Douglas W. Crim
Attorney Doug Crim has spent his career committed to education and advocacy in workplace health and safety matters and environmental law. His work emphasizes OSHA, MIOSHA and general environmental laws and regulations. Doug has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America as the Lansing, Michigan, Lawyer of the Year in Environmental, Health and Safety Law and included on the Michigan Super Lawyers and BTI Client Service All-Star Attorneys lists.
Doug's representation of clients in health and safety and environmental matters has included administrative, civil and criminal litigation. He has a strong background in successfully defending automotive, utility, construction, retail, university and other clients in federal OSHA and State Plan, MIOSHA, enforcement actions. He also advises clients on avoiding government enforcement actions. The firm offers confidential health and safety audits to identify compliance gaps. Clients can then determine safety program enhancements that also allow clients to maintain efficient operations.
The firm provides workplace OSHA health and safety reviews in business acquisitions. Together with the a standard environmental review, the OSHA review provides the client with information to assess and manage potential health and safety liabilities.
Experience
- Miller Canfield Paddock and Stone, Detroit, Grand Rapids, Lansing, Michigan
- Principal, 1993-2018
- Associate, 1985-1992
- Michigan Attorney General
- Special Assistant for Eminent Domain, 1992-1997
- Michigan Supreme Court
- Law Clerk to Hon. Thomas Giles Kavanagh, 1984-1985
Education
- Thomas M. Cooley Law School, Western Michigan University, J.D., summa cum laude, 1985
Law Review, Articles Editor - Grand Valley State University, F.E. Seidman College of Business, B.B.A., 1981
Bar & Court Admissions
- State of Michigan
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern and Western Districts of Michigan
Honors
Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Rating, 2021 (The Martindale Hubbell Preeminent Rating is the highest possible rating in both legal ability and ethical standards, reflecting the confidential opinions of members of the Bar and Judiciary.)
- U.S. News and World Report 2019 Best Law Firms
BTI Client Service All-Star Attorneys, 2017
(Based solely on unprompted feedback from clients at large and Fortune 1000 organizations, this exclusive honor conveys commitment to superior client service. There were 319 lawyer selected nationwide 2017.)- Best Lawyers in America 2017 Lansing, Michigan Environmental, Health and Safety Law Lawyer of the Year
(All Best Lawyer selections are based solely on peer lawyer review) - Best Lawyers in America 2012 Lansing, Michigan Environmental, Health and Safety Law Lawyer of the Year
- Best Lawyers in America, Environmental, Health and Safety Law, 2007-present
- Michigan Super Lawyers, Environmental, 2007-present
- Michigan Super Lawyers, Litigation-Environmental, 2012
- Grand Valley State University - Seidman School of Business 1997 Distinguished Alumni Award
- Grand Valley State University, Alumni Service Award, 1998
- Thomas M. Cooley Law School, J.D., summa cum laude, Law Review, Articles Editor, 1985
Professional Activities
- American Bar Association
OSHA Committee
Natural Resources and Environmental Law Section
Litigation Section
Environmental Litigation Committee
Pretrial Practice and Discovery Committee - State Bar of Michigan
Environmental Law Section
Labor Law Section
Business Law Section - Ingham County Bar Association
- Grand Rapids Bar Association
Environmental Law Section (Chairman, 1999-00; Vice-chairman, 1997-98; Secretary, 1996)
Litigation Section
Community Public Relations Committee
Bill of Rights Committee - MIOSHA Strategic Plan Stakeholders Group, 2013 and 2017
- Ann Arbor Safety Council, Member
- Lakeshore Safety and Environmental Network, Member
- Association of General Contractors of Michigan, Member
- Air & Waste Management Association/West Michigan
Board of Directors, 1997-00
Program Committee Chair, 1997 - American Indoor Air Quality Council, Grand Rapids, Michigan Chapter
Board of Directors, 2002 - 2004
