Criminal Law

• Criminal Defense
  Anne Buckleitner puts her more than 30 years in government and law to work for clients in the areas of civil rights, employment law, criminal defense, facilitative mediation and neutral workplace investigations. She litigates in both federal and state courts. Anne is an accomplished litigator and counselor, an experienced problem solver and a strong advocate. Through negotiation, litigation and mediation, Anne identifies and obtains the best possible results for her clients. Anne makes good communication with her clients a priority.
• DUI/DWI
  Every year, hundreds of people are injured and some are killed in car accidents across West Michigan. In 2020, there were nine fatal accidents and 236 accidents causing injury in Cass County, with common causes being driver distraction and drunk driving. If a negligent driver has left you with injuries, a Cass County car accident lawyer can help you pursue maximum compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and other damages.
• Wrongful Death
  If you’ve been left injured or disabled in a crash involving a commercial vehicle, the truck accident attorneys at Conybeare Law Office will fight for the financial recovery you need and deserve. We have the highest verdict ever in Cass County – $1,914,000 – in a truck accident case that ended in a wrongful death.
• Traffic Violations
  The number of fatalities caused by truck accidents is higher than any other type of road accident. Trucks are much larger than passenger vehicles, so they can inflict catastrophic injuries like broken bones, spinal cord injuries, and traumatic brain injuries. Fatigued, distracted, and speeding drivers cause most truck accidents, so if you’ve been injured, let the truck accident lawyers at Conybeare Law Office hold the at-fault parties accountable.
• Sex Crimes
  Actions by police including sexual assault, shootings, the use of clubs or tasers, the use of pepper spray that causes burns on the skin or eyes, and the use of racial slurs or epithets may be police brutality. The courts recognize that sometimes a use of force is necessary to protect a police officer’s safety or the safety of bystanders, but in other cases, law enforcement officers may abuse their authority and cause serious injuries to a suspect or witness. Police officers should not consider themselves above the law and are not entitled to abuse others as part of their job.
• Misdemeanors
  While Bob was building his career, he was building a family as well. After welcoming their first two children, Bob and his wife decided to relocate from Chicago to southwest Michigan. This is where they first met and where Bob was born and spent his summers. He challenged himself by switching from civil to criminal litigation, joining the Berrien County Public Defender Office in 2019. In the three and a half years he practiced criminal defense, he honed his litigation skills representing over 600 clients charged with misdemeanor and felony violations. He successfully defended multiple clients securing not guilty verdict at trial.
• Assault
• Homicide
  When there is a deadly car accident, a tragic suicide or the devastating homicide of a family member in Berrien County, sheriff deputies are often the first on the scene. “These are the worst moments in peoples’ lives,” said Berrien County Sheriff Paul Bailey. “They need comfort and compassion. We are fortunate to have volunteer...

