For more than 30 years, Dave has focused on the intersection of law and clinical practice. Building on an extensive knowledge of hospital operations acquired during years of malpractice litigation, he has extended his interests and practice to risk management, clinical and other policies and procedures, medical staff governance, privacy and security of health information, compliance and hospital and physician contracting. Dave especially enjoys assisting health care clients meet the unique clinical, regulatory and risk management challenges of serving the mentally ill. He has first-hand experience in this field, having recently served as in-house counsel for Northern Lakes Community Mental Health Authority.
A founding member of Smith Haughey's Traverse City office, Dave grew up in Montana and began his legal career in the Upper Peninsula. He and his wife Barbara, a social worker, moved to Traverse City in 1986. The couple has two children (a chef and a banker) and are devoted to their unruly but lovable dogs. In his spare time, Dave enjoys reading, flyfishing, cooking, travel, politics and cigar stores - but not necessarily in that order.
