Jesse Reiter is the owner, founder, and managing partner of ABC Law Centers (Reiter & Walsh, P.C.). He has been practicing law since 1987, and is recognized as a leader in the field of birth trauma litigation. Reiter has won multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts for children with birth injuries such as hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) and cerebral palsy (CP). Passion for justice, meticulous attention to detail, and exhaustive preparation are the keys to his success. Helping children and their families brings him the greatest satisfaction.
Reiter began his legal career with a major law firm in Detroit. After years of honing his medical malpractice expertise, he formed ABC Law Centers in 1997. The firm has grown considerably since that time, and now fights for birth-injured children throughout the country.
At ABC Law Centers, Reiter has built a reputation around his extensive knowledge in both law and medicine. His in-depth understanding of complications during pregnancy, delivery, and the neonatal period, as well as of the standard of care medical professionals are obligated to provide, makes him a strong advocate for clients. Reiter has served a variety of important leadership positions in legal groups, such as president of the Michigan Association for Justice (MAJ) and chair of the Birth Trauma Litigation Group (BTLG). He has also won numerous awards for his representation of children who need constant care. His clients continually receive compassion, empathy, knowledge, and experience throughout their difficult cases.
Moreover, Reiter cares greatly about giving back to his community. He recently established the Reiter HIE Research Fund, which supports University of Michigan researchers focused on finding new treatments for hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). This is a serious birth injury caused by oxygen deprivation; it can lead to a variety of permanent conditions such as cerebral palsy and intellectual disability. Reiter also runs the ABC Law Centers Cerebral Palsy Scholarship and the HIE Help Center Scholarships. For more information about his community involvement and charitable contributions, please click here.
Education
DePaul University College of Law (Chicago, Illinois), Juris Doctor
University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, Michigan), Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science, High Honors
Memberships and honorary appointments
Bar admissions
Admitted to practice in Michigan: 1987
Admitted to practice in Eastern District of Michigan: 1987
Admitted to practice in Washington D.C.: 1999
Admitted to practice in Ohio: 2007
Admitted to practice in the U.S. Supreme Court: 2005American Bar Foundation Lifetime Fellow - Jesse Reiter
Admitted to practice in the Ohio Supreme Court
Bar foundations and associations
American Bar Foundation, Life Fellow
Michigan Bar Foundation: Fellow
Oakland County Bar Association: 1987 – Present, Fellow: Jan 2020 – Present
State Bar of Michigan: 1987 – Present
United States District Court, Eastern District of MichiganBirth Trauma Litigation Group Executive Board - Jesse Reiter
Birth Trauma Litigation Group (BTLG)
Birth Trauma Litigation Group: Executive Board Member
Birth Trauma Litigation Group: Co-Editor of Birth Trauma Litigation Group Journal, 2009 – 2011
Birth Trauma Litigation Group: Past Chair 2010 – 2012Birth Trauma Litigation Group (BTLG) Chair, Jesse Reiter | Award Badge
American Association for Justice (AAJ)
Member: 1987 – Present
Leaders Forum, Patron
Governor, Board of Governors: 2015 – Present
Publications Committee: 2017 – Present
Evergreen Advisory Board: 2018 – Present
Professional Negligence Committee: 2014 – Present
Exchange Advisory Committee: 2014 – 2018
Section & Litigation Group Coordination Committee: 2014 – 2018
National College of Advocacy: FellowAmerican Association for Justice (AAJ), Jesse Reiter Reiter & Walsh, P.C. | Honorary Membership and Award Badge
Professional Negligence Section Chair: 2013 – 2014
Professional Negligence Section Secretary: 2012 – 2013
Professional Negligence Section Newsletter Editor: 2011 – 2012
Peer Review
Trial: 2016 – Present
AAJ Trial News: 2013
Professional Negligence Law Reporter: 2008
Michigan Association for Justice (MAJ)
