Law Firm Works for Community and Beyond

In 1986, Farmington Hills attorney Michael Fabian saw a need to help victims of fire and decided to be the one to meet it.

Fabian opened he doors of his law firm specifically to fight insurance companies for the rights of fire and explosion victims. And this year, Michigan Lawyers Weekly named him a Leader in the Law, an honor shared by just 25 lawyers in the state each year. 

Fabian said that victims need someone who is a specialist on their side, because Michigan has no “bad faith law." The law allows people to sue insurance companies when the terms of a policy are not met. While interest must be paid on a claim the longer it sits, there is no further penalty.

Fabian said that's part of what makes him and partners Stuart Sklar and Pat King passionate about helping victims recover what is rightfully theirs.

“It’s almost like if you were a bank robber, and you knew that there was basically no penalty for robbing a bank, other than when you are caught you just turn back the money you held that doesn’t belong to you,” Fabian said. “It’s incredible to think about that.”

Fabian, Sklar and King has handled cases all over the country, but works mostly in Michigan. The firm has been actively involved in .

The firm has made a commitment to giving back, this year donating 500 lithium battery smoke detectors to the Detroit Fire Department. The batteries cannot be removed and, once installed, the detectors last 10 years, Fabian said. Along with community projects, Fabian, Sklar and King also helps educate other attorneys about working with fire and explosion victims.

 “That’s part of giving back and it takes a lot of time,” Fabian said. “We donate our time, we donate our expertise. We feels it’s part of what we do to make the law better, to make the methods of investigating fires better, and to participate in effectuating positive change that helps everybody.”

Fabian has a special place in his heart for Farmington Hills. He bought his first home and started his business here.

“We love the community,” Fabian said. “It’s been a great relationship."