George R. Thompson

Email: thompson@thompsononeillaw.com

Education

University of Michigan School of Law, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Juris Doctor, 1978

Alma College, Alma, Michigan
Bachelor of Arts, Summa cum laude, 1975

Barlow Trophy Recipient
    
Admitted to State Bar of Michigan, 1978
Admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court, May 1988

Legal Experience

• Clerk for Michigan Court of Appeals, Judge Donald E. Holbrook, Sr. (1978)
• General civil practice 420 E. Front Street, Traverse City, Michigan (1979)
• Law practice specializing in civil litigation 309 E. Front Street, Traverse City, Michigan (1980 - present)
• Michigan State Bar Civil Procedure Committee Member (1992-1995)
• Michigan State Bar Civil Procedure Chairman (1995)
• Arbitrator: U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan (1986-1993)

Certifications and Honors

• Board-Certified in Civil Trial Practice by National Board of Trial Advocacy. Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers (1991)
• Martindale-Hubbell, highest “av” rating (1997-present)       
• National Finalist,  Primerus Community Service Award (2003)
• Listed 10 times in annual listing of  U.S. News & World Report listing of Michigan “Superlawyers.” (2006-present)
• Invited Fellow:  Litigation Counsel of America, invitation-only honorary trial lawyer society (2009)
• Multiple listings in Best Lawyers in America, Peer-reviewed designation

Local Awards

• Madeline Thomas Community Service Award, GTLA Bar Association
• GTLA, Legal Services of Northern Michigan, et al.,  Community Pro Bono Service Award

    
Publications

• "Trespassing on the Recreational Users Act,"  Vol. 61, No. 9, Michigan Bar Journal, 726 (Sept., 1982) with Michael Dettmer
• "Revisiting the Recreational User Act," Vol. 67, No. 5, Michigan Bar Journal, 348 (May, 1988)
• "An Open Letter to the Committee on Standard Jury Instructions,"  Michigan Bar Journal, February, 1981, with Michael Dettmer
• "A Primer on Governmental Immunity," MTLA Quarterly, (March, 1992)

Organizations

• Executive Committee: 1984-1993; Michigan Trial Lawyers Association
• President: 1983-1997; Children's Hospitalization Family Services
• Committee member: 1985; Michigan State Medical Society and Michigan State Bar, Joint Committee on medical-legal issues
• Founding member: 1986-2001; Munson Manor Executive Board
• Executive Board member: 1987-1992; Northern Michigan Chapter, American Civil Liberties Union;  Lawyer's Committee member: 1990-1993; ACLU Fund of Michigan
• Board of Directors: 1991-1996, Chairman: 1995-1996, Goodwill Industries of Northern Michigan;  Funding Task Force: 2004-2005
• Board Member, 1996-2003, Chairman: 2001-2003; Grand Traverse-Leelanau Community Mental Health, (subsequently Great Lakes CMH)
• Board Member, 2016- Present, Safe Harbor of Grand Traverse, Inc.; Chairman of Steering Committee,  2017-Present

Legal Education Lecturer

• Institute of Continuing Legal Education; in excess of 40 lectures state-wide (1985 - 2016)
  • Topics have included: No-Fault, Dramshop, Medical Malpractice, Trial Practice, Cross-examination, Pre-Trial Procedure, Opening Statements, Settlement, Medical Issues in Personal Injury, Use of an Economist, Cross Examination of Hostile Witnesses
• Upper Michigan Legal Institute
  • Topics included: Mediation, No Fault, Medical Malpractice, Civil Procedure, Use of Demonstrative Exhibits
• Michigan Trial Lawyers Association Annual Meetings (1982-2004)
  • Topics included: Governmental Immunity, Dramshop issues, Proving Damages, and Medical Malpractice Reform
• Michigan Lodging Association
  • Topic: Dramshop Liability for Taverns
• Municipal Section, State Bar of Michigan
  • Topic: Section 1983 "Civil Rights" Liability
• Association of County Road Commissions Annual Meetings (1986-1994)
  • Topic: Road Authority Liability and Mock Trials
• Michigan Association of Cardiologists
  • Topic: Mock Trial and medical malpractice

Adjunct Professor

Northwestern Michigan College (1981-1989)

Western Michigan University (2001-2008)

Representative Appellate Cases

Brewer v Payless Stations, Inc, 412, Mich 673, 316 NW2d 702 (1982)

McDonald v State Farm Insurance Co, 419 Mich 146, 350 NW2d 253 (1984)

Rossman v State Farm Insurance Co, 184 Mich App 618, 459 NW2d 72 (1990)

Thompson O'Neil Law Firm located in Northern Michigan, Traverse City specialize in personal injury, insurance disputes, employment rights, civil litagation and more.