For over 27 years Henry Emrich has successfully defended insurance and non-insurance clients in law suits involving general liability, first and third party auto litigation, products liability, first party arson and fraud litigation, and first and third party subrogation litigation. Mr. Emrich has also defended environmental disputes involving mold and toxic torts.

From 1982 to 1984, Mr. Emrich was an Assistant Kent County Prosecutor, Criminal Division and Chief of Fraud Prosecution.  He was employed as corporate counsel for Amway Corporation from 1984 – 1987 and has been in private practice since then as trial counsel for numerous insurance companies, corporations and individuals. Mr. Emrich was Vice Chairman from 1983-1984, Chairman from 1984-1985 of the Young Lawyers Section of the Grand Rapids Bar Association and a Trustee from 1986-1988 of the Grand Rapids Bar Association.  He has served terms on the Practice and Procedure Committee, Membership Committee and Pro Bono Committee of the Grand Rapids Bar Association.  Mr. Emrich was a recipient of the Bancroft Whitney American Jurisprudence Award three times while in law school, has authored “The New Michigan Drunk Driving Laws – 1983” published by Professional Education Systems, Inc., 1983 and developed a manual for the prosecution of Welfare Fraud based on a model he developed that was used throughout the country.

Mr. Emrich received his B.A. with honors from Grand Valley State College in 1974 and received his law degree, cum laude, from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in 1978. He was admitted to the Michigan Bar in 1979 and practices throughout state and federal courts in Michigan.  Mr. Emrich is a member of the Grand Rapids Bar Association, State Bar of Michigan, Federal Bar Association, Defense Research Institute and Michigan Defense Trial Counsel.

Mr. Emrich has also been involved in numerous community endeavors including the Thornapple Valley Little League, Forest Hills Hockey Association, Forest Hills Athletic Boosters as board member and president and most recently, as board member, counsel to the board, and past president of the Boys and Girls Club of Grand Rapids Youth Commonwealth.

Henry S. Emrich was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He received his B.A. with honors from Grand Valley State College in 1974 and received his law degree, cum laude, from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in 1978. He was admitted to the Michigan Bar in 1979 and practices throughout state and federal courts in Michigan.  Mr. Emrich is a member of the Grand Rapids Bar Association, State Bar of Michigan, Federal Bar Association, Defense Research Institute and Michigan Defense Trial Counsel.  Mr. Emrich concentrates his practice in the areas of general liability defense, first and third party litigation, subrogation litigation, first party arson and fraud litigation and products liability defense.

From 1982 to 1984, Mr. Emrich was an Assistant Kent County Prosecutor, Criminal Division and Chief of Fraud Prosecution.  He was employed as corporate counsel for Amway Corporation from 1984 – 1987 and has been in private practice since then as trial counsel for numerous insurance companies, corporations and individuals. Mr. Emrich was Vice Chairman from 1983-1984, Chairman from 1984-1985 of the Young Lawyers Section of the Grand Rapids Bar Association and a Trustee from 1986-1988 of the Grand Rapids Bar Association .  He has served terms on the Practice and Procedure Committee, Membership Committee and Pro Bono Committee of the Grand Rapids Bar Association.  Mr. Emrich was a recipient of the Bancroft Whitney American Jurisprudence Award three times while in law school, has authored “The New Michigan Drunk Driving Laws – 1983” published by Professional Education Systems, Inc., 1983 and developed a manual for the prosecution of Welfare Fraud based on a model he developed that was used throughout the country.

Mr. Emrich has also been involved in numerous community endeavors including the Thornapple Valley Little League, Forest Hills Hockey Association, Forest Hills Athletic Boosters as board member and president and most recently, as board member, counsel to the board, and past president of the Boys and Girls Club of Grand Rapids Youth Commonwealth.

Henry S. Emrich was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He received his B.A. with honors from Grand Valley State College in 1974 and received his law degree, cum laude, from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in 1978. He was admitted to the Michigan Bar in 1979 and practices throughout state and federal courts in Michigan.  Mr. Emrich is a member of the Grand Rapids Bar Association, State Bar of Michigan, Federal Bar Association, Defense Research Institute and Michigan Defense Trial Counsel.  Mr. Emrich concentrates his practice in the areas of general liability defense, first and third party litigation, subrogation litigation, first party arson and fraud litigation and products liability defense.  As a member of the Firm’s Malpractice/Professional Liability Practice Group, Mr. Emrich is also well-experienced in representing clients in error and omissions claims that may arise when applicable standards in a variety of disciplines are alleged to have been violated.

