Michigan Personal Injury and Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Michael Dennis

Michael Dennis is a Michigan nursing home abuse lawyer and personal injury attorney at Olsman MacKenzie Peacock who brings a distinctive perspective to plaintiff advocacy. Before representing injured individuals and families, he spent more than a decade as a defense lawyer for Fortune 500 companies, national rideshare services, major insurance carriers, municipalities, and other institutional defendants. He now uses that experience to advocate for people and families facing those same types of powerful interests.

Michael represents clients in serious personal injury and wrongful death matters, including automobile accidents, medical malpractice, nursing home abuse and neglect, premises liability, and dog bite claims. Based in the firm’s Berkley office, he serves clients across Metro Detroit and throughout Michigan.

Overview

Michael Dennis earned his undergraduate degree from Michigan State University before attending the University of Toledo College of Law, where he graduated in 2011. At Toledo Law, he was recognized as the Highest-Ranking Student in Trial Practice and gained early courtroom experience through a clerkship with the Monroe County Prosecutor’s Office.

Those early experiences gave him a foundation that remains central to his work today. Trial practice taught him how to organize evidence, examine witnesses, and present a case in a clear, credible, and persuasive way. His time with the prosecutor’s office gave him early exposure to the responsibility of representing people affected by serious harm, while also showing him how facts, testimony, and legal theory come together in the courtroom.

That foundation continues to shape how he prepares personal injury, nursing home neglect, medical malpractice, and wrongful death cases. In every case, he focuses on proving what happened, why it happened, and how it changed the lives of his clients and their families.

Before joining Olsman MacKenzie Peacock, Michael spent more than a decade on the defense side of civil litigation. He first served as in-house counsel for a major insurance carrier, where he handled matters involving no-fault claims, commercial disputes, personal injury defense, premises liability, products liability, and general liability. He later became a partner at one of the Midwest’s largest law firms, where he represented insurers, corporations, municipalities, and individuals in first-party no-fault claims, third-party automobile negligence actions, insurance coverage disputes, subrogation claims, and trucking liability matters.

That defense experience gave Michael an inside view of how powerful institutions evaluate, defend, and resolve claims. It also brought into sharper focus something he had felt for some time: representing institutions against injured people was not why he went to law school. The cases that stayed with him were the ones on the other side of the table, where a person or family had suffered serious harm and was facing a system built to limit what they recovered.

Michael made the decision to stand with those individuals and families instead. Today, he uses the knowledge he gained from years inside the defense and insurance world to anticipate the arguments his clients will face, build stronger cases, and pursue accountability for the people who trusted him to help them. As he puts it: “Every case is a chance to restore dignity, demand accountability, and protect people when they are facing powerful institutions with far greater resources. That’s why I do what I do.”

Mr. Dennis has been recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America every year from 2021 through 2025 for his work in Insurance Law and Personal Injury Litigation. This peer-recognized honor reflects outstanding professional excellence in private practice.

Why Michigan Families Choose Michael Dennis

The cases Michael handles often share the same challenge: an injured person or grieving family is forced to deal with an institution, insurer, property owner, or care facility that has lawyers, adjusters, and claims procedures designed to limit responsibility and reduce what it pays. Most people have never had to navigate that system before. Michael has spent much of his career on the defense side of it. He knows how these claims are evaluated, defended, and resolved, and he knows how to counter the arguments used against injured people and their families.

In Michigan automobile accident cases, the no-fault system creates a threshold that must be met before an injured person can recover noneconomic damages from the at-fault driver. Under MCL 500.3135, that threshold may be satisfied by death, serious impairment of body function, or permanent serious disfigurement. Insurance companies evaluate and contest these issues aggressively. Michael spent years on the defense side analyzing those arguments, developing them, and seeing how insurers use them to reduce exposure. He now uses that knowledge to anticipate defenses before they are raised, identify the medical and factual proof needed to defeat them, and build cases with the insurer’s playbook in mind from the outset.

In nursing home abuse and neglect cases, the Michigan Public Health Code (MCL 333.20101 et seq.) and the Adult Protective Services Act (MCL 400.11) establish the legal standards facilities must meet and the reporting obligations they carry. When those standards are violated, the facility and its insurer mount a defense built on clinical complexity, prior conditions, and the argument that any harm was an unavoidable consequence of the resident’s age or illness. Michael understands how those defenses are constructed and how to challenge them with the right evidence, records, testimony, and expert support.

In premises liability cases, property owners, possessors, landlords, and businesses often try to shift responsibility away from the dangerous condition and onto the injured person. They argue lack of notice, comparative fault, reasonable maintenance, and that the hazard was open and obvious. Michael understands how those defenses are built, where they often break down, and what evidence is needed to overcome them. He uses that insight to hold property owners accountable when unsafe conditions cause serious harm.

Michigan’s dog bite statute, MCL 287.351, imposes strict liability on dog owners for bites occurring without provocation. While strict liability may sound straightforward, insurers defending these claims still contest injury severity, causation, provocation, medical treatment, scarring, and the long-term impact of the attack. Michael prepares these claims with the medical and factual detail needed to show the full extent of the harm.

Michigan families bring cases to Michael involving:

• Automobile accidents and no-fault insurance coverage disputes in Michigan
• Nursing home abuse, neglect, and wrongful death in Michigan long-term care facilities
• Medical malpractice by physicians, hospitals, and other healthcare providers
• Premises liability injuries including slip and fall accidents on commercial and residential property
• Dog bite injuries and animal attack claims under Michigan’s strict liability statute
• Wrongful death claims arising from any of the above in Michigan courts

How I Serve Clients

When someone is seriously injured, the aftermath can be overwhelming physically, emotionally, and financially. I work closely with clients and their families to understand what they are going through and guide them through a process that often feels stacked against them. My goal is to make the legal side of recovery as manageable and empowering as possible.

