Practice areas: Personal Injury, Insurance Coverage; view more
Licensed in Michigan since: 1989
Education: Wayne State University Law School
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2025 - 2026 Call today:
734-228-4339
Free Consultation Logeman & Iafrate, P.C.
2950 S State StSuite 400
Ann Arbor, MI 48104 Visit website
Details
Licensed to practice law in Michigan since 1989, attorney James A. Iafrate has been serving clients at the Logeman & Iafrate, P.C., in Ann Arbor, Michigan, for the last 36 years. Over these years, he has built a commendable legal career focusing on a variety of personal injury cases. His practice areas include handling claims related to auto negligence, no-fault insurance issues, product liability, motorcycle and truck accidents, brain injuries and premises liability. His comprehensive understanding of the nuances in these areas allows him to effectively advocate for the rights of those who have suffered due to the negligence of others.
Mr. Iafrate graduated with a Juris Doctor from Wayne State University Law School in Detroit, Michigan, in 1989 after completing his undergraduate studies in political science at the University of Michigan, where he earned his degree with distinction. Admitted to the State Bar of Michigan in the same year, he has also been authorized to practice in the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Michigan since 1992 and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit since 1994.
Throughout his career, Mr. Iafrate has been actively involved in several professional associations that underscore his commitment to the legal community. He served as the president of the Washtenaw Trial Lawyers Association from 1997 to 1998 and is a member of the Michigan Association for Justice. He frequently lectures regarding No-fault and personal injury topics including the Institute for Continuing Legal Education. In April of 2025, he lectured regarding the best legal practices for bringing Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist claims in Michigan.
Mr. Iafrate’s approach to law is client-centered, focusing on providing personalized legal representation tailored to the specific needs and circumstances of each client. He is dedicated to securing just compensation for his clients and ensuring that they receive the highest level of legal assistance.
Practice areas
Personal Injury - General: Plaintiff, Insurance CoverageFocus areas
Animal Bites, Bad Faith Insurance, Brain Injury, Construction Accident, Insurance, Motor Vehicle Accidents, Personal Injury - Plaintiff, Premises Liability - Plaintiff, Sexual Abuse - Plaintiff, Trucking Accidents, Wrongful Death
- 80% Personal Injury - General: Plaintiff
- 20% Insurance Coverage
First Admitted: 1989, Michigan
Professional Webpage: https://www.logeman.com
Bar / Professional Activity
- President of Washtenaw trial Lawyers Association, 1998
- U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit, 1994
- U.S. District Court Western District of Michigan, 1992
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Michigan, 1992
- Michigan, 1989
- Italian Bar Association
- Michigan Association for Justice
- Michigan Trial Lawyers Association, Member
Verdicts / Settlements (Case Results)
- Verdict of 1.25 million in favor of plaintiff in a third-party auto negligence/underinsured motorist claim in Washtenaw County. Case number 23-000696-NI. Plaintiff was a 21-year-old male who sustained a non-surgical lumbar disc injury in a rear-end motor vehicle accident in Manchester, Michigan. The police officer and defendant driver testified that the plaintiff denied being injured in the accident. The plaintiff did not go to the hospital after the accident and first sought medical treatment with his family physician one week after the accident. The plaintiff sought medical treatment with a sports medicine physician with Michigan Medicine. He received spinal injections and physical therapy. He was determined not to be a surgical candidate. Negligence was admitted by the defendant. The defendant disputed causation and damages. The highest offer was $50,000.00 which was withdrawn before the trial. The plaintiff claimed he was unable to work as an auto mechanic and he was unable to perform his normal activities including playing baseball and working on cars. This was a 3-day jury trial. The jury deliberated for 4 hours and returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff in the amount of 1.25 million., 2024
- $378,000.00 verdict in favor of 71-year-old women who sustained fractures to four fingers on her dominant hand requiring surgical repair. The plaintiff participated in significant therapy to mitigate her damages. The verdict was solely for non-economic damages since all of her medical expenses were paid by her no-fault insurance insurer. The verdict occurred in Oakland County Michigan. , 2025
- Consulting Unlimited, Inc. v Auto Club Insurance Assn, Case No. 14-919-NF - Jury verdict in favor of case management company resulting in verdict in the amount of $800,000 which included $414,000 in no-fault attorney fees against AAA for an unreasonable denial of benefits.
