A Michigan state county judge ruled last week in favour of Dean Altobelli, who claimed he was forced to bail out of the equity partnership at international law firm Miller Canfield because the practice’s hierarchy operated a ‘culture of fear and intimidation’.

Oppression

According to a report in the Detroit Free Press newspaper, the firm – which was founded in 1852 and now has offices in Canada, China and Poland – is appealing the ruling at the state’s appeal court. The newspaper says the first instance judge agreed with Mr Altobelli that he had suffered ‘shareholder oppression, civil theft and interference with business relationships’ at the hands of the firm’s chief executive, Michael Hartmann, and other management level partners.

Denial

The report says the case revolves around Mr Altobelli’s requested leave of absence to take a post working with the US college football team at the University of Alabama. The lawyer himself is a former Michigan State University player.
Mr Hartmann and the managing partners deny they forced the lawyer to leave the partnership.