Donna M. MacKenzie
On behalf of my mom and our family, we thank you. There are no words that can express our gratitude and appreciation. You were not only a stellar attorney, you showed compassion and genuine care for all of us. We will forever be thankful to you“.
Overview
Donna M. MacKenzie devotes a majority of her practice to representing individuals injured as a result of neglect and abuse in nursing homes, assisted living facilities and adult foster care homes, as well as medical malpractice.
Ms. MacKenzie has received numerous awards and recognition for her work, including being recognized by Crain’s Detroit Business as one of Michigan’s Most Notable Women Lawyers in 2017, being selected to the Michigan Lawyers Weekly Leaders in the Law Class of 2017, receiving the F. Scott Baldwin Award from the American Association for Justice in 2015, being named to the Michigan Top 100 Super Lawyers list from 2015-2020, and being recognized in 2016, 2018, and 2020 by Best Lawyers in America as Medical Malpractice “Lawyer of the Year” in Troy.
Ms. MacKenzie is also the author of a number of legal articles, and a frequent speaker at seminars presented by the Institute for Continuing Legal Education, State Bar of Michigan, American Association for Justice, and Michigan Association for Justice. Her topics include all aspects of nursing home litigation, as well as the resolution of Medicare liens in personal injury cases.
Ms. MacKenzie is also a leader in a number of state and national organizations. She is currently the President-Elect of the Michigan Association for Justice, Vice-Chair for the American Association for Justice Nursing Home Litigation Group, a member of the council of the State Bar of Michigan Negligence Section, and was the 100th President of the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan (WLAM).
Ms. MacKenzie is a Fellow of the Michigan State Bar Foundation, a Fellow of the Oakland County Bar Foundation, and a Trustee of the Macomb County Bar Foundation. These non-profit organizations serve the public by funding and promoting programs to increase access to the justice system.
Ms. MacKenzie regularly serves as a case evaluator in Macomb County, and has served as a private arbitrator in civil disputes.
She is also a member of the Consumer Voice President’s Circle of Leaders, and serves as a team co-captain for the annual “Walk to End Alzheimers” and “The Longest Day” events, both of which benefit the Alzheimer’s Society.
Ms. MacKenzie has also testified before the legislature a number of times to protect patient’s rights, including testifying against bills that would have given hospitals and physicians complete immunity for negligence that occurs in the Emergency Department, as well as bills that would have given hospitals immunity for failing to have sufficient staff and PPE during the 2020 pandemic.
How I Serve Clients
Residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities and their families should not have to worry about abuse or neglect, or that sub-standard care will result in injury or death. Our parents in these facilities should be taken care of with the highest possible care, just as they once cared for us.
Unfortunately elder abuse and injury continues to occur at nursing homes and long-term care facilities.
Parents and loved ones who contributed so much to our society in their younger years are often placed in facilities that promise to provide adequate care. When these facilities fail to keep this promise and our loved ones are abused or injured through negligence or carelessness, I and our firm seek to hold those responsible for the injuries they cause.
We are proud to advocate on behalf of the elderly and in working toward the goal of eliminating nursing home and long-term care facility abuse and neglect. At many facilities, more oversight of staff is needed in order to ensure that proper attention is devoted to the care of residents, and to identify and eliminate dangerous conditions that can lead to injury to elderly residents.
PRO BONO AND PUBLIC SERVICE
- Consumer Voice President’s Circle of Leaders (2022)
- Walk to End Alzheimer’s, Team Captain (2013-present)
- Longest Day Alzheimer’s Association Fundraiser, Annual Sips on Solstice Event, Co-Chair (2016-present)
- Michigan State Bar Foundation, Fellow
- Oakland County Bar Foundation, Fellow
- Macomb County Bar Foundation, Trustee
- Pro Bono Legal Counsel for Citizens for Better Care
- Participate in civic-oriented projects for the Public Service Committee of the New Lawyers Division of the American Association for Justice, including the following:
- Habitat for Humanity in Chicago, IL (2012)
- Habitat for Humanity in New York City, New York (2011)
- Habitat for Humanity in Miami, FL (2011)
- Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (2010)
- The Shelter Network in Daly City, California (2009)
- Habitat for Humanity in New Orleans, Louisiana (2009)
- The Eliza Shirley House in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (2008)
REPRESENTATIVE CASES
- $8 million settlement for victims of Farid Fata, M.D., who misdiagnosed patients with cancer
- $4.4 million verdict for a woman injured as a result of a medication error by her doctor
- $2.2 million judgment for 90-year-old woman who died as a result of a head injury from a fall in an adult foster care home
- $765,000 judgment for an 84-year-old nursing home resident who died after suffering blunt force trauma to his head
- $471,500 settlement for a woman who died from an untreated scabies infection in an adult foster care home
- $250,000 settlement for nursing home resident found to have maggot infestation around her bladder catheter