Christopher Ricotta Email & Phone Number

Troy, Michigan, Us

Troy, Michigan, Us

Troy, Michigan, Us

Oak Park, Mi, Us

• Serve the auto insurance industry with quality legal defense services against fraudulent insurance claims brought under the Michigan no-fault act, MCL 500.3101 et seq.• Research developments in no-fault legislation and jurisprudence.• Counsel claims representatives on legal issues and defense strategies in the course of claim management and litigation of personal protection insurance and uninsured motorist insurance matters across Michigan.• Perform a range of legal writing responsibilities in a fast-paced environment from briefing substantive legal issues to procedural motion practice. • Achieve favorable resolutions in the course of litigation by developing litigation strategies and briefing dispositive issues.

• Provided a range of corporate transactional legal services to Michigan bus and ferry transportation agencies of various sizes.• Attended Board of Director meetings and presented legal opinions on projects and issues, as well as any current legal developments that may impact the clients.• Drafted various contracts for clients such as operations, maintenance, and employment agreements. • Assisted clients in property and land acquisition through familiarity with Michigan Department of Transportation grant programs.• Advised clients in a variety of third-party contract and customer service issues ranging from public relations concerns to Americans with Disabilities Act implications.

• Appeared as authorized law student representative for clients in federal immigration court pursuant to 8 C.F.R. § 1292.1(a)(2).• Researched immigration issues such as Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, U Nonimmigrant Status, the Violence Against Women Act, and the unformulated effect of state-imposed adult sentencing of a juvenile on admissibility under federal immigration law.• Drafted various motions and immigration documents including declarations for U Nonimmigrant Status applications.• Collaborated with social service and law enforcement agencies in the course of representation of adult and minor alien clients.

• Quickly learned the model procedure of plaintiff’s medical malpractice law and took full and immediate responsibility for the pre-trial progress of one of the firm’s most complex and high-stake cases.• Composed various memoranda for attorneys on legal and procedural issues such as disclosure of case information to interested third parties in light of the attorney-client privilege.• Drafted motions, briefs, and pleadings on health law issues including statutory caps on non-economic damages and the standard of care of emergency room physicians.• Prepared attorneys for hearings and depositions in the case through written briefs and oral preparation.• Assisted in various discovery tasks such as securing the appropriate medical experts for our cases, consulting with clients regarding duces tecum depositions, and discussing discovery requests with opposing counsel.

• Assisted attorneys in the maintenance and organization of hundreds of open plaintiff’s collections cases.• Consulted with attorneys to assure compliance with the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.• Communicated with client collections agencies and contacted debtors and their employers to arrange for swift satisfaction of debts or prepare cases for legal action.• Drafted numerous motions and prepared attorneys for hearings through oral preparation.• Composed discovery requests and interrogatories for various cases.

• Operated intake hotline and screened individuals seeking legal services for financial eligibility and legal issue(s).• Communicated with new clients on intake, identified their legal issues, corresponded with LSSCM attorneys regarding resolutions, and discussed steps toward resolution with the clients.• Addressed issues of divorce, domestic violence, custody, foreclosure, bankruptcy, landlord/tenant disputes, and public benefits.• Performed research and drafted various memoranda and pleadings for multiple staff attorneys.• Scheduled client consultations and assisted attorneys with client and court correspondence.

Towson, Md, Us

President, Fall 2009 – Spring 2010 • Presided over membership of 60+ active student members. • Established valuable connections with the MSU College of Law students and faculty.Vice President, Spring 2009 • Inspired involvement in community service and increased fundraising.Membership Chair, Fall 2008 • Successfully increased membership by 30+ newly initiated members.Publicity Chair, Spring 2008 • Hosted events and promoted campuswide, appealing to the interest of MSU students and boosting membership.

Lansing, Mi, Us

Diversion Program caseworker• Interviewed individuals and families involved in the court system for minor crimes processed by the Diversion Program, such as possession and retail fraud 3rd degree.• Researched client records through local police and federal offices.• Maintained supervision and clear records of any fines, restitutions, drug tests or community service as sanctioned by the court. • Successfully guided each client through the program and made requests for courts to clear clients’ charges upon completion.L.E.A.D. (Lansing Elementary Attendance Diversion) Program caseworker• Assisted attorneys and the Lansing Attendance Specialist’s Office in managing up to 30 truancy cases efficiently.• Interviewed and counseled parents of truant children involved in the court system, guiding them through a diversionary program in which they fulfilled requirements sanctioned by the court, such as fees, parenting classes, and attendance logs. • Networked with family and living assistance resource centers in the Lansing area.• Appeared in court to testify and suggest resolution to clients’ successes and failures of the program.• Consulted supervisors, specialists, and the Ingham County Prosecutor to refine the program's directive.

J.D.

B.A. & B.S., Criminal Justice & Psychology