He has been admitted and qualified to practice law in the State of Michigan, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, in the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit Court, and in the United States District Court for the Eastern and Western Districts of Arkansas.

Mr. Plakas volunteers his services as legal council for the Westland Community Foundation which is a non-profit corporation that has raised nearly $400,000.00 since 1996. The funds are donated to people and organizations with the goal of benefiting the community of Westland and surrounding areas through the promotion of education, self-esteem in young individuals, arts, music and cultural events, and by combating community deterioration.

He has zealously represented his clients in civil and criminal cases that have been litigated in Federal, Circuit and District Courts located throughout the state of Michigan. He has also argued and litigated before the Federal Court in the state of Arkansas, and before the United States Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. Mr. Plakas has also been a state licensed builder since 1995, which has been advantageous in his representation of both homeowners and builders during residential building lawsuits.

Professional Affiliations
Mr. Plakas is a member of the State Bar of Michigan, the Michigan Trial Lawyers Association, the Suburban Bar Association, the Hellenic Bar Association, the State Bar of Michigan Probate and Estate Planning Section, and the State Bar of Michigan Negligence Law Section.

Continuing Education
As a means of keeping informed of the ever changing law, Mr. Plakas has attended the following seminars: Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan Update and Training; Drunk Driving Defense; Michigan Municipal League Anatomy of Drunk Driving Prosecution; Medicine Made Easy; Medical Malpractice Update and Training; After the Auto Accident; Deposition Training and Techniques; Probating an Estate Under the Estates and Protected Individuals Code; Contested Estates Under EPIC; Michigan Residential Real Estate Purchases, Closings and Documents; United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan Federal and State Court Practice; Michigan Municipal League Labor Relations and Negotiations; National Practice Institute Federal Rules of Evidence; Zoning Administrator Training; Brownfield Action Program and Development; Illicit Connection/Discharge Elimination Training Program; and Michigan Municipal League Basics of Planning and Zoning.

Practice Areas

• Personal Injury
• Criminal Defense (misdemeanors and felonies)
• Criminal Prosecution
• Driver License Suspensions and Restoration
• Estate Planning (wills and trusts)
• Probating Estates
• Family Law (divorce, custody and visitation)
• General Litigation
• Municipal
• Purchase or Sale of Residential or Commercial Real Estate
• Purchase or Sale of a Businesses
• Building, Construction, Contractor and Lien Law
• Contracts

Contact James A. Plakas: jplakas@plakasandassociates.com