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
Matt Cross is a partner in our Traverse City office where he focuses his practice in the areas of insurance defense litigation, law enforcement defense and litigation, and municipal law. Matt has experience handling employment law, personal injury defense, marijuana licensing litigation, and other municipal issues and has earned dismissals in each of these areas.
Previously, Matt worked as a judicial research attorney for Judge John Murphy in the Wayne County Circuit Court and as an associate attorney at two prominent firms. Matt previously served as Assistant City Attorney for Petoskey and Boyne City. Matt currently represents several municipalities and a public health organization. In his free time, Matt serves as an on-call firefighter for the Resort Bear Creek Fire Department.
Education
Wayne State University, J.D., 2013
Ferris State University, B.S., magna cum laude, 2008
Honors
Michigan Rising Star Top Rated Civil Litigation Attorney, Michigan Super Lawyers, 2018-2024 
Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch, 2022-2023
Up & Coming Lawyers, Michigan Lawyers Weekly, 2023
Merit scholarship recipient (Wayne State University Law School)
Two-Year Varsity Athletic Award for baseball at Kalamazoo Valley Community College
Honorable Mention All-State, National Junior College Athletic Association
Academic All-Conference and All-State (2004-2005), National Junior College Athletic Association
Memberships and Associations
State Bar of Michigan
– Litigation Section
– Prison & Corrections Section
– Young Lawyers Section
Federal Bar Association, Eastern District of Michigan Chapter
Grand Traverse-Leelanau-Antrim Bar Association
Michigan Defense Trial Counsel (MDTC), Regional Chairperson
Michigan Association of Municipal Attorneys (MAMA)
Insurance Alliance of Michigan (IAM)
Grand Rapids Adjusters Association (GRAA)
Central Michigan Adjusters Association (CMAA)
Saginaw Valley Adjusters Association (SVAA)
Presentations & Articles
Highs and Lows: A Blunt Assessment of Legal Issues Surrounding Marijuana Licensing in Michigan, MMRMA Risk Management Workshop, February 26-27, 2025
Corrections Legal Update, MMRMA Training Session, January 15-16, 2019
Calculating the Statute of Limitations in FMLA Cases: Discrete Acts or Continuing Violations? State Bar of Michigan Litigation Journal, January 2018
The Search for Consistency in the Interpretation of Plea Agreements and Appeal Waivers in the Face of Breach, 15 J.L. Soc’y 119 (2013-2014)
Popular Music for Political Activities – Who Holds the Rights?
Published Articles
Western District of Michigan Rejects Challenge to Local Government Management Decisions
CMDA Law is pleased to recognize Partner Matt Cross for recently obtaining dismissal of a substantive due process claim filed in the federal court for the Western District of Michigan…
Attorneys Matt Cross and Neal Wilds Obtain Summary Judgment on Constitutional Claims Against County Jail Officials
CMDA Attorneys Matthew Cross and Neal Wilds recently obtained a dismissal for their clients in U.S. District Court. The case involved a pre-trial detainee who alleged violations of his First…
Federal Claims Arising Out of Wellness Check Abandoned After Defense Briefing Prompts Reassessment
Matt Cross and Greg Grant, partners in our Traverse City office, recently obtained a ruling from the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan dismissing all federal claims…
Federal Court Dismisses Civil Rights Lawsuit Over Arrest During Shots-Fired Call
Haider Kazim and Matt Cross, partners in our Traverse City office, recently obtained a decisive ruling in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. The Court granted…
Attorneys Matt Cross and Greg Grant Obtain Summary Disposition of Novel Open Meetings Act Claims
Matt Cross and Greg Grant, partners in our Traverse City office, recently obtained summary disposition in a case involving novel claims under the Open Meetings Act (OMA). The claims stemmed…
Attorneys Greg Grant and Matt Cross Obtain Summary Disposition of Premises Liability Claim Against Northern Michigan Condominium Association
Greg Grant and Matt Cross, partners in our Traverse City office, recently obtained summary disposition in a premises liability case involving a Northern Michigan condominium association. The claim involved a…
Attorney Matt Cross Obtains Summary Disposition of a Premises Liability Claim Against Northern Michigan Municipality
Matt Cross, a partner in our Traverse City office, recently obtained summary disposition of a premises liability claim against a northern Michigan municipal client. The case involved a trip and…
Attorneys Matt Cross and Greg Grant Obtain Property Dispute Dismissal for Michigan County
In a recent matter, Attorneys Matt Cross and Greg Grant successfully obtained dismissal of a property dispute that centered on the conveyance of a county-owned park to a neighboring township….
