The Intox 9000 is hitting booking rooms and jails all over Michigan as we speak. It is time to “look under the hood.”

The Nichols Law Firm is hosting a seminar approved by the National College for DUI Defense (NCDD). Speakers will come together the MSU College of Law to educate you so that you can educate your potential clients, your judges and your juries on how this device works.

Learn more and register

Ms. Schiller-Nichols, whose primary practice area is representing people injured based on the negligence of others, resolved cases for two clients, and they were cases that some other lawyers may have said were not worth a second look. In one of those cases, Ms. Schiller-Nichols recovered the limits of the insurance policy.

Learn more about Wendy Schiller-Nichols

1. Do not sign any document presented to you by your insurance company before you have retained a competent attorney in the area of personal injury or general negligence

2. Retain an attorney only after you are comfortable that she or he understands your case, the potential extent of your injuries and is competent in this practice area

3. Make no statements about what happened except to your attorney under the attorney client privilege

Below is a representation of some of our results

$2,000,000.00 + Sexual Assault- East Lansing, Michigan v Michigan State University (MSU) & United States Association of Gymnastics (USAG) Our clients were sexual assaulted by a treating physician.	$647,500.00 ATV accident-Roscommon, Michigan Our client was a passenger in an ATV that was driven recklessly, causing the ATV to strike a tree.  Client sustained serious injury to his leg and shoulder, mandible fracture, and a closed head injury.
$1,350,000.00 Automobile accident-Muskegon, Michigan Our client was a pedestrian who was struck when a driver lost control of their vehicle while driving under the influence of alcohol.  Client sustained multiple fractures and vision damage.	$475,000.00 Motorcycle accident-East Lansing, Michigan Our client was driving his motorcycle when he was struck by a vehicle pulling out of a driveway.  Our client sustained fatal injuries that caused his death.
$420,000.00 Automobile accident-Windsor Township, Michigan Our client was injured when a driver failed to stop at a stop sign, causing multiple fractures and injury to her leg.	$500,000.00 Automobile accident- Bear Lake, Michigan Our client was a construction worker who was struck and killed when a driver crossed the centerline.
$185,000.00 Fall, 2022-Ionia, Michigan Our disabled client was on an electric ramp exiting a County bus when he was thrown from his wheelchair causing a fractured hip.	$185,000.00 Slip and Fall-Mt. Pleasant, Michigan Our client slipped and fell while using a restroom at a store.  Our client injured his right knee and ultimately had to have an amputation of his leg.
$145,000.00 Fall-Grand Blanc, Michigan Our minor client was riding her bike when she fell into a trench that was dug and not marked properly.  Client suffered the loss of multiple teeth and facial lacerations.	$300,000.00 Dog Bite-Lansing, Michigan Our minor client was playing in her father’s front yard when the neighbor’s 2 dogs came into the yard viciously attacking the young child.  Client sustained multiple dog bites to her legs, butt, stomach and ankle and requiring surgery.
$500,000.00 Automobile accident-Flint, Michigan Our client was rearended at a traffic light causing her vehicle to catch fire causing death.	$245,000.00 Automobile accident-East Lansing, Michigan Our client was in the crosswalk crossing a street when a car struck him causing a traumatic brain injury and seizures.
$150,000.00 Automobile accident-Bitely, Michigan Our client was struck when a vehicle pulled out in front of them, causing an injury to her hip that resulted in a surgery.	$150,000.00 Automobile accident-Flint, MI Our client was a passenger in a vehicle that was struck after a car ran a red light.  Client sustained a ruptured breast implant and fractured vertebra.
$100,000.00 Automobile accident-Lansing, MI Our client was a pedestrian that was struck while crossing the street in the crosswalk.  Client sustained a traumatic brain injury and severe cognitive impairment.	$100,000.00 Motorcycle accident-Lansing, MI Our client was rearended by a car while riding his motorcycle.  Client sustained a traumatic brain injury causing memory issues.

 

H.N. Mother of a Mike Nichols DUI/Criminal client

T.P. a Mike Nichols DUI/Criminal client who had 2nd offense drunk driving charges dismissed.

Nichols Law Firm Hosted Experts, the Michigan State Police Police and Judges to help educate lawyers on the new breath test instrument that should be rolling out in some parts of Michigan July 17th, 2023

Committed to Results - Find Out How

Founded in 2006 by the husband and wife legal team of Mike and Wendy Nichols, the Nichols Law Firm has grown to become one of Michigan's most effective and successful law offices. Our team of Nichols Law Firm lawyers are nationally recognized leaders in the areas of DUI, Marijuana, Family, Divorce, and Personal Injury Law. Attorney Mike Nichols has been repeatedly recognized as a SuperLawyer by Thomson Reuters West for Criminal Law, in addition to authoring the Michigan OUI Handbook for WestLaw. No matter how big or how small the situation you find yourself in may be, you can trust that there is an honest and fearless advocate at the Nichols Law Firm waiting to help you get the results you need. Now, Mike and Wendy are offering a reduced fee for a contingency fee case. This category is usually personal injury, such as an auto accident, wrongful death or the case in which we take a chance on your case by entering into a written agreement under which there will be no fee until and unless there is a financial recovery. If we can resolve your case before we have to file a lawsuit and go to battle for you, we will take less than the industry standard of 33 1/3rd of the net recovery after expenses are deducted.