Michigan Association for Justice (MAJ) President, Jesse Reiter, Reiter & Walsh, P.C. | Award Badge
President: 2006 – 2007
President-Elect: 2005 – 2006
Vice President: 2004 – 2005
Secretary: 2003 – 2004
Treasurer: 2002 – 2003
Judicial Qualifications Committee: 2004 – Present
Chair of the Coalition/Community Action Committee: 2000 – 2002
Constitutional Challenge Committee: 1997
Executive Board Member: 1995 – Present
Other groups and associations
Pound Civil Justice Institute Fellow: 2017 – Present
Medical Negligence Information Exchange Group: 2015 – Present
Public Justice Foundation Member: 2015 – Present
National Trial Lawyers Association
Academy of Trial Advocacy: 10 years
Ohio Association for Justice Member: 2007 – Present
Million Dollar Advocates Forum
Awards
Best Lawyers In America, U.S. News & World Report/Best Lawyers: 2008 – 2022
Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs
Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in the Midwest 2022
American Association of Justice’s (AAJ) “Above and Beyond” award, July 2021
Leading Lawyers Top 10 Med Mal Plaintiff’s Lawyers in Michigan, 2020
American Association of Justice’s (AAJ) Board of Governors Outstanding Achievement Award for 2019
“Best Lawyers In America,” U.S. News & World Report/Best Lawyers: 2019 “Lawyer of the Year” – Medical Malpractice – Plaintiffs, Troy
Best Law Firms,” U.S. News & World Report/Best Lawyers: 2008 – Present
Michigan Top Lawyer
2017 American Association for Justice Board of Governors Outstanding Achievement Award
“AV Preeminent Top Rated Lawyer in Medical Malpractice” by The American Lawyer and Martindale-Hubbell™: 2019
“America’s Most Honored Professionals – Top 1%” – American Registry
Dan Cullan Memorial Award, AAJ Birth Trauma Litigation Group: 2016
Michigan Defense Trial Counsel’s Respected Advocate Award recipient: 2013
“Leader in the Law,” Michigan Lawyers Weekly: 2012
“Lawyer of the Year,” Michigan Lawyers Weekly: 2006
“Top 100 Trial Lawyers” by the National Trial Lawyers Association: 2011, 2015-Present
“Top Lawyers in Metro Detroit,” DBusiness Magazine: 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017
“Million Dollar Verdicts & Settlements” by Michigan Lawyers Weekly: 2000 – 2002, 2005 – 2016
Who’s Who in American Law
Leading Lawyers:
“Top 10 Leading Plaintiff’s Personal Injury Lawyers” – 2017
“Top 10 Leading Consumer Lawyers” – 2017
“Top 100 Leading Lawyers” – 2017
“Top 100 Consumer Lawyers” – 2017
Peer-reviewed and recommended “Leading Michigan Lawyer,” LeadingLawyers.com, Michigan Bar Journal: 2013 – Present
Listed in Michigan Super Lawyers Magazine: 2008-2017
“Top 100 Attorneys in Michigan”: 2013-2017
“Top 50 Consumer Attorneys in Michigan”: 2013-2017
“Top 10 Michigan Attorneys”: 2013
“Top 5 Consumer Attorneys in Michigan”: 2013
AV-Preeminent Rated, Martindale-Hubbell: 2004 – Present
“Top 10 Personal Injury Lawyers,” Metro Detroit: 2008
“Top 10 Personal Injury Attorneys in Michigan,” National Academy of Personal Injury Attorneys: 2008
Awarded American Association for Justice’s 2011 Outstanding Newsletter for the Professional Negligence Section Fall 2011 Newsletter
Published work
February 2021: Co-Author, “Did the ACOG 2014 Consensus Recommendations on Labor Management Achieve Anything?” Birth Trauma Litigation Group Journal.
September 2019: Co-Author, “Birth Asphyxia Cases: The Impact of Cooling,” American Association for Justice Trial Magazine.
February 2019: Co-Author, “The Impact of Therapeutic Hypothermia on Newborns with Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy,” Birth Trauma Litigation Group (BTLG) Journal.
May 2018: Co-Author, “Understanding Fetal Monitoring Evidence,” American Association for Justice Trial Magazine.
January 2018: Co-Author, “Timing Hypoxic-Ischemic Fetal Brain Injury,” Michigan Bar Journal.
Fall 2017: Author, “HR 1215: Stripping Rights From Our Most Vulnerable Michigan Medical Malpractice Clients,” Michigan Association for Justice Journal.
July 2017: Co-Author “Using MRI to Evaluate Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE) in Term Infants,” Birth Trauma Litigation Group (BTLG) Journal.
February 2017: Co-Author “Management of Category II Fetal Heart Tracings: Timing Delivery to Avoid HIE,” Birth Trauma Litigation Group (BTLG) Journal.
