Service Areas
- Business
- OSHA/MIOSHA
- Energy, Environmental + Regulatory
- Litigation + Trial
- Environmental Litigation
- Litigation + Trial Practice Overview
- Governments + Nonprofits
- OSHA/MIOSHA
- Energy, Environmental + Regulatory
Education
- Thomas M. Cooley Law School, J.D.
- Grand Valley State University, F.E. Seidman College of Business, B.B.A.
Bar Admissions
- Michigan
Court Admissions
U.S. Court of Appeals
- Sixth Circuit
U.S. District Court
- Eastern District
- Western District
If you need help with your company’s environmental, health and safety legal affairs, Doug Crim is ready to go to work for you. He has a strong background in successfully defending manufacturing, construction, retail, university and other clients in administrative, civil and criminal litigation involving environmental, health and safety claims and issues.
Doug defends clients against alleged environmental claims using his experience to keep clients in full compliance.
Doug performs confidential/privileged environmental health and safety audits to identify gaps in compliance and help his clients develop methods that enable them to comply with applicable regulations while still maintaining efficient operations. He also has reviewed millions of dollars worth of real estate and business deals to assess and manage potential environmental health and safety liabilities.
"In my area of the law it’s all about effectively dealing with problems when they arise to minimize the cost to the client in order to maximize the client’s bottom line. Whenever possible, I help clients implement strategies to avoid problems before they arise. This is not only the socially and ethically responsible thing to do, but also happens to be the most cost effective way to handle environmental, health and safety issues.”
Douglas W. Crim
Experience
Over the years, Doug has handled more than 35 cases involving workplace fatalities as well as over 1,000 OSHA/MIOSHA citations, including alleged “Repeat” and “Willful” citations.
Representative Matters
- Automotive Supplier Fatality Defense
Defended an automotive supplier in double fatality administrative, civil and criminal matters.
- Electric Utility MIOSHA Inspections
Assisted client in various health and safety issues including multiple MIOSHA inspections and fatality investigations relating to power plant operations and electrical distribution issues.
- Sports Arena General Contractor OSHA Defense
Representation of general contractor in football arena aerial lift fatality. MIOSHA issued willful citations to subcontractors involved in the accident. After investigation he client general countractor did not receive any citations. Baseball sports arena comprehensive inspection involving fall protection and other issues.
- Gas Utility Health and Safety
Representation of gas utility in various gas pipeline health and safety issues including regulatory "preemption."
- Meat Processing Plant Fatality General Duty Clause Violations
Represented meat processing plant fatality Involving "general duty" clause violations.
Professional Activities
- American Bar Association, OSHA Committee; Natural Resources and Environmental Law Section; Litigation Section; Environmental Litigation Committee; Pretrial Practice and Discovery Committee
- State Bar of Michigan, Environmental Law Section; Labor Law Section; Business Law Section
- Ingham County Bar Association
- Grand Rapids Bar Association, Environmental Law Section, Chairman, 1999-00, Vice-chairman, 1997-98, Secretary, 1996; Litigation Section; Community Public Relations Committee; Bill of Rights Committee
- Air & Waste Management Association/West Michigan, Board of Directors, 1997-00; Program Committee Chair, 1997
- American Indoor Air Quality Council, Grand Rapids, Michigan Chapter, Board of Directors, 2002-present
Honors + Awards
- Thomas M. Cooley Law School, J.D., summa cum laude, Law Review, Articles Editor
- Best Lawyers in America, Environmental Law 2007-present; 2012 Lansing Environmental Lawyer of the Year
- Michigan Super Lawyers, Environmental 2007-present; Litigation-Environmental 2012
Civic, Cultural + Social Activities
- Grand Valley State University, Alumni Service Award, 1998; Alumni Association Board, 1987-97; President, 1993-97; Foundation Trustee; Seidman School of Business Alumni Association; Legal Studies Advisory Board; Seidman School of Business 1997 Distinguished Alumni Award
- Urban Core Mayor's Committee on Revitalization, City of Grand Rapids Representative
- West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum
- Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce, Environmental Affairs Committee; Chairman, Environmental Audit Privilege Task Force
- Member, Clean Corporate Citizen Task Force
- Catholic Lawyers' Association of West Michigan, President, 1993-94
- Ferguson Heartside Community Resource Center, Pro Bono Legal Services
- St. Martha Knights of Columbus, 2005-present
Publications
WORKPLACE HEALTH AND SAFETY
OSHA/MIOSHA and Liability Issues Relating to the Use of Outside Contractors in Your Facility, (Webinar), Michigan Chamber of Commerce, July 26, 2011
Employer Workplace Health and Safety Programs - An Employer's Best Friend or Worst Enemy, (Webinar), Michigan Chamber of Commerce, June 28, 2011
"Hazards Could Hurt Your Company," Insight, September/October 2007
