Practice Areas
Education
Wayne State University Law School, J.D., 1983
University of Michigan, B.A., 1980
Bar and Court Admissions
Michigan
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals
U.S. Supreme Court
Dirk H. Beckwith
Dirk Beckwith specializes in several areas of the firm’s litigation practice: commercial, transportation and logistics, construction, and insurance defense. He represents clients in state and federal courts across Michigan and has successfully argued appeals in both Michigan and U.S. Appellate Courts. In addition, he serves as a mediator, case evaluator in Michigan Circuit and District Courts, and is an arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association.
Known for his responsiveness and for immersing himself in understanding his clients' business, Dirk has a wealth of experience representing transportation companies, motor carriers and railroads. He has litigated cases involving the interpretation of transportation contracts, the application of tariffs, and shipments moved pursuant to bills of lading. He also vigorously defends trucking companies in cargo claim litigation and against claims for personal injury. He was recently involved in several landmark decisions for the trucking and railroad industries. In addition, he has handled both regulatory and administrative matters, before the FMCSA and STB, for those engaged in the transportation industry.
He also has significant success handling Uniform Commercial Code claims as well as representing owners, general contractors, and suppliers in disputes arising out of construction contracts.
Dirk is a member of the Transportation Lawyers Association, where he currently serves as its First Vice President, and the Association for Transportation Law Professionals, where he previously served as a Regional Vice President. He is also a member of the Trucking Insurance Defense Association. He actively participates in all of these organizations, as well as the Transportation Loss Prevention and Security Association and the Conference of Freight Counsel. Dirk is a frequent speaker and attendee at all of these organizations’ meetings and attends Megaconferences, DRI trucking seminars, and TIDA sponsored meetings.
Highlights & Recognitions
AV® Preeminent™ Martindale-Hubbell
Michigan Super Lawyers 2011
Exemplary Service Award, Association of Transportation Law Professionals, 2007
Representative Matters
- Vigorously defends motor carriers personal injury in cargo claim litigation and against claims.
- Provide 24/7 Emergency Response Team in fatal accidents involving motor carriers.
- Represents railroads before the Surface Transportation Board ("STB") in a variety of matters including but not limited to freight railroad rate and service disputes, and abandonment proceedings.
- Represents motor carriers before the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration ("FMCSA") in a variety of matters including but not limited to registration and licensing, regulatory compliance, safety and security, DOT audits, compliance reviews, administrative reviews, enforcement penalties, CSA, and other proceedings relating to safety ratings.
- Represents insurance companies in situations where there are competing beneficiaries to life insurance proceeds, and the insurance company wants to avoid the risk of paying twice.
- Represents clients in disputes to foreclose liens on private construction projects as well as suits against bonds furnished on connection with public projects.
- Represents both manufacturers and purchasers of sophisticated machinery involving claims arising under the Uniform Commercial Code. These matters often involve disputes regarding express and implied warranties.
News
Speaking Engagements
- What Every Motor Carrier Should Know about Defending Cargo Claims, Michigan Trucking Association's 2012 Truck Exposition and Safety Symposium, February 14, 2012
- E-Discovery, Electronically Stored Information (ESI), and Evidence Preservation: Key Considerations and Defense Strategies Specific to Trucking Litigation, American Conference Institute's 2nd National Forum on Defending and Managing Trucking Litigation,, December 5, 2011
- How to Avoid Your Slow Pay Clients From Becoming No Pay Clients, Vision Imaging Partners, May 14, 2011
- Transportation Attorney Panel, "Current Issues and Recent Court Decisions Impacting Shippers, Carriers and Intermediaries", Transportation Loss Prevention & Security Association Annual Conference, April 5, 2011
- Colonel Mustard, in the Library, with the Wrench: Looking for Clues in Cargo Claims, Transportation Law Association, January 21, 2011
- Living with CSA 2010: Crash Accountability & Section 329 Violations, 2010 Arkansas Trucking Seminar, September 16, 2010
Publications
- "The Transportation Lawyer," Editor 2011 - 2012
- When Does 90 Days Mean 90 Days?, Foster Swift Construction Law News, March 2011
- Comparison of the Various Types of Alternative Dispute Resolution Specified in the AIA and Consensus DOCS Contract Documents, Foster Swift Construction Law News, February 2009
- Interstate Versus Intrastate, Foster Swift Transpost, February 2009
Memberships & Affiliations
Legal Affiliations:
- American Bar Association
- State Bar of Michigan
- Michigan State Bar Foundation, Fellow
- Oakland County Bar Association
- Oakland County Bar Foundation, Fellow
- Transportation Lawyers Association, First Vice President
- Association of Transportation Law Professionals
Industry & Professional Associations:
- Trucking Insurance Defense Association
- Transportation Loss Prevention and Security Association
- Conference of Freight Counsel
