McHale, Matthew S.

     Joseph J. (Jerry) McDonnell is a founding partner of the firm and specializes in handling litigation in both federal and state court, and providing advice to clients on various aspects of railroad, transportation and logistics law. He has represented railroads in matters involving personal injury claims, occupational/repetitive stress actions, trespasser claims, freight loss and damage claims, collection of freight charges, drafting of agreements involving real estate (including rights of way for pipelines and fiber optic cables, as well as other property rights), matters relating to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), customs, and other transportation issues.

     Jerry is a member of the National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel (NARTC) and has been a speaker before that group and other organizations on various railroad and transportation issues. He has also been an instructor at the Association of American Railroads Claim School. Jerry is also a member of the American Short Line & Regional Railroad Association.

     Jerry was born in 1954. He received a B.S. degree from the University of Michigan in 1976 and a J.D. from Wayne State University in Detroit in 1980. He is admitted to the bar of the State of Michigan, as well as the U.S. District Court (Eastern and Western Districts of Michigan and Northern District of Ohio), the Federal Court of Claims, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the U.S. Supreme Court. He is also a Licensed Customs Broker.