Aaron M. Phelps

Litigation Attorney

For over 17 years, Aaron's practice has been focused on complex commercial and environmental litigation - in Michigan and around the country. Aaron has represented clients in contract and corporate governance disputes, telecommunications and energy matters, health care litigation and environmental tort actions.

Over the last five years, Aaron has represented over 200 companies in lawsuits against Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan for ERISA violations. The first trial resulted in a $6 million judgment, and subsequent judgments ranged from $315,000 to over $8 million. Aaron defended the primary judgment on appeal, where it was unanimously affirmed by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and certiorari denied by the U.S. Supreme Court.

In February 2020, Aaron successfully tried an inverse condemnation case against the City of Grand Rapids on behalf of the Plaza Towers. The jury awarded over $7 million in a case where the City offered zero dollars in settlement.

Currently, Aaron represents over 400 Rockford area residents in over 250 lawsuits against Wolverine Worldwide and 3M related to PFAS contamination. Those lawsuits are pending in Kent County Circuit Court.

For more information, please contact Aaron Phelps at 616/336-6257 or amphelps@varnumlaw.com

Representing 400⁺ clients in lawsuits against Wolverine Worldwide for groundwater contamination caused by dumping of PFAS compounds.

Representing 200 companies in lawsuits against Blue Cross and Blue Shield Michigan for charging hidden fees in violation of ERISA; obtained a $6 million judgment (plus attorneys' fees) following trial.

Representing owner of 32-story Plaza Tower's building in inverse condemnation case against City of Grand Rapids; obtained over $8 million judgment in case where City refused to pay anything.

Representing a major metropolitan city in a federal court suit filed by it against  telecommunications giant Comcast, challenging the constitutionality of a Michigan statute.

Represented a leading beverage processor in federal court litigation brought by a Wall Street investment fund asserting preemptive rights to increase its equity stake.

Represented a furniture manufacturer in federal court litigation brought by it to recover damages arising from a national hockey team's breach of a construction contract for its sports arena.

Represented former owner and a board member of a Tier 1 automotive supplier in an $80 million insider preference and fraudulent conveyance claim filed against them in New York.

Represented a Michigan-based transportation company in a breach of supply contract case brought by a paper mill in federal court in Memphis, Tennessee.

Representing a food processor in federal court on its claim to recover environmental remediation costs from the seller of property in Ohio.

Represented a major energy company in declaratory judgment action challenging the constitutionality of a MDEQ rule, which would have interfered with its efforts to construct a $2 billion power plant.

Represented an agricultural trade association and other agricultural plaintiffs in a challenge to a MDEQ rule requiring all concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) to obtain pollutant discharge permits.

Represented a major Michigan dairy in federal court litigation brought against it by the Food and Drug Administration.

Represented a large Newaygo CAFO in a township zoning dispute, which raised Michigan Right to Farm Act issues.

Grand Rapids Magazine's Top Lawyers, Litigation - Commercial, 2020

Federal Bar Association, Western District of Michigan

Grand Rapids Bar Association

Kent County Farm Bureau, past vice president

Michigan Agri-Business Association, member

State Bar of Michigan: Litigation Section; Environmental Law Section; Agriculture Law Section