Matt is a trial lawyer practicing primarily in the areas of employment, commercial, and personal injury matters. He has trial and litigation experience in both federal and state courts across the state of Michigan.

Matt devotes the majority of his practice to helping individuals and families who have catastrophic injuries and wrongful death claims. Matt's experience includes vehicular, airplane, premises, and construction accidents.

Additionally, Matt serves a variety of businesses and individuals in commercial disputes, such as employment discrimination, trade secret, wrongful advertising, and other unfair trade practice claims. He also has experience handling class action matters. Matt often works with his clients under alternative billing arrangements.

Whether Matt is representing individuals or businesses, he maintains a genuine and passionate dedication to his clients and their interests.

"When we file lawsuits for our clients it is only because there is a dispute and we believe our clients deserve justice. We make our client's dispute our own - we take it personally - and we look forward to the day when we can present our client's case to a jury."
- Matt Wikander

Matt lives with his family in East Grand Rapids. In his spare time, he enjoys the outdoors and playing sports. He is an avid fan of the Detroit Tigers, Lions, Red Wings, and Pistons, and of course, his beloved Michigan Wolverines.

Education

• University of Michigan (B.A., 2001)
• Wayne State University (J.D., 2004); Vice Chancellor, Wayne State Moot Court Program; Member, Sports and Entertainment Law Society

Admitted to Practice

• State Bar of Michigan, 2004
• U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan, 2004
• U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, 2009
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit, 2009

Previous Professional Experience

• Summer Associate – Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge, Grand Rapids, MI
• Internship – Hon. James J. Rashid, Third Judicial Circuit Court of Michigan

Presentations

• "Aviation Crash Litigation," presented at the NALS Region 3 Summer Meeting, June 2011.
• Panel speaker, ABA Law Student Division 6th Circuit 2010 Spring Meeting, Thomas M. Cooley Law School

Client Successes for Matthew L. Wikander

• 10/1/2009
  Mark Gilchrist and Matt Wikander successfully represented a minor who was injured in an automobile accident. In a trial for damages, the jury awarded substantial damages to our client, to which the Court added interest and costs.
• 4/1/2007
  Chip Behler and Matt Wikander represented a governmental agency and its former manager in a lawsuit brought by a recently terminated employee. The plaintiff alleged a breach of contract claim against the governmental agency, alleging that the agency had failed to complete a reciprocal transfer of the plaintiff’s pension benefits. The plaintiff also alleged that the agency’s former manager tortuously interfered with the plaintiff’s contract, causing a breach. Finally, plaintiff alleged that the agency’s former manager had openly defamed plaintiff during both public and private meetings. With reference to targeted discovery, and a thorough application of the facts to the relevant law, the court dismissed the governmental agency from the lawsuit, stating that the agency had performed all of its obligations under the contract. The court dismissed all remaining claims against the former manager on the basis of governmental immunity and absolute privileges that the manager held while engaged in the alleged conduct.
• 5/1/2006
  Tom TerMaat and Matt Wikander recently obtained a dismissal for our client, a local retailer, in a slip and fall case. The plaintiff claimed that he had fallen on “black ice” in the parking lot and was injured. The plaintiff alleged that the store had failed to keep its premises safe for its customers. Through an aggressive campaign of discover, Tom and Matt were able to gather evidence on which to base a motion for summary disposition. Their argument was based on the fact that the ice was open and obvious, and that the owner did not have sufficient notice of the allegedly dangerous conditions.

Publications

• “Daubert and the Soft Sciences: Can a Forensic Economist Ever Make it Past the Gatekeeper?”, FDCC Quarterly, 2006
• "Heavy Hauling 'Permits' and Ways to Avoid Problems Down the Road — Documentation!  Documentation!  Documentation!", The Pool Cue, Michigan County Road Commission Self-Insurance Pool, August 2007

Smith Haughey Publications

News for Matthew L. Wikander

1/6/2011
Smith Haughey Announces New Shareholders and Board of Directors

1/8/2007
Article Authored by Smith Haughey Attorneys Published in FDCC Quarterly

11/30/2004
New Associates Join Grand Rapids Office of SHRR

5/28/2003
SHRR Welcomes Summer Associates

Professional Affiliations

• State Bar of Michigan
• Federal Bar Association - Western Michigan Chapter
• American Bar Association
• Lawyer Pilots Bar Association
• Grand Rapids Bar Association, Young Lawyers Section
• Grand Rapids Young Professionals
• American Inns of Court
• The Historical Society of the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan

Community Affiliations

• Advisory Board Member, The University of Michigan Club of Grand Rapids 
• University of Michigan Alumni Association and Victors Club
• West Michigan Sports Commission (Member, Sales Team)
• Sigma Chi West Michigan Alumni Chapter