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Ms. Costello's practice focuses on litigation, dispute resolution and appeals, including bankruptcy and international litigation. In addition to advocating in U.S. courts, she successfully has presented cases before the U.S.-Iran Claims Tribunal and the Albanian Claims Commission, and also has advocated claims before the I.C.C. International Court of Arbitration. Ms. Costello chairs Dykema's Diversity Committee, and is past chair of the firm's Pro Bono Committee.
Experience
Extensive handling of commercial litigation matters at the trial and appellate level; matters handled have included distributor disputes, breach of contract actions, trade secret litigation, interference with business relationships, and claim and delivery actions.
Bankruptcy litigation on behalf of creditors, including preference actions and other adversary proceedings.
Defense of numerous product liability lawsuits, involving automobiles, forklifts, industrial equipment and construction equipment, for manufacturers and insurance companies.
Extensive experience defending dram shop actions, and other personal injury litigation, at both the trial and appellate level.
Extensive experience in ski area defense on behalf of owners and operators of ski areas.
Advocate on behalf of asylees and refugees before the I.N.S.
Counsels and represents clients with respect to their rights under the Hague Convention on Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction.
International litigation practice involving international matters in the U.S. Courts, as well as before international tribunals, including the U.S.-Iran Claims Tribunal, the Albanian Claims Commission and the I.C.C. International Court of Arbitration.
Serves as a mediator and arbitrator; certified arbitrator for National Association of Securities Dealers Regulation, Inc. and Better Business Bureau; completed Michigan Supreme Court approved General Civil Case Mediator Training.
Has handled a number of pro bono matters on behalf of individuals or community agencies, including consumer, landlord-tenant, child abduction, family law and prisoners' rights matters.
Significant Decisions
Crowe v. Chili's, No. 01-CV-71915 (E.D. Mich 2001), 2001 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 16499, September 14, 2001, Employee's charge of discrimination and ADA complaint did not allege that his injuries were permanent or long-term; he merely complained about pain and sleeplessness. Thus, the employer's motion to dismiss was granted.
Hakim v. City of Southfield, No. 96-1895 (6th Cir. 1997), U.S. App. LEXIS 23782; Reported in Table Case Format at 124 F.3d 197 (1997), Held there was no question of fact that employee was not an at-will employee despite past practice of employment for a period of an academic year.
Jackson County Hog Producers, Inc. v. Consumers Power Co., 234 Mich. App. 72; 592 N.W. 2d 112 (1999); leave den., 461 Mich. 988 (2000), Upheld lower court's grant of summary disposition on the statute of limitations involving an alleged "continuing wrong"; upheld sanctions against attorney for untrue answers to interrogatories; held that a consumer protection statute that targeted unfair practices in the conduct of businesses providing goods or services for personal, family, or household purposes was inapplicable to a dispute between two business entities.
Jesus Center v. Farmington Hills, 215 Mich. App. 54 (1996), Affirmed lower court's holding that the provision of shelter to the homeless was a permissible use of the church that the zoning board of appeals could not prohibit.
Speroni, S.p.A. v. Perceptron, Inc., No. 98-2192 (6th Cir. 2001), U.S. App. LEXIS 13967; 12 Fed. Appx. 355, June 13, 2001, Upheld dismissal by lower court, and held that distributor was barred by the doctrine of judicial estoppel from maintaining that bidder was the manufacturer in its claim alleging tortious interference with a business relationship where it was argued in arbitration that the bid was submitted by a subsidiary.
Coleman v. American Red Cross, 23 F.3d 1091 (6th Cir.1994), Dismissal of a blood transfusion recipient's action against the American Red Cross after the recipient tested positive for HIV was improper because the recipient could not be punished for her counsel's misconduct during discovery.
