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Conybeare Law Office has been named a Tier 1 law firm in the Kalamazoo (Southwest Michigan) Region for Plaintiffs Personal Injury Litigation by U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms 2022 Edition

Five years after Kolten Fullenkamp’s death, his wheelchair is helping other students.

Conybeare Law Office is proud to announce that several of our attorneys have been recognized by Michigan Super Lawyers. Firm owner Barry Conybeare and Bob Ehrenberg have been selected to the 2021 Michigan Super Lawyers list. Barry has been on the Michigan Super Lawyers list since 2009. Attorney Sasha Boersma has been selected to the 2021 Michigan Rising Starts list.

Barry Conybeare and Sasha Boersma both received recognition as Best Lawyers by Best Lawyers in America.

Conybeare Law Office attorney Sasha Boersma recently joined the Disability Network Southwest Michigan Board of Directors. Disability Network educates and connects people with disabilities to resources while advocating for social change. It serves Barry, Berrien, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph, and Van Buren Counties. Before joining the board, Sasha worked closely with the non-profit to help mutual clients.

It’s the job of personal injury law firms to represent the interests of injured persons, often going up against large insurance companies who represent big corporations.

Best Lawyers has named Barry Conybeare to the Best Lawyers of America for 2020 for his excellent work in Plaintiffs Personal Injury Litigation – Kalamazoo Region (Southwest Michigan). Barry Conybeare has been recognized on this list every year since 2008, and was named the 2017 Lawyer of the Year for Plaintiffs Personal Injury in the Kalamazoo Region (Southwest Michigan) by Best Lawyers. He is the owner of Conybeare Law Office and practices all aspects of personal injury law, including: auto collisions; medical, hospital and nursing home malpractice; product liability; insurance claims; and other injury cases.

Martindale-Hubbell has released its 2021 Peer Review and Client Review Ratings, which were awarded to three Conybeare Law Office Attorneys.

Conybeare Law Office, headquartered in St. Joseph, Mich., is listed in the 2021 U.S. News–Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” publication as a Metropolitan Tier 1, Kalamazoo, Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs law firm. In his announcement of the designation, the firm’s owner Barry Conybeare explained that the metropolitan Kalamazoo area includes all of Southwestern Michigan.

Conybeare Law Office has been named a Tier 1 firm in Kalamazoo (Southwest Michigan Region) for Plaintiffs Personal Injury Litigation by U.S. News–Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” in 2020.

If you asked Judge Mabel Mayfield in February what she planned to do first as Berrien County Trial Court’s new chief judge, she would not have said she’ll be navigating the courts through a pandemic.

The attorneys at Conybeare Law Office in Southwest Michigan have stacked up the awards this summer. BEST LAWYERS named Barry Conybeare, owner of the St. Joseph, Mich.-based firm, the 2021 Lawyer of the Year, Plaintiffs Personal Injury Litigation – Kalamazoo Region (Southwest Michigan). Conybeare practices all aspects of personal injury law: auto collisions, medical, hospital and nursing home malpractice, product liability, insurance claims, and other injury cases. He currently serves as the president of the St. Joseph Public Schools Board of Education.

Conybeare Law Office is proud to announce that four of our attorneys have been recognized by Super Lawyers for 2019. Both Barry Conybeare and Bob Ehrenberg have been selected to the 2019 Michigan Super Lawyers list. Barry has been on the Michigan Super Lawyer list since 2009, and this is Bob’s first year on the list. Super Lawyers has also chosen Ray Steadmon and Matthew Conklin for the 2019 Michigan Rising Stars list. As attorneys under the age of 40, Ray has been on the Rising Star list since 2013, and Matthew since 2014.

Barry Conybeare has been selected to the 2018 Michigan Super Lawyers list. Each year, no more than five percent of the lawyers in the state are selected by the research team at Super Lawyers to receive this honor.

Barry Conybeare was elected president of the St. Joseph Public Schools board of directors during a special meeting on Jan. 14, 2019. He has served as a trustee on the board since 2016 and will complete his most recent term in 2022. Conybeare succeeds former President Amy Porritt-Pierce who did not seek re-election to the board in 2018.

