Family Law

• Adoption

Criminal Law

• Assault
• Arson
  Radu v. Herndon & Herndon Investigations, Inc., 302 Mich. App. 363: Plaintiff was denied insurance coverage after an investigation, by Defendant Herndon & Herndon Investigations, declared his car caught fire because of arson. Plaintiff brought claims against the insurance company and Herndon, but settled with the insurance company. A Motion for Summary Disposition was successfully obtained on behalf of Defendant Herndon in the Oakland County Circuit Court, for two reasons, 1) The Court decided Herndon was an agent within the meaning of the release language in the settlement with the insurance company; and 2) Herndon had statutory immunity under MCL 29.4(6) because their fire investigation report was without fraud and was filed without malice.

Business and Corporate Law

• Corporate Law
  The business lawyers at the law offices of Kaufman, Payton & Chapa work with business interests from sole proprietors to mid-sized and larger companies. We handle a wide range of legal matters for a wide variety of business clients, from initial corporate formation to resolving the legal challenges businesses face in day-to-day operations.
• Business Disputes
  Business law and litigation: Kaufman, Payton & Chapa attorneys have real-world business experience as entrepreneurs and within corporations. This deepens our understanding of the issues our clients face. We provide comprehensive business law services from planning, corporate formation, contracts and transactional work to commercial litigation. Of course, we also handle insurance-related matters, such as ERISA and self-funded benefit plans.
• Construction Contracts

Employment Law

• Workers Compensation
• Wrongful Termination
• Employment Contract
  Contract law: We negotiate, draft and review all contracts necessary for the functioning of a business, including real estate contracts and lease agreements, employment contracts, vendor contracts, client contracts, etc.
• Non-compete Agreement
  Employment law: We advise clients on employment contracts, non-compete agreements, employee training, employee handbooks, and other aspects of employment law.

Property Law

• Real Estate Litigation
  If you have a real estate dispute, contact one of our Michigan law offices to schedule a consultation with an experienced Michigan real estate trial attorney. Our firm handles property law and real estate litigation in cases such as...
• Premises Liability
  At Kaufman, Payton & Chapa, we defend businesses in response to premises liability claims for personal injuries suffered on or around the business property. An accident on your business property can expose you to substantial liability for injuries, or deaths that occur. If you are facing a claim for premises liability, it is important to have an experienced and knowledgeable attorney to protect your interests. Contact us to get in touch with someone who can help you.
• Construction Litigation
  In November of 1990, Ms. Szoke was admitted into the State Bar of Michigan. She has over 28 years of litigation experience in the areas of first party no-fault claims, premises liability, products liability, construction litigation, medical malpractice, employment law, and appellate work. Ms. Szoke has also published extensively in the area of health care litigation.
• Eminent Domain
  Real estate law and litigation: Our firm provides litigation services for clients with real estate disputes in cases involving construction contracts, construction defect claims, errors and omissions, and eminent domain. We also provide some real estate transactional services.

Immigration Law

• Citizenship and Naturalization

Health Law

• Personal Injury
  Claims for premises liability may be covered under a general insurance policy. Our Farmington Hills premises liability lawyers have extensive experience dealing with insurance companies effectively communicating between our clients and their insurance representatives. We have successfully defended many businesses against claims of premises liability. You are not responsible for injuries that could not reasonably have been prevented. If you need an attorney to defend your business in a personal injury case, contact us today to schedule a consultation. From trip and fall cases, to assaults that occur on your property, you need a strong and talented law firm on your side.
• Medical Malpractice
  As a former member of Ford Motor Company's corporate legal team, Sue Kaufman brings a wealth of commercial and civil litigation experience to the firm. Since joining Kaufman and Payton, Kaufman has specialized in medical malpractice law, products liability and libel and slander issues.

Trusts and Estates

• Estate Planning
  Our real estate litigation practice dovetails with our work in professional liability, in that we defend realtors and agents, builders, architects and engineers in professional malpractice cases.
• Probate

Finance Law

• Foreclosure
  New Jerusalem Deliverance Church v. Rabette, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 42901: Plaintiff claimed that a foreclosure and sale of its property after a default on its loan was a deprivation of its rights. A Motion for Summary Judgment in favor of Defendants, including the Oakland County Sheriff, was successfully obtained in the US District Court, Eastern District, Southern Division because the court held that the action by the special deputy was not a state action and therefore there was no claim to be made under 42 USCS 1983.
• Tax Law
  Estate planning and probate: Estate planning, tax planning, gifting, charitable giving, and business succession planning are among the services provided by our estate planning and probate group.