Kristen is a trial attorney and litigator who represents and defends an array of people and organizations in the resolution of various disputes. She has successfully tried cases and settled disputes for clients in state and federal courts throughout Michigan. Some of her clients include municipalities, small business owners, corporations, health care providers, law firms, and attorneys and other professionals. She counsels and defends her clients in matters involving the defense of claims of professional malpractice, contract disputes, employment matters, and general liability, among other areas. Additionally, Kristen is well-versed in the specialized area of e-discovery and has drafted and reviewed multiple policies for her clients.

Kristen also represents individuals who have been charged with a crime or face criminal investigations. Her clients include those charged with drunk driving, assault, fraud, embezzlement, vehicular manslaughter, criminal sexual misconduct, and computer crimes.

Education

• Butler University (B.A., 2001)
• Suffolk University Law School (J.D., cum laude, 2006); Member, Dean's List; Recipient, Suffolk University Law School Jurisprudence Award.

Admitted to Practice

• Massachusetts Bar Association, 2006
• State Bar of Michigan, 2008
• U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan, 2008
• U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, 2009

Previous Professional Experience

• Attorney - Committee for Public Counsel Services, New Bedford, Massachusetts

Select Cases

Zoning Litigation

• Kristen successfully represented a township client in convincing a local Circuit Court to remove a national outdoor advertiser's recently erected electronic billboard. The new billboard was on the site of a pre-existing static billboard and, hence, a protected pre-existing non-conforming use. However, at trial, Kristen successfully argued that the substantial "modernization" of the billboard exempted the billboard from the typical pre-existing non-conforming use protections and successfully deflected the advertiser's claims that its First Amendment rights were violated by the township's regulation. The court agreed with Kristen's argument that the company had violated the township's zoning ordinance and that the billboard had to be turned off and removed.

Criminal Defense

• Kristen was successful in convincing a local prosecutor to dismiss an involuntary manslaughter charge against her client the day before trial was set to begin. Using the same data as the police, Kristen, a math major, worked with her defense expert to calculate the client's speed at the point of impact and in doing so was able to prove that her client was not speeding prior to the crash. The data persuaded the prosecutor to dismiss the case based on the fact that the prosecution could not prove gross negligence to convict Kristen's client.

General Liability Defense

• In two instances, Kristen successfully defended plaintiff's motion for possession pending judgement. In one instance, her clients were allowed to retain possession of their beloved canine prior to a full resolution of the case; in the other, the client was able to continue to use equipment necessary to maintain its golf course.

Client Successes for Kristen E. Ray

• 1/1/2010
  Kristen Ray recently successfully represented a township client, convincing a local Circuit Court to remove a national outdoor advertiser's recently erected electronic billboard. The billboard was on the site of a pre-existing static billboard and, hence, a pre-existing non-conforming use. However, at trial, Kristen successfully argued that the substantial "modernization" of the billboard exempted the billboard from the typical pre-existing non-conforming use protections and successfully deflected the advertiser's claims that its First Amendment rights were violated by the township's regulation.
• 6/1/2009
  Pat Geary, Dale Hebert, and Kristen Ray achieved a significant result for our client, a retail grocer, in a case brought against it by the receiver for insurance in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. We moved to dismiss or to transfer venue to the Western District, arguing that venue was improper in the Eastern District. The Court agreed and ordered the case transferred to the Western District.
• 12/1/2008
  Adam Lett and Kristen Ray recently achieved a significant victory in Kent County Probate Court on behalf of our client who is one of several siblings engaged in protracted litigation regarding their parents' multi-million dollar estate. For almost two years, the opposition has refused to disclose financial information regarding the assets they control and have been distributing to themselves. A two-day bench trial was scheduled regarding the accounting which was provided and which we objected to as inadequate. Ultimately, the judge ordered the appointment of a Special Master with forensic accounting experience to conduct an independent examination of the entire estate back to the earliest possible date of wrongdoing, and ordered the Siblings Eight to pay for the examination out of funds they control. Our client will end up with a roadmap to recover any misspent assets at no cost to her.

Smith Haughey Publications

News for Kristen E. Ray

11/28/2011
Kristen Ray Selected As An "Up & Coming Lawyer"

8/24/2010
SHRR Presents Webinar About Changes to the Michigan No-Fault Act

4/7/2009
Smith Haughey Expands & Strengthens Client Offerings in 10 Practice Areas

12/5/2008
Ray and Pearson Join Smith Haughey as New Associates

Professional Affiliations

• State Bar of Michigan
• Massachusetts Bar Association
• Federal Bar Association
• Grand Rapids Bar Association
• Michigan Defense Trial Counsel
• Grand Rapids Young Professionals

Community Affiliations

• Friends of Grand Rapids Parks (Member, Board of Directors)
• Planned Parenthood of West and Northern Michigan (Member, Board of Directors and Nominating Committee)
• Ella Bullis Foundation (Member, Special Events Committee)
• Grand Rapids Rowing Association
• BLEND
• Inforum