Bio
A partner in the firm's Bloomfield Hills office, Robert A. Marzano is a member of Plunkett Cooney's Torts & Litigation Practice Group who concentrates his practice in the areas of food service and hospitality law, municipal law, premises liability and real estate law.
Mr. Marzano represents several national retailers, hotel chains, restaurants, religious institutions and apartment complexes in disputes involving premises liability claims, security guard litigation, dramshop/liquor liability issues, general negligence claims, mold litigation, third-party auto negligence claims and trucking litigation. He also routinely handles catastrophic accidents involving gas stations, parking lots and premise design.
Mr. Marzano has handled numerous litigation and non-litigation matters involving food contamination, food borne illness claims, packaging defect claims, and claims related to foreign materials in food. He routinely litigates matters involving dramshop/liquor liability and also handles liquor license requirements involving application, renewal and transfer process, as well as license violations.
Mr. Marzano’s municipal law experience includes currently serving as the City Attorney for the city of Plymouth and formerly for the city of Northville. Apart from his typical duties as a city attorney, Mr. Marzano also handles specialized matters which include zoning issues, telecommunications matters, election law issues, charter revisions, and annexation issues on behalf of municipal and private-commercial clients.
Representative Client Work
- Election Commissioner for two municipalities
- Served as counsel for a Charter Revision
- Handled various complex election issues
- Handled various land use and zoning matters for both private entities and municipalities
- Handled annexation matters for private entities
- Represents several national retail companies in various aspects of commercial and premises litigation
- Negotiated cable franchises on behalf of municipalities
Professional Affiliations
- ALFA International (Hospitality Law Committee)
- Council on Litigation Management (Michigan State Chair; Premises Liability Committee Member)
- State Bar of Michigan (Negligence Law Section)
Publications and Lectures
- "Premises Liability Trends: Michigan," Co-presenter, CLM, Oct. 8, 2024
- “Civility in the Law,” Presenter, ALFA International Hospitality and Retail Regional Conference, Chicago, Aug. 28, 2023
- ALFA International 2021 Hospitality & Retail Law Compendium, Author, Michigan Chapter
- “Taking Advantage of Michigan’s Broad Economic Loss Doctrine,” Author, Michigan Defense Quarterly, Volume 15, No. 4, 1999.
- Various lectures on issues dealing with premises liability, automobile/trucking liability and municipal issues
Areas of Practice
Trending
Credentials
Education
- Michigan State University College of Law, cum laude, J.D., 1995
- Michigan State University Law Review, Managing Editor
- Clark, Klein, & Beaumont Award for Alternative Dispute Resolution
- Research, Writing, and Advocacy Instructor
- Michigan State University, B.S., 1992
Admissions
- Michigan, 1996
Honors/Awards
Honors & Recognitions
- Best Lawyers in America® for Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants, 2026 - 2027
