Kevin J. Kozma

 I grew up in Detroit, MI

I graduated from Eastern Michigan University with honors in 1975. 

After graduating with a business degree (bachelor's in Business Administration), I worked as an insurance adjuster for an out of state company.  In short summary, I resolved insurance claims on homeowner’s and other types of insurance policies.  Interaction with attorneys was relatively frequent if not constant.

Subsequently, I worked as an insurance investigator, conducting investigations regarding fatal automobile accidents and police misconduct, in addition to other interesting subject matters.

I graduated from the Detroit College of Law, a “hard-knocks” law school then located in downtown Detroit. DCL had an excellent reputation for providing  practical legal educations for those attending. The Detroit College of Law merged with Michigan State University, and unfortunately, the MSU Law School no longer carries any reference to its predecessor, the Detroit College of Law.

I was able to obtain employment with the UAW, at its headquarters, during a portion of my law school years.  I worked at the Union’s headquarters in downtown Detroit, and worked under high level attorneys who represented the International Union.  I performed legal research for top labor lawyers employed by this organization, some of which had national, if not international reputations.  Working for the UAW was an extremely valuable legal experience.

I graduated from the Detroit College of Law in 1980.  I graduated in the upper 50% of my class and I was admitted to the Bar in December, 1980.

My young family and I emigrated to west Michigan in 1982, and I initiated what would become the Kozma Law Office, P.C., in the latter part of 1982.  

My wife served as my legal assistant, and we initiated the business against considerable odds.  We had minimal finances, minimal equipment and a lack of a legal mentor for myself.  It was, essentially, a one lawyer office.  I recollect not having file cabinets nor bookcases at the start.   

What began as a “bare bones” effort toward entrepreneurship has grown into a respected business enterprise grossing hundreds of thousands of dollars annually.  I own and operate the Kozma Law Office in downtown White Cloud, the Newaygo County seat.  We have a quality office building located on the main corner of White Cloud.  In addition, I have a branch office in Big Rapids (Mecosta County) due to extensive clientele I possess in the Mecosta/Osceola county area. 

I have a fine legal staff, who are situated primarily at the White Cloud, Michigan office.  My paralegal/office manager has been with me for 13 years.  My Associate Attorney Ryan Good was an award winning newspaper reporter in a prior career. 

I am, basically, a litigator.  I am comfortable in the courtroom and have handled contentious cases for well over 30 years.  I aggressively pursue legal objectives for clients.  Although I may “ruffle feathers” from time to time, I believe that I am well respected, overall, by bench and bar. 

I litigate almost anything that brings individuals to court, other than medical malpractice, social security cases, and worker’s compensation matters.  That being said, my practice involves an emphasis on criminal defense, domestic relations, and contingent fee cases of varying types.  I prosecute no-fault insurance cases, utilizing my background as an insurance claims adjuster/investigator. 

We likewise involve ourselves in other avenues of legal representation, including probate, will contests, juvenile law, and child protection cases.

I have represented numerous municipalities within Newaygo County, regarding civil and criminal matters.  I have prosecuted criminal cases for townships I have represented during my career, and I have been involved in countless civil lawsuits on their behalves.  The Kozma Law Office, P.C. continues to provide representation to municipalities in zoning/local government matters.  In addition, we represent individuals possessing legal disputes with local governments (i.e. cities, townships, etc.).

Throughout my career I have done a considerable amount of appellate work.  I have orally argued cases on behalf of clients before the Michigan Court of Appeals, in Lansing, Grand Rapids and Traverse City.  I recall being on the agenda, for oral arguments, in one of the first cases argued in Traverse City.  I prevailed in that case.

One of the cases I orally argued before the Michigan Court of Appeals is entitled Altman v Nelson.  This is a published case that set precedent within the state of Michigan; 197 Mich. App. 467, 495 N.W.2d 826 (1993).  In Altman, I represented a young man who impregnated a married woman.  He sought recognition and standing as the biological father, but he was confronted by an existing principle that a child conceived during a marriage was determined to be a product of the marriage.  We were successful in effecting reversal of the circuit court’s order, and, eventually Mr. Altman obtained physical custody of his child.

I provide legal defense representation to individuals charged with extremely serious felonious misconduct. Criminal sexual conduct, robbery, assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder, assault with dangerous weapon, felony firearms.  I could go on and on. 

I also represent individuals on misdemeanors.  This office does a great deal of OWI representation, and we handle a multitude of drug cases.  Essentially, we provide legal defense representation to individuals charged with criminal offenses – no matter the type.

I have been involved in extremely high tension felony representation.

I represented a police officer who was charged with one or more felonies, and the local prosecuting attorney zealously prosecuted the case through jury trial.  Against what I perceive as being high odds against us, I was able to obtain an outright acquittal for my client.  He was found not guilty. 

In another high pressure felony prosecution, I represented a 54 year old man who had never been in trouble with the law.  He was charged with felonious assault, and “felony firearm.”  A conviction for felony firearm requires a mandatory two-year sentence prior to commencement of sentence for any other concurrent conviction.  After an extremely hard fought trial I was able to obtain a not guilty verdict for my client. 

At the time of preparation of this memorandum, I am representing a man who is alleged to have housed over 100 firearms within his dwelling.  The police agency in question obtained a search warrant, and my client was charged with a plethora of extremely serious felony charges.  My representation of this individual continues. 

I have litigated cases in west/central Michigan for well over 30 years, and I will continue to do so into the indefinite future.  I am very well acquainted with the idiosyncrasies and nuances of courts in this vicinity, and I am extremely well acquainted with the judges, prosecuting attorneys and assistant prosecuting attorneys who preside in this portion of Michigan.  I believe an individual charged in this portion of the state is well advised to hire an experienced litigator who works in West Central Michigan on a continuing basis.  I believe that an attorney from outside of the immediate area –possibly from Traverse City or Grand Rapids, unfamiliar with local customs and procedures, is at a disadvantage. 

A large percentage of my business is from referrals from individuals I have represented in the past.  I have received numerous correspondences, letters and emails from individuals who have expressed gratitude for the zealous representation I have provided.  As indicated earlier in this dissertation, I aggressively pursue legal objectives of my clients in courageous fashion.  I may not be well-liked by all judges and attorneys that I come into contact with.  However, I believe that I have a high level of respect within the legal community.  This, in the long run, is what is important.