Seminars and Speeches
10/27/2006 How to Get Your Expert Testimony Admitted Into Evidence, National Business Institute, Southfield, Michigan
3/21/2006 Civil Trial From Start to Finish: A Practical Approach to Trying A Civil Case in Michigan, National Business Institute, Southfield, Michigan
4/13/2005 How to Litigate Your First Civil Trial in Michigan, National Business Institute, Southfield, Michigan
8/5/2004 Securities Arbitration and Litigation Between Clients and Brokers and Other Investment Professionals, Network of Trial Law Firms, New York, New York
12/16/2003 How to Litigate Your First Civil Trial in Michigan, National Business Institute, Southfield, Michigan
9/12/2003 Mastering the Trial Notebook in Michigan, Institute for Paralegal Education, Southfield, Michigan
2/6/2003 ISO 9001: 200's...statutory and regulatory requirements, Auto Tech Quality Audit Division Conference, Reno, Nevada
12/16/2002 How to Litigate Your First Civil Trial in Michigan, National Business Institute, Southfield, Michigan
3/31/2000 Basics of Civil Litigation in Michigan, Paralegals and Legal Assistants/Half Moon L.L.C., Dearborn, Michigan
2/29/2000 After the Accident, Attorneys/ICLE, Troy, Michigan
4/18/1997 Advanced Litigation Techniques for Paralegals and Legal Assistants, Paralegals and Legal Assistants/Institute for Continuing Education, Detroit, Michigan
Publications
2007 v.22 W.L.F. Legal Backgrounder, "Methodology is the Key to Exclusion of Expert Testimony: Allgood v. General Motors," (with Krista L. Lenart)
2007 v.18 no.1 Newsletter of Section of Litigation Comm. on Products Liability Litigation, "Retaining Diversity Through Mentoring: Theory and Practice"
2000 After the Accident, "Use of Engineering Experts in the Automobile Accident Case," ICLE
1997 v.3 Det. C.L. Rev., "Women in the Legal Profession: You've Come a Long Way -- Or Have You?"
1994 v.73 Mich. Bar. Journ., "Arguing in the Hague ," (with Ted T. Amsden)
1986 v.2 Det. C.L. Rev., "Note, Longstreth v. Gensel: Expanding Liability of the Social Host"
Professional Associations
Michigan State Bar Board of Commissioners (2005-present); Representative Assembly (1996-2002): Pro Bono Initiative Co-Chair
Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association: President (2003-2004), Board of Directors (1995-2004), member of Circuit Court Committee
Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association Foundation Board of Directors (2004-present)
Women Lawyers Association of Michigan: President (1999-2000); Board of Directors (1993-2001); member of Candidate Endorsement Committee; member of Law School Liaison Committee
Federal Bar Association: Pro Bono Committee Co-Chair; member of Courthouse Tours Committee
National Association of Women Lawyers: Regional Representative (1996-2004
American Bar Association: House of Delegates (1999-2005); International Law, Litigation, Tort & Insurance Practice, Law Practice Management and Appellate Sections; Women Rainmakers; member of numerous committees
Wolverine Bar Association
Michigan Defense Trial Counsel
Defense Research Institute
Incorporated Society of Irish-American Lawyers
Society of Automotive Engineering
Civic and Cultural Involvements
Wayne Center Board of Directors: Advisory Board; Chairperson of Board of Directors (1997-2000)
Michigan A.C.L.U., Advisory Board
Michigan Legal Services Community Legal Resources: Advisory Board
M.S.U. Detroit College of Law Alumni Association: Board of Directors (1993-99); Secretary-Treasurer (1997-98)
Michigan Chapter of Penn State Alumni Association; Board of Directors (1990-1999)
Southern Illinois University Alumni Association
Gamma Phi Beta Sorority (alumnae)
Detroit Institute of Arts
National Organization for Women
Awards
Michigan Super Lawyer (2006)
Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association President's Award (2005)
Dykema Gossett Pro Bono Award (1994, 2006)
Award of Merit from National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (1996, 2003)
National Association of Women Lawyers Toch Award (1997)
Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association Pro Bono Excellence Award (1998)
Michigan State University - Detroit College of Law Certificate of Recognition (2000)
Wayne Center Distinguished Service Award (2000)
State Bar of Michigan John W. Cummiskey Pro Bono Award (2002).
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