Mark Morley was admitted to the practice of law in 1972. He joined Secrest Wardle in 1978, after six years in a business and commercial practice, and as a member of the legal staff of a major insurance company. During his career as a litigator, he tried more than 60 jury trials to verdict as well as numerous bench trials. The litigation covered a range of issues including product liability, construction, premises, auto, no-fault and insurance coverage.

In 1996, he was accorded the AV Preeminent rating by Martindale-Hubbell, a rating that he has held continuously for the past 27 years. He was initially named a Super Lawyer in 1996, a designation he continues to hold in the Civil Litigation – Defense category.

Best Lawyers in America first elected him as a member in 2015. He was named a Lawyer of the Year in 2018 and 2022. And in 2020, he was selected as a member of Michigan Lawyers’ Weekly Hall of Fame, Class of 2020.

He is a member of the State Bar of Michigan, admitted to practice in all State and Federal courts, the USDC – Eastern District of Michigan, the USDC – Northern District of Indiana and the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. He is a member of the Defense Research Institute (DRI), the Michigan Defense Trial Counsel (MDTC) and the Claims Litigation Management (CLM) organizations.

His alternative dispute resolution/mediation experience begins with 47 years as a member of the Negligence Panel of the American Arbitration Association, 45 years as a mediator in Wayne County (Detroit) Circuit Court and 38 years as a mediator in Oakland County (Pontiac) Circuit Court.

In 2015, he began to increase his work as a facilitator and has been working as both a court-appointed and independent facilitator since then. He has successfully facilitated cases involving various tort and first party no-fault claims, including catastrophic injury claims. He also has facilitated commercial and business claims.

With four decades of successful courtroom experience, Mark Morley has made a name for himself as an excellent defense litigator and an aggressive defender of his clients’ interests. Having tried in excess of sixty jury trials to verdict, he not only knows what the inside of a courtroom looks like, he knows how to develop and sustain a winning defense strategy.

Mr. Morley has authored numerous seminar materials in the areas of insurance law, extra contractual claims, no-fault and tort reform as well as co-authoring Professional Practice Alternatives, R & R Newkirk (1978). Additionally, he has authored many articles for Firm newsletters, and is a frequent speaker at Firm-sponsored seminars on topics such as No-Fault, Personal Injury Claims, and Tort Reform in Michigan. He has also lectured for the Institute of Continuing Legal Education.

Mr. Morley received a Juris Doctor from the University of Notre Dame Law School in 1972 and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Alma College in 1969. He was admitted to the State Bar of Michigan in 1972 and subsequently admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan in 1973, the U. S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana in 1974, and the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in 1985.

From 2015 to the present, Mr. Morley has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America© and for 2021 has been listed in the Commercial Litigation, Insurance Law, Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants, Litigation – Insurance, and Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants categories in Troy, Michigan. He was also named Best Lawyers^® 2018 Litigation – Insurance “Lawyer of the Year” in Troy, Michigan. Mr. Morley maintains an AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rating by Martindale-Hubbell. He was selected by his peers to Super Lawyers Magazine’s list of Michigan Super Lawyers in 2006 and 2009 to the present. In 2019, he was listed in the area of Civil Litigation – Defense. Additionally, he has been listed in the Super Lawyers Business Edition in the area of Civil Litigation – Defense. Mr. Morley has been included in dbusiness magazine’s list of “Top Lawyers in Metro Detroit” in 2010, 2016, 2017, 2019, and 2020. In 2020, he was listed in the Insurance Law category. He is an active member of the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance, the Defense Research Institute, and the International Association of Defense Counsel. In 2015, Mr. Morley was honored for his outstanding legal career and inducted into Worldwide Registry.

Mr. Morley has provided defense on claims based on the following:

• At-will employment
• Hostile work environment
• Retaliation
• Elliot Larson Act
• Whistleblower Protection Act
• Family Medical Leave Act

Mark Morley serves as a member the Insurance Coverage Practice Group. With four decades of successful courtroom experience, Mr. Morley has made a name for himself as an excellent defense litigator and an aggressive defender of his clients’ interests. Having tried in excess of sixty jury trials to verdict, he not only knows what the inside of a courtroom looks like, he knows how to develop and sustain a winning defense strategy.

