allows juries to consider the neg-
ligence of both parties in assess-
ing damages.
Mr. Miller, a founder and co-
chair of the Metropolitan Detroit
Attorneys Division of Israel
Bonds, would not talk about his
firm's annual billings, but hinted
they are in the area of $10 mil-
lion.
"Whatever our billings, they
are larger than Fieger, Fieger &
Schwartz's, but we have larger
overhead."
Judge Howard and others have
pointed out that plaintiff person-
al- injury law is no longer the lu-
crative practice it once was.
Overhead is high and there's a de-
mand to produce because of the
contingent arrangement — at-
torneys will take a portion of the
damages if they settle or win the
case, but nothing if they lose.
A state law that went into ef-
fect April 1 puts the squeeze on
attorneys who take personal in-
jury cases because it makes it
more difficult to sue and caps
damages a plaintiff can collect at
$500,000. While some attorneys
have given up the field altogether
or consolidated with other attor-
neys, Mr. Miller acknowledged, a
merger wouldn't increase effi-
ciency of either his or Mr. Fieger's
firm because of their separate
locations.
If the two firms unite, it would
be like "General Motors and Ross
Perot getting together," said
Lopatin, Miller partner Stuart
Freedman, who said he doubts it
will happen.
But, "it's an exciting prospect.
(Fieger) is one of the country's
leading -trial lawyers. I don't think
there is any argument there. I
think we can provide skills he
doesn't have and he can provide
skills we don't have," he said.
The bulk of Lopatin, Miller's
work is in Wayne County. The
Southfield location is ideal be-
cause it's central, Mr. Freedman
said. ❑
Holocaust Center
Goes Electronic
JULIE EDGAR STAFF WRITER
M
ore than 100,000 peo-
ple annually visit the
Holocaust Memorial
Center in West Bloom-
field, making it one of the top
historic attractions in southeast
Michigan.
As of April, its doors are open
to millions.
The HMC, on the campus of
the Jewish Community Center,
now has a site on the World
Wide Web accessible to an esti-
mated 30 million Internet users.
The Southfield-based Online
Marketing Company, which last
year created a Web site devoted
to all things Jewish in the metro
area, approached the 10-year-
old Holocaust Memorial Center
with the idea of creating an
HMC site. In early April, the
HMC became a stop on the in-
formation superhighway, and
appears to be a hit.
"When (Online Marketing)
first approached us, it was nov-
el to me. Novel in the sense,
`Why do it?' Then they pointed
out to us that the Holocaust Mu-
seum in Washington does it, and
it's so important that people
know about it. We thought,
`Let's give it a try,' " said Rabbi
Charles Rosenzveig, head of the
Holocaust Memorial Center.
The HMC, he pointed out, has
one of the largest and most com-
prehensive Jewish libraries in
the Midwest, with 14,000 titles.
The Web site will, at the very
least, alert people that such a
rich resource exists.
The new Web site includes
•
ANY OF THE FOLLOWING QU4
DRESS, BUSINESS, & CASUAL SH
AMEBRAND
THIS COUPON!
I.
BACCO BUCCI
I
L
_EXCLUDING DISCOUNTED MERCHANDISE
European Collections West Bloomfield • On the Boardwalk
6893 Orchard. Lake Rd. • Just South of Maple • (810) 626-3362
Store Hours: Mon.-Weds. & Sat. 10-7 • Thurs. & Fri. 10-9 • Sun. 12-5
some of the photographs that
are part of the archival collec-
tion of the HMC, along with a
list of goings-on, and general in-
formation about both the HMC
and other Holocaust-related
sites. Browsers can also sign up
as members or contributors.
"Graphically, we wanted to
capture the feeling as if you were
actually going to the museum,"
said Jeff Dwoskin, vice president
of Online Marketing. "It's got-
ten a great response so far."
Tracking numbers show the site
was visited a few thousand
times in its first two weeks.
Trudy Nelson at the HMC
said she's received about 10
membership forms each week
from electronic tourists since the
site was created.
"It gives so much information
that it entices someone to go into
the museum," said Scott Segal,
president of Online Marketing.
"We wanted to help them as best
we could to get the word out be-
cause it's such an important is-
sue to us as Jews. We put a lot
of effort into the site because it
hits so close to home."
But, enticing as it may be to
Internet surfers, groups eager
for a virtual tour of the Holo-
caust Memorial Center may
have to wait. Rabbi Rosenzveig
said the HMC is booked through
June 10. ❑
'a The new Worldwide Web
site for the Holocaust Memo-
rial Center can be found at
http://holocausteenteneorn
MIMING YOU COULD WANT FOR YOUR BACK YARD BARB-DUE
CUS IIIONSspruce up old outdoor furniture with new
replacement cushions. Hundreds ofstyles, sizes and colors
available, including custom sizes.
M B II E L I. A S Hundreds of umbrellas in stock from only $99!
Come in now and take a look at our fabulous selection and take
advantage ofour low prices.
GAS GULLS
Starting as low as $219! Get ready
for those summer bar-b-que's with your family at your
Ducane grill headquarters! ) 11,.*.,
' a .. •
i`4. lel
i
i ---
4 Q
iik2/
AIGAirtzlir
Brown Jordan Nomad
ListS1,285.
38% Off - $199.
Brown Jordan Vienna
List S t,95
40% Off - $1)10
Casual Outdoor Furniture at
Completely Relaxed Prices
Birmingham 810-644-1919 • 690 S. Woodward • Livonia 313-522-9200 • 29500 W. 6 Mile Rd.
Novi 810-348-0090 • 48100 Grand River - Please call for store burs • NOW OPEN SUNDAY 11 TO 4