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 the majority of her distinguished practice to advocating for individuals harmed by neglect and abuse in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and adult foster care homes, as well as victims of medical malpractice. In addition, she represents clients in a broad range of serious personal injury matters, including motor vehicle accidents, premises liability, and wrongful death cases. She is also at the forefront of complex litigation against hospitals and physicians on behalf of multiple plaintiffs who have undergone unnecessary or fraudulent medical treatments, holding unethical medical providers accountable for deceptive practices that endanger patient safety and violate public trust.
Ms. MacKenzie has been widely recognized for her outstanding legal work. In 2017, she was honored by Crain’s Detroit Business as one of Michigan’s Most Notable Women Lawyers and selected for the Michigan Lawyers Weekly Leaders in the Law Class. She received the prestigious F. Scott Baldwin Award from the American Association for Justice in 2015. Since 2015, she has been consistently named to the Michigan Top 100 Super Lawyers list. Best Lawyers in America also recognized her as the Medical Malpractice “Lawyer of the Year” in Troy in 2016, 2018, and 2020.
Ms. MacKenzie is also a published author of numerous legal articles and a sought-after speaker at seminars hosted by the Institute for Continuing Legal Education, the State Bar of Michigan, the American Association for Justice, and the Michigan Association for Justice. She regularly presents on a wide range of topics, including all facets of nursing home litigation and the resolution of Medicare liens in personal injury cases.
Ms. MacKenzie is also a recognized leader in numerous state and national legal organizations. She has served as Chair of the State Bar of Michigan Negligence Law Section and is a past President of the Michigan Association for Justice. She previously chaired the American Association for Justice Nursing Home Litigation Group and made history as the 100th President of the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan (WLAM).
Ms. MacKenzie is a Fellow of both the Michigan State Bar Foundation and the Oakland County Bar Foundation, and serves as a Trustee of the Macomb County Bar Foundation. These esteemed nonprofit organizations are dedicated to advancing the public good by funding and supporting initiatives that expand access to the justice system and promote legal education and services for underserved communities.
Ms. MacKenzie regularly serves as a case evaluator in Macomb County and is frequently called upon to act as a private arbitrator in civil disputes, reflecting the high level of trust placed in her judgment and expertise by the legal community.
Ms. MacKenzie is also a proud member of the Consumer Voice President’s Circle of Leaders, a national organization dedicated to advocating for quality care and residents’ rights in long-term care settings. In addition, she serves as a team co-captain for the annual “Walk to End Alzheimer’s” and “The Longest Day” events, both of which support the Alzheimer’s Association and its mission to advance research, provide care and support, and promote brain health.
Ms. MacKenzie has also been a strong advocate for patient rights at the legislative level, having testified before the Michigan Legislature on multiple occasions. Her testimony has included opposition to proposed legislation that would have granted hospitals and physicians sweeping immunity for negligent care provided in Emergency Departments, as well as bills seeking to shield hospitals from liability for inadequate staffing and lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. Her advocacy reflects a deep commitment to accountability, patient safety, and access to justice.
How I Serve Clients
Every client I represent has a story that deserves to be heard—and justice that must be pursued. Whether it’s an elderly resident harmed by neglect in a long-term care facility, a patient injured by medical malpractice or fraudulent treatment, or an individual seriously hurt in a car crash or fall, I am committed to standing beside them and fighting for accountability.
Families place enormous trust in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and adult foster care homes to care for their loved ones with dignity, respect, and competence. When that trust is broken—when neglect, abuse, or substandard care results in harm or death—it becomes a personal and professional mission for me to hold those responsible accountable. Our parents and grandparents, who once cared for us, deserve nothing less than the highest quality care in return.
My practice also includes complex litigation on behalf of individuals who have been subjected to unnecessary or fraudulent medical procedures by unethical hospital systems or physicians. These cases often involve multiple plaintiffs and expose deeply troubling violations of patient trust. I am proud to advocate for those who were taken advantage of by the very professionals who were supposed to help them heal.
Beyond long-term care and medical fraud cases, I represent clients impacted by catastrophic personal injuries—including those resulting from motor vehicle accidents, unsafe property conditions, and other forms of negligence. I understand the devastating consequences of serious injury and work tirelessly to secure justice, financial recovery, and peace of mind.
In every case, I approach my work with compassion, integrity, and unwavering advocacy—because the people I represent are more than clients. They are families, survivors, and individuals who deserve to be heard and protected.
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
- $1,500,000 verdict for resident of adult foster care home who was sexually assaulted by another resident
- $8 million settlement for victims of Farid Fata, M.D., who misdiagnosed patients with cancer
- $765,000 judgment for an 84-year-old nursing home resident who died after suffering blunt force trauma to his head
- $4.4 million verdict for a woman injured as a result of a medication error by her doctor
- $471,500 settlement for a woman who died from an untreated scabies infection in an adult foster care home
- $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
- $250,000 settlement for nursing home resident found to have maggot infestation around her bladder catheter
- $1,000,000 settlement for 86-year-old woman who died after falling down the stairs of an assisted living facility in her wheelchair
- $600,000 settlement for 88-year-old man who suffered a fatal fall while under the care of home health care