12/19/12 - A local judge is suing to recoup a $400,000 legal fee from an injury case he originally oversaw that later resulted in a multi-million dollar settlement. Livingston County Circuit Court Judge Michael Hatty is suing Detroit Attorney Richard Goodman for what he claims is his share of the $3.6 (m) million awarded in the case of 21-year-old Catherine Logan-Brown. She sustained a closed head injury when she was 3-years-old after falling from a bunk bed that was allegedly not assembled correctly at an Art Van Furniture store in Clinton Township on March 11th, 1995. Hatty was hired to represent her at that time but relinquished the case in 2009 when he was appointed judge by then-Governor Granholm. The Macomb Daily reports that he originally turned it over to attorney Donald Lewis but the case changed hands multiple times and was eventually passed to Goodman. Goodman represented Logan-Brown when she sued years later in 2010 and gained the settlement claim, paid by the insurer for Art Van. Hatty is seeking one-third of Goodmanâs $1.2 million fee for his work. The suit claims Hatty was never discharged by Dawn Logan-Brown, the girlâs mother, and she never objected to the referral with the understanding that Hatty would be paid a contingent attorney fee. Goodman alleges Hatty never spoke with anyone after relinquishing the case and Dawn Logan-Brown considered her relationship with Hatty severed once he withdrew, noting few lawyers would have even taken a 14-year-old case and even fewer could have settled it years later for $3.6 million. Hatty is declining to comment on the case, which is being heard in Macomb County Circuit Court in Mount Clemens and calls placed by WHMI with Goodmanâs law office were unreturned. (JK)
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