July 2016: Co-Author “Averting Pre-Term Birth: The Right Care Gives the Best Results,” Birth Trauma Litigation Group (BTLG) Journal.
Feb. 2016: Co-Author “ACOG Replaced the Friedman Curve with Unproven Guidelines: Is Lowering the Caesarean Rate Worth the Rise in Birth Trauma?,” Birth Trauma Litigation Group (BTLG) Journal.
July 2015: Co-Author “HIE and the Myth of Pre-Existing Injury,” Birth Trauma Litigation Group (BTLG) Journal.
Feb. 2014: Co-Author, “The Hidden Dangers of Overventilation,” Birth Trauma Litigation Group (BTLG) Journal.
July 2014: Co-Author “How ACOG Broadened the Definition of HIE: A Comparison of the NEACP and NEANO,” Birth Trauma Litigation Group (BTLG) Journal.
Feb. 2012: Co-Author, “Forcep Deliveries: Are They Worth The Risk?” Birth Trauma Litigation Group (BTLG) Journal.
Jan. 2011; July, 2011 & February, 2012: Co-Author, “Letter from the Co-Chairs,” Birth Trauma Litigation Group (BTLG) Journals – Summer and Winter 2011 Editions
Winter/Spring, 2011: Author, “Letter from the Editor,” Professional Negligence Newsletter, Vol. 18, No. 1
Nov. 29, 2010: Co-Author, “Solving the statute of limitations puzzle for minors in medical malpractice cases,” Michigan Lawyers Weekly, Vol. 25, No. 3
July, 2009: Co-Author, “Oxytocin: The New ‘High Alert’ Medication,” Birth Trauma Litigation Group (BTLG) Journal
July, 2008: “Emergency Cesarean Sections: When 30 Minutes is Not Fast Enough,” Birth Trauma Litigation Group (BTLG) Journal
Lectures and seminars
January 15, 2021: Co-moderator – Michigan Association for Justice 18th Annual Medical Malpractice Seminar
November 10, 2020: Presenter – “Exploring Obstetrical Catastrophes: Placental Abruption, Uterine Rupture and Breech Presentations,” American Conference Institute’s (ACI) 19th Annual Advanced Forum on Obstetric Malpractice Claims
2016 – 2020: Co-moderator – Michigan Association for Justice Annual Medical Malpractice Seminar
May 30, 2019: Presenter – Michigan Lawyers Weekly: 2019 Hall of Fame
April 18, 2019: Presenter – Michigan Lawyers Weekly Presents: Leaders in the Law 2019.
February 4, 2018: Speaker – Panel Discussion “Daubert Challenges in Birth Trauma Cases,” AAJ Birth Trauma Litigation Association 2018 Winter Convention
July 25, 2017: Speaker –“How to Survive an Amniotic Fluid Embolism (AFE),” American Association for Justice (AAJ) Annual Convention, Professional Negligence Section
Apr. 15, 2016: Panel speaker – Michigan Association for Justice 71st Annual Seminar: “Expert Testimony, Witness Preparation and Daubert Challenges after Ehler: Expert Panel”
Dec. 4, 2015: Co-moderator – Michigan Association for Justice Med Mal Seminar: “Medical Records in the Electronic Age and Finding Ways to Win Medical Malpractice Cases in Any Age”
2014 – Co-moderator: Professional Section CLE program, AAJ Convention
Nov. 2014: Moderator – Michigan Association for Justice’s Medical Malpractice seminar
Nov. 8, 2013: Moderator – Michigan Association for Justice’s Medical Malpractice seminar
Feb. 10, 2013: Moderator – Birth Trauma Litigation Group seminar at the American Association for Justice’s Winter Convention in Miami, FL
Nov. 30, 2012: Co-moderator for Michigan Association for Justice’s Medical Malpractice seminar
July 29, 2012: Moderator – Birth Trauma Litigation Group seminar at the American Association for Justice’s Summer Convention in Chicago, IL
Feb. 12, 2012: Moderator – Birth Trauma Litigation Group seminar at the American Association for Justice’s Winter Convention in Phoenix, AZ
Dec. 2, 2011: Co-moderator, MAJ Medical Malpractice Seminar
Nov. 2011: Speaker, MAJ New Lawyers “Expert Deposition Workshop” Presentation titled “Cross-Exam of Defendants – Getting Admissions”
Oct. 14 – 15, 2011: Moderator – Birth Trauma Conference in Amsterdam, held jointly by the American Association for Justice’s Birth trauma Litigation Group and the Pan European Organization of Personal Injury Lawyers
April 8-9, 2011: Moderator, AAJ’s Litigating Medical Negligence and Injured Infant Cases Seminar
Nov. 12, 2010: Co-moderator, MAJ Medical Malpractice Seminar entitled “Winning Strategies for Med Mal Cases”
July, 2010: Speaker, AAJ Annual Covention, Birth Trauma Litigation Group Seminar Presentation entitled “Vaginal Birth after Cesarean Section (“VBAC”)”
Nov. 12, 2009: Co-moderator, MAJ Medical Malpractice Seminar entitled “Seeking Recovery for Medical Malpractice in Michigan: Is There Light at the End of the Tunnel?”