- Braley v Unum, 696 NW2d 681 (6th Circuit 2005)
- Braley v Unum, 117 F.3d 1420, CA 6 (Mich) (6th Circuit 1997)
- J & J Farmer Leasing, Inc. v. Citizens Ins. Co., 472 Mich 653 (MI Sup Ct 2005) - Insurer found liable for damages in excess of policy limits for bad faith refusal to settle.
- Botnar v Michigan Guarantee Fund - Favorable jury verdict with an award of more than $100,000 in no fault benefits and attorney fees.
- Watson v Sportsstuff - Multi-Million dollar products liability settlement.
- Stines v Auto-Owners Insurance - $1,250,000 verdict in favor of 22 year old driver who sustained a non-surgical disc injury.
- Susan Mickels v Michigan Dept. of Transportation, case number 18-000159-MD. The plaintiff was 58-year-old women who sustained a lumbar fracture while an occupant of a SMART bus when the bus driver struck a road defect on Michigan Ave. in Detroit, Michigan. The plaintiff sought physical therapy and injections after the accident. She did not miss work and continued to work as a food writer for the Detroit Free Press. The plaintiff settled her negligence claim filed in Wayne County against Smart and the bus driver after the Michigan Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court's denial of a motion for summary disposition. She also filed a separate action in the Michigan Court of Claims seeking bodily injury damages under MCL 691.1402 against MDOT for failing to maintain the roadway in a reasonably safe condition. MDOT blamed the bus driver and argued that roadway was safe for travel. Both parties utilized expert engineers as witnesses. The trial court in a bench trial found in favor of the plaintiff and awarded $250,000 in non-economic damages. MDOT appealed the verdict which was affirmed by the Michigan Court of Appeals on May 19, 2022. (Unpublished) Appeal No. 357554. MDOT satisfied the judgement in full, 2021
Videos
- ICLE Video presentation concerning the 2019 No-fault insurance amendment to MCL 500.3151 and how it impacted an insurance company's right to an independent medical evaluation in third party auto negligence cases and no-fault personal injury protection claims.The 2021 seminar was presented online because of covid restrictions. We also prepared written materials which were provided to the attendees who were comprised of attorneys and claims adjusters., Post Insurance reform and application of MCL 500.3151, Law And Insurance, 2021
Representative Clients
- Third party auto negligence lawsuit arising from motor vehicle accident in Jackson County Michigan. The plaintiff was injured when he was involved in a head on accident with an oncoming vehicle. Plaintiff had no memory of the accident, and the defendant driver denied liability. The police body cam videos obtained in a FOIA request captured the defendant admitting fault and that he used stimulants' during the hours before the accident. The plaintiff suffered very serious injuries. The plaintiff opted out of No-fault medical coverage and there was a substantial Military government lien with Tricare that required substantial legal efforts to reduce so that the plaintiff could maximize his settlement. The case eventually settled for the insurance policy limits of $1,250,000.00, 2023
- Pedestrian injured when an inattentive driver struck her while riding her bicycle in a crosswalk in the City of Ann Arbor. The plaintiff suffered a fractured knee which needed to be surgically repaired. The case settled for $500,000.00. The settlement was for non-economic damages only., 2024
- Settlement in the amount of $125,000.00 for 64 year old women who was injured when she slipped on ice located in an Apartment complex parking lot. The plaintiff sustained a torn rotator cuff that needed to be repaired surgically. The case settled through facilitation after the court denied the defendant's motion for summary disposition., 2024