Employment Law

• Workers Compensation
  When she joined Conybeare Law Office, Sasha was introduced to Michigan Workers Compensation and quickly discovered that injured workers often needed an attorney to stand up for them against the insurance companies trying to deny their benefits. Her work in this area has been recognized by the top publications in the field. She was selected to the Inaugural edition of The Best Lawyers in America©: Ones to Watch 2021 for Claimants Workers’ Compensation Law and again in 2022. She was also selected to the 2021 Michigan Rising Stars list by Super Lawyers.
• Wrongful Termination
  In 2019, Anne Buckleitner from St. Joseph joined Conybeare Law Office, bringing 30 years of experience in civil rights, employment law, facilitative mediation, and neutral workplace investigations. She entered the profession not knowing exactly where it would take her, but it has led her to fighting back against bullies. With her addition to the team, people in Southwest Michigan now have a local firm to represent them in wrongful termination, discrimination, sexual harassment at work and at school, police brutality, and wrongful convictions.
• Employment Discrimination
  School districts that receive federal funding must ensure that all students have equal access to education. Schools’ responsibilities are created by a federal statute called “Title IX.” For example, if a teacher or another student has sexually harassed a student, the school is responsible for taking action to ensure that the harassment does not interfere with the student’s access to education. A school may be legally responsible if it knows about and is deliberately indifferent to sex discrimination on its campus or in its programs or activities. Schools are also required to evaluate their policies and practices, adopt and publish a policy against sex discrimination, and implement grievance procedures providing for a prompt and equitable resolution of student and employee sex discrimination complaints. In addition, schools must publicly appoint at least one employee to coordinate their compliance with the law (usually called a “Title IX Coordinator”).
• Employment Contract
  Some employees may have a claim for breach of contract. If an employee is not an “at-will employee” and instead has a contract agreeing that the employee may be fired only for certain reasons (such as committing financial malfeasance or gross misconduct), the employer may fire the employee only for those reasons. Otherwise, the employee may have a claim for breach of employment contract.
• Severance Agreement
  If the circumstances of your firing suggest that it might have been illegal, you may want to consult with an employment lawyer. A lawyer can review the facts and assess whether you have any potential legal claims. If so, a lawyer can help you think through what you want to do (if anything) to assert your rights. For example, you might want to try to negotiate a severance package, demand a settlement, or file administrative charges or a lawsuit against the employer. On the other hand, you may decide it makes more sense just to move on. But the only way to know for sure how strong your claims are and what options you have is to talk to a lawyer.
• Sexual Harassment
  You may be able to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights (OCR) and/or a lawsuit in court if your rights have been violated under Title IX. If you are an employee who has experienced sexual harassment or assault, you may also be able to file a complaint with the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission (EEOC) or the Michigan Department of Civil Rights.

Property Law

• Premises Liability
  Bruce and Barry’s work together grew Conybeare Law Office to be the largest full-service personal injury law firm in Southwest Michigan. We represent victims of automobile accidents, medical malpractice, defective products, premises liability, animal attacks, recreational accidents involving boats and ATVs, and almost any other manner in which people are hurt by the negligence of another. Conybeare Law Office has employed many of the area’s top lawyers at different points in their careers. We are proud to have worked with and learned from Kevin Haight, Robert Ehrenberg, and Michael Marrs on personal injury matters until their retirement.
• Property Damage
  The Kalamazoo truck accident lawyers at Conybeare Law Office aren’t deterred by commercial truck insurers and their attorneys. We use our legal skills to help ensure that you receive a fair settlement for your medical bills, wage loss, property damage, and pain and suffering. To schedule a free consultation with a Kalamazoo car accident lawyer, contact our office today. We represent clients throughout Kalamazoo County, Berrien County, Cass County, Van Buren County, and West Michigan.

Health Law

• Personal Injury
  Conybeare Law Office was founded by Benton Harbor native Bruce Conybeare. Bruce handled a variety of legal matters since starting his practice in the 1960s. By the 1980s, the firm was the largest insurance defense firm in Southwest Michigan. In 1984, Bruce decided that specializing in plaintiff’s personal injury law would best serve the community. He was well known for his successful jury trial work in the personal injury field, as he was willing to fight insurance companies and corporate defendants for the money his clients deserved.
• Medical Malpractice
  When you’re a victim of medical malpractice it comes as a shock to you. An error, a careless oversight or professional negligence has hurt you or damaged or destroyed the life of a loved one. Now, because of the injury, you need a way to cushion its impact upon you and your family. You quickly discover it is not a level playing field.
• Auto Accidents
• Social Security Disability
  Bruce retired in 2005 and Barry has led the firm since. Under Barry’s leadership, Conybeare Law Office expanded its practice areas to meet the needs of Southwest Michigan. In 2009, Conybeare Law Office merged with Smit & Kragt, the pre-eminent Workers’ Compensation and Social Security Disability law firm serving Southwest Michigan.
• Dog Bites
  After law school, Bob focused his efforts on helping people navigate the complicated processes that come after suffering an injury at the hands of another. He represented individuals injured in automobile collisions, dog bites, and premises liability actions. He worked closely with his clients, their healthcare providers, billers, health insurance companies, and liability insurers to resolve claims, and took cases to trial when appropriate. Notably, he secured a jury verdict on a disputed liability case after his client, a bicyclist, was hit by a car turning right on a red light. The verdict was over two times more than the last settlement offer.