Conybeare law offices recently won a record-breaking case in a wrongful death suit in Cass County.

St. Joseph & Kalamazoo, Michigan - The U.S. News Media Group and Best Lawyers has named Conybeare Law Office, P.C. located in St. Joseph and Kalamazoo, Michigan, a Tier 1 Law Firm for 2019. In addition to the firm's recognition, the group named attorneys Barry Conybeare and Michael Marrs as Best Lawyers.

Conybeare Law Office Attorney Bob Ehrenberg sits down with Attorney Elizabeth McCree on the Legal Hour, 105.3 WBBH, to discuss recent changes to Michigan's no-fault auto insurance law. His clear, detailed summary explains your new coverage options plus tips on what you should or should not do at the scene of a car accident.

Best Lawyers has named Barry Conybeare to the Best Lawyers of America for 2019 for his high caliber work in Plaintiffs Personal Injury Litigation – Kalamazoo Region (Southwest Michigan). He has been recognized on this list every year since 2008, and last year was named Lawyer of the Year. He practices all aspects of personal injury law, including: auto collisions; medical, hospital and nursing home malpractice; product liability; insurance claims; and other injury cases.

Conybeare Law Office is proud to announce the addition of Legal Assistant Kazmira “Kaz” Ruhland to our staff. Kaz is a 2016 graduate of Western Michigan University’s Haworth College of Business where she majored in Business Administration and Management. She will be assigned to our Personal Injury Department and working at our new Kalamazoo office with Ray Steadmon. Her client-focused attitude and previous plaintiff’s personal injury legal experience make her an excellent addition to our team. She serves as a Board Member for the City of Portage Parks Department and has organized local Flint water relief efforts.

As the cold weather sets back in, we’re looking back to warmer days – specifically September 15, 2017, and the Berrien County Bar Association Annual Charity Golf Outing. Barry Conybeare serves on the BCBA executive board as past president, and the event was organized by Associate Attorney Sasha Boersma. Over 40 golfers made the rounds at Lake Michigan Hills, and Conybeare Law Office had the top team of the day: Barry Conybeare, Mike Marrs, Pete Smith, and Doug Allen took first place!

Conybeare Law Office Attorney Sasha Boersma has been busy volunteering as a judge at various mock trial competitions throughout the state. Last fall she judged law students at the National Trial Advocacy Competition co-sponsored by the Michigan and American Bar Associations’ Young Lawyer’s Division in Pontiac, Michigan.

The Kalamazoo office has been busy connecting with our new community this spring. Legal Assistant Kaz Ruhland is a Portage Park Board Member, and she has helped us identify opportunities to give back. We recently adopted Harbors West Park, which came with the responsibility of a spring clean-up. While this is a beautifully maintained park, Kaz and Sasha scoured the park on May 10th to make sure it was ready for the warm weather ahead.

The National Trial Lawyers is pleased to announce that Nathaniel E. Harrington of the Conybeare Law Office, PC in Saint Joseph has been selected for inclusion into its Top 40 Under 40 Civil Plaintiff Trial Lawyers in Michigan, an honor given to only a select group of lawyers for their superior skills and qualifications in the field. Membership in this exclusive organization is by invitation only, and is limited to the top 100 attorneys in each state or region who have demonstrated excellence and have achieved outstanding results in their careers in either civil plaintiff or criminal defense law.

In the past, we have posted information about teen driving safety, and more recently about teens and winter driving. Teaching teens safe driving practices is important. The Michigan Graduated Driver Licensing program for new drivers is an essential part of preparing teens for the road. The program works best when parents and teens are aware of, and abide by, the restrictions imposed on Level 1 and Level 2 drivers.

Conybeare Law Office Attorney Sasha Boersma has returned to what she refers to as “mock trial land,” but this time as a volunteer judge. Anticipating a career as a litigation attorney, she competed on Western Michigan University’s Mock Trial Team and Valparaiso University School of Law’s Trial Advocacy Team while attending school. The experience was invaluable and helped her excel in both her classes and career. When the call for volunteer judges went out, she responded, eager to pay forward the mentoring she had received as a student.

