Photo of Douglas J. Fryer

Douglas J. Fryer Member

Areas of Practice

Industries

Bar Admissions

  • Michigan, 1994

Court Admissions

  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio
  • U.S. District Court Northern District of Indiana
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 6th Circuit

Education

University of Detroit Mercy, J.D., summa cum laude

  • Law Review, Editor

University of Michigan, B.B.A.

Douglas J. Fryer is a member in Dykema’s Litigation Department and practices in the Firm’s Bloomfield Hills office. Mr. Fryer represents clients in a wide range of complex business, commercial and real estate litigation matters, including contract and commercial lease disputes, construction disputes, adverse possession, easement and other real estate disputes, and condemnation. He represents both plaintiffs and defendants at the trial and appellate levels of state and federal courts, as well as arbitration and other forms of alternative dispute resolution. He also has experience in administrative proceedings before the Michigan Tax Tribunal and the Michigan Public Service Commission. His clients range from small closely held companies to Fortune 500 companies.

Mr. Fryer has extensive experience with eminent domain law, representing electric transmission companies in the acquisition of property interests necessary for the construction, operation and maintenance of new transmission facilities. He also assists clients in the planning and siting of new transmission infrastructure, including both administrative and state-court litigation. 

Mr. Fryer also focuses his practice on real and personal property tax appeals, representing both for-profit and nonprofit organizations. His experience includes commercial, industrial, and recreational real property appeals, as well as industrial personal property appeals. 

Secura Insurance v. Stainless Sales, Inc., 431 F.3d 987 (6th Cir. 2005). Upholding the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan’s ruling that the plaintiff insurer had a duty to defend and indemnify the insured in the underlying suit arising from a train derailment.

Matrix Construction, LLC v. Barton Malow Co., 2006 WL 399762 (Mich. App. 2006) (Docket No. 265156). Upholding the Wayne County Circuit Court’s ruling that plaintiff contractor failed to allege that defendant construction manager owed a duty to plaintiff separate and distinct from its contractual duties.

Richard J. Gibbs, Jr., et al.  v. Joseph C. Gibbs, et al., 2007 WL 838952 (Mich. App. 2007) (Docket No. 266718). Upholding the Macomb County Circuit Court’s order enforcing a settlement agreement.

Burns Rolland, et al. v. International Transmission Company, 2008 WL 2038025 (Mich. App. 2008) (Docket No. 274411). Upholding the Lapeer County Circuit Court’s ruling that defendant electric transmission company’s plan to replace aging wooden utility poles with updated steel utility poles on the property of private homeowners did not violate the language of an express easement agreement.

  • Homeward Bound: Eminent Domain - Practice and Pitfalls, Institute of Continuing Legal Education Seminar (moderator/speaker)
    December 2014
  • The Uniform Condemnation Procedures Act ("UCPA"): Pitfalls and Practical Considerations, International Right of Way Association, Michigan Chapter 7, Fall Education Seminar
    September 2013
  • Property Tax Update, Fifth Annual MACPA Michigan Tax Conference, Novi, MI
    November 2011
  • State Bar of Michigan Real Property Law Section Groundbreakers Breakfast Roundtable: Energy Is Here to Stay, Utility Condemnation Issues
    January 2011
  • "Property Tax Exemption Guide for Nonprofit Organizations in Michigan"
    January 2012
    Michigan Community Resources
  • "Bearing the Burden of Strict Scrutiny in the Wake of Simon & Schuster, Inc. v. Members of the New York State Crime Victims Board: A Constitutional Analysis of Michigan's 'Son of Sam' Law"
    University of Detroit Mercy Law Review

Memberships & Involvement

  • Oakland County Bar Association
  • State Bar of Michigan
  • American Bar Association
  • Federal Bar Association

Mr. Fryer was a recipient of the Frank S. Sengstock Memorial Award, The American Jurisprudence Award in Real Property, and was a member of the Frank Murphy Honor Society