Having a run-in on the wrong side of the law can be the most nerve wracking experience one can face. The Nichols Lawyers know that the first question you likely think of after your arrest is “what’s next?” Being convicted of a crime can change your life forever. Whether you’re charged with OWI, Marijuana Possession, Misconduct in Office, or homicide, having a dedicated criminal defense team can mean all the difference in the outcome you experience. For people who are dependent on their Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) to live, they have no option but to fight the charges against them and avoid a license suspension.

With OWI or Drug Use charges, science matters. The Nichols Lawyers are nationally recognized leaders in challenging the police science and legal tactics being used against you. After years of fighting for scientific fairness, Mike Nichols secured a court decision which changed the face of forensic measurement in Michigan and states around the country by requiring that courts verify the validity of science being used against an accused person.

We are proud to have earned our reputation of being hardworking in every field we practice. Attorney Wendy Schiller-Nichols has tirelessly worked for more than defending the rights drivers who have been hurt in an accident by an at-fault driver.

Hiring the Nichols Law Firm does not just provide you with an attorney on your case; you’re hiring our full team. From the ground up, your case will be given the attention it deserves starting at the moment you walk into our office. We encourage you to browse our website to find more information about the law, police science, and how you can help your Nichols Lawyer build a strategy to secure the result that you need to move past your current legal issue. Through our commitment to results, we are excited to earn your trust.

 

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Mike Nichols Named to Leadership Roles Again in National College for DUI Defense

East Lansing attorney Mike Nichols has again been named as co-chair of the Forensic Science Task Force for the National College for DUI Defense. Mr. Nichols will also chair the autonomous vehicles task force for the NCDD. Mr. Nichols has also been named to the Thomson Reuters West “Top 100” among the “Super Lawyers” list. He will be speaking this summer at the trial skills conference for the Michigan Association of OWI Attorneys (MIAOWIA) and the Cannabis Law Section (CLS) of the State Bar. His primary practice area is Criminal Defense/OWI.

Mr. Nichols has been named to the Super Lawyers list 11 years in a row dating back to 2011. He also recently updated the Michigan OWI Manual for West Publications for the 13th straight year.

 

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Mike Nichols discusses his marijuana presentation to the Minnesota Society of Criminal Justice in late June on marijuana and driving issues and other law topics with colleague Todd L. Levitt of the Todd L. Levitt law show.

 

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"Mr. Nichols: help me with 2 things – I want to make sure that my wife is OK and that the young man who was shot is OK."

Meet our client, an East Lansing Police Officer involved in officer involved shooting and who some are questioning his conduct.

Read more

 

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"This is why I never leave home without Mike’s card in my wallet, right next to my drivers license."

WMU Cooley Retired Law Professor and Legal Author N. Otto Stockmeyer commenting on Mike’s article on chemical test refusals

 

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The Firm Feeds a Family

Times have been tough around Michigan and the world with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our economy. The Nichols Law Firm Team decided to do something to try and help. We partnered with the Greater Lansing Rescue Mission and our friends at Steakhouse Philly to at least provide 1 meal to people in need in the Lansing-area. On Tuesday, June 29, before Mike Nichols and Parker Myles left for a 2-hour trip for a trial, we came together to pick up meals from Steakhouse Philly, which is located just off Michigan State University’s campus, to deliver them to the Greater Lansing Rescue Mission on Lansing’s near-west side.

 

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New Look at the Court in East Lansing

Judge Molly Hennessey-Greenwalt took the oath of office publicly on Sunday, August 22, 2021 at a ceremony in the court in East Lansing (shown here being administered by Judge Richard D. Ball). Judge Greenwalt became just the 7th Judge to preside at the court, designated as the 54B District Court when it was created by legislation in 1970.  Judge Greenwalt has a diverse background for a relatively short time in the legal profession. She worked at a private law firm while in law school. Judge Hennessey-Greenwalt then clerked for then-Michigan Supreme Court Justice Stephen J. Markman. We came to know the judge when she was an assistant Ingham County Prosecutor. She even tried a drunk driving case with Mike when she was pregnant and close to delivering her child. Judge Hennessey-Greenwalt then left the prosecutor’s office to go back to the Michigan Supreme Court – this time as a Supreme Court Commissioner. The job entails serving as one of about 15 lawyers, who advise the justices on everything from operation of the courts around Michigan to cases that should be reviewed for granting “leave” to appeal and everything in between. Judge Hennessey-Greenwalt was appointed by Governor Whitmer in late July to fill the seat vacated by the retirement of Judge Andrea Larkin. Congratulations to, and we look forward to working with 54B District Court Judge Molly Hennessey-Greenwalt in East Lansing.

