Kimberly J. Ruppel

Kimberly J. Ruppel

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Bloomfield Hills Office

kruppel(at)dickinsonwright.com

Phone: 248.433.7291

Fax: 248.433.7274

PROMINENT ASSIGNMENTS

Co-lead discovery counsel for Ford Motor Company in a multi-billion dollar ERISA stock drop putative class action brought by 401k plan participants.

Lead counsel for IndyMac Bank in a jury trial in Oakland County Circuit Court involving claims that a negligent real estate appraiser was partly responsible for the bank's damages arising from a mortgage default.

Represented Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan as part of the discovery team in a ten million dollar breach of contract and tortious interference litigation brought by a physical therapy provider group.

Lead counsel for Ford Motor Company in a breach of contract litigation based upon the alleged improper termination of a multi-year marketing services contract for a national special vehicle enthusiast organization.

Successfully defended Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada against an appeal to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals involving whether the "Safe Harbor" regulatory exemption precluded the application of ERISA to an employer provided disability insurance policy.

Obtained summary judgment on behalf of Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company in an ERISA claim involving issues of insurance coverage, employment discrimination, negligence and fiduciary duties.

Successfully defended against an appeal to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals on behalf of an ERISA plan administrator involving the termination of disability insurance benefits following improvement of the claimant's medical condition.

Represented Quicken Loans, Inc. as part of the trial team in a class action involving claims under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Prevailed at summary disposition as co-lead counsel for Libralter Plastics in a commercial real estate litigation involving claims of breach of a purchase agreement.

Represented Household Retail Services in a consumer credit dispute involving claims of fraudulent misrepresentation and alleged violations of Michigan's Consumer Protection Act.

REPRESENTATIVE CLIENTS

  • AON Corporation
  • Aetna Life Insurance Company
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina
  • Companion Life Insurance Company
  • Continental Insurance Company
  • Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield
  • Ford Motor Company
  • The Hartford
  • Illinois Tool Works, Inc.
  • MassMutual Life Insurance Company
  • Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada

AREAS OF PRACTICE EMPHASIS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

PROFESSIONAL INVOLVEMENT

  • Defense Research Institute; ERISA, Life, Health & Disability Committee
  • State Bar of Michigan, Insurance & Indemnity Law Committee
  • Oakland County Bar Association

PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS

  • Introducing Evidence at Trial, 3rd ed., (Institute of Continuing Legal Education), contributing editor, 2007

EDUCATION

University of Michigan, B.A. 1990

Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law (Yeshiva University), J.D. 1998