HON. DOUGLAS SHAPIRO
(COURT OF APPEALS, RETIRED)
Mediation Services and Appellate Consultation
MEDIATION SERVICES
Former Judge Douglas Shapiro recently retired from the bench after fifteen years on the Court of Appeals and two years on the Court of Claims. Prior to that he was a noted trial and appellate attorney for two decades.
Judge Shapiro (ret) graduated from the University of Michigan Law School in 1986. He began his legal career as law clerk to Supreme Court Justice James Brickley and as an assistant defender at the State Appellate Defender Office after which he established himself as a civil trial attorney. He has extensive experience in medical malpractice, first and third party auto accident claims, insurance coverage, personal injury, and civil rights, including appeals in all these areas.
He has received multiple awards from groups including both the Michigan Defense Trial Counsel and the Michigan Association for Justice and is an approved MDTC mediator.
While on the bench Judge Shapiro (ret) earned praise for his careful analysis, persuasive writing and reputation for courtesy and fairness to all parties and attorneys.
He has successfully mediated cases involving:
Personal injury – third-party auto, PIP, premises liability, malpractice, intentional tort, civil rights
Commercial/contracts
Property damage
Landlord/Tenant
Multi-party litigation
Mediations may be scheduled on an in-person basis or as a Zoom conference.
“Working with Judge Shapiro as mediator was amazing! He was able to take a complex case that seemingly had no hope of resolution and he got it done. He was patient, diligent and had a detailed knowledge of the case. Using his skills as a former Court of Appeal judge he was able forge a resolution that everyone agreed with. I would not hesitate to use him as a mediator again and I highly recommend him.”
APPELLATE CONSULTATION
While on the bench, Judge Shapiro (ret) decided hundreds of appellate cases and reviewed thousands of briefs, covering virtually every area of law. He has seen first-hand how often briefs fail to raise dispositive issues that would have led to a more favorable result. Former Judge Shapiro provides a range of appellate services:
Record review/Issue spotting
Argument formation and strategy
Knowledge of judges’ interests and idiosyncrasies
Brief structure, drafting and editing
Preparation for oral argument
Appearance on briefs and argument at party’s request
NOTABLE OPINIONS
Haydaw v Farm Bur, 332 Mich App 719 (2020)
AFT Michigan v State of Michigan, 315 Mich App 602 (2016)
People v Jennings (dissent - adopted by Mich Sup Ct) Court of Appeals #359837 (2026)
Mothering Justice, Court of Claims #21-95-MM (7/19/22)
People v Duha, Court of Appeals #363115 (12/14/23)
Wasenko v Ayad, Court of Appeals #361452 (7/20/23)
Request a mediation or appellate consultation
To schedule a mediation or discuss an appeal, contact Judge (ret) Shapiro directly.
In person and Zoom sessions available.
Telephone