Heather Joy Atnip

Heather Joy Atnip

4.4
Rating: 10.0

Licensed for 19 years

Personal injury Lawyer at Rochester, MI
Practice Areas: Personal Injury, Car Accidents, Brain Injury ... +3 more

400 Water St., Ste 205, Rochester, MI

About Heather

Biography

Practice Areas

6

Practice Areas

Car Accident 25%

We will fight for the full and fair compensation you deserve following a serious motor vehicle accident, representing your best interests both in and out of court, and in all interactions with insurance companies.

25%
Personal Injury 25%

Serious and catastrophic injury claims from clients throughout metro Detroit and the UP are the focus of Atnip & Associates, PLLC. Our attorneys bring 35 years of legal experience to your case.

25%
Wrongful Death 15%

We also vigorously pursue cases against drunk drivers and distracted drivers. There is nothing more devastating than losing a loved one to or suffering a life-altering injury from a reckless or impaired driver.

15%
Insurance Fraud 10%

Property Insurance Claims

10%

Fees and Rates

Cost

Free Consultation

$0 first 60 minutes

Contingency

33%-33%


Payment Methods

  • Cash
  • Check
  • Credit Card

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Licenses

Licensed in Michigan for 19 years

State: Michigan

Acquired: 2006

Active in Good Standing

No misconduct found

Location

Atnip & Asssociates, PLLC

400 Water St., Ste 205, Rochester, MI, 48307

Atnip & Associates Pllc

2740 N Meridian Road, Sanford, MI, 48657

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Heather Joy Atnip's Reviews

Avvo Review Score

4.4 /5.0

13 Client Reviews

Filter Avvo Reviews (13) Refine reviews to match your needs. Use the filters to quickly surface reviews that align with your case or priorities.

Showing 1 - 5 of 7 reviews | Responsiveness

Posted by anonymous | December 16, 2020 | Hired Attorney | Debt Settlement

The Forgotten Client

Reading all of Heather Atnip’s positive reviews, I can only sum it up this way; My case wasn't worth her time. My case started in February, 2016. The settlement hearing was in March, 2019, 3 years later. I met with Heather at best, 3 times, including the settlement hearing. But it didn't end there.... My settlement could not be dispersed until a lien tied to my case was settled. From the day she took my case in 2016 to the day it was settled in 2019 Heather said she would negotiate the lien. I have called monthly, leaving messages for Heather. I spoke to several associates at Atnip, questioning the longevity of the lien negotiations. No response from Heather. I stopped in at Atnip Associates in January 2020, requesting to talk to Heather, I was only able to leave a message for her to contact me. No response from Heather. Frustrated with the lack of communication, I called the case worker of the lien on March 5, 2020. The case worker had on record, one attempt at negotiations from Atnip Associates, it was in March of 2019. They also had on record, several attempts to reach Atnip Associates; the lien holder was not successful either. With this information from the lien case worker, I emailed Heather on Friday, March 6, 2020 to let her know I had talked to someone with the lien and I wanted to discuss with her the conversation that I had. To my surprise on Monday, March 9, 2020 I got a message from an associate at Atnip (not Heather) that they had reached a settlement with the Lien Holder. Heather Atnip held on to my settlement for 1 year! It only ended because I reached out to the Lien Holder. Although I have not spoken to Heather since March, 2019, she made sure to take her full one-third of my settlement. Heather, when you make a commitment, you should follow through. You did not. I did.

Heather Atnip

Replied last December 16, 2020

I know your case extremely well. I've read this review and I deserve it 100%. My firm was in a rapid growth phase and looking back, I didn't know how to properly delegate tasks at that time. I delegated the lien resolution to an Associate and then assumed that it was completed without proper follow-up on my end to make sure that the lien was resolved. I sincerely apologize, at the end of the day, the buck stops with me. You were never forgotten though, I actually thought that you had forgotten about me since we never met up at Victoria's - now I understand why. I hope you and your family are doing well and accept my apology.