From 1982 to 1984, Mr. Emrich was an Assistant Kent County Prosecutor, Criminal Division and Chief of Fraud Prosecution.  He was employed as corporate counsel for Amway Corporation from 1984 – 1987 and has been in private practice since then as trial counsel for numerous insurance companies, corporations and individuals. Mr. Emrich was Vice Chairman from 1983-1984, Chairman from 1984-1985 of the Young Lawyers Section of the Grand Rapids Bar Association and a Trustee from 1986-1988 of the Grand Rapids Bar Association .  He has served terms on the Practice and Procedure Committee, Membership Committee and Pro Bono Committee of the Grand Rapids Bar Association.  Mr. Emrich was a recipient of the Bancroft Whitney American Jurisprudence Award three times while in law school, has authored “The New Michigan Drunk Driving Laws – 1983” published by Professional Education Systems, Inc., 1983 and developed a manual for the prosecution of Welfare Fraud based on a model he developed that was used throughout the country.

Mr. Emrich has also been involved in numerous community endeavors including the Thornapple Valley Little League, Forest Hills Hockey Association, Forest Hills Athletic Boosters as board member and president and most recently, as board member, counsel to the board, and past president of the Boys and Girls Club of Grand Rapids Youth Commonwealth.

Henry S. Emrich was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He received his B.A. with honors from Grand Valley State College in 1974 and received his law degree, cum laude, from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in 1978. He was admitted to the Michigan Bar in 1979 and practices throughout state and federal courts in Michigan.  Mr. Emrich is a member of the Grand Rapids Bar Association, State Bar of Michigan, Federal Bar Association, Defense Research Institute and Michigan Defense Trial Counsel.  Mr. Emrich concentrates his practice in the areas of general liability defense, first and third party litigation, subrogation litigation, first party arson and fraud litigation and products liability defense.

From 1982 to 1984, Mr. Emrich was an Assistant Kent County Prosecutor, Criminal Division and Chief of Fraud Prosecution.  He was employed as corporate counsel for Amway Corporation from 1984 – 1987 and has been in private practice since then as trial counsel for numerous insurance companies, corporations and individuals. Mr. Emrich was Vice Chairman from 1983-1984, Chairman from 1984-1985 of the Young Lawyers Section of the Grand Rapids Bar Association and a Trustee from 1986-1988 of the Grand Rapids Bar Association .  He has served terms on the Practice and Procedure Committee, Membership Committee and Pro Bono Committee of the Grand Rapids Bar Association.  Mr. Emrich was a recipient of the Bancroft Whitney American Jurisprudence Award three times while in law school, has authored “The New Michigan Drunk Driving Laws – 1983” published by Professional Education Systems, Inc., 1983 and developed a manual for the prosecution of Welfare Fraud based on a model he developed that was used throughout the country.

Mr. Emrich has also been involved in numerous community endeavors including the Thornapple Valley Little League, Forest Hills Hockey Association, Forest Hills Athletic Boosters as board member and president and most recently, as board member, counsel to the board, and past president of the Boys and Girls Club of Grand Rapids Youth Commonwealth.

Mr. Emrich concentrates his practice in the areas of subrogation litigation, first party arson and fraud litigation, general liability defense, first and third party litigation, and products liability defense.

Since joining Secrest Wardle, Mr. Emrich has successfully litigated numerous subrogation cases both from a plaintiff and defense perspective.  He has served as an arbitrator and facilitative mediator for attorneys handling these cases when he is not involved as counsel for either party.  He has also presented seminars to numerous insurance clients dealing with the proper handling of property losses so as to promptly determine the cause of the loss, whether the loss is covered in whole or in part, and if so, whether there are other persons or entities who may be responsible for causing the loss.  Mr. Emrich has been a frequent presenter on these matters as well as other insurance-related issues at the Insurance Institute of Michigan.

