Licensed to practice law in Michigan continuously since November, 1979. Licensed to
practice law in Illinois in January, 1990. Licensed to practice law in New Mexico in May, 1995. (The Illinois and New Mexico licenses are no longer active.)
Also admitted to practice in the U.S. Supreme Court, and in the U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeal in the 2nd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, and 10th Circuits.
EMPLOYMENT
General Law Practice, December 1997 to present. Civil cases including Social Security, divorce, bankruptcy, wills, trusts, probate, and real estate closings, among other things.
Benentt Law Office, P.A., Roswell, New Mexico. March 1995 to November 1997. Social Security Disability and SSI, civil cases, and divorce. Represented disabled students seeking an
appropriate education in the public school system.
Mid-America Legal Foundation, Chicago, Illinois. October 1989 to January 1995. President and General Counsel of non-profit foundation. Prepared Amicus briefs to various Federal Appeals Courts and to the U.S. Supreme Court on issues related to products liability and environmental law. Wrote editorials.
Law Office of John Humanic, Southfield, Michigan, from approximately 1986 to September 1989. In-house counsel for CNA Insurance Company. Defended personal injury cases in Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties.
Law Office of Beresh and Prokopp, Novi, Michigan, January 1980 to approximately 1986. In-house counsel for Liberty Mutual Insurance Company. Defended personal injury cases in the Detroit area, including jury trials and appellate work. Served as court-appointed counsel for
indigent persons in civil commitment proceedings and in Probate Court.
Newspaper reporter and editor for various newspapers in Michigan, full or part time, before and after law school. Ann Arbor News, Ionia Daily Sentinel-Standard, Observer and Eccentric, Monroe Evening News.
EDUCATION
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan. BA in 1973. Majored in
journalism and anthropology.
Thomas M. Cooley Law School, Lansing, Michigan. JD in May 1979.