Mr. Morley has authored numerous seminar materials in the areas of insurance law, extra contractual claims, no-fault and tort reform as well as co-authoring Professional Practice Alternatives, R & R Newkirk (1978). Additionally, he has authored many articles for Firm newsletters, and is a frequent speaker at Firm-sponsored seminars on topics such as No-Fault, Personal Injury Claims, and Tort Reform in Michigan. He has also lectured for the Institute of Continuing Legal Education.

Mr. Morley received a Juris Doctor from the University of Notre Dame Law School in 1972 and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Alma College in 1969. He was admitted to the State Bar of Michigan in 1972 and subsequently admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan in 1973, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana in 1974, and the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in 1985.

From 2016 to the present, Mr. Morley has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America© and for 2021 has been listed in the Commercial Litigation, Insurance Law, Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants, Litigation – Insurance, and Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants categories in Troy, Michigan. He was also named Best Lawyers^® 2018 Litigation – Insurance “Lawyer of the Year” in Troy, Michigan. Mr. Morley maintains an AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rating by Martindale-Hubbell. He was selected by his peers to Super Lawyers Magazine’s list of Michigan Super Lawyers in 2006 and 2009 to the present. In 2019, he was listed in the area of Civil Litigation – Defense. Additionally, he has been listed in the Super Lawyers Business Edition in the area of Civil Litigation – Defense. Mr. Morley has been included in dbusiness magazine’s list of “Top Lawyers in Metro Detroit” in 2010, 2016, 2017, 2019, and 2020. In 2020, he was listed in the Insurance Law category. He is an active member of the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance, the Defense Research Institute, and the International Association of Defense Counsel. In 2015, Mr. Morley was honored for his outstanding legal career and inducted into Worldwide Registry.

With four decades of successful courtroom experience, Mark Morley has made a name for himself as an excellent defense litigator and an aggressive defender of his clients’ interests. Having tried in excess of sixty jury trials to verdict, he not only knows what the inside of a courtroom looks like, he knows how to develop and sustain a winning defense strategy.

Mr. Morley has authored numerous seminar materials in the areas of insurance law, extra contractual claims, no-fault and tort reform as well as co-authoring Professional Practice Alternatives, R & R Newkirk (1978). Additionally, he has authored many articles for Firm newsletters, and is a frequent speaker at Firm-sponsored seminars on topics such as No-Fault, Personal Injury Claims, and Tort Reform in Michigan. He has also lectured for the Institute of Continuing Legal Education.

Mr. Morley received a Juris Doctor from the University of Notre Dame Law School in 1972 and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Alma College in 1969. He was admitted to the State Bar of Michigan in 1972 and subsequently admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan in 1973, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana in 1974, and the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in 1985.

From 2016 to the present, Mr. Morley has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America© and for 2021 has been listed in the Commercial Litigation, Insurance Law, Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants, Litigation – Insurance, and Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants categories in Troy, Michigan. He was also named Best Lawyers^® 2018 Litigation – Insurance “Lawyer of the Year” in Troy, Michigan. Mr. Morley maintains an AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rating by Martindale-Hubbell. He was selected by his peers to Super Lawyers Magazine’s list of Michigan Super Lawyers in 2006 and 2009 to the present. In 2019, he was listed in the area of Civil Litigation – Defense. Additionally, he has been listed in the Super Lawyers Business Edition in the area of Civil Litigation – Defense. Mr. Morley has been included in dbusiness magazine’s list of “Top Lawyers in Metro Detroit” in 2010, 2016, 2017, 2019, and 2020. In 2020, he was listed in the Insurance Law category. He is an active member of the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance, the Defense Research Institute, and the International Association of Defense Counsel. In 2015, Mr. Morley was honored for his outstanding legal career and inducted into Worldwide Registry.