I take pride in being accessible, responsive, and honest with my clients. From the first conversation, I work to earn their trust, explain their rights clearly and without legal jargon, and develop a strategy that reflects their specific situation and goals. Some clients want to understand every step of the process. Others want to know the key decisions and trust me to handle the rest. I adjust to what each person needs.

Having spent years inside the insurance and defense world, I know what companies look for when they evaluate a claim and how they decide how hard to fight. I use that knowledge to build cases that are prepared for resistance, anticipate the arguments on the other side, and put my clients in the strongest possible position, whether the case resolves in settlement or proceeds to trial. Every case I take on is prepared with the expectation that it may go all the way, because the best settlements often come when the other side knows you are ready.

I never lose sight of what matters most in this work: the person who trusted me with their case. Restoring dignity, demanding accountability, and protecting people who are facing powerful institutions with far more resources than they have is not just my job. It is why I chose to represent injured people and families, and it shapes every decision I make on behalf of a client.

Frequently Asked Questions About Michigan Personal Injury and Nursing Home Abuse

How does Michigan’s no-fault law affect my right to sue after a car accident?

Michigan operates under a no-fault auto insurance system in which each driver’s own insurance covers their medical expenses and lost wages regardless of fault. Under MCL 500.3135, an injured person can only pursue a tort claim against the at-fault driver if their injury meets the threshold of serious impairment of an important body function, permanent serious disfigurement, or death. Whether a specific injury meets that threshold is one of the most contested issues in Michigan auto accident litigation. Insurance companies invest heavily in disputing threshold, and having an attorney who has handled threshold arguments from the defense side provides a meaningful advantage in anticipating and defeating them.

What is the statute of limitations for personal injury claims in Michigan?

Most personal injury claims in Michigan must be filed within three years of the date of the injury under MCL 600.5805. Wrongful death claims follow the same three-year period, running from the date of death. Medical malpractice claims carry a two-year limitation under MCL 600.5838a, with a mandatory 182-day pre-suit notice period that must be observed before filing. Missing any of these deadlines can permanently extinguish the right to recover. Because evidence is often most available in the weeks immediately following an accident or incident, families should consult an attorney as soon as possible.

Can a Michigan nursing home be held liable for a resident’s injuries or death?

Yes. Nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and adult foster care homes in Michigan are required to meet specific standards of care under the Michigan Public Health Code (MCL 333.20101 et seq.) and applicable federal regulations. When a facility’s failure to meet those standards causes a resident to be injured or killed, the facility can be held liable through a civil negligence claim. Nursing home defendants and their insurers typically argue that harm resulted from the resident’s underlying conditions rather than facility negligence. Building a successful case requires medical records review, expert testimony, and a thorough understanding of how those defenses are constructed, which is precisely the background Michael brings.

What is premises liability and when does a property owner owe a duty of care in Michigan?

Premises liability refers to the legal responsibility of property owners and possessors for injuries that occur on their property. In Michigan, the duty a landowner owes depends on the status of the person on the property. Licensees and invitees, including customers, guests, and members of the public, are owed a duty to maintain reasonably safe conditions.

Under the common law and MCL 554.139, owners of leased property also have specific maintenance obligations. Insurers defending premises liability claims routinely invoke the open and obvious hazard doctrine, which can bar recovery if the dangerous condition was visible and apparent. Understanding when and how that doctrine applies, and when it does not, is critical to whether a case can succeed.

What are my rights if I was bitten by a dog in Michigan?

Michigan’s dog bite statute (MCL 287.351) imposes strict liability on dog owners for bites that occur without provocation, meaning the injured person does not need to prove the owner knew the dog was dangerous. The statute applies when the bite occurs in a public place or when the person was lawfully on private property.

Common defenses raised in dog bite cases include provocation, trespassing, and disputes about injury severity. Compensation in dog bite cases may include medical expenses, lost wages, scarring, and pain and suffering, which can be significant in cases involving facial injuries or attacks on children.

What does it mean that Michael Dennis previously worked on the defense side?

It means that before representing injured people, Michael spent more than a decade representing the insurers, corporations, and large organizations that injured people are now up against. He handled the same types of cases he now takes as a plaintiff attorney, from the defense perspective, learning how insurance companies evaluate claims, develop litigation strategy, and decide when and how much to pay. That experience is directly applicable to plaintiff work. He knows what evidence insurers find most persuasive, where their defenses are vulnerable, and what it takes to put a case together that compels a fair resolution rather than a low-ball offer.

How much does it cost to hire Michael Dennis?

Olsman MacKenzie Peacock handles personal injury, nursing home abuse, and wrongful death cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning there is no attorney fee unless a recovery is obtained. The firm advances all case costs, including expert fees, filing fees, and record retrieval costs. There is no charge for the initial consultation. Clients pay nothing out of pocket to have their case evaluated and pursued.

What areas of Michigan does Michael Dennis serve?

Michael Dennis represents personal injury, nursing home abuse, and wrongful death clients throughout the state of Michigan from Olsman MacKenzie Peacock’s Berkley office. The firm has a particular concentration in the metro Detroit area, including Oakland County, Wayne County, and Macomb County, and also maintains offices in Lapeer and Battle Creek. Cases are handled in Michigan state and federal courts.

Contact Michael Dennis for a Free Consultation

Individuals and families in Michigan dealing with the consequences of a serious personal injury, nursing home abuse, or wrongful death are encouraged to contact Michael Dennis at Olsman MacKenzie Peacock for a free, no-obligation consultation. Michael can be reached at 1.800.366.8653.

To learn more, visit the firm’s Michigan personal injury resource center, the nursing home abuse and neglect resource center, or review car accident settlement amounts in Michigan.