Practice Area:Business, Commercial, Contract, Partnership Disputes, Probate, Real Estate, Trusts & Estates
Donald H. Passenger is an attorney with decades of experience. He regularly handles complex litigation in federal and state courts, and he helps medium, small and even mom and pop types with practical advice for their business, real estate, trust and estate planning.
Before returning to private practice in 2017, Don served as a District Court Judge for over 20 years, presiding over many thousands of trials and tens of thousands of motions.
Don always stays active and involved in the legal and non-legal communities. He has been a member of ICLE’s Technology Law and Training Advisory Board and has been a frequent presenter on many topics for the State Bar of Michigan, ICLE, the Supreme Court Administrative Office, and the Michigan Judicial Institute. Don was selected by the Michigan Supreme Court to serve on the Collections Advisory Subcommittee.
Don served as an adjunct professor at Davenport University in the Computer Information Systems and Legal Studies Departments from 1999 to 2003. He then served Davenport University for over 15 years as a member of its paralegal advisory team. In that role, he helped the program pass accreditation review several times. He has also been hired as the technical editor on dozens of published technology books.
Don is an SCAO trained mediator and also has worked on multiple arbitration matters. He brings many years of experience both as a practicing attorney, but also as a judge to the table and he can help you settle even a thorny case where others may fail.
Areas of Focus
Mediation
Estate Planning, probate and trust work
Real Estate
Easement, Subdivision and Condominium
Commercial Development
Business Disputes
Creditor’s Rights
Construction
Complex Litigation
Bar Admissions
Michigan, 1986
U.S. District Court Western District of Michigan 1986
Education
University of Notre Dame Law School, Notre Dame, Indiana, J.D., 1986
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, B.S.N.R., 1983
Grand Rapids Community College, Grand Rapids, Michigan, A.A., 1981
