Donna 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“.
Donna M. MacKenzie is a Michigan personal injury lawyer and medical malpractice attorney at Olsman MacKenzie Peacock in Berkley, Michigan, in the Detroit metro area, with more than 20 years of experience. She represents injured people and grieving families in car and motorcycle crashes, premises liability and slip and fall cases, medical malpractice, nursing home abuse and neglect, and wrongful death claims. She has recovered multi-million-dollar verdicts and settlements for Michigan clients and works on a contingency fee basis, with no fee unless a recovery is obtained.
Michigan Personal Injury Lawyer Donna MacKenzie
OVERVIEW
Donna M. MacKenzie is a Michigan personal injury lawyer with more than 20 years of experience representing injured people and grieving families across the state. She handles car and truck crashes, motorcycle accidents, premises liability and slip and fall injuries, and wrongful death claims, and she brings specialized experience to medical malpractice, including complex litigation against hospitals and physicians over fraudulent medical treatments, and to abuse and neglect in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and adult foster care homes.
As a Michigan personal injury and medical malpractice attorney, MacKenzie has recovered multi-million-dollar verdicts and settlements for clients across auto, premises, medical malpractice, and long-term care cases. She has been named to Michigan Super Lawyers since 2015 and recognized by Best Lawyers in America as Medical Malpractice Lawyer of the Year. She practices at Olsman MacKenzie Peacock in Berkley, Michigan, in the Detroit metro area, and serves clients in Macomb, Oakland, Wayne, Kent, Genesee, and Washtenaw counties and throughout the state.
Overview
Ms. MacKenzie has been widely recognized for her outstanding legal work. 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. 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.
Donna is 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 personal injury topics, including the resolution of Medicare liens in personal injury cases and all facets of nursing home litigation.
Donna is 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.
Donna 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 experience by the legal community.
Donna 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.
Donna 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.
Why Do Injured Michigan Families Choose Donna MacKenzie?
When someone is seriously injured by another party’s negligence, the consequences can be catastrophic and the legal landscape complex. Successful personal injury cases in Michigan require an attorney who understands both the medical realities of serious injury and the legal frameworks that govern liability and compensation, from Michigan’s no-fault auto insurance system to the standards of care that apply to property owners, physicians, and long-term care facilities.
Donna MacKenzie brings both. Over more than two decades, she has tried and settled cases arising from motor vehicle and motorcycle crashes, dangerous property conditions, medical negligence, and abuse and neglect in care facilities. As past President of the Michigan Association for Justice and past Chair of the State Bar of Michigan Negligence Law Section, she is immersed in the precise legal and medical standards these cases demand. Her results include multi-million-dollar verdicts and settlements that have delivered accountability and financial recovery to Michigan families, often after insurance companies offered far less than a claim was worth.
In every case, Michigan law allows injured people and grieving families to pursue compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and, in fatal cases, the full range of damages available under the Michigan Wrongful Death Act (MCL 600.2922). Donna has litigated these cases at every stage, from demand through trial.
Donna represents Michigan clients in cases involving:
- Car and truck crashes, including serious-injury and no-fault claims
- Motorcycle accidents causing catastrophic injuries
- Premises liability and slip and fall accidents caused by unsafe property conditions
- Medical malpractice, including surgical errors, medication errors, misdiagnosis, and fraudulent or unnecessary procedures
- Sexual assault of residents by other residents or facility staff in long-term care settings
- Fatal and serious fall injuries resulting from failure to implement fall prevention protocols
- Untreated infections, including scabies, sepsis, and other preventable conditions
- Physical and emotional abuse, and pressure ulcers or bedsores, in nursing homes and care facilities
- Wrongful death resulting from negligence, medical error, or neglect in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and adult foster care homes
How Does Donna Serve Her Clients?
Every client I represent has a story that deserves to be heard and justice that must be pursued. Whether it’s an individual seriously hurt in a car crash or a fall, a patient injured by medical malpractice or fraudulent treatment, or an elderly resident harmed by neglect in a long-term care facility, I am committed to standing beside them and fighting for accountability.
Most of the people I represent are facing the hardest moment of their lives. A serious injury changes everything, from a person’s health and independence to their family’s financial security. My job is to shoulder the legal burden so my clients can focus on healing, and to make sure the people and companies responsible for the harm are held fully accountable under Michigan law.
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.
Families also 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, and neglect or abuse results in harm or death, it becomes a personal and professional mission for me to hold those responsible accountable. 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 Results
The following results reflect the range of personal injury, medical malpractice, and nursing home, assisted living, and long-term care cases Donna has handled on behalf of Michigan clients.
- $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 physician
- $2.2 million judgment for a 90-year-old woman who died as a result of a head injury from a fall in an adult foster care home
- $1,500,000 verdict for a resident of an adult foster care home who was sexually assaulted by another resident
- $1,000,000 settlement for an 86-year-old woman who died after falling down the stairs of an assisted living facility in her wheelchair
- $765,000 judgment for an 84-year-old nursing home resident who died after suffering blunt force trauma to his head
- $600,000 settlement for an 88-year-old man who suffered a fatal fall while under the care of a home health agency
- $471,500 settlement for a woman who died from an untreated scabies infection in an adult foster care home
- $250,000 settlement for a nursing home resident found to have a maggot infestation around her bladder catheter
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case is different and depends on its own facts.