With four decades of successful courtroom experience, Mark Morley has made a name for himself as an excellent defense litigator and an aggressive defender of his clients’ interests. Having tried in excess of sixty jury trials to verdict, he not only knows what the inside of a courtroom looks like, he knows how to develop and sustain a winning defense strategy.

Mr. Morley has authored numerous seminar materials in the areas of insurance law, extra contractual claims, no-fault and tort reform as well as co-authoring Professional Practice Alternatives, R & R Newkirk (1978). Additionally, he has authored many articles for Firm newsletters, and is a frequent speaker at Firm-sponsored seminars on topics such as No-Fault, Personal Injury Claims, and Tort Reform in Michigan. He has also lectured for the Institute of Continuing Legal Education.

Mr. Morley received a Juris Doctor from the University of Notre Dame Law School in 1972 and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Alma College in 1969. He was admitted to the State Bar of Michigan in 1972 and subsequently admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan in 1973, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana in 1974, and the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in 1985.

From 2016 to the present, Mr. Morley has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America© and for 2021 has been listed in the Commercial Litigation, Insurance Law, Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants, Litigation – Insurance, and Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants categories in Troy, Michigan. He was also named Best Lawyers^® 2018 Litigation – Insurance “Lawyer of the Year” in Troy, Michigan. Mr. Morley maintains an AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rating by Martindale-Hubbell. He was selected by his peers to Super Lawyers Magazine’s list of Michigan Super Lawyers in 2006 and 2009 to the present. In 2019, he was listed in the area of Civil Litigation – Defense. Additionally, he has been listed in the Super Lawyers Business Edition in the area of Civil Litigation – Defense. Mr. Morley has been included in dbusiness magazine’s list of “Top Lawyers in Metro Detroit” in 2010, 2016, 2017, 2019, and 2020. In 2020, he was listed in the Insurance Law category. He is an active member of the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance, the Defense Research Institute, and the International Association of Defense Counsel. In 2015, Mr. Morley was honored for his outstanding legal career and inducted into Worldwide Registry.

With four decades of successful courtroom experience, Mark Morley has made a name for himself as an excellent defense litigator and an aggressive defender of his clients’ interests. Having tried in excess of sixty jury trials to verdict, he not only knows what the inside of a courtroom looks like, he knows how to develop and sustain a winning defense strategy.

Mr. Morley has authored numerous seminar materials in the areas of insurance law, extra contractual claims, no-fault and tort reform as well as co-authoring Professional Practice Alternatives, R & R Newkirk (1978). Additionally, he has authored many articles for Firm newsletters, and is a frequent speaker at Firm-sponsored seminars on topics such as No-Fault, Personal Injury Claims, and Tort Reform in Michigan. He has also lectured for the Institute of Continuing Legal Education.

Mr. Morley received a Juris Doctor from the University of Notre Dame Law School in 1972 and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Alma College in 1969. He was admitted to the State Bar of Michigan in 1972 and subsequently admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan in 1973, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana in 1974, and the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in 1985.

From 2016 to the present, Mr. Morley has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America© and for 2021 has been listed in the Commercial Litigation, Insurance Law, Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants, Litigation – Insurance, and Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants categories in Troy, Michigan. He was also named Best Lawyers^® 2018 Litigation – Insurance “Lawyer of the Year” in Troy, Michigan. Mr. Morley maintains an AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rating by Martindale-Hubbell. He was selected by his peers to Super Lawyers Magazine’s list of Michigan Super Lawyers in 2006 and 2009 to the present. In 2019, he was listed in the area of Civil Litigation – Defense. Additionally, he has been listed in the Super Lawyers Business Edition in the area of Civil Litigation – Defense. Mr. Morley has been included in dbusiness magazine’s list of “Top Lawyers in Metro Detroit” in 2010, 2016, 2017, 2019, and 2020. In 2020, he was listed in the Insurance Law category. He is an active member of the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance, the Defense Research Institute, and the International Association of Defense Counsel. In 2015, Mr. Morley was honored for his outstanding legal career and inducted into Worldwide Registry.