Michigan Chamber of Commerce MIOSHA Compliance (6 hour core compliance course), November 2006
"Doing Business in the United States – OSHA," Michigan Manufacturers Association MIOSHA Compliance Seminar, May 2006
"Employers who put profit over safety risk prosecution: MIOSHA gets tough with willful violators," Hot Points, Fall 2005
"MIOSHA Criminal Prosecutions: When Referred, When Not; Why or Why Not," Occupational Safety and Health Law Committee Midwinter Meeting of the American Bar Association, Key West, Florida,March 1-4, 2005
"Managing OSHA Workplace Health & Safety Issues: Significant & Costly Problems; Some Methods to Help Avoid Them," CRA Compliance Seminar, February 2004
Michigan Chamber of Commerce Publication, "Employment Law Handbook: Guide for Michigan Employers" (OSHA Chapter Contributor), 2003-present
"Avoiding OSHA Citations And Liabilities In Michigan", Lorman Education Services, January 2002
"OSHA Compliance Update," National Business Institute, October 2001
"Legal Perspective of OSHA Ergonomics," Grand Rapids Community College, March 2001
"Some Things Managers Should Know About OSHA/MIOSHA," Miller Canfield Morning Update, September 2000
"OSHA/MIOSHA Safety Developments," seminar on Employment Law Matters, Miller, Canfield, Paddock and Stone and Kalamazoo County Chamber of Commerce, Kalamazoo, Michigan, 9/30/99
"OSHA/MIOSHA Safety Developments," Council on Education in Management, Lansing, Michigan, 8/16/99
"Current OSHA Issues," Hot Topics in Environmental Law, Miller, Canfield, Paddock and Stone, Dearborn, Michigan, 4/29/99 and Grand Rapids, Michigan, 5/5/99
"Preventing Corporate-and Personal–Liability for Workplace Safety Hazards," Council on Education in Management Personnel Law Update 1996, Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, Grand Rapids, Michigan, October 2, 1996
"Hazards Could Hurt Your Company," Hot Points, published by Miller, Canfield, Paddock and Stone, December 1996
ENVIRONMENTAL
Editor and contributor for Miller Canfield, update of Michigan environmental law for annual update of Martindale-Hubbell Michigan Law Digest, 1995 - present
"Brownfield Redevelopment," Grand Rapids Bar Association, Real Property Section, 1/23/97
"Economic Development: Using the DDA, EDC, LDFA and recent TIFA Brownfield Legislation," Michigan Municipal League Annual Meeting, Grand Hotel, Mackinac Island, Michigan, 9/25/96
"Environmental Audit Privilege and Policy," Fishbeck, Thompson, Carr & Huber, Ada, Michigan, 8/6/96
"Environmental Audits Made Easier," Hot Points, published by Miller, Canfield, Paddock and Stone, July 1996
"Coordinating Environmental Programs for Profit," Michigan Chamber of Commerce Introductory Course in ISO 14000 Environmental Management System Standards, Crowne Plaza Hotel, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 6/19/96
"Environmental Audit Privilege and Policy," Air & Waste Management Association, West Michigan Chapter Technical Conference, Grand Valley State University, Allendale, Michigan, 6/13/96
"Environmental Regulatory Compliance Auditing," Presentation with Techna Corporation and Manager of General Motors Corporate Environmental Audit Group, Novi, Michigan, 5/2/96
Interview on WGVU-Radio’s "Business Beat" on recently enacted Environmental Audit Privilege Legislation, March 1996
"The Environmental Audit Privilege and Immunity Law," Grand Rapids Bar Association Environmental Law Section Presentation, 1/23/96
"Testimony Regarding Senate Bill 728: Audit Privilege Legislation," Michigan Department of Natural Resources Public Hearing, 1/22/96
"Environmental Audit Privilege Legislation," Grand Rapids Business Update, January 1996
"Redeveloping Contaminated Property: New Michigan Environmental Response Act," Michigan Association of CPAs West Michigan Tax Symposium, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 11/17/95
"Testimony Regarding Senate Bill 728: Audit Privilege Legislation," Michigan Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs, Lansing, Michigan, 10/15/95
"Environmental Law and Liabilities," Consulting Engineers Council, Management Development Seminar, Aquinas College, Grand Rapids, Michigan, October 1995
"Lender Issues: Part 201 of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act," Comerica Bank-Kalamazoo, Michigan, 8/16/95
"Summary of Amendments to Part 201 of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act," Superior Environmental Corporation’s Managing Regulatory Change Seminar, Kellogg Center, East Lansing, Michigan, 6/29/95
"Summary of Amendments to Part 201 of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act," State Bar of Michigan Public Corporation Law Section, Novi, Michigan, 6/9/95
"Changes in Cleanup Law Will Significantly Affect Business and Real Estate Transactions," Grand Rapids Business Update, May 1995
"New Cleanup Law Could Boost Redevelopment of Environmentally Challenged Property," Hot Points, published by Miller, Canfield, Paddock and Stone, April 1995
"Urban Core Mayors Urban Revitalization Package," Michigan Municipal League Conference, Lansing, Michigan, 3/27/95
Seminars + Events
- Webinar: Outside Contractors in Your Facility - Essential Partners or Ticking Time Bombs?
- Webinar: Employer Workplace Health and Safety Programs - An Employer's Best Friend or Worst Enemy
Follow Us on Twitter