 

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Mike Nichols updates the 2020 OWI Book for Michigan Lawyers for Thomson Reuters West Publishing

Mike used the "downtime" with courts closed all over the state to focus on completing the 11th update of this vital book for Michigan lawyers as the publication enters its 2nd decade. "One of my favorite subjects was the City of Lansing v Reynolds" case - in which the Judge granted a new trial over a Brady violation by Geoff French at the Michigan State Police lab.

 

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Did you know the Michigan Breath Alcohol Testing program is NOT accredited?

Michigan DUI attorney Mike Nichols cross-examined the new technical supervisor for the breath alcohol program in July, 2019. Mike presented to Michigan lawyers on the #badbreathscandal and he shared the transcript of that testimony as well as the CV for W. Mark Fondren. Now he shares it with you

Download Transcript

Download CV

 

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The Impaired Driving Commission released their report today about marijuana impairment in drivers. There is definitely some good stuff in there, namely:

1. Recommendation against a per se limit – they said there is no way for that to be equally applied
2. HGN is not effective for marijuana intoxication
3. They recommend officers use unstandardized tests for marijuana investigations

Download the Report

 

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WATCH: Are you “Claritin clear?” If so, you may want to decline allowing the officer to administer the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus test.

Research and expertise courtesy of Ronald Henson, PhD.

 

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MSP Protocol Update

The Michigan State Police has updated its blood alcohol procedures for 2018 as well as its uncertainty statements for certain drugs that it typically analyzes. See the protocols here.

Download the MSP Determination of Ethanol PDF

Download the MSP Measurement Uncertainty PDF

Download DMT Evidential Breath Testing Training Manual 2018 PDF

 

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Mike Nichols Honored With the 2018 Leo Farhat Award

November 14, 2018 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(East Lansing, MI) – Nichols Law Firm Partner Michael J. Nichols has been honored with the 2018 Leo A. Farhat Outstanding Attorney Award by the Ingham County Bar Association. According to the Ingham County Bar Association, the award is presented to a member of the Bar Association who has distinguished himself or herself by manifesting exemplary character, integrity, judgment, and legal scholarship while adhering to and advancing the highest principles and traditions of the legal profession.

Mr. Nichols is a graduate of the Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School and has been a practicing trial attorney for almost 20 years specializing in all aspects of criminal defense, but with a particular focus on OWI/OUI law and forensic science. Nichols, along with his wife and law partner, attorney Wendy Schiller-Nichols, opened the Nichols Law Firm in 2006. He is a full time father of three children and an avid runner. He has devoted much of his free time to the mentoring of young lawyers, presenting at judicial conferences, and working to advocate for a fair judicial system.  He currently holds a perfect 10/10 rating on the lawyer review service Avvo and has been recognized as a Super Lawyer for seven straight years. Mr. Nichols is a sought-after lecturer around the country and the State of Michigan. He also authored the "Michigan OWI Handbook" for West Publishing.

“Mike is courageous, brave, and tenacious – he takes on cases and fights for clients that a lot of people would not,” says Mary Chartier, Partner of Chartier & Nyamfukudza, PLC, and President of the Ingham County Bar Association. “He is not afraid to stand up for clients in either the court of law or court of public opinion. We are proud of his accomplishments and our members are honored to recognize him with this award.”

The Nichols Law Firm is one of Lansing and mid-Michigan’s fastest growing and most highly sought after law firms. With a team of skilled and compassionate attorneys, paralegals, and assistants, the firm represents many clients every year in the areas of criminal defense, family and domestic law, auto accident injuries, medical malpractice, and other personal injury cases. For more information, please contact the firm at (517) 432-9000.

 

 

Peer Recognition

Mike Nichols is a national leader in drunk driving defense. He is a member of the Forensic Committee and Michigan delegate to the National College for DUI Defense. He is also a Sustaining Member of the College. Nichols is also a founding member of the Michigan Association of OWI Attorneys; a member of the American Chemical Society; an associate member of he American Academy of Forensic Science, Adjunct Professor of Forensic Evidence in Criminal Law and OWI Law and Practice at Cooley Law School. He is also author of the West OWI Practice book and several chapters in other books on science and the law.

Mike Nichols is recognized by his peers in Michigan as a “SuperLawyer” in DUI/Criminal Defense. Nichols has also been asked to speak at conferences by groups such as the NCDD; Various Bar Associations in other states.