Honors and Awards:

• Dean's List, Thomas M. Cooley Law School
• Highest class score, American Jurisprudence Award -- Family Law, Thomas M. Cooley Law School
• Top trial advocate, American Jurisprudence Award -- Trial Workshop, Thomas M. Cooley Law School
• Karl received a "Superb" (10 out of 10 points) rating from Avvo.com based on his background, client references, and lawyer endorsements., Avvo.com, 2011
• "The Best Lawyers in America", 2012

Special Licenses/Certifications:

• Arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association, Construction Law panel
• Certified Adoption Attorney (Karl received certification in the very first class in 1994)
• Trial College, Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan, (July 2010)

Bar/Professional Activity:

• Board Member, Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan (2011 - present)
• Member, National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys (2009 - 2012)
• Member, State Bar of Michigan, Criminal & Family Law Sections
• Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians Tribal Court
• U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit
• Barrister, American Inns of Court (1995)
• Chairperson, Family Law Council PAC, State Bar of Michigan (1997-1998)
• Member, CJA Panel, United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan
• Elected Member, Family Law Council of the State Bar of Michigan (1995 - 2000)
• Arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association (2000 - present)
• Adjunct Professor, Northern Michigan University; taught Criminal Law and Judicial Function
• U.S. District Court Western District of Michigan, 1992
• Michigan, 1992

Pro bono/Community Service:

• Host and Lecturer, Pence & Numinen, PC, in conjunction with Northern Michigan University and the Michigan Assoc. for Justice, developed the curriculum and hosted The People's Law School.  Karl taught the classes on Criminal Law, Federal Practice, and Family Law (2009, 2010, 2011)
• Edwina Nowlin, Represented this indigent mother of an incarcerated child when she was found in contempt of court and thrown in jail for being too poor to pay the county the cost of her son's incarceration.  After successfully arguing for her release from custody, the case was favorably referenced in an editorial by "The New York Times" (4-6-09).  This pro bono case was taken as an assignment from the ACLU
• Settlement Facilitator, Michigan Court of Appeals Domestic Relations Settlement Program (2003-present)
• Mediator, United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan
• Regularly accepts pro bono assignments from the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan to handle civil cases on behalf of indigent litigants
• "Pro Bono Honor Roll," State Bar of Michigan

Scholarly Lectures and Writings:

• Karl accepted the invitation to write this "How To" manual on preparing clients to testify, published by the Michigan Institute for Continuing Legal Education, Author, "How To Prepare Your Client To Testify", Michigan Insitute of Continuing Legal Education, 2012, Author
• "Property Holdings In Second Marriages," published in a special edition the Michigan Family Law Journal titled, "2nd Marriages", February, 1999, Author
• A detailed analysis of federal computer search warrant issues including defense strategies and resources, Presenter, "Computer Search Warrants: 4th Amendment Issues and Litigation Strategies", Administrative Office of the United States Courts, Office of Defender Services, Complex Litigation Seminar -- Atlanta Georgia, 2006
• Karl accepted the invitation to contribute two complaints, one on Civil Rights and one on Age Discrimination, both of which were published in the current manual "Starting The Case - Michigan Complaint Manual", Contributor, Michigan Association for Justice, 2010
• Karl accepted the invitation to write this published "How To" manual on challenging illegal searches and seizures, "How To Attack Illegal Searches and Seizures", Author, Michigan Institute of Continuing Legal Education, 2011
• Karl and Detroit attorney Steve Fishman teach "Master Class: How to Cross Examine Snitches, Rats, and Government Informants," 2012, Presenter, CDAM Advanced Criminal Defense Seminar, 2012
• Karl wrote the Amicus Curiae brief on behalf of the Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan for submission to the Michigan Court of Appeals in People vs. Yanna, COA No. 304293., Author, Amicus Curiae, 2012

Verdicts and Settlements:

