Gloves Off: A Legal Podcast Ven Johnson

Attorney Ven Johnson, a Kalamazoo College grad and former tennis player, invites men’s tennis head coach Mark Riley on the podcast to chat about how K-College became the hotspot for the junior nationals - a 10-day tennis tournament that starts the first Friday in August.

Ven Johnson Law has been a sponsor of the tournament since the firm’s inception in 2011.

Ven Johnson, Chris Desmond, Paul Doherty, and former Michigan Court of Appeals Judge Amy Ronayne continue the conversation on governmental immunity, including the difficulties plaintiff lawyers face to prove gross negligence and the proximate cause in a case. They also discuss the lawsuit against Oxford Community Schools following the Nov. 30, 2021, shooting at Oxford High School, and how the district has an automatic right of appeal if a judge rules that certain employees will remain as defendants in the civil lawsuit – a rule that was both created and is enforced by the Michigan Supreme Court. They also explain why plaintiffs can’t sue government entities, but can sue government employees under state law.

Ven Johnson, Chris Desmond, Paul Doherty, and former Michigan Court of Appeals Judge Amy Ronayne Krause discuss governmental immunity and times where it may make sense. They also discuss the different ways the government throws cases out to avoid being sued, including requiring a notice provision, where a plaintiff only has a certain window to warn the government that they are filing a legal claim. This episode also includes how the Michigan Supreme Court is seemingly looking at governmental immunity cases with more scrutiny to allow more plaintiffs to have their day in court.

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In episode 23, attorney Ven Johnson, Tom Waun, Paul Doherty and Chris Desmond continue the conversation about governmental immunity. A large focus on this episode includes key differences between a proximate cause and THE proximate cause, which is defined as one of the most immediate, efficient and direct causes of a plaintiff’s injury. The four discuss ongoing cases including the Midland flood, Flint water, and Grosse Point flooding cases and how governmental immunity continues to protect the guilty and impede justice for those impacted.

In episode 22, attorney Ven Johnson, alongside partners Tom Waun and Paul Doherty, as well as chief appellate lawyer Chris Desmond talk about what governmental immunity is, how it’s evolved over the years, and the hurdles one needs to overcome to get around it. Additionally, they dive into exceptions and instances where you can sue governmental entities or individuals who work for the government. They also discuss the key differences and legal definitions of gross negligence and negligence.

In episode 21, attorney Ven Johnson, criminal law expert Steve Fishman and ‘Gloves Off’ producer Eri Johnson dive into some of the biggest trials over the past year, including many surrounding the Black Lives Matter movement. They discuss various lawsuits and verdicts against police officers Kimberly Potter and Derek Chauvin, as well as teenager Kyle Rittenhouse.

Ven, Steve and Eri also touch on the high-profile cases against Elizabeth Holmes and Ghislaine Maxwell and explain how media coverage and social media interactions could impact a verdict or settlement.