Stephanie Strycharz is a seasoned trial attorney and the go-to for insurance carriers when their cases are sent to trial. She has extensive trial experience defending major in-state and out-of-state insurers, as well as their insureds. She serves as chair of the firm’s Transportation practice group.

Clients turn to Stephanie for her innovative and effective skills managing all areas of insurance law. With a background as a trial attorney managing a large insurance defense caseload of approximately 100 to 120 files, Stephanie brings a wealth of experience to her practice. Her primary focus on first and third-party no-fault claims, coupled with her role in supervising and mentoring new associate attorneys, demonstrates her strong leadership and legal acumen in the field.

Moreover, Stephanie’s prior experience as a litigation attorney focusing on Plaintiff personal injury cases, particularly in no-fault and premises liability law, enhances her ability to navigate complex legal issues and anticipate opposing strategies. Her multifaceted background uniquely positions her to provide comprehensive representation and achieve optimal results for her clients.

Stephanie attended Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School on an honor’s scholarship, earning her J.D., magna cum laude, with a concentration in litigation. While attending law school, she served as the articles editor and managing associate editor of the WMU-Cooley Law Review and served as an executive board member of the Moot Court team.

She holds a B.S., summa cum laude, in Criminal Justice with a concentration in legal studies from Eastern Michigan University.

Honors

  • Listed in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America™ for Insurance Law, 2024

Professional & Civic Involvement

  • Claims & Litigation Management Alliance (CLM)
  • Defense Research Institute (DRI)
  • International Association of Special Investigative Units (IASIU)
  • Michigan Defense Trial Counsel
  • Michigan State Bar Association
  • Oakland County Bar Association

Practice Highlights

Representative Matters

  • Obtained a favorable no cause defense verdict in Macomb County, Michigan in a PIP trial based on fraud defense
  • Obtained a complete defense verdict in a third-party automobile negligence case following a trial in Michigan’s Macomb County Circuit Court.
  • Secured a no-cause verdict in a Oakland County Circuit Court in defense of an automobile negligence bodily injury claim. 
  • Secured a unanimous no-cause jury verdict based on no evidence of injury in an alleged traumatic brain injury case where the client was in default when the case was taken over and $300,000 was offered by our client in the eve of trial in Wayne County Circuit Court.
  • Granted directed verdict ruling in favor of the defense at the close of Plaintiff’s proofs in a jury trial conducted in Wayne County Circuit Court.
  • Granted summary disposition in a rescission case where the policyholder failed to disclose all household residents.
  • Successfully obtained a voluntary dismissal in the middle of an Oakland County Circuit Court jury trial during the Plaintiff’s cross-examination after he arguably lost all credibility in front of the jury.
  • Granted summary disposition in a no-fault case where the Plaintiff provider rendered services unlawfully.
  • Secured a favorable defense verdict in a case where policy limits were offered prior to trial, but the Plaintiff did not accept due to a potential for additional Underinsured Motorist benefits.
  • Prevailed on an appeal in an order of priority case when the court of appeals held our client’s insured was not actively involved in the motor vehicle accident for purposes of the no-fault priority scheme.
  • Obtained summary disposition in favor of a local business in a liquor liability case based on the Plaintiff’s inability to establish that the underlying tortfeasor was visibly intoxicated at the time that he was served.
  • Granted summary disposition in a bodily injury case when the court determined that the Plaintiff did not sustain a serious impairment of body function as a matter of law.
  • Prevailed on summary disposition in a premises liability case where there was no evidence that our client had actual or constructive notice of the alleged defective condition in the land.
  • Obtained summary disposition on behalf of the owner of a motor vehicle in a bodily injury case when the court determined that the driver of the vehicle did not have permission to use the owner’s vehicle.
  • Secured summary disposition in favor of a no-fault insurer based on fraud in the procurement of the policy of insurance.
  • Obtained summary disposition ruling on a negligent entrustment action involving a vehicle owner who allowed a driver with a long history of prior accidents and driving violations to use her vehicle.
  • Secured summary disposition in a personal injury protection case when the Plaintiff opted out of medical expense benefits, a decision which also bound her household relatives.
  • Successfully defended a wrongful death action in an Oakland County Circuit Court, resulting in a no-cause jury verdict after the jury found no evidence of negligence on behalf of our client.
  • Obtained summary disposition in a no-fault case where the court ruled as a matter of law that the Plaintiff’s injuries did not arise out of the motor vehicle accident.
  • Secured a no-cause defense verdict in Macomb County Circuit Court where the jury found no injury related to the automobile accident even after the Plaintiff underwent a shoulder replacement surgery.

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