- Third party auto negligence settlement for the policy limits of $300,000.00 in highly contested liability case. The plaintiff was a 55-year-old nurse attempting to cross M-52 from a private roadway in Chelsea Michigan which was struck by a motor vehicle traveling north on M-52. The Michigan State police investigated the accident and determined that the plaintiff was at fault and that defendant had the right of way. A witness stated that the defendant was not speeding. The plaintiff retained an accident reconstructionist who obtained the black box data from both vehicles and determined that the defendant driver was speeding and traveling in excess of the posted speed limit. The expert was able to show that if the defendant had been traveling the posted speed limit, the accident would not have occurred. Counsel threatened the insurer with a bad faith action should the plaintiff prevail on an excess trial verdict. The insurer for the Defendant agreed to tender the policy limits., 2023
Pro bono / Community Service
- Volunteer at the South Lyon East high school mentor and mock interview program for the past 5 years. This includes meeting with senior students and participating in mock interviews and giving feedback to the students and teachers, 2024
- Volunteer at local food bank assisting with food distribution, 2022
- Ann Arbor Law Day program volunteer, 2023
Educational Background
- I graduated from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor in 1986 with honors and obtained my B.A. in political science, 1982-1986
Scholarly Lectures / Writings
- Presentation regarding best procedural practices for attorneys bringing and defending Underinsured and Uninsured Motorist Claims., Speaker/Writer For ICLE, Best Practices involving Uninsured Motorist Claims, Institute for Continuing education, Legal And Insurance, 2025
- 2000 – Speaker at Auto Club Ins Assn – Tort Reform – 1996, Lansing, Michigan
- I prepared a best practices summary for attorneys dealing with the Bahri decision which was utilized by defense attorneys and insurance companies to dismiss no-fault personal injury cases through aggressive motion practice. I summarized the cases at the annual ICLE seminar held in Plymouth, Michigan and answered questions from the audience. I presented the from the plaintiff's perspective. Attorney Ron Sangster presented from the defense perspective. The audience was comprised of attorneys, insurance adjusters and medical providers., Speaker ICLE annual seminar and prepared written materials, When Fraud may bar a claim Under the Bahri decision., Leal Community, 2019
- 2008 – ICLE No-Fault Seminar (Speaker) – Fraud as an Exception to the One Year Back Rule When Is Attendant Care Recoverable – Ethical Considerations, St. Joseph Mercy Hospital Ann Arbor, Michigan
- February, 2013 – (Speaker) – Genesys Hospital, Understanding the Michigan No-Fault System
- March, 2013 – (Speaker) – Sparrow Hospital, Understanding the Michigan No-Fault System
- April, 2013 – (Speaker) – Pontiac Osteopathic Hospital, Understanding the Michigan No-Fault System
- May, 2013 – (Speaker) – St. John Hospital, Understanding the Michigan No-Fault System
- June, 2013 – (Speaker) – Providence Hospital, Understanding the Michigan No-Fault System
- July, 2013 – (Speaker) – Allegiance Hospital, 2013 Trauma Education Series, Understanding the Michigan No-Fault System
- August, 2013 – (Speaker) – Garden City Hospital Explaining Michigan Auto No-Fault Benefits
- September, 2013 – (Speaker) – Cooley Law School, Guest Speaker, Third Party Auto Negligence Claims
- March, 2014 – (Speaker) – Allegiance Hospital, 2014 Trauma Education Series, Auto No-Fault Insurance Update
- September, 2014 – RINC – Rehabilitation & Insurance Nursing Counsel Conference Proposed Auto No-Fault Insurance under the Bolger Plan
- October, 2015 – American Case Management Conference – Great Lakes Chapter Overview of the Michigan No-Fault System
- April, 2018 – ICLE No-Fault Seminar (Speaker) – When Fraud May Bar a Claim under the Bahri Decision
- April, 2019 – (Speaker)-Allegiance Hospital, 2019 Trauma Grand Rounds, Auto-No Fault Insurance: Understanding the Rules – Optimizing Outcomes for Patients
- Speaker and Writer for annual ICLE seminar concerning the topic of Independent Medical Evaluations in tort and Personal Injury Protection cases. Scheduled to speak concerning the topic of Underinsured Motorist benefits in April of 2025., Speaker/Writer For ICLE, No-Fault Reform Changes to MCL 500.3151 and the Use Of IMES, Institute for Continuing education, Legal And Insurance, 2021
Honors
- 10 best attorney satisfaction, American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys, 2019
- Optimist Club
Industry Groups
- Consumer Advocate
Selections
2 Years Super Lawyers
- Super Lawyers: 2025 - 2026