Posted by anonymous | February 17, 2016 | Hired Attorney | Lawsuits & Disputes

I've built an everlasting relationship with my Lawyer Heather Atnip

Heather Atnip was heaven sent! I was referred to Heather and once she got the case in her hands. Heather and her staff had committed themselves to my brother! My family & I was taken care of him to the best of our ability! Without the proper wheelchair accessible home! Without the proper shower for h...im. 24/7 around the clock care! When We had questions Heather and her staff was available to us! To answer all our needs. We can't thank Heather & Atnip Associates enough for their hard work and dedication to our case! If it wasnt for this great team! My brother wouldn't be living in a wheelchair accessible home right now! My family is so appreciative to the long hours and many countless times coming to our home at the time! To get the job done! I knew that Heather was the right person for the job!

Posted by Peter | February 15, 2016 | Hired Attorney | Insurance

Wonderful experience

Heather helped make a difficult task easier especially to someone who knows very little about the legal process and auto insurance (myself). She is very knowledgeable, helped explain things along the way and kept me up to date with what was going on. Very responsive as well with any questions of m...ine, and quick to action. If I am unfortunately in a similar situation in the future, I know who to contact.

Heather Atnip

Replied last February 15, 2016

Thank you Peter! You were a delight to work with. Glad that we could help.

Posted by Amy | April 28, 2015 | Personal Injury

Horrible experience

I was assaulted by a patient while on the job in June of 2011. I did file a police report and the assaulter was charged with assault. It was a very traumatic experience but I finally summoned the courage to consult a lawyer in August of 2011. After meeting with Ms. Atnip at her office in Waterf...ord for about an hour to go over details of the assault, she determined that she would write a letter to the place of my employment stating her belief that they were negligent in keeping me safe on the job. If they offered me any money as a "settlement" out of court, she would take a percentage of that; we both agreed that actually filing a lawsuit would be too traumatic as I would have to testify in court, and I didn't want to relive the whole experience. I never once heard back from her or anyone at the office!! When I called, the office staff would tell me that she was not in the office at the time, or with another client; I would leave a message for her, but my calls were never returned. I even wrote her a letter with my complaint that I didn't know if she had even sent the employer a letter at all, and that I didn't know what was going on. Again, no response from Ms. Atnip. I have to believe that because this case would have resulted in a very small pay-out, she frankly didn't want to bother with it. Instead of having the decency to respond to my calls/letters, like a true professional would, she ignored me and left me hanging. I was still too much in shock about the whole experience and its aftermath (I did quit that place of employment), that I kind of gave up on the situation; now the statute of limitations on this case has expired, and I will never be able to recoup anything for my trauma--all because Ms. Atnip didn't have the common decency of communicating with her client. Please look elsewhere for an attorney. I wouldn't recommend this one to my worst enemy.

Heather Atnip

Replied last April 28, 2015

So I went through all of the client files in my possession from 2011 (yes, it's taken 2 months, sorry). I don't practice general assault, so I was confused but wanted to follow through as promised. I wish that you would post your name so that I could reach out to you directly, or email me privately if you prefer at [email protected]. I don't have any letter from you matching your initials, or even a client file. You can also call me at 2486744404. I really want to meet with you to figure this out. Client of mine or someone else's client, I'm willing to sit down with you and figure it out.

Posted by Stephanie | February 13, 2015 | Car Accidents

Auto Accident Insurance

After contacting other law firms, Heather was recommended as "the best" auto law attorney in the state. We found her to be professional, caring, committed and most of all, totally knowledgeable. We were impressed with her promptness in returning all of our phone calls. There is no question that we hi...red the best attorney. We constantly recommend her to anyone in a similar situation. She is exceptional.

See All Client Reviews

Heather Joy Atnip's Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse Heather
Michael Leonard Rutkowski headshot
Michael Rutkowski

Brain injury lawyer | Apr 20

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"Heather is an incredibly intelligent and passionate attorney that works extremely hard for her clients. She truly has an outstanding team at Atnip & Associates and I would refer my own family members to her in a heartbeat! Highly recommended!"

