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Summary of Experience
Allan C. Vander Laan joined CMDA's Grand Rapids office in 2002 and was made Partner in 2012.
Mr. Vander Laan is a member of the Firm’s civil litigation practice group and has tried cases for over 30 years. He represents numerous municipalities and governmental agencies throughout Michigan in employment matters and civil rights cases, including constitutional claims arising under the First Amendment, Fourth Amendment, Eighth Amendment and Fourteenth Amendments of the United States Constitution.
Additionally, Mr. Vander Laan has a wealth of experience with insurance matters, including arson and fraudulent claims investigation and defense, subrogation cases, wrongful death and major property damage, no-fault and personal injury protection.
Mr. Vander Laan frequently gives speeches and lectures to a variety of audiences on topics such as spoliation of evidence, arson investigations, Freedom of Information Act, updates in municipal law and many others.
Andrew Brege, an attorney in our Grand Rapids office, explains, “I have been working closely with Allan for the past several years. Allan prepares relentlessly for all that he does and it shows in his work product and the relationships he builds with clients. He always keeps calm and level-headed, which makes him well respected by clients, co-defendants and opposing counsel alike. It has been an honor to have him as a mentor and co-worker.”
Mr. Vander Laan is a thorough, reliable attorney with the upmost integrity. He respects his clients’ desire to resolve matters efficiently and finds creative solutions to save them time and money.
He is a member of the State Bar of Michigan, the Grand Rapids Bar Association and the International Association of Arson Investigators. Mr. Vander Laan received a Juris Doctor degree from Thomas M. Cooley and a Bachelor’s degree from Calvin College.
Mr. Vander Laan can be reached at (616) 975-7470 or avanderlaan@cmda-law.com.
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| Education |
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J.D., Thomas M. Cooley Law School
B.A., Calvin College
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| Representative
Cases |
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Armstrong v Newaygo County Sheriff’s Department (United States District Court for the
Western District of Michigan 2007)
Mr. Vander Laan obtained a dismissal on behalf of the Defendants of this civil rights action. Plaintiff
alleged that Newaygo County had improperly impounded his property.
Cao v City of Portage (United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan 2004)
Mr. Vander Laan obtained summary judgment on behalf of the Defendants in this civil rights action brought pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 1983. The Plaintiff alleged that the City of Portage and several of its officers were responsible for the death of her husband in a shootout with the police.
In Re: Flood Cases (Circuit Court for the County of Marquette 2006)
Mr. Vander Laan successfully obtained summary disposition for the Marquette Board of Light and Power. In this case, Plaintiff’s claimed the Marquette Board of Light and Power was one of several Defendants responsible for the failure of a dam which caused damage downstream in the amount of
One Hundred Million Dollars. Mr. Vander Laan’s client was the first Defendant to be granted summary disposition after he demonstrated that the Marquette Board of Light and Power was not a proprietary function and did not fit within any of the exceptions to governmental immunity.
Green Tree Servicing, LLC, et. al. v Muskegon County Solid Waste Facility and Muskegon County Board of Public Works (Circuit Court for the County of Muskegon 2006)
Mr. Vander Laan successfully obtained summary disposition for the Defendants on Plaintiff’ claim that Muskegon County Solid Waste Facility was responsible for the destruction of a mobile home.
Holmes v Osceola County Sheriff’s Department (Circuit Court for the County of Osceola 2003)
Mr. Vander Laan successfully obtained summary disposition for the Osceola County in a civil rights action brought pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 1983. Plaintiff alleged false imprisonment and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The Court agreed that with Mr. Vander Laan’s argument that the officer made a good faith mistake in arresting the Plaintiff who fit the profile of an armed robber of a bank which had just taken place.
Lyons v Marquette Solid Waste Authority (Circuit Court for the County of Marquette 2003) Mr. Vander Laan successfully obtained summary disposition for the Defendants on Plaintiff’s
Whistle blower claim.
Murray-Ruhl v County of Shiawasee (United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan 2006)
Mr. Vander Laan successfully obtained summary judgment for the Defendants on Plaintiff’s claim that her son was wrongfully shot and killed by a police officer. The Court found the police officer acted in self defense.
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| Presentations
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2006 Presentation to the Florida Association of Licensed Investigators regarding Examinations Under Oath
2006 Seminars presented to Mercury Insurance Company and Bristol West Insurance Company regarding Examinations Under Oath, Protecting the Claims File and Avoiding Bad Faith, the Attorney/Client Privilege and Work Product Doctrine; the Dos and Dont's of Arson and Fraud Investigation for the Insurance Professional and Preparing for your Deposition
“Supreme Court Rules Jury Must Decide Fault Under the Impaired Plaintiff Penalty” CMDA on Law
Speeches and Lectures
• Spoliation of Evidence; Presented to Insurance Adjusters and Attorneys, 2002
• Examinations Under Oath: The War Against Arson; Presented to Insurance Adjusters and
Attorneys, 2001
• The Attorney/Client Privilege and Work Product Doctrine; Presented to Insurance Adjusters
and Attorneys, 2001
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