Cheri is a seasoned and highly regarded Michigan trial lawyer. In her 35 year career as a successful litigator, she has handled hundreds of cases - from claim filing to pretrial settlements to jury verdict and/or appeals as needed. She holds a coveted AV peer rating by Martindale-Hubbell, Inc., the highest rating offered by this prestigious organization.
Cheri has tried cases and appeals before judges and juries in all county Circuit Courts in the Detroit tri-county area, Washtenaw County, Traverse City, Monroe, Adrian, as well as in Federal Court, the American Arbitration Association and the Michigan Supreme Court. As appropriate for each situation and case, she conducts detailed case assessments to determine whether settlement or trial will most likely attain the most favorable outcome for the client.
Cheri defends physicians and health care entities in medical malpractice cases involving all areas of medicine - from family practice, radiology technologists, nurses - to the more technical areas of obstetrics and gynecology, neurosurgery, orthopedics, urology, cardiology, gastroenterology, plastic surgery, radiology and cardiovascular surgery. She represents numerous health care facilities of all types who operate in Wayne, Washtenaw, St. Clair and Macomb counties, many of whom face claims throughout Michigan. In addition, Cheri will assist and advise on other commercial cases and claims.
Experience
Client success:Cheryl Chandler successfully defended doctors in two recent trials in Monroe and Wayne Counties. In the first trial, she represented an emergency department doctor in a case related to treatment of a facial wound/alleged human bite. In the second trial, she represented a psychiatrist in a suicide case.
Client success:Cheryl Chandler successfully defended physicians in three recent medical malpractice trials. In the first trial, she represented a gastroenterologist in Oakland County. In the second trial, she defended an internist in Wayne County in a below the knee amputation case. In the third trial, she represented a psychiatrist in a suicide case in Wayne County.
Representation of a national drug company as Michigan Counsel in the defense of product liability claims relating to the ingestion of a medication manufactured by the company. She helped negotiate several favorable settlements on behalf of the company in conjunction with other national drug companies who manufactured the same medication.
Representation of a physician through trial to the Michigan Supreme Court where a verdict for the defense was affirmed. This case created the rule of law that allows a jury instruction to be given in medical malpractice cases that indicates bad results, in and of themselves, are not malpractice.
Successful representation of three pediatricians in a failure to diagnose meningitis case resulting in alleged catastrophic neurological injury to the child. This case was appealed to the Supreme Court and favorable defense law created regarding claims raised at trial must be consistent with allegations pled in the complaint.
Successful defense of a nationally prominent academic medical center in an admitted liability case regarding administration of a blood transfusion of the wrong blood type.
Successful representation of a radiologist in the death of a woman due to an alleged failure to diagnose a pulmonary embolism on x-ray.
Obtained a no cause judgment for action in a plastic surgery case of a young woman, after breast reduction. The allegation was disfigurement.
Obtained a no cause in a case alleging failure to properly diagnose an EKG resulting in death of a young man.
Successful defense of an obstetrician in a still birth case.
Accolades
•AV Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
•Member, American Board of Trial Advocates
•Listed in Best Lawyers (2013-2020) -- Medical Malpractice Law
•Listed as one of Hour Detroit's Top Women Attorneys In Michigan (2017, 2020)
•Listed in the Michigan Super Lawyers (2014-2019) -- Medical Malpractice Defense
•Named to Michigan Lawyers Weekly Women in the Law (2018)
•AV Preeminent Rating, Martindale-Hubbell (2016)
•Named to Best Lawyers Women In The Law (2016)
•Listed as a Local Litigation Star in Benchmark Litigation (2015) -- Medical Malpractice Defense
•Listed, DBusiness Top Lawyer (2015)
•Listed, Leading Lawyers (2014) -- Medical Malpractice Defense Law
•Named to Michigan Lawyers Weekly Leaders in the Law (2013)
•Recipient, American Physicians' 2010 Outstanding Defense Attorney Award
News and Publications
August 15 2019
Smith Haughey Attorneys Listed Among Best Lawyers in America, Four Named Attorney of the Year
March 20 2019
Michigan Defense Trial Counsel Honors Cheri L. Chandler
January 23 2019
Attorney Cheryl Chandler Receives MDTC Excellence in Defense Award
August 22 2018
Attorney Cheri Chandler Named to 2018 Women in the Law
August 16 2018
Twenty-One Smith Haughey Attorneys Named to Best Lawyers 2019
January 11 2018
Smith Haughey Announces New Shareholders and Board of Directors
August 18 2017
Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge Attorneys Listed Among Best Lawyers in America for 2018
April 19 2017
Medical Malpractice Defense Newsletter, April 2017
October 06 2016
Eight Smith Haughey Attorneys Selected as Local Litigation Stars by Benchmark Litigation
September 20 2016
Sixteen Smith Haughey Attorneys Listed Among 2016 Michigan Super Lawyers and Super Lawyers Rising Stars
January 14 2016
Smith Haughey Elects CEO, Shareholder, and 2016 Board of Directors
September 17 2015
Fourteen Smith Haughey Attorneys Listed Among 2015 Michigan Super Lawyers and Super Lawyers Rising Stars
August 27 2015
Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge Attorneys Listed Among Best Lawyers in America for 2016
January 09 2015
Smith Haughey Announces New Shareholders and Board of Directors
October 29 2014
Ten Smith Haughey Attorneys Selected as Local Litigation Stars by Benchmark Litigation
September 05 2014
Twenty-three Smith Haughey Attorneys Listed Among 2014 Michigan Super Lawyers and Super Lawyers Rising Stars”
August 18 2014
Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge Attorneys Listed Among Best Lawyers in America for 2015
January 07 2014
Smith Haughey Announces New Chief Executive Officer, Shareholders, Office Managing Shareholders, and Board Members
August 15 2013
Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge Attorneys Listed Among “Best Lawyers in America” For 2014
February 07 2013
Smith Haughey Attorney Selected as one of Michigan's Leaders in the Law 2013
January 08 2013
Smith Haughey Announces New Equity Shareholders and Board Members
August 22 2012
Chandler Admitted as a Member of the American Board of Trial Advocates