Frequently Asked Questions About Michigan Personal Injury Representation
What types of personal injury cases does Donna MacKenzie handle?
Donna MacKenzie represents injured Michigan residents and their families in a broad range of personal injury matters, including car and truck crashes, motorcycle accidents, premises liability and slip and fall injuries, and wrongful death. She also handles medical malpractice cases and abuse and neglect claims involving nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and adult foster care homes. Her experience across auto, premises, medical, and long-term care cases lets her evaluate every angle of a serious injury claim.
How long do I have to file a personal injury claim in Michigan?
Most Michigan personal injury claims based on ordinary negligence, including car accident and premises liability cases, carry a three-year statute of limitations under MCL 600.5805, running from the date of injury. Medical malpractice claims generally carry a shorter two-year limitation under MCL 600.5838a, and wrongful death and claims involving minors or government defendants can be governed by different rules. Because deadlines and their exceptions can be complicated, and because evidence can be lost quickly, it is important to speak with an attorney as soon as possible after an injury.
Is there a claim after a car accident in Michigan’s no-fault system?
Michigan is a no-fault auto insurance state, which means an injured person first turns to their own personal injury protection (PIP) coverage for medical expenses and wage loss regardless of who caused the crash. In addition, when a crash is caused by another driver’s negligence and the injuries meet Michigan’s serious-impairment threshold, the injured person may also pursue a third-party claim against the at-fault driver for pain and suffering and other damages. Donna can evaluate both the no-fault benefits available to an injured person and any third-party claim.
Can an injured person recover compensation if they were partly at fault in Michigan?
Often, yes. Michigan follows a modified comparative fault rule. An injured person may still recover damages even when partly at fault, but the award is reduced by their share of fault, and a person found more than 50 percent at fault cannot recover noneconomic damages such as pain and suffering, though reduced economic damages may still be available (MCL 600.2959). Donna evaluates comparative fault carefully, because insurance companies often raise it to reduce or deny an otherwise valid claim.
What is the difference between nursing home negligence and medical malpractice in Michigan?
In Michigan, nursing home claims based on ordinary negligence carry a three-year statute of limitations under MCL 600.5805, while claims framed as medical malpractice carry a two-year limitation under MCL 600.5838a. Because these cases frequently involve both theories, the applicable deadline depends on how the claim is framed. Donna evaluates both theories to ensure no deadline is missed.
What laws protect nursing home residents from abuse and neglect in Michigan?
Michigan nursing home residents are protected by the Michigan Public Health Code (MCL 333.20101 et seq.), the Michigan Adult Protective Services Act (MCL 400.11), and federal standards under the Nursing Home Reform Act of 1987 (42 U.S.C. 1395i-3). These laws require facilities to maintain sufficient staffing, develop individualized care plans, protect residents from abuse and neglect, and report suspected abuse to state authorities. Violations of these standards can form the basis of a civil negligence or abuse claim against the facility in Michigan courts.
What types of compensation can an injured person or family recover in Michigan?
Depending on the case, Michigan law may allow recovery for medical expenses, lost wages and future earning capacity, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and, in wrongful death cases, damages for loss of society and companionship of a deceased family member under the Michigan Wrongful Death Act (MCL 600.2922). Michigan generally divides these into economic damages, such as medical bills and lost wages, and non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering. The value of any individual case depends on the severity of the harm, the degree of fault, and the available evidence.
What should families do immediately after discovering nursing home neglect or abuse in Michigan?
Families who suspect nursing home neglect or abuse should document all visible injuries with photographs, request copies of the resident’s care plan and medical records, file a complaint with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Bureau of Community and Health Systems, and contact an attorney before speaking with facility administrators or their insurance representatives. Early legal involvement significantly strengthens a case because critical records, incident reports, and staffing logs may otherwise be altered or destroyed.
Do most Michigan personal injury cases settle or go to trial?
Most Michigan personal injury cases settle without going to court, and insurance companies frequently make low initial settlement offers. Donna prepares every case as if it will be tried. That approach strengthens her position in settlement negotiations and means she is ready to take a case to a jury when a fair settlement is not offered.
Does Donna MacKenzie handle medical malpractice cases?
Yes. Donna represents clients in a broad range of medical malpractice matters, including cases involving surgical errors, medication errors, birth injuries, misdiagnosis, and fraudulent or unnecessary medical procedures. She has served as lead attorney handling complex multi-plaintiff cases against hospital systems and physicians in Michigan, making her one of the few Michigan attorneys with deep experience in both traditional medical malpractice and nursing home litigation.
How much does it cost to hire Donna MacKenzie?
Olsman MacKenzie Peacock handles personal injury, medical malpractice, and nursing home cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning there is no fee unless a recovery is obtained. The firm advances litigation costs, and clients pay nothing out of pocket to pursue a case. An initial consultation is provided at no charge.
What Michigan counties does Donna MacKenzie serve?
Donna represents personal injury, medical malpractice, and nursing home clients throughout the state of Michigan, with a particular concentration in the Detroit metro area and Macomb County, Oakland County, Wayne County, Genesee County, and Washtenaw County. The firm maintains an office in Berkley.