David M. Ottenwess concentrates his practice in the area of medical malpractice defense and has acted as chief trial or managing attorney on over 400 medical malpractice cases. Mr. Ottenwess has successfully defended doctors and hospitals in medical malpractice cases before juries in Wayne, Oakland and Washtenaw County Circuit Courts. Although he sub-specializes in radiology matters, Mr. Ottenwess has also had extensive practice in neurosurgery and general surgical cases, cardiology, neurology, as well as emergency medicine. He is a frequent lecturer before doctors, residents and nurses. Mr. Ottenwess is a member of the Michigan Society of Hospital Risk Managers and is a member of the Detroit Bar Medical-Legal Committee. In addition, he is a member of the American Bar Association, the State Bar of Michigan and the Detroit and Washtenaw County Bar Associations.

Mr. Ottenwess has defended a southeastern Michigan hospital in issues involving sex discrimination, sexual harassment, wrongful discharge and alleged violations of state and federal polygraph protection acts. He has also represented the hospital in issues involving the ADA and FMLA in Federal Court. His defense of hospitals over the years has provided him with a detailed and comprehensive knowledge of the unique workings and administration inherent to hospitals.

Mr. Ottenwess also successfully represented a Michigan hospital and its CEO in a labor/RICO matter involving complex issues of labor law, including Section 302 allegations and claims of RICO Act violations in federal court. This litigation was carried to the United States Supreme Court, which ultimately overturned an unfavorable decision against the hospital by the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Mr. Ottenwess' extensive background working closely with hospital administrators and risk managers has enabled him to obtain unique experience in defending their interests in both malpractice and employment matters. He frequently advises hospitals regarding liability questions and risk management issues in an effort to reduce and eliminate potential malpractice litigation and other risks.

Prior to forming Ottenwess & Associates, PLC, formally known as Wulfmeier & Ottenwess, PLC in 1997, Mr. Ottenwess served as an associate and was later named as a Partner at Detroit, Michigan-based Schureman, Frakes, Glass & Wulfmeier, PLLC.

Mr. Ottenwess earned his J.D. from the Detroit College of Law in 1986, where he served as Executive Director of the Moot Court Program and was co-Director of the American Bar Association Oral Advocacy Program. He also served as a member of the school's National Moot Court Team. He earned his Bachelor of Arts from the University of South Florida in 1982.

Stephanie P. Ottenwess has been a litigator for the past twelve years, the last five of which she has focused primarily on medical malpractice, successfully defending major healthcare institutions and practice groups as well as individual practitioners. She has handled cases at both the trial and appellate levels in state and federal courts, including the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Although Ms. Ottenwess has defended cases involving a vast array of medical specialties, she is particularly sought for her experience with neurosurgery and radiology cases. In addition, she is consulted by both healthcare facilities and practice groups for her critical evaluation of any issue affecting risk management.

Ms. Ottenwess received her J.D. from Wayne State University Law School in 1994 where she earned the American Bar Association Section of Labor and Employment Law and the Bureau of National Affairs, Inc. Award for Excellence in the Study of Labor and Employment Law and the Bureau of National Affairs, Inc. Law Student Award. She received her Bachelor of Science with honors from the University of Michigan in 1991.

Melissa E. Carr concentrates her practice in the areas of medical malpractice defense, employment litigation, and general litigation matters.

In addition to her current work at Ottenwess & Associates, PLC representing medical professionals, Ms. Carr had the opportunity in her prior practice to defend a variety of other professionals, including attorneys, stockbrokers, and social workers. During law school, Ms. Carr served as a law clerk for members of both the state and federal judiciary and also worked in the Detroit office of the Michigan Attorney General.

Ms. Carr is a member of the State Bar of Michigan, Oakland County Bar Association, American Inns of Court Program, Women's Bar Association (Oakland Region of the Women Lawyer's Association of Michigan), and Michigan Defense Trial Counsel.

Ms. Carr earned her J.D. (cum laude) from Wayne State University Law School in 2002, where she served as a member of the school's National Moot Court Team and earned the Boaz Siegel Award for Outstanding Performance in the Fields of Pension, Health and Welfare, Employment or Labor Law. While in her last semester of law school, Ms. Carr also had the opportunity to litigate a prisoner civil right's case to a successful jury verdict in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. Ms. Carr earned her Bachelor of Science (magna cum laude) from Wayne State University in 1999.