and how they’re calculated; this entails describing how costs are handled while the case is pending and upon its resolution; also, if the matter is contingent upon recovery, clearly set out the fees in a written fee agreement.
• Accept only cases for which the attorney or co-counsel have the required knowledge, skill, time, and resources to prosecute the matter diligently and competently for the client.
• Communicate promptly, frankly, and fully with clients when they ask about the status of their case and as appropriate to keep them up-to-date.
• Represent the best interests of our clients zealously with the highest ethical standards of the profession.

For example, MAJ helps with legislative action to make sure that Michiganders are protected in their dealings with the insurance industry. They will support the Policyholder Bill of Rights (Senate Bill 329 and House Bill 4681), which ensures that the insurance industry has a duty to honor their contracts and obligations in good faith and allows for legal recourse when the industry fails.

Among other protections, the bill creates reasonable industry standards for investigating and paying claims, as well as reasonable industry standards to protect consumers, businesses, and insurance companies.

We feel that it’s important to be proactive to protect our clients and all Michiganders.

CONTACT US

For 75 years, Michigan Association for Justice members have been fighting for justice, and Buchanan Firm is incredibly pleased to have Leslie, Caiti, and Lynnae be associate members of this ongoing movement that’s helped to create the safer, fairer, more just and responsible world.

For a free consultation with an experienced car accident attorney in Grand Rapids, contact Buchanan Firm. Our firm proudly serves people all across Michigan, including major cities like Grand Rapids and Detroit, and rural towns like Lowell, Ada, Grand Haven, Fremont Rockford, Newaygo, and Cedar Springs.