Labe, L. Jay

James F. Troester was born in Bay City, Michigan on August 23, 1963. He was admitted to the Michigan Bar in 1988. He currently resides in Saginaw.

Mr. Troester graduated from Central Michigan University with a Bachelor of Science degree, cum laude, in 1985. He received his Juris Doctor degree, Magna cum Laude, from the Thomas M. Cooley Law School in 1988. While at Thomas M. Cooley School, he served as Executive Comments Editor of the Law Review and his Casenote was selected for publication.

Prior to joining the Smith, Bovill, P.C. law firm on January 1, 1992, he was associated with the firm of Smith & Brooker, P.C., in Bay City, Michigan. He became a partner at Smith, Bovill in 1995, and is admitted to practice in the Michigan trial and appellate courts, as well as the Federal District Courts and U.S. court of Appeals for the 6^th Circuit. The majority of his career experience has been devoted to litigation, both at the trial and appellate levels.

Mr. Troester is a member in good standing of the Michigan Bar Association and the Saginaw County Bar Association. He is a member of the Appellate Practice Section of the State Bar of Michigan.

Mr. Troester's practice concentrates in the area of trial and appellate litigation. He has litigated numerous third party and first party claims arising from automobile accidents, as well as claims based upon construction defects, premises liability, the Dram Shop statute, the Wrongful Death statute, Declaratory Judgment Actions and other claims typically associated with civil litigation. He has experience in handling appeals to the Michigan Supreme Court, Michigan Court of Appeals, and United States Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.