Oct. 2009: Speaker/Participant in American Association of Nurse Life Care Planners 7th Annual Educational Conference
Nov. 13, 2008: Co-moderator, MAJ Medical Malpractice Seminar entitled “Your Medical Malpractice Case Still Needs Critical Care: The Essential Updates”
Nov. 27, 2007: Guest lecturer, University of Detroit Mercy Law School, Lecture entitled “Admissibility of Scientific Evidence: Daubert; Davis-Frye.”
Oct. 11, 2007: Co-moderator, MAJ Medical Malpractice Seminar entitled “The Medical Malpractice (ISN’T) For Dummies Seminar”
May 4, 2007: Speaker, Rapid Fire Seminar, Using Focus Groups Early in Discovery: Learning your Strengths and Weaknesses in Time to Make a Difference
Jan. 25, 2007: Featured speaker, MAJ 2007 Deposition Workshop – a Legal Workshop for New Lawyers and Student Members
Nov. 2, 2006: Guest lecturer, University of Detroit Mercy Law School, Lecture entitled “Admissibility of Scientific Evidence: Daubert; Davis-Frye”
Oct. 6, 2006: Co-moderator, MAJ Medical Malpractice Seminar entitled “Michigan Medmal Law Update Caution: Not for the Faint of Heart”
Sept. 23, 2006: Speaker/participant in Mock Trial Presentation – “American Association of Nurse Life Care Planners 6th Annual Educational Conference”
May 13, 2006: Speaker, 61st Annual MAJ Banquet
May 22, 2005: Speaker, MAJ Evening Forum: “Daubert/Frye: Using Science to Prove Your Claim.” – Topic: Birth Trauma and Daubert/Frye.
May 14, 2005: Moderator, 60th Annual MAJ Banquet
May 13, 2005: Speaker, MAJ Annual Rapid Fire Seminar entitled “Focus Groups: Not just for Trial Anymore”
Dec. 3, 2004: Co-moderator, MAJ Medical Malpractice Seminar entitled “Medical Malpractice: Winning in a Hostile Environment”
Nov. 7, 2003: Co-moderator, MAJ Medical Malpractice Seminar entitled “Medical Malpractice”
Mar. 22, 2002: Co-moderator, Michigan Trial Lawyers Association (MTLA) Seminar entitled “Medical Malpractice”
May, 1998: Speaker, MAJ Rapid Fire Seminar entitled “Medical Record Alterations”
Interviews
Jesse Reiter was published in Leading Lawyers Magazine – Michigan Edition in a 2017 feature piece titled “Jesse Reiter: Putting Children First, Always.”
Jesse interviewed for Ohio Association for Justice’s (OAJ) Ohio Trial Member Spotlight
Repeat guest on the Charlie Langton Show ( WXYT AM 1270)
July 21, 2015: Jesse Reiter is quoted in the American Association for Justice (AAJ) online Law Reporter article “Audio Recording of Colonoscopy Reveals Improper Treatment of Patient”
Sept. 5, 2013: Television interview – Jesse Reiter discusses Dr. Farid Fata case on FOX News
May 18, 2009: Quoted in Michigan Lawyers Weekly Article “Majority rules on ‘majority’ rule,” Vol. 23, No. 27
Nov. 7, 2008: Radio interview as part of WJLB Coats for Kids Charity Drive
2007: Interviewed on Ringler Radio about challenges facing lawyers in the State of Michigan