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Legal Employment June, 1997 – present: Solo firm d/b/a John D. Erdevig, Attorney and Counselor-at-Law. Civil practice, with an emphasis on routine matters of concern to moderate-income individuals and families. Practice areas include residential real estate, simple wills, tenant rights and contract review. September, 1995 – June, 1997: Attorney, Wayne Office, UAW-Ford Legal Services Plan. General civil practice for the United Auto Workers pre-paid legal services plan. Covered services included litigation, document preparation, advice and negotiation in real estate, consumer, family, small estate planning, and general civil matters. The practice emphasized high-volume and automation, a variety of assistance levels for a broad range of problems, and client satisfaction. August, 1986 – September, 1995: Managing Attorney, Monroe–Lenawee Office, Legal Services of Southeastern Michigan, Inc. (LSSEM). Litigation and appeals in family, landlord-tenant, public benefits, and general civil matters, and legal management for a legal aid program. I managed the Monroe–Lenawee Office, serving two counties and approximately 29% of LSSEM's low–income service population. I supervised the work of two attorneys, a paralegal and several volunteers. I administered two volunteer private attorney panels, assisted in overall program administration, and carried the poverty law caseload expected of a staff attorney. My practice included advice to government and non-profit agencies. August, 1983 – August, 1986: Staff Attorney, Legal Services of Eastern Michigan, Inc. I specialized in urban housing law, and administered a Community Development Block Grant to aid housing code enforcement in low–income neighborhoods of Saginaw, Michigan. My poverty law practice emphasized the securing of constitutional rights in proceedings tending to deprive disadvantaged persons of shelter, parental rights, and public benefits. Clerkships and Clinics: Michigan Legal Services (state research and training support center); Michigan State Appellate Defenders Office (indigent criminal appeals); Criminal Appellate Advocacy (clinic using cases from Michigan State Appellate Defenders Office); Child Advocacy Law Clinic (prosecution, defense and guardian ad litem advocacy in abuse and neglect cases). Education 1983, J.D., University of Michigan Law School, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Upperclass coursework emphasized constitutional, family, welfare, criminal, and immigration law. 1979, B.A., with high honors, political philosophy, Michigan State University, Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi. Coursework emphasized the origins of the U.S. Constitution and electoral democracy, competing political philosophies, and studies of social inequality. Completed requirements for Spanish B.A. Bar Affiliations/Admissions to Practice Admitted to practice, U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit, 1992 to present Admitted to practice, U.S. District Court, E.D. of Michigan, 1989 to present State Bar of Michigan, P35988, 1983 to present National Lawyers Guild, 1980 to present Washtenaw County Bar Association. Formerly, Monroe and Lenawee County Bars. Litigation Highlights Flatford v. City of Monroe, 17 F.3d 162 (1993), 794 F.Supp. 227 (1992). I was lead counsel in this Fourteenth Amendment challenge to City's practice of evicting tenants without process for minor building code violations. I obtained a summary judgment, upheld on appeal. I drafted most of interlocutory appeal briefs to the Sixth Circuit regarding qualified immunity of individual defendants. I drafted the brief in support of attorney fees, which were awarded, over opposition, in the amount of $81,187. Clark v. Yuetter, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, 89-CV-73427-DT, finalized sub nom Clark v. Madigan.) With co-counsel, I forced the 50-year re-financing of 24 units of FmHA-assisted housing, along with continuation of Rental Assistance to low-income tenants, and major repairs. LSSEM received $19,000 in attorney fees. The case was largely won on my research and pleadings and co-counsel's negotiation with the U.S. Assistant Attorney General—defendants never answered. Berry v Mid-Michigan Management and MESC. Represented Unemployment Compensation claimant in appeal of MESC Board of Review's reversal of referee's decision awarding benefits. I persuaded the Assistant Attorney General to advocate, on behalf of the Commission itself, for the reversal of the Board of Review's decision. Claimant prevailed. Memberships and Community Activities Monroe United Way Program Review Panel for Child Care and Special Transportation, 1993 - 1995 Secretary -- Monroe United Way Member Agency Association, 1995 Michigan Legal Services Substantive Update (tenant law trainer), 1994 to 1995 Michigan Legal Services Statewide Housing Task Force, 1983 to 1995 Lenawee Emergency and Affordable Housing Corporation, 1991 to 1995 Monroe United Way Task Force on Housing and Homelessness, 1988 to 1990 Saginaw City Council's Housing Task Force (housing code reform project), 1984 to 1986 Tri-County Ad Hoc Committee for Fair Housing (tester), 1985 to 1986 President, Eastern Michigan Lawyers Union, 1984. |