Donald L. Payton
Partner, Retired
Location:
Farmington Hills, Michigan
Phone:
248-626-5000
Fax:
248-626-2843
Email:
dlpayton@kaufmanlaw.com
Donald Payton is a highly respected trial attorney with extensive litigation experience in insurance and commercial legal issues.
A graduate of Michigan State University, Payton earned a J.D. from Michigan State University College of Law and has practiced law since 1977.
Payton is a Court Appointed Mediator, and active in many professional associations, including the State Bar of Michigan, the Association of Defense Trial Counsel and the Michigan Defense Trial Counsel and the Association of Defense Ski Attorneys.
Martindale Hubbell Rating: AV – Very High to Pre-eminent
Areas of Practice
- Personal Injury Defense
- Security Guard Defense/Nursing Homes
- Insurance Law/Coverage
- Products Liability Law
- Subrogation
- Construction/Accidental
- Liquor Liability
- Art Fraud
- Premises Defense
- Truck/Auto Accident Defense
- Attorney Malpractice
Litigation Percentage
- 100% of Practice Devoted to Litigation
Bar Admissions
- Michigan, 1977
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Michigan, 1977
- U.S. District Court Western District of Michigan, 1984
- U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit, 1980
- U.S. Court of Appeals 7th Circuit, 1985
- U.S. Court of Appeals 4th Circuit, 1999
Education
- Michigan State University College of Law, East Lansing, Michigan
- J.D. - 1977
- Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan - 1971
- Major: Social Science
- Major: Pre-Law
Published Works
- Liquid Liability Law (Co-Author Mosler), Matthew Bender, 1987-1991, 1987
Representative Cases
Representative Clients
- Nationwide Insurance Co.
- U.S. Liability
- A.I.G.
- Scottsdale Insurance Co.
- Colony Insurance Group
- Founders Insurance Company
- Lloyds of London
- National Casualty
Classes/Seminars
- Premise Liability, I.C.L.E., 1990
- Product Liability, Michigan Chamber of Commerce, 1991 - 1993
- Mock Trial Judge at DCL, 1998 - 2000
- Instructor, Michigan Mock Trial, 1994 - 1999
- Trial Advocacy, Wayne State Law School, 1990 - 1991
Past Employment Positions
- Farmers Insurance Group, 1973 - 1975
- Secura Insurance Co., 1976 - 1977
- Law Offices of Charles F. Decker, Associate, 1978 - 1979
- Sinelli and Decker, Associate, 1977 - 1978
- U.S. Army Reserves, Captain, 1971 - 1979
Fraternities/Sororities
- Sigma Chi
