Donald P. DeNault, Jr.'s Profile Image

Donald P. DeNault Jr.

Shareholder
Direct Dial: (586) 997-6489
Main Line: (586) 726-1000
Fax: (586) 726-1560
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Don DeNault is a lifelong resident of Macomb County and has been practicing law with the firm since his graduation from Wayne State University Law School in 1996. Mr. DeNault is a shareholder and member of the firm's board of directors. He is the chairperson of the firm’s Municipal Practice Group, focusing his practice on all areas of municipal and school law, including Freedom of Information Act matters, Open Meetings Act compliance, police training, law enforcement issues, fire and building code matters, planning and zoning, student discipline, bidding and purchasing, appeals, litigation defense, civil service, civil rights, governmental immunity, government contracts, ordinance drafting, ordinance prosecution, and policy preparation. In addition to representing school districts, cities, townships, and villages, Mr. DeNault was the primary attorney for the Macomb County Charter Commission in 2009. He helped the commission author the document that the voters would approve as the county's first charter.

Mr. DeNault is also an accomplished litigation and appellate attorney, having prosecuted civil litigation and defended municipalities and police officers in a multitude of litigation matters. He has also been an integral part of creating and evolving various code enforcement options, including the utilization of volunteer boards and administrative warrants to ensure ongoing maintenance of residential and commercial properties.

An prolific author and speaker on municipal and school law topics, Mr. DeNault is also an occasional host and guest of the Macomb County Bar Association's award-winning cable television program, "Legally Speaking." Mr. DeNault has also served as a presenter and panelist for cities, townships, police agencies, and courts to explain Michigan's evolving marijuana laws and their impact on municipal interests and law enforcement concerns.

In his free time, Mr. DeNault enjoys volunteering for a variety of educational programs, ranging from participating in local career focus luncheons for sixth grade students to assisting with the development of annual mock depositions for local college students interested in future law enforcement careers.

Bar Admissions

  • Michigan, 1996
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, 1996
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 6th Circuit, 1996

Education

  • Wayne State University Law School, Detroit, Michigan
    J.D., 1996
    Moot Court Program
    Student Government
  • Honors College, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Michigan
    B.A. magna cum laude with honors in Political Science, 1993
    Political Science, Minor in Communications and Philosophy

Published Works

  • "Smart Driving," The Legal Advocator, Vol. I, #4, 1997
  • "Smart Driving," The Legal Advocator, Vo. I, #5, 1997
  • "Smart Driving," The Legal Advocator, Vol. I, #6, 1997
  • "Smart Driving," The Legal Advocator, Vol. II, #1, 1998
  • "Smart Driving," The Legal Advocator, Vol. II, #2, 1998
  • "Smart Driving," The Legal Advocator, Vol. II, #4, 1998
  • "To FOIA or Not to FOIA," Bar Briefs, January 1999
  • "When I was 7 Years Old," Bar Briefs, January 2000
  • "Top 10 Traffic Laws You've Never Heard Of," Bar Briefs, December 2000
  • "Stars, Stripes, Anthems, Two Beautiful Peninsulas, and Steel Bridges," Bar Briefs, January 2002
  • The YLS Chairperson's Page, Bar Briefs, July 2002 - June 2003
  • "Happy New Year: Now Brush Up on Your Fingerprint Laws," Bar Briefs, January 2003
  • "Michigan's Fingerprint Laws: What You Need to Know," Inter Alia, Spring 2003
  • "FOIA and Your Personal Information," Public Corporations Law Quarterly, Winter 2004
  • "FOIA and Your Personal Information," Bar Briefs, February 2004
  • "FOIA and Personal Information," Michigan Council of School Attorneys Newsletter, Spring 2004
  • "FOIA and OMA Annual Update," Public Corporations Law Quarterly, Spring 2005
  • "Choosing Between Rubbish, Garbage, Refuse, and Waste," Public Corporations Law Quarterly, Summer 2005
  • "Beck vs. City of Cleveland: Separating Fact from Fiction," Public Corporations Law Quarterly, Winter 2006
  • "Internet Threats," Michigan Council of School Attorneys Newsletter, Fall 2006
  • "Fingerprint Laws Revisited," Bar Briefs, October 2007
  • "Representing Students Part I: Mandatory Expulsion," Bar Briefs, November 2007
  • "Representing Students Part II: Due Process," Bar Briefs, December 2007
  • "Representing Students Part III: The Penalties," Bar Briefs, January 2008
  • "Student Discipline," Michigan Council of School Attorneys Newsletter, Spring 2008
  • "Portal to Portal," Michigan Council of School Attorneys Newsletter, Fall 2008
  • "Texting While Driving," Bar Briefs, July 2010

