Michael E. Menkes

Born November 15, 1953

B.A. Indiana University, 1976

J.D. Valparaiso University School of Law 1979

Joined the Firm in 1983 after being in private practice in Hillsdale, Michigan. Present emphasis on dram shop, automobile negligence, first party, third party, and premises liability defense.
Martindale Hubbell AV Rated
Listed in the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers

Community Activities

Past President, Gaylord Sports Booster Club
Past President, Otsego County United Way
Former Board Member of Hillsdale County Substance Abuse Council
Former Business Law Instructor for Jackson Community College
Recreational interests include family activities, hunting, snow shoeing, skiing, golf, tennis and horseback riding.

Professional Memberships

Michigan Bar Association
Otsego County Bar Association
American Bar Association
Defense Research Institute of America

Patrick J. Michaels

Born March 17, 1953

B. A. University of Michigan, 1975

J. D. University of Detroit Law School, 1981

Joined the Firm in April 1986, after being affiliated with a litigation defense firm in Petoskey, Michigan. Present emphasis on first and third party automobile litigation, premises liability, dram shop and workers' compensation defense.
Listed in the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers

Community Activities

Past President of Big Brothers - Big Sisters of Otsego County.
Recreational interests include family-related activities, culinary arts, cross-country skiing, golf and camping.

Professional Memberships

Michigan Bar Association
Otsego County Bar Association
Defense Research Institute of America

Bradley S. Bensinger

Born April 26, 1974

B.A. Albion College, 1996

J.D. Detroit College of Law at Michigan State University, Magna Cum Laude,1999

Joined the Firm in August 1999, with present emphasis on workers compensation, automobile negligence, first party and general civil defense.
Listed in the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers.
Recreational interests include hunting, team roping, rodeo, golf, and skiing.

Community Activities

Michigan Bar Association
Otsego County Bar Association
Michigan Defense Trial Counsel

Professional Memberships

James W. Heller

Born January 6, 1986

B.S. Arizona State University, 2008

J.D. University of San Diego, School of Law, 2020

Joined the firm in January 2022. Present emphasis on civil defense litigation and general practice matters. James defends insurance coverage disputes surrounding Michigan No-Fault law and premises liabilty, while his general practice facilitates small business growth and development across Northern Michigan through corporate governance and formation, contractual matters, and closely held transactions.

Community Activities

Recreational interests include friends & family activities, youth sports, and Northern Michigan's abundance of golf & ski access.

Professional Memberships

Michigan Bar Association
San Diego (CA) Bar Association

William J. Maynard

Born September 20, 1961

B.S. Central Michigan University, Magna Cum Laude, 1983

J.D. University of Toledo College of Law, 1986

Joined the Firm in December 1991, after being affiliated with a defense firm in Marquette, Michigan. Present emphasis on property loss litigation (fire loss), insurance law, automobile negligence, no fault, dram shop and premises liability defense.
Has been a speaker/presenter at insurance-related and I.C.L.E. Seminars.
Listed in the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers

Community Activities

Member, Marquette Elks Club (Presently serving as presiding justice of subordinate forum), Father Marquette Catholic School System Member and Volunteer.
Recreational interests include sports, music and family related activities.

Professional Memberships

Michigan Bar Association
Marquette County Bar Association
American Bar Association
Michigan Defense Trial Counsel
The Defense Research Institute
International Association of Arson Investigators (Michigan Chapter)
U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan, Northern Division
Member, Blue Goose Insurance Organization (U.P. Puddle)

Glenn W. Smith

Born August 6, 1956

B.S. Michigan Technological University, 1978

M.B.A. Pepperdine University, 1982

J.D. Loyola Law School - Los Angeles, 1989

Registered Professional Engineer since 1982

Joined the Firm in December 1992, formerly associated with another litigation defense firm in Marquette, Michigan. Emphasis in products liability, patent law, no-fault litigation, environmental law and general business matters.
Registered Patent Attorney
Martindale Hubbell AV Rated
Listed in the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers
Recreational interests include sports, outdoor activities and family.