Finding that delicate balance between a professionally satisfying and successful career and a fulfilling family life requires thoughtful decisions and a commitment to both.

This week marks the end of Barry Conybeare’s term as Berrien County Bar Association President. Last month he was proud to present the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award with The Honorable Al Butzbaugh to The Honorable John E. Dewane. Judge Dewane’s family accepted the award on his behalf at the BCBA’s Annual Dinner Meeting. John and Al worked together in private practice before serving as Berrien County Judges. The Dewane and Conybeare families have been close since John and Barry’s father, Bruce, attended the University of Michigan. Al and Barry’s remarks highlighted John’s excellent reputation.

You’d think that a young attorney who had landed a position with one of the largest law firms in the world, representing powerful corporate clients in Chicago, really had it made.

Conybeare Law Office staff came together to nominate receptionist Peggy Radom for the Deck Your Desk contest hosted by 98.3 The Coast and sponsored by Bread+Bar and Bit of Swiss.

The holidays are over, but winter weather is not. Above freezing daytime temperatures with rain can be deceiving, especially for inexperienced teen drivers. As the temperature drops at night, wet roads turn into icy roads and can also lead to black ice in the morning while teen drivers are making their way to school.

A basic no-fault insurance policy has state mandated coverage in three parts: personal injury protection, property protection, and residual bodily injury/property damage liability insurance. It does not pay for vehicle repairs, replacement of stolen vehicles, or “mini-tort” liability. Your policy is also limited by the amount of coverage you choose to purchase. For example, state minimum coverage will pay up to $20,000.00 for a person who an insured hurts or kills in an accident, up to $40,000.00 for each accident if several people are hurt or killed, and up to $10,000.00 for damaged property other than vehicles. If you think this doesn’t sound like very much protection, you’re right. And if you’re underinsured, you could be personally responsible for damages not covered by your insurance.

The U.S. News & World Report’s Best Lawyers 2017 “Best Law Firms” list has been released, and St. Joseph’s Conybeare Law Office is again a Best Law Firm - Metropolitan Tier 1 - Plaintiffs Personal Injury Litigation for the Kalamazoo Region (Southwest Michigan Region). Conybeare Law Office was initially eligible for selection based on the longtime recognition of Barry Conybeare and Michael Marrs in the “The Best Lawyers in America.”

Best Lawyers has named Barry Conybeare the 2017 Lawyer of the Year, Plaintiffs Personal Injury Litigation – Kalamazoo Region (Southwest Michigan). He practices all aspects of personal injury law, including: auto collisions; medical, hospital and nursing home malpractice; product liability; insurance claims; and other injury cases. He is the owner of Conybeare Law Office, P.C. in St. Joseph, Michigan.

Bar Association thankful for Berrien County bailiffs

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Attorney Bob Ehrenberg is now the Chairman of the St. Joseph Public Schools Foundation Distinguished Alumni Award Committee. Founded in 2012, the award honors exemplary St. Joseph High School Alumni who have excelled in their professions locally, nationally, and internationally, and have made significant contributions to their communities. Past honorees include Richard Dyer, William Gillespie, Robert VanAntwerp, and Jay Schadler. Nominations for the 2017 Award can be made until December 15, 2016. You can learn more about the Distinguished Alumni Award, past honorees and the nomination process at www.stjosephpublicschoolsfoundation.org/Distinguished-Alumni.html.

Conybeare Law Office was proud to co-sponsor WIRX’s first Bike Bash on September 24, 2016, at the Mendel Center. We were in awe of all of the beautiful motorcycles entered in the show, and we met a lot of great people at our booth full of safety tips for riders. WIRX raised money for the Denise Bohn-Stewart Children’s Education Fund while broadcasting live from the event.

