Attorney Bio

Mr. Sawyer currently resides in Northeast Grand Rapids with his wife Allie; he has five (5) children, Colton, Travis, Kyle, Sean, and Kristen.

Colton, age 3, is engaged full time in being three (3), bright and energetic.
Travis (17) is a junior at Forest Hills Central High School and has varsity letters in rugby, wrestling, and football and just got straight A’s. He is looking at colleges including University of Michigan, University of Arizona, and University of Colorado.
Kyle (21) is residing in Santa Barbara, California. He is going to school and pursuing radio/film and photography.
Sean (22) is graduating in April 2011 from University of Michigan, with honors in Spanish, with a dual major in Biology. He also claims to be fluent in Portuguese. He is applying to medical schools, and scored in the top 10% on the MCAT (tests).
Kristen (married to Al Thuma) is residing in Phoenix, Arizona with three (3) talented young sons, JP (8), Nick (3), and Sam (3). Kristen is a top corporate executive with American Express.

Mr. Sawyer’s past sports, hobbies, and interests, in no particular order, include:

Backpacking / Fly-fishing
Boating / Waterskiing
Sailing – Past Queen’s Cup Racing
Stock Car Racing – Vermont Enduro 200 (1987 – 2000)
Coaching Youth Football (8 years) and Past President of Forest Hills Youth Football League – (Mr. Sawyer started the flag football program and dramatically increased participation to over 1,100 youth).
Scuba Diving – licensed in 1965 and relicensed in 2010
Private Pilot’s License – Single engine land (1970)
MHSAA Wrestling Referee (1970s)
Coached Youth Wresting (1970s)
Competition Wresting (High school, and NCAA DI for University of Colorado)
Snow Skiing / Racing
Breeding and Racing Quarter Horses (As Owner)
Farming/Gardening – Apple Orchards
Photography

Education

Rockford and East Grand Rapids High School(s)
- (1969)
University of Colorado-Boulder
- B.A. (1973)
Chapman College – Orange, California
- Semester at Sea – Foreign Studies (1974)
- Japan, China, Indonesia, India, and Africa
Intern – U.S. House of Representatives (1974)
Vermont Law School
- Juris Doctorate (1978)

Mediator for Circuit Courts in Kent, Barry, and Allegan Counties (Michigan) 1987 to present.
Fellow of the Michigan State Bar Foundation (life)
Member of Grand Rapids Bar Association
Member of Michigan Association for Justice (Michigan Trial Lawyers Association)
Member of American Association for Justice (American Trial Lawyers Association or ATLA since 1978)
Member of Colorado Trial Lawyers Association
Member of Negligence, Criminal and Master Lawyer Sections of Michigan State Bar
Member of National College of DUI Defense (Attorneys), Inc.
Faculty Member of Institute of Continuing Legal Education (ICLE) through State Bar of Michigan, University of Michigan Law School (and others), teaching OWI/DUI cross-examination technique(s), breath and blood test cross-examination and arrest/standard field sobriety test cross examination.
Michigan Real Estate Broker’s License – 1986 to present.