Professional Memberships

Michigan Bar Association
Marquette County Bar Association
American Bar Association
American Society of Mechanical Engineers
Professional Engineer

Roger W. Zappa

Born May 21, 1959

B.S. Michigan Technological University, 1981

J.D. University of Michigan, 1984

Joined the Firm in May 1996, after twelve years of litigation practice in diverse fields in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Present emphasis on auto negligence defense, premises and products liability, first party no-fault, insurance law, subrogation, general litigation, estate planning and workers compensation.
Listed in the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers

Community Activities

Chairman: Marquette First United Methodist Church Administrative Board.
Has provided support and given presentations to Marquette Alzheimer's Support Association.
Recreational interests include antique and special interest automobiles, woodworking, bicycling, cross country skiing and family related activities.

Professional Memberships

Michigan Bar Association
Marquette County Bar Association
Member of the Bar of the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals

Casey J. Majestic

Born February 28, 1978

B.A. Northern Michigan University, 2001

J.D. Thomas M. Cooley Law School, 2011

Joined the firm in January, 2023, after being involved in a number of roles including in-house counsel for a large insurer and an attorney at a prominent plaintiff’s personal injury firm. Present emphasis is on automobile negligence, no-fault, premises liability and general civil litigation, as well as providing counsel to indigent individuals in Probate Court.

Community Activities

Recreational interests include family related activities and outdoor activities.

Professional Memberships

Michigan Bar Association
Marquette County Bar Association
Federal Bar, Western District of Michigan
Federal Bar, Eastern District of Michigan
Federal Tax Bar

Richard G. Bensinger

May 30, 1948 - March 3, 2012

B.A. Albion College, 1970

J.D. University of Detroit Law School, 1973

Rick formed Bensinger, Cotant & Menkes, P.C. in 1978, and the firm has been a fixture on Main Street in Gaylord ever since. He took great pride in the practice of law and had a deep love and respect for all of those that he had the pleasure of working with. Over the years, Rick took an active role serving numerous organizations and boards in the community as well as coaching his share of youth teams. He was incredibly generous, and practiced life and law with honesty, professionalism and integrity. Rick loved the outdoors and spent his most cherished times in the Pigeon River Country at deer camp with sons, grandchildren and his "camp family." He is dearly missed but his legacy lives on.

Community Activities

Past member of the Board of Trustees of Otsego Memorial Hospital, Gaylord Education Foundation, First United Methodist Church, Alpenfest, and Gaylord Opportunity Center Sheltered Workshop. Former Big Brother-Big Sister, and Former Campaign Co-Chairman of Otsego County United Way.

James C. Cotant

January 2, 1943 - October 17, 2011

B.S. Xavier University, Ohio, 1966

J.D. Detroit College of Law, 1971

Jim moved to Gaylord in 1974 and served as the Otsego County Prosecutor before joining the Firm in 1985. He practiced law actively for 37 years until four days before his death. Jim was a skilled lawyer and mentor, and was highly respected by everyone who knew him. Jim was a gifted mediator, helping those involved in conflicts resolve their disputes and start the process of healing. His reputation for fairness, honesty and diplomacy followed him wherever he traveled. He was extremely giving and unselfish, and volunteered extensively to the community. In 2010, Jim was the recipient of the Roberts P. Hudson Award, the highest award conferred by the State Bar of Michigan, on an attorney who exemplifies unselfishness and generosity, given in a spirit of self-sacrifice and with honor, esteem and respect.

Community Activities

Former Vice President Otsego Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees; Former Chairman, Board of Directors for Alpine Regional Education Center; Former Board of Directors, Otsego Memorial Hospital Foundation; Former President, Gaylord Rotary Club; Former Prosecuting Attorney; Former Board of Directors, United Way, Big Brother-Big Sister and Gaylord St. Mary Cathedral Parish Council; Former State Bar of Michigan Representative Assembly; Past President of 46th Judicial Circuit Bar Association.