Henry S. Emrich was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.  He received his B.A. with honors from Grand Valley State College in 1974 and received his law degree, cum laude, from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in 1978.  He was admitted to the Michigan Bar in 1979, and practices throughout state and federal courts in Michigan.  Mr. Emrich is a member of the Grand Rapids Bar Association, State Bar of Michigan, Federal Bar Association, Defense Research Institute, and Michigan Defense Trial Counsel.

From 1982 to 1984, Mr. Emrich was an Assistant Kent County Prosecutor, Criminal Division and Chief of Fraud Prosecution.  He was employed as corporate counsel for Amway Corporation from 1984 to 1987, and has been in private practice since that time as trial counsel for numerous insurance companies, corporations, and individuals.

Mr. Emrich was Vice Chairman from 1983-1984, Chairman from 1984-1985 of the Young Lawyers Section of the Grand Rapids Bar Association and a Trustee from 1986-1988 of the Grand Rapids Bar Association.  He has served terms on the Practice and Procedure Committee, Membership Committee, and Pro Bono Committee of the Grand Rapids Bar Association.  Mr. Emrich was a recipient of the Bancroft Whitney American Jurisprudence Award three times while in law school, has authored The New Michigan Drunk Driving Laws – 1983 published by Professional Education Systems, Inc., and developed a manual for the prosecution of Welfare Fraud based on a model he developed that was used throughout the country.

Mr. Emrich has also been involved in numerous community endeavors including the Thornapple Valley Little League, Forest Hills Hockey Association, Forest Hills Athletic Boosters as board member and president and most recently, as board member, counsel to the board, and past president of the Boys and Girls Club of Grand Rapids Youth Commonwealth.

Henry S. Emrich was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He received his B.A. with honors from Grand Valley State College in 1974 and received his law degree, cum laude, from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in 1978. He was admitted to the Michigan Bar in 1979 and practices throughout state and federal courts in Michigan.  Mr. Emrich is a member of the Grand Rapids Bar Association, State Bar of Michigan, Federal Bar Association, Defense Research Institute, and Michigan Defense Trial Counsel.

Mr. Emrich concentrates his practice in the areas of general liability defense, first and third party litigation, subrogation litigation, first party arson and fraud litigation, and products liability defense.  Mr. Emrich has additionally defended significant trucking cases for his insurance clients.  He has handled the investigation of several truck accident-related matters involving serious injury and death.

Henry Emrich is a proponent of a thorough approach when defending trucking accident claims, including getting to the scene as soon as possible to make sure the client’s driver and interests are protected, to coordinate the investigation of the case, and to evaluate the need for and retain appropriate experts.  Given the significant forces involved in a truck accident, oftentimes there is the need to secure a bio-mechanical expert as part of the team to assist in defending such claims.

From 1982 to 1984, Mr. Emrich was an Assistant Kent County Prosecutor, Criminal Division and Chief of Fraud Prosecution.  He was employed as corporate counsel for Amway Corporation from 1984 – 1987 and has been in private practice since then as trial counsel for numerous insurance companies, corporations and individuals. Mr. Emrich was Vice Chairman from 1983-1984, Chairman from 1984-1985 of the Young Lawyers Section of the Grand Rapids Bar Association and a Trustee from 1986-1988 of the Grand Rapids Bar Association.  He has served terms on the Practice and Procedure Committee, Membership Committee and Pro Bono Committee of the Grand Rapids Bar Association.  Mr. Emrich was a recipient of the Bancroft Whitney American Jurisprudence Award three times while in law school, has authored, The New Michigan Drunk Driving Laws – 1983 published by Professional Education Systems, Inc., and developed a manual for the prosecution of Welfare Fraud based on a model he developed that was used throughout the country.

Mr. Emrich has also been involved in numerous community endeavors including the Thornapple Valley Little League, Forest Hills Hockey Association, Forest Hills Athletic Boosters as board member and president and most recently, as board member, counsel to the board, and past president of the Boys and Girls Club of Grand Rapids Youth Commonwealth.

Notable Trucking Cases:

Mr. Emrich settled a matter in which he represented the driver and business that owned a large truck that turned in front of a motorcyclist who was traveling at a high rate of speed and was seriously injured.  Plaintiff’s demand was $2 million prior to suit. The case was evaluated for $750,000, which Mr. Emrich and his client rejected. The matter was ultimately settled for $450,000 shortly before trial, as Mr. Emrich had a $2 million limit and a collectible client.