Mark E. Morley is a Senior Partner and former Co-Chair of the Executive Committee with four decades of successful courtroom experience. Mr. Morley is highly regarded as an excellent defense litigator and an aggressive defender of his clients’ interests. He has tried in excess of 60 jury trials to verdict, and is well-familiar with developing and sustaining winning defense strategies.

In addition to the Trucking/Commercial Vehicle Litigation Practice Group, Mr. Morley is a member of Secrest Wardle’s Motor Vehicle Litigation, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Employment, Insurance Coverage, Malpractice/Professional Liability, and Product Liability Practice Groups. Mark Morley has represented clients in numerous trucking accident cases over the course of his distinguished career.

Mr. Morley has authored numerous seminar materials in the areas of insurance law, extra contractual claims, no-fault and tort reform as well as co-authoring Professional Practice Alternatives, R & R Newkirk (1978). Additionally, he has authored many articles for Firm newsletters, and is a frequent speaker at Firm-sponsored seminars on topics such as No-Fault, Personal Injury Claims, and Tort Reform in Michigan. He has also lectured for the Institute of Continuing Legal Education.

Mr. Morley received a Juris Doctor from the University of Notre Dame Law School in 1972 and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Alma College in 1969. He was admitted to the State Bar of Michigan in 1972 and subsequently admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan in 1973, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana in 1974, and the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in 1985.

From 2016 to the present, Mr. Morley has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America© and for 2021 has been listed in the Commercial Litigation, Insurance Law, Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants, Litigation – Insurance, and Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants categories in Troy, Michigan. He was also named Best Lawyers^® 2018 Litigation – Insurance “Lawyer of the Year” in Troy, Michigan. Mr. Morley maintains an AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rating by Martindale-Hubbell. He was selected by his peers to Super Lawyers Magazine’s list of Michigan Super Lawyers in 2006 and 2009 to the present. In 2019, he was listed in the area of Civil Litigation – Defense. Additionally, he has been listed in the Super Lawyers Business Edition in the area of Civil Litigation – Defense. Mr. Morley has been included in dbusiness magazine’s list of “Top Lawyers in Metro Detroit” in 2010, 2016, 2017, 2019, and 2020. In 2020, he was listed in the Insurance Law category. He is an active member of the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance, the Defense Research Institute, and the International Association of Defense Counsel. In 2015, Mr. Morley was honored for his outstanding legal career and inducted into Worldwide Registry.

Notable Trucking Cases:

Trials

Wayne County – Defended a wrongful death case in which plaintiff was run over and killed by a tanker following a collision between our steel hauler and another steel hauler. The matter was mediated for $1 million. Plaintiff was seeking $5.5 million. Result as to our defendant: no cause; defendants had offered $750,000 with plaintiff ultimately awarded $450,000.

Livingston County – This matter involved a rental semi-truck smashing into a smaller van at an exit on US-23. Hot fluid was sprayed onto plaintiff resulting in severe burns. The matter was settled at trial; a jury had been selected, plaintiff was demanding $1.5 million; settled for $235,000.

Settlements

Wayne County – Defended a substantial Michigan trucking company in a matter where two individuals were traveling to New York from Michigan when they lost control on ice on the I-75 connector in Southgate and ended up facing the wrong way where they were smashed into head-on by defendant’s semi-trailer. Extensive discovery depositions were taken in New York City, including the deposition of Dr. Michael Baden, renowned forensic pathologist, as witness for plaintiff. Plaintiff made a multi-million dollar demand for both plaintiffs. The matter was settled before trial.

Monroe County – This case involved a trucking accident wherein a motorcyclist was struck while driving on an overpass exiting I-75. The accident resulted in plaintiff’s death. Plaintiff’s demand was $1.5 million; the case settled for $300,000.

Wayne County – Defended a manufacturing company in a matter involving a load shifting and falling off a truck during the unloading process. The driver was crushed but survived. Our motion to dismiss was denied; however, the case was settled prior to appeal for a nominal sum.