Robert Marzano, Premises Liability, Governmental Law Attorney, Plunkett Cooney Bloomfield Hills: business law and litigation defense services

Bio

Robert A. Marzano currently serves as Co-leader of Plunkett Cooney’s Torts & Litigation Practice Group, which includes more than 40 attorneys across three states. As a member of the firm’s Bloomfield Hills office, Mr. Marzano concentrates his practice in the areas of premises liability law, food service and hospitality law, real estate law, serves as general counsel for two southeastern Michigan cities and handles all aspects of civil litigation.

Mr. Marzano represents several national retailers, hotel chains, restaurants, religious institutions and apartment complexes in disputes involving premises liability claims, security guard litigation, dramshop/liquor liability issues, general negligence claims, mold litigation, third-party auto negligence claims and trucking litigation. He also routinely handles catastrophic accidents involving gas stations, parking lots and premise design.

Mr. Marzano has handled numerous litigation and non-litigation matters involving food contamination, food borne illness claims, packaging defect claims, and claims related to foreign materials in food. He routinely litigates matters involving dramshop/liquor liability and also handles liquor license requirements involving application, renewal and transfer process, as well as license violations.

Mr. Marzano’s municipal law experience includes currently serving as the City Attorney for the city of Plymouth and formerly for the city of Northville. Apart from his typical duties as a city attorney, Mr. Marzano also handles specialized matters which include zoning issues, telecommunications matters, election law issues, charter revisions, and annexation issues on behalf of municipal and private-commercial clients.

Representative Client Work

Election Commissioner for two municipalities
Served as counsel for a Charter Revision
Handled various complex election issues
Handled various land use and zoning matters for both private entities and municipalities
Handled annexation matters for private entities
Represents several national retail companies in various aspects of commercial and premises litigation
Negotiated cable franchises on behalf of municipalities

Professional Affiliations

State Bar of Michigan (Negligence Law Section)
Council on Litigation Management (Michigan State Chair; Premises Liability Committee Member)
ALFA International (Hospitality Law Committee)

Publications and Lectures

"Premises Liability Trends: Michigan," Co-presenter, CLM, Oct. 8, 2024
“Civility in the Law,” Presenter, ALFA International Hospitality and Retail Regional Conference, Chicago, Aug. 28, 2023
ALFA International 2021 Hospitality & Retail Law Compendium, Michigan Chapter
“Taking Advantage of Michigan’s Broad Economic Loss Doctrine,” Michigan Defense Quarterly, Volume 15, No. 4, 1999.
Various lectures on issues dealing with premises liability, automobile/trucking liability and municipal issues