Classes/Seminars

  • Search Warrant Presentation, Michigan Municipal League, 1999
  • Patriotic Laws, Host, Legally Speaking, 2002
  • School Law Issues, Presenter, Center Line Public Schools and Van Dyke Public School Administrators, 2002
  • Confidentiality in Schools, Presentation to Oakland University Counseling Masters Program Class, 2003
  • Freedom of Information Act & the Open Meetings Act, Presenter, Michigan Townships Association Conference, 2005
  • Freedom of Information Act & the Open Meetings Act, Presenter, Lorman Education Services Seminar, 2006
  • Freedom of Information Act & the Open Meetings Act, Presenter, Michigan Townships Association Conference, 2008
  • Student Discipline, Guest Panelist on Legally Speaking, 2008
  • Student Due Process Panel Discussion Moderator, Michigan Association of School Boards Spring Conference, 2009
  • Macomb County Charter, Presenter, Leadership Macomb XIV, 2010
  • Analyzing Michigan's Medical Marijuana Act, Guest Panelist on Legally Speaking, 2011
  • What You Need to Know About Public Records and Open Meetings in Michigan, Lorman, July 24, 2014
  • Open Carry Update, Presenter, Michigan Association of Municipal Attorneys, September 24, 2014
  • Medical Marijuana Licensing in Michigan, Guest Panelist on Legally Speaking, 2017
  • Recreational Marijuana in Michigan, Guest Panelist on Legally Speaking, 2019
  • Impact of Marijuana Laws on Municipalities, Presenter, Charter Township of Clinton Town Hall, May 22, 2019

Honors and Awards

  • Special Service Award for Michigan Youth in Government Project, 2004-2005
  • Award for Clear Legal Writing, State Bar of Michigan, 1999
  • Certificate of Appreciation, Macomb County College Advanced Court Procedures

Professional Associations and Memberships

  • State Bar of Michigan, 1996 - present
    – Young Lawyers Section Executive Council, 1998-2003
  • Macomb County Bar Association, 1996 - present
    – Young Lawyers Section Board of Directors, 1998-2004
    – Young Lawyers Section Chairperson, 2002-2003
  • Macomb County Bar Association Board of Directors, 2007 - 2017
    – Treasurer, 2012-2013
    – Secretary, 2013-2014
    – President-Elect, 2014-2015
    – President, 2015-2016
    – Immediate Past President, 2016-2017
  • Michigan Council of School Attorneys
    – Board of Directors, 2003-2009
  • Michigan Association of Municipal Attorneys
  • International Municipal Lawyers Association
  • Italian-American Bar Association
  • Michigan Municipal League
  • Leadership Macomb XII, Graduate, 2009

Pro Bono Activities

  • Youth Baseball Coach, Warren Village Athletic Club, 1995-1997
  • Youth Baseball Coach, Shelby Baseball & Softball Club, 1998-1999
  • Lawyer-Teacher Partnership Program, 1998-1999
  • Mock Deposition Coordinator and Attorney Volunteer, Macomb Community College, 2003 - 2018
  • Fitzgerald High School Mock Trial Team, Attorney Advisor, 2003-2004
  • Volunteer Mock Trial Judge, Michigan Center for Civic Education, 2009