Conybeare Law Office is proud to announce it has recently hired attorney Sasha Boersma. She will be working in our Social Security and Worker’s Compensation department. Sasha was born and raised in southern Berrien County, graduating from River Valley High School. She attended Western Michigan University and the Valparaiso University School of Law where she was an honors program participant. Prior to joining the firm, she spent two years clerking for the 36th Circuit Court of Van Buren County. To learn more about Sasha, visit her attorney profile under “Our Team.”

Bruce Conybeare is Of Counsel/Retired at the firm he founded in 1984, but he hasn’t stopped giving back to the community. Bruce currently serves as the Vice President of the newly formed Benton Harbor Football Boosters.

The start of school this week means more teen drivers are on the roads. The attorneys at Conybeare Law Office are far too familiar with car accidents involving teen drivers. We would like to offer insight into where teen drivers go wrong and how parents can educate their teens to be safe drivers. We also want to address common mistakes parents make that put both themselves and their kids at risk when purchasing and insuring cars for their teen drivers.

On the afternoon of August 16, 2016, over 40 golfers took to the course at Point O’ Woods in Benton Harbor, Michigan for the annual Berrien County Bar Association Golf Outing. Conybeare Law Office sponsored the beverage cart, and our four-man team won the golf scramble with an -11 score. Proceeds from the golf outing were donated to help provide funding for technology development in the Legal Self-Help Center in the Berrien County Courthouse. Past Association President John Johnson was also thanksed for his service and presented with a plaque commemorating his leadership.

A study by researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine says medical errors should rank as the third leading cause of death in the United States — and highlights how shortcomings in tracking vital statistics may hinder research and keep the problem out of the public eye.

The association’s President John C. Johnson said Barry Conybeare would serve on the Executive Committee and as chairman of the 2016 Law Day Celebration prior to becoming president for a one-year term in May 2016.

The U.S. News Media Group and Best Lawyers has named St. Joseph, MI-based Conybeare Law Office, P.C., a Tier 1 Law Firm. In addition to the firm’s recognition, the group cited attorneys Barry Conybeare and Michael Marrs as Best Lawyers and Super Lawyers. Other individual recognitions for the law firm’s attorneys include Leading Lawyer designations for Barry Conybeare and Robert Ehrenberg and Rising Star recognition for Matthew Conklin.

A Berrien County Trial Court jury awarded a $16 million settlement on Oct. 15, 2015, to Harishkumar Patel who was permanently paralyzed in a vehicle accident on I-94 in Berrien County. Conybeare Law Office of St. Joseph, Mich., was co-counsel for Patel’s lawsuit against Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company.

Barry Conybeare has been appointed to the Board of Education for St. Joseph Public Schools to fill an open board seat vacated in January, 2016. A father of four children B three of whom attend St. Joseph schools and one who graduated in 2014 B Barry was one of two candidates interviewed for the open position. He will fill the vacancy and run for re-election in November, 2016.

ENCORE 2016 is a collaboration between the St. Joseph Public Schools Foundation and 165 St. Joseph alumni who participated in the longest running annual high school variety show in Michigan, dating back to 1951. Its goal is to raise $100,000 to support academic programming of the St. Joseph Public Schools, and it will feature past variety show acts and acts prepared specially for ENCORE by alumni who have continued to perform since graduating.

Driving while distracted is a growing problem, according to Southwest Michigan car accident lawyer Barry Conybeare, who today voiced his support for Distracted Driving Awareness Month and called on drivers to pay attention to the road instead of the many behind-the-wheel diversions that can lead to serious crashes.

Southwest Michigan car accident lawyer Barry Conybeare said today that a new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC ) report says thousands of survey respondents reported having fallen asleep while driving in the previous 30 days. Conybeare said this report indicates that drowsy driving is a safety threat that must be taken seriously.

All summer Estella Davis has had only a small fan to circulate the air in her house on Lake Avenue. Unable to afford air conditioning, Davis and her sister, Mattie Beachar, were at the mercy of the blistering heat. When the indoor temperature became unbearable, sitting on the front porch sometimes offered a little comfort.