business & professional

Fighting or Justice

Birmingham attorney leads trial lawyers
organization.

Jackie Headapohl
Managing Editor

W

hen Scott Goodwin started his
legal career in 1986, he had a
simple goal — "to be a positive
force for change and stand up for victims'
rights," he said.
Now, 27 years later, Goodwin leads the
state's largest group of plaintiff attorneys —
the Michigan Association for Justice — in a
similar mission.
On July 1, Goodwin officially began his
one-year term as president of the MAJ.
As he assumes office, Goodwin affirms the
group's aim. "We're dedicated to procuring
civil justice for plaintiffs and preserving citi-
zen's rights:' he said.
Goodwin graduated from Michigan State
University in 1983 and Michigan State
University College of Law (formerly Detroit
College of Law) in 1986. The Birmingham-
based attorney lives in Bloomfield Hills with
wife, Monica. He has a daughter, Karlee,
from his first marriage, and two stepdaugh-

ters, Alana, 21, and Ashley, 17. The family
worships at Temple Israel.
Goodwin says his Judaism has inspired his
career as a lawyer. "Judaism is about morals,
honesty and integrity," he said. "As a Jew, I
try to fight for the underdog and prevent
people from being bullied:'
His wife's father is a Holocaust survivor,
which also motivates him. "We have to fight
to make sure it never happens again," said
Goodwin, who is a big supporter of the
Friends of the Israel Defense Forces.
Formerly known as the Michigan Trial
Lawyers Association, the Lansing-based MAJ
is an organization Goodwin proudly says
"fights for equal access to the court system
for all people, regardless of income or cir-
cumstance:'
As leader of the organization, Goodwin
says he plans to work on legislative policy,
specifically against calls for tort reform.
"This is a daily battle in Lansing," he said.
"However, the Seventh Amendment guaran-
tees everyone the right to a jury trial:'
Lawyer's Weekly has named Goodwin as

Scott Goodwin and Detroit Tigers' mascot Paws on the last "Law Day" event

"Lawyer of the Year:' and Best Lawyers
in America includes his firm in their
most recent list. Other honors include
"Michigan Super Lawyer" (2006-2013)
and the coveted "AV Preeminent" rating
from Martindale-Hubbell. He is a lifetime
member of the Million Dollar Advocates
and ranked in the Michigan Super Lawyers
Top 100 list. The nationwide AVVO Legal
Directory conferred a "10-out-of-10
Superb" rating.
Heading up the MAJ seems like a natural
outcome for the tough-minded attorney
who sticks up for the underdog.
According to Goodwin, he and partner
Jim Scieszka, founded the Goodwin &
Scieszka Law Center "to give the little guy a
fighting chance against big insurance com-
panies and to hold drunk and negligent

drivers accountable:'
Goodwin's firm has held a free legal aid
clinic every spring for 27 years. The carni-
val-like event helps hundreds of families,
with two dozen top attorneys working pro
bono for clients.
With an emphasis on child safety,
Goodwin & Scieszka's annual "Law Day"
outreach has donated and fitted 10,000
free bike safety helmets — bringing safety
awareness to the forefront of the commu-
nity. The annual event was held in June.
As a parent, it frustrates me when I see
children riding without helmets," he said.
"I see the tragedies and the devastating
effects on families from accidents. We want
to prevent these tragedies from happening.
A lot of people can't afford helmets. If we
can save one kid, it's worth

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August 14 • 2014