14 CMDA Attorneys Recognized by Michigan Super Lawyers for 2026
CMDA Law is proud to announce that several attorneys from our Firm have been selected for inclusion in the 2026 Michigan Super Lawyers & Rising Stars list. The following attorneys…
Overview
Joel Ashton is a partner in our Livonia office where he focuses his practice on insurance defense, including Michigan No-Fault claims (PIP, automobile negligence, uninsured/ underinsured motorist), as well as premises liability and general negligence; real estate and community association law; municipal law; and discrimination cases. His practice also includes the defense of contract and liability claims, contract interpretation issues, subrogation claims involving automobile, fire and casualty, commercial and related coverage. Mr. Ashton maintains an AV Preeminent Rating from Martindale-Hubbell, which is the highest possible rating an attorney can achieve for both ethical standards and legal ability. He is admitted to practice law in Michigan and Illinois.
Mr. Ashton is an experienced litigator who has tried over 50 civil jury trials in Circuit and District Courts throughout Michigan and has participated in countless arbitrations, facilitations and case evaluations. He is skilled at breaking down complex matters into understandable terms, which allows clients the ability to evaluate options and develop effective strategies.
Practice Groups
Appeals and LitigationCommunity Association and Real Estate LawCommunity Association LawInsurance DefenseMunicipal LawReal Estate LawEducation
Kalamazoo College, B.A., cum laude, 1989
DePaul University, J.D., 1992
Honors
AV Preeminent Rating from Martindale-Hubbell, which is the highest possible rating an attorney can achieve for both ethical standards and legal ability.
Michigan Super Lawyers, Top Rated Insurance Coverage Attorney, 2025
Memberships and Associations
State Bar of Michigan
– Negligence Section
Michigan Defense Trial Counsel (MDTC)
Insurance Alliance of Michigan (IAM)
Phi Beta Kappa, Kalamazoo College
Illinois State Bar Association
Presentations & Articles
Current State of the Michigan No-Fault Act, National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors’ (NAIFA)- Michigan Chapter, June 18, 2024
United Condominium Owners of Michigan (UCOM) 50th Anniversary Conference, April 26, 2024
Community Associations Institute (CAI) Annual Conference and Expo, March 23, 2023
Community Associations Institute’s (CAI) Great Exhibitor Outdoor Vendor Fair, May 18, 2022
Community Associations Institute’s (CAI) Great Exhibitor Outdoor Vendor Fair, May 19, 2021
Update to the Amendments to the Michigan No-Fault Act, National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors’ (NAIFA) Auto No-Fault Reform Conference, May 13, 2020
Community Associations Institute (CAI) Annual Conference and Expo, March 6, 2020
Update to the Amendments to the Michigan No-Fault Act, National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors’ (NAIFA) Auto No-Fault Reform Conference, December 19, 2019
Michigan No-Fault Act, City of Warren TV program, August 16, 2019
Published Articles
Livonia Attorneys Participate in Wayne Law’s Fall On-Campus Interviews
Joel Ashton and Shane Nolan, partners in the Firm’s Livonia office, enjoyed meeting with an intelligent and motivated group of law students during the Fall On-Campus Interviews (OCI) held on…
Eleven CMDA Attorneys Recognized by Michigan Super Lawyers for 2025
CMDA is proud to announce that several attorneys from our Firm have been selected for inclusion in the 2025 Michigan Super Lawyers & Rising Stars list. The following attorneys have…
Attorneys Participate in 2025 CAI Annual Conference and Expo
Attorneys John Gwyn, Joel Ashton, and Gary Klein from the Firm’s Community Association and Real Estate Law practice group are at the Community Associations Institute (CAI) Annual Conference and Expo…
Livonia Attorneys Attend Wayne Law’s Summer On-Campus Interviews
Joel Ashton, Isa Kasoga, and Gary Klein, all attorneys from the Firm’s Livonia office, had the opportunity to meet an intelligent and motivated group of law students during the Summer…
Partner Joel Ashton Speaks at NAIFA Event
Joel Ashton, a partner in our Livonia office, was the guest speaker at the Michigan Chapter of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors’ (NAIFA) Virtual Event held on…
CMDA Participates in UCOM 50th Anniversary Conference
Attorneys John Gwyn and Joel Ashton, along with Paralegal Bryan Harkins, are at the United Condominium Owners of Michigan (UCOM) 50th Anniversary Conference today at the San Marino Club in…
Michigan Supreme Court Rules on Retroactivity of 2019 No-Fault Amendments
On July 31, 2023, the Michigan Supreme Court held that the new fee schedule and attendant care limitations contained in MCL 500.3157 do not apply retroactively to PIP insureds who…
Michigan Supreme Court Grants Leave to Appeal on Student-on-Student Sexual Harassment Issue Under Elliot-Larsen Civil Rights Act
In December 2022, in a case of first impression, the Michigan Court of Appeals held that the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act (ELCRA) supported a claim for student-on-student sexual harassment. The…
Michigan Court of Appeals Clarifies Parked Vehicle Exclusion of No-Fault Act
In an unpublished opinion, the Michigan Court of Appeals found that an exception applied to the parked car exclusion of the No-Fault Act to provide Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage…
