Charles R. Ash III

Senior Shareholder
toll free: 1-800-967-1234
phone: (248) 746-4035
fax: (248) 936-2115

 

Mr. Ash is a senior shareholder at Sommers Schwartz, P.C. He represents clients in multiple counties through the State of Michigan and Federal courts, where on behalf on his clients he has negotiated hundreds of substantial settlements to compensate them for their loss or injury. He has an outstanding trial record obtaining multiple million dollar verdicts.

From the time he graduated high school and he wanted to become a lawyer.  After graduating from college, he accepted a teaching and coaching position which continued for 17 years.  During that time, he served as the President and Chief Negotiator for the Teachers’ Union and acted as their advocate. Based upon this experience, his interest in becoming a lawyer was rekindled.  Upon passing the bar in 1985, he joined Sommers Schwartz and began advocating for accident victims and clients with substandard medical care. He continues to find satisfaction in advocating for the underdog against big insurance companies and corporations helping clients seek compensation for the injuries they have wrongfully sustained.

When not practicing law, he enjoys spending time with his family traveling and enjoying his cottage in northern Michigan.

As a strong supporter of athletics, Mr. Ash is a major contributor to the Eastern Michigan University Foundation Fund to provide scholarship aide to the athletic department. It is one way in which he can give back to the University for the athletic scholarship that he received to attend EMU.

 

Education:
 - Detroit College of Law, JD
 - Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, Michigan Master of Art, Educational Administration, MA
 - Eastern Michigan University, Bachelors in Business Administration, BBA
 - Eastern Michigan University, Secondary Certificate, Business Education 

 

- Medical Malpractice
- Personal Injury

Litigation Percentage:
- 90% of Practice Devoted to Litigation

- State of Michigan, 1985

Honors and Awards:

 - Winner, Detroit College of Law, Freshman Oral
   Advocacy Competition

 - Semi-Finalist, Detroit College of Law,
   Moot Court Competition

 - Inter-school Competitor, Wagner Labor
   Law Competition - Oralist (2 years)

 - Executive Director, Moot Court Program

 - Member Moot Court Board (2 years)

 - Super Lawyer 2009 

 

 Professional Associations and Memberships:

 - Detroit Bar Association
 - Oakland County Bar Association
 - Michigan Association for Justice
 - American Association for Justice
 - American Bar Association 

 

Significant settlements/verdicts :

 - Asper v Municipality - $4.5 million (S) - Auto negligence, brain injury   

 - John Doe v Defendant Hospital - $2.5 million (S) - Medical negligence

- Knott v St. Joseph Hospital physicians - $1.5 million (V) Medical negligence

- Dorton v Defendant Hospital - $1.1 million (V) - Pediatric death, emergency room

- Spira/Clemons v Manufacturer - $4.5 million - Product liability, wrongful death