Civic, Cultural & Social Activities
- Grand Valley State University
Alumni Service Award, 1998
Seidman School of Business Distinguished Alumni Award, 1997
Alumni Association Board, 1987-97
Alumni Association Board President, 1993-97
Foundation Trustee
Seidman School of Business Alumni Association
Legal Studies Advisory Board - Urban Core Mayor's Committee on Revitalization, City of Grand Rapids Representative
- West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum
- Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce, Environmental Affairs Committee
Chairman, Environmental Audit Privilege Task Force - Clean Corporate Citizen Task Force
- Catholic Lawyers' Association of West Michigan
President, 1993-94 - Ferguson Heartside Community Resource Center, Pro Bono Legal Services
- St. Martha Knights of Columbus
- Crim Fitness Foundation, Flint, MI
Chairman' Circle
Publications & Presentations
OSHA Use of Industry Standards In Enforcement of General Duty Clause, American Bar Association, Occupational Safety & Health Committee , Santa Monica, California, March 2, 2018
Employer Safety/OSHA Program Member Seminar, Michigan Chamber of Commerce, September 28, 2017
OSHA’s Attempt to Expand Citation Statute of Limitations Thwarted by Congressional Review Act Senate Vote, Client Update, March 27, 2017
OSHA Delays Enforcement of Injury Reporting Anti-retaliation Provisions, Client Update, July 15, 2016
New OSHA Rule Could Affect Employers’ Drug Testing and Safety Incentives, Client Update, July 5, 2016
Brewery Worker Health & Safety OSHA/MIOSHA Issues, Michigan Brewers Guild Winter Conference January 13-15, 2016
OSHA Issues Relating to Craft Distilling, American Distilling Institute Conference, Louisville, Kentucky, March 30 – April 2, 2015
Employer Safety/OSHA Program Member Seminar, Michigan Chamber of Commerce, June 24-25, 2015
OSHA/MIOSHA and Liability Issues Relating to the Use of Outside Contractors in Your Facility, (Webinar), Michigan Chamber of Commerce, July 26, 2011
Employer Workplace Health and Safety Programs - An Employer's Best Friend or Worst Enemy, (Webinar), Michigan Chamber of Commerce, June 28, 2011
"Hazards Could Hurt Your Company," Insight, September/October 2007
Michigan Chamber of Commerce MIOSHA Compliance (6 hour core compliance course), November 2006
"Doing Business in the United States – OSHA," Michigan Manufacturers Association MIOSHA Compliance Seminar, May 2006
"Employers who put profit over safety risk prosecution: MIOSHA gets tough with willful violators," Hot Points, Fall 2005
"MIOSHA Criminal Prosecutions: When Referred, When Not; Why or Why Not," Occupational Safety and Health Law Committee Midwinter Meeting of the American Bar Association, Key West, Florida, March 1-4, 2005
"Managing OSHA Workplace Health & Safety Issues: Significant & Costly Problems; Some Methods to Help Avoid Them," CRA Compliance Seminar, February 2004
Michigan Chamber of Commerce Publication, "Employment Law Handbook: Guide for Michigan Employers" (OSHA Chapter Contributor), 2003-present
"Avoiding OSHA Citations And Liabilities In Michigan", Lorman Education Services, January 2002
"OSHA Compliance Update," National Business Institute, October 2001
"Legal Perspective of OSHA Ergonomics," Grand Rapids Community College, March 2001
"Some Things Managers Should Know About OSHA/MIOSHA," Miller Canfield Morning Update, September 2000
"OSHA/MIOSHA Safety Developments," seminar on Employment Law Matters, Miller, Canfield, Paddock and Stone and Kalamazoo County Chamber of Commerce, Kalamazoo, Michigan, 9/30/99
"OSHA/MIOSHA Safety Developments," Council on Education in Management, Lansing, Michigan, 8/16/99
"Current OSHA Issues," Hot Topics in Environmental Law, Miller, Canfield, Paddock and Stone, Dearborn, Michigan, 4/29/99 and Grand Rapids, Michigan, 5/5/99
"Preventing Corporate-and Personal–Liability for Workplace Safety Hazards," Council on Education in Management Personnel Law Update 1996, Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, Grand Rapids, Michigan, October 2, 1996
"Hazards Could Hurt Your Company," Hot Points, published by Miller, Canfield, Paddock and Stone, December 1996
