Source: Central Michigan Life
Author: Jake Bolitho
Local attorney Todd Levitt only takes a certain kind of client.
Levitt represents CMU students almost exclusively at his practice at 600 E. Broadway St.
“I enjoy being in a college town,” he said. “The students bring a lot of energy to this town, and it’s great being in that atmosphere.”
He originally worked in the Detroit area but, as a Central Michigan University graduate, the decision to return to Mount Pleasant made perfect sense.
Levitt said he can oftentimes relate to the students he represents and enjoys hearing about the aspirations they have. It was his own dream to be an attorney since the age of 16, and when it comes to his clients, he does not want them to think their own future is over after one offense.
“These students are working toward dreams and goals, places where I’ve already been,” he said. “My representation has an impact on their future.”
Macomb County Prosecutor Eric Smith attended CMU with Levitt and, although the two were in rival fraternities — Sigma Phi Epsilon for Levitt and Sigma Pi for Smith — they remained friends afterward. The fact that Levitt represents so many students fits his personality perfectly, Smith said.
“I’m sad that he’s not practicing law around here anymore, because he certainly livens up the practice of law whenever he’s around,” he said. “The last time that I saw him, he was still a kid at heart.”
Student specialty
Larry Burdick, Isabella County prosecutor, also said Levitt’s representation of students seems to be working out well for him.
“Certain attorneys have certain specialties,” he said. “That’s where he gets a lot of his business from.”
In addition to being a successful attorney, Levitt has also proven himself to be quite enthusiastic when it comes to his other non-legal work, Smith said.
Levitt also has done broadcasting and publishing, in addition to working as a lawyer. He was formerly the host of a radio show and cable television show in Detroit, is the founder of a legal newspaper, acted in an independent movie and even came close to being a contestant on “Survivor.”
Levitt said the majority of his cases involve alcohol-related offenses. He also represents students when it comes to traffic violations and the occasional drug offense. He is heading into a part of the year where there is a good chance he will see a lot of people in his office.
“A lot of the drinking takes place during the football season,” he said. “With pre-tailgating, tailgating and the parties afterwards, there’s a lot of arrests that take place as a result of those.”
He said one of his most bizarre cases involved a woman who had been pulled over by a police officer on the road for a routine traffic stop. The woman proceeded to tell the officer she had a large amount of marijuana in her apartment, which resulted in her arrest.
“People laugh at that every time I tell the story,” Levitt said.