• Mathews vs Mussman, Upfront & Co, won this employment wrongful termination trial and received a jury verdict in the amount of $76,773.00, the total amount of the contract damages and the exact amount we requested at trial (Case No. 00-37296-CK)
• Confidential Settlement, Sexual abuse by clergy suit brought against Catholic Church on behalf of parishioner sexually assaulted by priest (Case No. 09-46539-CZ)
• Successful Appeal, Representing the adoptive parents, Karl successfully defended this claim through appeal when the biological mother sought to rescind the termination of parental rights (Case No. 202747, 1-13-98)
• Successful Appeal, Won appellate reversal of the trial court's grant of summary disposition in favor of defendant bank in this claim brought on behalf of the beneficiaries of an estate mishandled by the trust department of the defendant bank.  The case settled after the appellate victory (Case No. 257880, 9-13-04)
• Successful Appeal, Won appellate reversal of a trial court's granting summary disposition in favor of defendant township in this zoning ordinance dispute.  Won my clients' right to put a petition rescinding a zoning ordinance on the ballot for an vote of the residents (Case No. 287425, 11-24-09)
• Confidential Settlement, Successfully brought a claim against a local school district when a football coach assaulted a player causing torn ligaments in the player's ankle.  After the Court of Appeals reversed the trial court's granting of the defense motion for summary disposition, the case was settled.  (Case No. 262826, 5-20-05)
• Six-figure Settlement, Wrongful termination age discrimination suit brought on behalf of 55-year-old nurse after she was fired from long-term employment (Case No. confidential)
• Confidential Settlement in federal civil rights action brought on behalf of client against local police department and officers for illegal entry without a search warrant (Case No. 2:09-cv-61)
• Adoption, Successful appeal of the trial court's denial of foster parents' adoption petition resulting in reversal of the trial court's order placing adoptive child with grandparent (Court of Appeals No. 244877, 2003)
• Million Dollar Alimony Award obtained, in addition to favorable division of marital assets, in divorce settlement (Case No. confidential)
• Confidential Settlement, Wrongful death action brought against county Sheriff and jail in United States District Court on behalf of estate of inmate who committed suicide while incarcerated (2:05-cv-263)
• Not Guilty By Reason of Insanity verdict in attempted murder case rendered after issue of temporary insanity was successfully argued before the trial court (Case No. 05-6423-FC)
• Six-figure Settlement, Violation of sales commission statute civil action brought on behalf of mortgage broker after wrongful termination (Case No. M07-45227-CZ)
• Charges Dismissed, Court granted defense motion to suppress drugs found in illegal search of client's baggage at airport resulting in all criminal charges dismissed (Case No. M08-1973-SM)
• In Re: Caldwell, 225 Mich App 801; 571 NW2d 218 (1997), rev'd 228 Mich App 116 (1998), cert denied 457 Mich 865 (1998).  Karl represented adoptive parents and prevailed at trial in terminating the parental rights of the biological father.  On appeal, a "super panel" of the appellate court affirmed the trial court's decision and issued this published opinion clarifying the legal status of incarcerated parents
• License reinstated, Circuit court reinstated liquor license on successful appeal of Liquor Control Commission revocation of liquor license
• No Cause verdict, Defense of fraud and undue influence suit in probate estate trial (Case No 07-310351-ML)
• Dismissed Charges, Federal criminal charges dismissed on defense motion to suppress based on illegal search and seizure (Case No 2:08-mj-02)
• Not Guilty verdict in the federal trial of a man charged with felony conspiracy to distribute ecstasy (Case No 2:03-cr-24)
• Not Guilty verdict in the federal trial of a man charged with multiple counts of felony criminal sexual assault (Case No 2:04-cr-38)
• Not Guilty verdict in the federal trial of a woman indicted for felony aggravated assault with a vehicle (Case No 2:04-cr-02)
• Not Guilty verdict (4 of 5 counts) in a federal trial of a man charged with multiple felony counts of criminal sexual abuse of a minor (Case No 2:08-cr-50)
• Numerous verdicts, judgments, and settlements (some in excess of $1 million) on behalf of his clients in civil suits brought in state and federal courts
• Karl has an unprecedented record of "Not Guilty" verdicts in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, including:
• Felony Fraud Charges Dismissed.  RB was charged with multiple felony fraud counts arising out of a real estate development project. After conducting a thorough preliminary examination, Karl convinced the prosecutor to dismiss all charges., 2009
• Felony B&E and Assault Charges Dismissed.  RS was charged with 1st Degree Home Invasion and Felonious Assault for allegedly breaking into a woman's home and assaulting her with a butcher knife. Karl obtained cell phone tower data and discovered that the police had secretly installed a GPS on RS's car two days before the alleged incident. Discovering this evidence and getting the court to compel the police and prosecutor to turn it over was the key to the pretrial investigation. The evidence showed RS was not in the area at the time and the prosecutor dismissed the charges., 2010
• Drug Charges Dismissed.  AK is a college student. The campus police searched his dorm room and found marijuana. AK had applied for, but not yet received, his medical marijuana card. Karl filed a motion to dismiss the charges based on the pending application. After hearing Karl's argument, the court dismissed the charges., 2010
• Felony DUI Charges Dismissed.  BT was charged with DUI 3rd offense, a felony. BT was involved in a serious accident and was hospitalized. The police obtained a blood sample taken at the ER which showed presence of alcohol. Karl filed a motion and brief arguing the evidence should be suppressed. Based on the arguments made in Karl's brief, the prosecutor conceded and dismissed all charges., 2010
• Drunk Driving Charges Dismissed.  TH charged with DUI after being found passed out in the driver's seat of his truck while the engine was running. At a pre-trial hearing, Karl argued TH was not "operating" the vehicle. The Court granted Karl's motion., 2010
• Nason vs. State Employee Retirement Board, In December, 2011, the Michigan Supreme Court affirmed Karl's victory before the Michigan Court of Appeals, published opinion (No. 290431), released 10-28-10.  Karl prevailed in this published opinion winning for his client non-duty disability retirement benefits which had previously been denied by the Michigan Department of Corrections., 2011
• Federal Civil Trial Victory -- In a precedent-setting case, Karl achieved a significant victory in the U.S. District Court in Grand Rapids when he won a jury trial on behalf of his client, an international entertainment agency who was sued by several former workers under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act., 2011
• Domestic Violence Charges Dismissed.  Karl represented a college student charged with Domestic Violence and Interference With a Telephone Emergency Call. Karl conducted a thorough investigation obtaining phone records, physical evidence, witness statements, police reports, dispatcher logs and notes, and physical evidence from the scene of the alleged crime that the police overlooked. The prosecutor dismissed the charges the day before trial., 2011
• Civil Forfeiture Case Dismissed -- Karl obtained a complete dismissal of a civil forfeiture case brought against his client and with this win recovered tens of thousands of dollars of his client's property., 2012

Representative Clients:

• Karl represents people who have been accused of serious crimes, going through difficult divorces, or who have been severely injured.

Other Outstanding Achievements:

• Karl received a "Superb" rating (10 out of 10 points) from Avvo.com based on his background, client references, and lawyer endorsements., 2011

Educational Background:

• Michigan State University, Bachelor of Arts, 1988