Costello, Ellen M.

The majority of my work is in the field of commercial litigation. It is litigation dealing with business interests, investments and real estate. Litigation may take place in the Bankruptcy Court, Circuit Court or Probate Court. The litigation can cover such areas as rights of secured creditors in the bankruptcy court and workouts. Other areas of litigation include real estate related land use litigation covering nuisance law, Right to Farm Act, construction liens, and breach of warranty claims.  My practice continues to grow in the field of elder law.  This covers estate planning and Medicaid qualification for residents of nursing homes, guardianships and conservatorships, litigation in probate court involving such issues as will contests, fiduciaries breach of duties, representing nursing homes, setting up social need trusts and irrevocable trusts.

I have also handled cases dealing with minority stockholder disputes, investment disputes, and coverage issues under insurance policies dealing with environmental contamination.  I have also arbitrated claims for Michigan Applegrowers Association.

For approximately four years, I was involved in the Dow Corning Chapter 11 proceedings. I represented Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing (3M) who was one of the co-defendants in a number of breast implant litigation lawsuits.