In Detroit’s legal community, some careers are defined by a particular case, while others are shaped by decades of consistent advocacy. Learn about attorney Barry J. Goodman and how his career reflects this commitment. For decades, this Detroit personal injury attorney has represented people whose lives have been disrupted by negligence, building a practice centered on plaintiff-side litigation and access to the civil justice system.
A Career Shaped by an Early Understanding of Justice
Goodman’s decision to become a plaintiff’s lawyer began long before law school. His father, a postal employee, suffered a traffic accident while working and depended on federal workers’ compensation for the remainder of his life. Goodman believed his father had not received the justice he deserved, an experience that influenced his decision to pursue a legal career focused on helping others navigate difficult circumstances.
That early motivation became the foundation for a professional career spanning several decades. After earning his undergraduate degree from Bradley University in 1974, Goodman attended Stetson University College of Law, where he earned his J.D. with honors in 1977.
He began practicing law in Florida with a small general-practice firm before relocating to Michigan. After gaining experience at two Michigan firms, he focused his practice on personal injury litigation. His professional direction eventually led to a partnership that would shape the next chapter of his career.
Building a Michigan Personal Injury Practice
In 1993, Goodman co-founded his own practice with attorney Gerald H. Acker. The two had become friends through their shared interest in basketball and eventually discovered that they also shared a vision for practicing law. Their firm developed around plaintiff-side personal injury representation, continuing a focus on individuals seeking compensation following serious injuries.
Over the years, Goodman has handled a broad range of cases involving negligence and personal injury. His experience includes car accidents, truck accidents, premises liability, and wrongful death matters. These cases can involve extensive factual investigations, medical documentation, insurance disputes, and questions about liability, making careful preparation an important part of the litigation process.
A Career Marked by Significant Case Results
One of the most notable outcomes of Goodman’s career came in 2001. He secured a $14.5 million arbitration award for a client who suffered injuries after faulty subsurface wiring caused a manhole cover to fly into a vehicle in which she was traveling.
The award addressed pain and suffering, medical expenses, and related costs arising from the injuries. The result became one of the defining achievements of his career and reflects the type of complex personal injury litigation he has handled throughout his practice.
Goodman has also obtained multiple seven-figure verdicts and results for injured clients. Rather than focusing solely on individual outcomes, his career demonstrates a sustained commitment to representing people dealing with the financial and personal consequences of negligence.
Leadership Beyond the Courtroom
Goodman’s professional involvement extends beyond individual cases. He has served as president of the Michigan Association for Justice and as past chair of the Negligence Section of the State Bar of Michigan. He is also a frequent lecturer at professional gatherings, sharing experience and perspectives with members of the legal community.
His professional affiliations have included membership in the Michigan and Florida bars, as well as involvement with organizations including the Anti-Defamation League. He has served on the organization’s board and held leadership responsibilities over the years.
His public service has also included an appointment to the Mackinac Island Historical Park Commission by Governor Jennifer Granholm. These roles illustrate a career that has extended beyond private legal practice into professional and community involvement.
Recognition Across a Long Legal Career
Over the years, Goodman has received recognition from several legal organizations. His distinctions include an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell, a 10.0 Superb Avvo rating, and repeated inclusion on the Super Lawyers list beginning in 2008.
He was also recognized among the National Trial Lawyers’ Top 100 Personal Injury attorneys in 2019 and was named among the Nation’s Top One Percent of Attorneys by the National Association of Distinguished Counsel that same year. In 2015, he was recognized through the Leaders in Law program, and he was later included in the Michigan Lawyers Weekly 2021 Hall of Fame.
Such recognition forms one part of a career that has remained closely connected to personal injury litigation and professional leadership.
A Personal Approach to the Practice of Law
Outside his legal and professional responsibilities, Goodman enjoys travel, theater, golf, and tennis. Yet his work with injured clients remains central to his professional identity.
For this attorney, representing people after negligence has affected their lives is about more than pursuing a legal claim. It is about helping clients work toward rebuilding their lives and regaining a sense of stability after an unexpected event.
To learn about attorney Barry J. Goodman is to see a career shaped by personal experience, decades of litigation, professional leadership, and a longstanding commitment to the civil justice system. From his early decision to become a plaintiff’s lawyer to his work handling significant personal injury cases, his professional journey reflects a sustained effort to advocate for people seeking accountability after serious harm.
