Lippitt O'Keefe Gornbein Establishes Opioid Practice Group In Michigan

BIRMINGHAM, Mich., June 12, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Former District Court Judge Jodi Debbrecht Switalski has been named to head a team of attorneys specializing in opioid and controlled-substance abuse issues at Lippitt O'Keefe Gornbein PLLC.

A legal expert in the field of substance abuse and addiction, Switalski joined Lippitt O'Keefe Gornbein in 2016 and is the founder of Switalski Consulting LLC, a firm providing evidence-based controlled-substance agreements, as well as risk evaluation and mitigation strategies for medical practices. A district court judge from 2010 until 2016, she previously had served as a prosecuting attorney in Macomb County.

"Drug addiction has reached epidemic proportions throughout our country as well as in Michigan," said Brian D. O'Keefe, a founding partner of the Birmingham-based law firm. "Drug abuse not only affects individuals, their families and the communities they live in, but it also has a far-reaching legal and economic impact on our healthcare community, including hospitals, clinics and individual practitioners."

The new practice group will work with doctors, dentists, hospitals and opioid abuse victims to resolve legal issues related to drug addiction. The first group of its kind in Michigan, the Lippitt O'Keefe Gornbein business unit will include Switalski and O'Keefe, as well as the firm's co-founder Norman L. Lippitt; senior partner Henry S. Gornbein, and attorney Carey L. Sienkiewicz.

O'Keefe noted that there is a clear and growing need for expert legal counsel related to opioid abuse, pointing out that drug overdoses now exceed auto accidents and gun violence as the nation's leading causes of death.

The new practice group will take a 360-degree approach to serving clients affected by addiction-related issues, according to Switalski. The group plans to provide everything from drafting documents to protect a medical or dental practice to representing individuals, families and businesses involved in civil or criminal litigation.

"The misuse of drugs today affects virtually every racial and economic group," Switalski added. "And opioid addiction in more than 75 percent of all cases begins with a drug prescription from a trusted medical professional."

Switalski is a nationally recognized speaker on the nation's opioid epidemic, annually giving more than 100 presentations to medical and legal professionals, schools and community organizations. Last year she was a featured speaker at the Harvard Medical School's International Conference on Opioids and a panelist at Boston University's Scope of Pain training program for doctors and medical professionals.

Based in southeastern Michigan, Lippitt O'Keefe Gornbein PLLC is a full-service law firm providing experienced, client-focused legal counsel and advocacy. Founded by Norman Lippitt and Brian O'Keefe, the firm's legal team today includes Henry Gornbein and Partners Daniel J. McCarthy and Harvey R. Weingarden.

In addition to its new opioid abuse practice, the firm's other areas of expertise include commercial and business litigation; business and corporate law; divorce and family law; intellectual property law; civil litigation; real estate law; personal asset and estate planning and protection; municipal law; bankruptcy law; appellate court practice, and dispute resolution.           

Additional information about the firm is available at www.lippittokeefe.com.

Note to Editors: High resolution photos of the Lippitt O'Keefe Gornbein legal team are available on request.

SOURCE Lippitt O'Keefe Gornbein, PLLC

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