Jared Loyal Haddock headshot
Jared Haddock

Insurance lawyer | Aug 15

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. Heather is an amazing person and a truly great attorney. She is one of the most dedicated and hardest working people I know and her accomplishments never cease to amaze me, even though I've known her since our law school days together. Heather is truly gifted and excels at her endeavors with a tenacious spirit, but does so gracefully and with apparent ease. She is likely to be the smartest and most capable attorney in virtually any gathering, but would just as likely sit back and let others discover that at their own peril."

James L. Spagnuolo Jr. headshot
James Spagnuolo

Personal injury lawyer | Nov 01

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Heather is a young attorney that has wisdom and knowledge well beyond the number of years she has been in practice. I am often amazed at how she has a better grasp on many areas of the law that other lawyers with two to three times as many years in practice don't."

Dewnya A. Bazzi headshot
Dewnya Bazzi

Personal injury lawyer | Nov 01

Relationship: Co-worker

"Heather is one of the best lawyers I know. I have been working for Heather since April and I have already learned so much from her. She has a "go get them" personality but still remains very friendly throughout the litigation process. If you are looking for a smart and energetic lawyer Heather is the perfect attorney for you!"

View All Endorsements
Michael Leonard Rutkowski headshot
Michael Rutkowski

Estate planning lawyer

Charles J. Cohen headshot
Charles Cohen

Insurance lawyer

Dewnya A. Bazzi headshot
Dewnya Bazzi

Debt collection lawyer

James L. Spagnuolo Jr. headshot
James Spagnuolo

Personal injury lawyer

Experience

Rating:  10.0 (Superb)

Honors

2021

Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers

2018

Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers Magazine

2018

Top 40 under 40, National Trial Lawyers Association

2018

Top 25 Women Lawyers in the Country, National Trial Lawyers Association

2015

Top 100 Trial Lawyers, National Trial Lawyers Association

2014

Woman of the Year, National Professional Association of Women

2014

Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers

2013

2013 Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers

2012

Rising Star, Super Lawyers Magazine

2011

2011 Up and Coming Lawyer in Michigan, Michigan Lawyers Weekly

2006

Perserverence Award, Wayne State Law School Trial Advocacy

Work Experience

2014 - Present

Owner, Atnip & Associates, PLLC

Associations

2014 - Present

Rochester Regional Chamber of Commerce

Member

2013 - Present

National Association of Professional Women

2012 - Present

Institute of Continuing Legal Education

Champion of ICLE

2011 - Present

ICLE

Advisory Board

2010 - Present

Michigan Brain Injury Association

2010 - Present

Michigan Women's Bar Association

2009 - Present

Macomb County Bar Association

Trustee

2006 - Present

Michigan Association for Justice

Executive Committee

2006 - Present

State Bar of Michigan

2006 - Present

American Bar Association

Fellow

2018 - 2019

Rochester Bar Association

Director

Sample of Legal Cases

Timmer v. Allstate

$2.4M

Maxwell v. CNA Insurance

$1.3 Million

Richie v. Menominee Delta Schoolcraft Community Action Agency

$475,000.00

Low Vehicle Impact Settlement

$263,500.00

Confidential

$255,000.00

Griswold v. Meemic

$230,000 jury verdict + $140,000 attorney fees awarded

Allen v. Allen

Jury Verdict of $195,000.00 + $35,000 in attorney fees awarded.

See More Legal Cases

Education

2006

Wayne State University Law School

JD - Juris Doctor

Speaking Engagements

2017

ICLE - Webinar

Litigation Techniques

2014

Provider Cases in the No-Fault Arena

Relationship Between the Medical Provider and Attorney

2012

MAJ Annual Ski Seminar

Obtaining Attorney Fees in No-Fault Cases

2009

Annual No-Fault Seminar

Cross Examination of Neuropsychologist

2008

MI Annual No Fault Seminar

Large Verdicts

Publications

2016

Michigan Lawyers Weekly Various Articles

Languages

English

German

Polish

Activity

Avvo Rating

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Avvo Rating Levels
10.0 - 9.0 Superb8.9 - 8.0 Excellent7.9 - 7.0 Very Good6.9 - 6.0 Good5.9 - 5.0 Average4.9 - 4.0 Concern3.9 - 3.0 Caution2.9 - 2.0 Strong Caution1.9 - 1.0 Extreme Caution