Attorneys Haider Kazim and Matt Cross Obtain Dismissal on the Basis of Qualified Immunity for Upper Peninsula Community
Attorneys Haider Kazim and Matt Cross represented an upper peninsula township and two of its officers in a federal lawsuit in the Western District of Michigan involving a claimed Fourth…
Eleven CMDA Attorneys Recognized by Michigan Super Lawyers for 2024
CMDA is proud to announce that several attorneys from our Firm have been selected for inclusion in the 2024 Michigan Super Lawyers & Rising Stars list. The following attorneys have…
Cross Wins Dismissal for Municipality in Marijuana Case
Matthew Cross, a partner in CMDA’s Traverse City office, recently defended a Southeast Michigan municipality against a lawsuit filed by an applicant who was unsuccessful in obtaining a license to…
Partner Matthew Cross Returns to CMDA
We are pleased to announce that a familiar face is back in the Firm’s Traverse City office. Please join us in welcoming Matthew W. Cross back to CMDA. Matt Cross…
Matt Cross Volunteers at Veterans Day Event
In observation of Veterans Day, the Grand Traverse-Leelanau-Antrim Bar Association hosted a Wills for Vets event at the Traverse City Area District Library. Wills and Durable Powers of Attorney for…
CMDA Supports SVAA Fundraiser Event
Attorneys Matt Cross, Greg Grant and Bradley Yanalunas attended the Saginaw Valley Adjusters Association’s 5th Annual Bowl for a Cause fundraiser event. The event, held at Stardust Lanes in Saginaw,…
TC Attorneys Present to Law Enforcement Leaders
On January 15-16, 2019 Haider Kazim and Matt Cross, both attorneys in our Traverse City office, gave a presentation to law enforcement leaders throughout Northern Michigan on correctional law updates,…
Court Grants Summary Disposition in Case Involving Farm Animals Running at Large
Haider Kazim and Matt Cross, both attorneys in our Traverse City office, recently successfully defended an animal control officer of a northern Michigan municipality against claims of malicious prosecution and…
Court Grants Summary Judgment, Dismisses Wrongful Arrest/Malicious Prosecution Claims
Greg Grant and Matt Cross, both attorneys in our Traverse City office, recently successfully defended a municipality and police officer against claims of false arrest/wrongful imprisonment and malicious prosecution. The…
Court Grants Summary Disposition, Dismisses Plaintiff’s Claims under Whistleblower Protection Act
Haider Kazim and Matt Cross, both attorneys in our Traverse City office, recently successfully handled a case for a local municipality. The Court granted summary disposition dismissing plaintiff’s claims under…
Matt Cross and Greg Grant Attend Grand Rapids Adjusters Association Event
Matt Cross and Greg Grant, both attorneys in our Traverse City office, had a great time at the recent Grand Rapids Adjusters Association (GRAA) Roaring 20’s Vendor Night. They enjoyed…
Cross Participates in Pro Bono Expungement Clinic
Matt Cross, an attorney in our Traverse City office, recently participated in a pro bono expungement clinic to clear old criminal convictions. The clinic is designed to remove barriers to…
Sixth Circuit Reinforces the Importance of Protecting the Identities of Confidential Informants
In Nelson v. City of Madison Heights, et al., while conducting a narcotics investigation at a motel police walked by the room of Shelly Hilliard (“Hilliard”) and spotted a bag…
New Law Expands Protections for Municipalities in Premises Liability Lawsuits
Michigan Governor Rick Snyder recently signed into law an amendment to the Governmental Liability for Negligence Act. MCL 691.1402a. This statute describes the extent of municipal duties and liability in…
Cross Obtains Favorable Arbitration Award for Concert Promoter
After a prolonged dispute, Matt Cross obtained an arbitration award for a valued client, a Detroit-based concert promoter. The promoter paid the producer of the show a $40,000 deposit in…
Attorney Drafts Endorsement Agreement on Behalf of Client and NFL Player
Matt Cross, an attorney in our Traverse City office, recently drafted an endorsement agreement on behalf of his client, Lawrence Hunt Fashion, Inc. Lawrence Hunt named New York Giants wide…
Court of Appeals Reaffirms Public Bodies are Under No Obligation to Monitor FOIA Requests Once Denied
In Whittaker v Oakland County Sherriff, unpublished decision of the Court of Appeals dated Nov. 22, 2016 (Docket No. 329545), plaintiff filed suit alleging violation of the Freedom of Information…
Municipal Immunity under the Family and Medical Leave Act
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) was enacted, in part, “to balance the demands of the workplace with the needs of families…in a manner that accommodates the legitimate interests…
Legal Update: Implications of the Recently Enacted Medical Marihuana Facilities Licensing Act on Municipalities
With the recent legalization of recreational marihuana in Massachusetts, Maine, Nevada and California, the total number of states in which recreational marihuana use is legal stands at eight. Twenty states…
Jurisdiction and Court Admissions
Michigan State Courts
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan
Education
Wayne State University, J.D., 2013
Ferris State University, B.S., magna cum laude, 2008
Honors
Michigan Rising Star Top Rated Civil Litigation Attorney, Michigan Super Lawyers, 2018-2024
Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch, 2022-2023
Up & Coming Lawyers, Michigan Lawyers Weekly, 2023
Merit scholarship recipient (Wayne State University Law School)
Two-Year Varsity Athletic Award for baseball at Kalamazoo Valley Community College
Honorable Mention All-State, National Junior College Athletic Association
Academic All-Conference and All-State (2004-2005), National Junior College Athletic Association