Attorneys Participate in CAI Annual Conference and Expo
Attorneys John Gwyn and Joel Ashton from the Firm’s Community Association and Real Estate Law practice group are at the Community Associations Institute (CAI) Annual Conference and Expo today, Friday,…
Michigan Court of Appeals Provides Guidance On Denials and Tolling for PIP “One Year Back Rule”
Noting that no published authority had yet addressed the interplay of the 2019 No-Fault amendments with pre-amendment case law for the “one year back rule,” the Michigan Court of Appeals…
Summary Disposition Granted Based on Graves Amendment
CMDA Attorneys Joel Ashton and Stanley Okoli recently had a third-party automobile negligence action dismissed on summary disposition in favor of the dealership that owned the automobile driven by the…
Michigan Supreme Court Denies Plaintiff’s Application for Leave in Favor of Condominium Association
Joel Ashton and Stanley Okoli recently had dismissals upheld on two related Condominium Association cases in the Michigan Court of Appeals and Michigan Supreme Court. To say the least, these…
John Gwyn and Joel Ashton Participate in CAI Great Exhibitor Outdoor Fair
Attorneys John Gwyn and Joel Ashton from the Firm’s Community Association and Real Estate Law practice group participated in the Community Associations Institute’s (CAI) Great Exhibitor Outdoor Fair at Mill…
John Gwyn and Joel Ashton Participate in CAI Great Exhibitor Outdoor Fair
Attorneys John Gwyn and Joel Ashton from the Firm’s Community Association and Real Estate Law practice group participated in the Community Associations Institute’s (CAI) Great Exhibitor Outdoor Fair on May…
Slip and Fall on Sidewalk in Housing Cooperative
In dismissing a slip and fall case that occurred in a common area, the Michigan Court of Appeals delved into the differences between a housing cooperative and a condominium. Jeffrey-Moise…
Summary Disposition Granted in Condominium Association Case
Joel Ashton, a partner in our Livonia office, recently had a case dismissed for a Condominium Association on summary disposition pursuant to MCR 2.116(C)(8) in the Oakland County Circuit Court….
What do the Changes to Michigan’s Auto Insurance Law Mean for You?
The most significant amendments to the Michigan No-Fault law take effect on July 1, 2020. For the past year, the headlines have been filled with news about changes to the…
Joel Ashton Featured Speaker at NAIFA Auto No-Fault Reform Zoom Conference
Joel Ashton, a partner in our Livonia office, was a featured speaker at the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors’ (NAIFA) Auto No-Fault Reform Conference that was held by…
Attorneys Participate in CAI Conference and Expo
Attorneys from the Firm’s Community Association and Real Estate Law practice group are at the Community Associations Institute (CAI) Annual Conference and Expo today, Friday, March 6. If you are…
Joel Ashton Speaks at NAIFA Auto No-Fault Reform Conference
Joel Ashton, a partner in our Livonia office, was recently a featured speaker at the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors’ (NAIFA) Auto No-Fault Reform Conference held in Lansing. …
Summary Disposition Granted in Homeowners Case
Attorneys Joel Ashton and Stanley Okoli recently had a homeowners case dismissed on summary disposition pursuant to MCR 2.116(C)(8) and (10). This case involved a residential property subrogation claim in…
Summary Disposition Granted on Serious Impairment in Trucking Case
Attorneys Joel Ashton and Stanley Okoli recently had a third party automobile negligence action dismissed on summary disposition pursuant to MCR 2.116(C)(10) based on the finding that the plaintiff’s alleged…
Ashton Discusses Michigan No-Fault Act on TV Warren
Joel Ashton, a partner in our Livonia office, was recently a guest on the City of Warren’s television program Warren Today. He spoke on the current fundamentals of Michigan’s no-fault…
Michigan Supreme Court Holds that Owner or Registrant Need Not Personally Maintain Insurance Under No-Fault Act
On July 11, 2019, the Michigan Supreme Court issued an important decision regarding the requirement of the No-Fault Act for the “owner or registrant” of a motor vehicle to “maintain”…
A Breakdown of the New Michigan No-Fault Legislation
On May 30, 2019 Governor Whitmer signed Senate Bill 1 to reform Michigan’s No-Fault Act. After more than 45 years of being a “no-fault state” in which people injured in…
Ashton Named Partner
Joel Ashton joined our Firm in 2017. He focuses his practice on insurance defense, including Michigan No-Fault claims (PIP, automobile negligence, uninsured/underinsured motorist), as well as premises liability and general…
Jurisdiction and Court Admissions
Michigan State Courts
United States District Courts for the Eastern District of Michigan
United States District Courts for the Western District of Michigan
State Courts of Illinois
Practice Groups
Appeals and Litigation Community Association and Real Estate Law Insurance Defense Municipal LawEducation
Kalamazoo College, B.A., cum laude, 1989
DePaul University, J.D., 1992
Honors
AV Preeminent Rating from Martindale-Hubbell, which is the highest possible rating an attorney can achieve for both ethical standards and legal ability.
Michigan Super Lawyers, Top Rated Insurance Coverage Attorney, 2025