Adam is an attorney in the firm's Grand Rapids office—but above all he is an advocate.  The son of an educator, he learned the connection between clarity and persuasion at an early age.  He now brings those skills to bear on behalf of his clients, which run the gamut from individuals to Fortune 500 companies, throughout the State of Michigan.

Commercial Litigation

As a commercial litigator, Adam regularly appears before judges and juries throughout Michigan in complex business and corporate litigation.  His experience includes matters involving contract disputes, products liability actions, personal injury, general liability, governmental liability, and real estate.  His clients have included retailers, manufacturers, entrepreneurs, small business owners, and large financial institutions.

Employment Litigation

In addition, Adam represents business owners in several types of employment litigation.  He has successfully handled cases from initial pleading through appeal in matters such as wrongful termination, civil rights, discrimination, noncompete agreements, and failure to promote, among others.

Client Service Philosophy

Whether the case is large or small, Adam prides himself on providing personalized service.  His inventive, “outside-the-box” approach makes him a favorite of his clients, and oftentimes allows him to resolve a dispute before significant legal fees are incurred.

Adam’s passion for advocacy has motivated him to take a leadership role in his community, where he serves on several non-profit Boards and Committees, including Lakeshore Headstart and Upward Bound, two programs that provide empowerment and mentorship for underprivileged youth.  Adam is also actively involved in West Michigan politics, and serves as the elected chairman of the Ottawa County Republican Party.  In that capacity, he serves as the organization’s chief spokesperson, strategist, and fundraiser.

Education

• Michigan State University, James Madison College (BA, with honors, 2002); Phi Beta Kappa; Golden Key International Honor Society
• Wayne State University Law School (JD, 2005); Moot Court National Team

Admitted to Practice

• Michigan, 2005
• U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan, 2007
• U.S. Disctrict Court, Eastern District of Michigan, 2011

Civil Rights Litigation

Several parties, including Adam’s client, a large, Christian homeless shelter, were sued in Federal Court by a pro se litigant.  In a 25-page complaint, the plaintiff advanced several statutory, civil rights theories, including a claim for conspiracy that involved all of the named defendants.  Though the allegations against Adam’s client were far-fetched, the level of deference afforded to a pro se litigant, particularly in Federal Court, as well as the fact-intensive nature of the plaintiff’s allegations, threatened a lengthy and costly legal battle.  However, through creative legal argument, Adam obtained a dismissal, with prejudice, for his client on the basis of the initial pleadings alone, and before any discovery was conducted, thereby saving his client a significant amount of time and money.

Personal Liability

A large, unsecured lender brought suit against Adam’s client, the CEO of a then defunct limited liability company, in an attempt to hold him personally responsible for the debt evidenced by a Promissory Note.  By the time Adam was hired, the plaintiff had already obtained a judgment against Adam’s client in excess of $250,000.  Adam had the judgement set aside.  Afterwards, through inventive written discovery and several motions for partial summary disposition, he whittled away the plaintiff’s claims until only the least viable remained.  The case settled at the plaintiff’s deposition for four-figures.

General Liability

Almost two dozen plaintiffs sued Adam’s client, the owner/operator of a large solid waste facility, under a private nuisance theory.  The allegation was that particulate matter and odor emitted by Adam’s client negatively impacted the plaintiffs’ health and property values.  Through dispositive motion practice and settlement negotiation, Adam favorably resolved the claims of all but 10 of the named plaintiffs.  Subsequently, Adam served as co-trial counsel when the claims of those 10 plaintiffs were heard by a jury over the course of two weeks.  The jury deliberated for less than 40 minutes, entering verdicts for no cause of action with respect to all remaining plaintiffs.

Corporate Litigation

A computer programer and his company sued Adam’s client, a local CNC machine shop, asserting several business tort and copyright-related theories of recovery, and seeking significant money damages.  Before Adam was hired, the plaintiff had obtained a temporary restraining order that threatened to halt Adam’s client’s most lucrative project.  Adam successfully beat-back the entry of a preliminary injunction, and filed a counter-claim against the plaintiff.  Within 10 days of the preliminary injunction hearing, the plaintiff agreed to a mutual dismissal of both lawsuits with prejudice, thereby allowing Adam’s client to resume operations during a critical time in its business cycle.

Smith Haughey Publications

News for D. Adam Tountas

9/16/2011
Adam Tountas Joins Smith Haughey's Grand Rapids Office

Professional Affiliations

• State Bar of Michigan
• Ottawa County Bar Association
• Grand Rapids Bar Association Managing Partners' Diversity Collaborative

Community Affiliations

• Member, Ottawa County Reapportionment Committee
• Member, Ottawa County Officers Compensation Commission
• Lakeshore Head Start
• Upward Bound