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Golden Apple Teacher Award – Michigan

June 15, 2026

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Golden Apple Teacher Award – Michigan

Summary

The Lee Steinberg Law Firm supports the teachers and educators that make our lives better throughout Mid-Michigan. We are proud to support the Golden Apple Award and the teachers that exemplify the best qualities in our local schools

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Recently, the Lee Steinberg Law Firm recognized kindergarten teacher Breanna Mitchell as the latest recipient of the Golden Apple Award.

The Golden Apple Award is sponsored by the Lee Steinberg Law Firm in conjunction with Mid-Michigan NOW and television stations WEYI (NBC 25) and WSMH (Fox 66). Too often, our educators are overlooked and fail to get the recognition they deserve. Outside of a child’s parents or guardians, no person is more responsible for a child’s wellbeing, emotional growth, and life training than his or her teacher.

Mid-Michigan NOW Golden Apple Award.webp

The wonderful teachers throughout the Flint, Saginaw and Bay City communities are central to ensuring our area grows and thrives.

Ms. Mitchell teaches at kindergarten at Carter Elementary in Montrose. She was nominated for the Golden Apple Award by a parent in the district whose child positively benefited from Ms. Mitchell's compassion and teaching.

The Golden Apple Award is presented as a surprise. The teacher has no idea he or she won the award before the TV cameras roll into the classroom, and the award is delivered. I have been blessed to award several teachers in the Tri-Cities area over the past few years, and every single time, the winning teacher has been surprised, honored, and beyond excited for the well-deserved recognition.

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About

Eric Steinberg

Eric Steinberg is a managing partner at the Lee Steinberg Law Firm, having recovered tens of millions for clients throughout Michigan. Attorney Steinberg has almost 20 years of experience handling personal injury, auto accidents, big truck accidents, premises liability, medical malpractice, nursing home injury, and dog bite cases.

He is one of Michigan’s leading authorities on personal injury law, having served as the President of the Michigan Association for Justice (MAJ).  As an advocate for ensuring people have access to justice, Attorney Steinberg believes all injured individuals should be able to obtain legal representation at their most difficult times. As a result, all clients at his firm never pay an attorney fee or any costs until the outcome of their case is successful.  Attorney Steinberg has tried multiple cases to verdict and handles all facets of the Lee Steinberg Law Firm. He has been named a Michigan Super Lawyer by his peers as one of the top personal injury attorneys in the State of Michigan. Attorney Steinberg is also a frequent speaker at seminars where he teaches other lawyers about updates in personal injury law, discovery tactics, and trial advocacy.

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Settlement

$5,750,000

Premises Liability

A single father of two children sustained a below the knee amputation when a hi-lo driver struck our client at a worksite. Our client had to undergo multiple surgeries and extensive rehabilitation.

Settlement

$2,250,000

Car Accident

Plaintiff was paralyzed from the waist down after being struck by a car traveling approximately 50 mph. The Plaintiff was riding a bicycle on a sidewalk and had the right of way to cross the intersection when the car made a turn, striking him directly. At first, the defendant denied liability but the responding policy officer placed the at-fault driver at-fault. In addition, our firm performed our own investigation, including taking witness statements and meeting with experts to solidify the negligence of the at-fault driver. Our client suffered a fractured vertebra in the cervical spine with edema of the spinal cord. He lost the ability to fully use his extremities and will likely be wheelchair bound for the rest of his life. He also suffered a mild to moderate traumatic brain injury.

Verdict

$1,855,000

Car Accident

Our client was killed while traveling on I-75 in Genesee County when a wheel fell of defendant’s pick-up truck, which was pulling a trailer. The wheel flew over the median wall and through the windshield of the decedent, causing fatal injuries. The defendant initially denied any wrongdoing and attributed the entire accident to a freak occurrence. However, through aggressive investigation by our firm, including the hiring of multiple experts including an accident reconstructionist and metallurgist, the Lee Steinberg Law Firm proved the horrible tragedy was the fault of the defendant and could have easily been prevented through basic inspection.

Settlement

$1,300,000

Construction Accident

The Lee Steinberg Law Firm secured a settlement for a man injured while on a work-site. As he was placing his hand on a plywood door frame, the frame gave way causing him to fall 14 feet. The frame had not been secured properly by another contractor at the job site. The 54-year-old landed on both feet, shattering both heals and ankles, requiring multiple surgeries and fully disabling him from further employment.

Verdict

$1,100,000

Medical Malpractice

A jury awarded $1,100,000 in a failure to diagnose case.

ARBITRATION

$1,020,000

Ride Sharing Accident

Our client was seriously injured while a passenger in a ride share vehicle for a major ride share company when her vehicle was rear-ended by a hit-and-run driver. Following the accident, she had a low back fusion surgery. She turned to the ride share company for the payment of Michigan no-fault benefits and uninsured motorist benefits. The ride share company terminated benefits refused to pay outstanding no-fault benefits including pain and suffering compensation. After aggressively pursuing her claims, our legal team obtained a significant arbitration award.

Settlement

$1,000,000

Wrongful Death

A driver on M30 in Gladwin County failed to properly slow down for traffic that was waiting in line to make a left turn. After braking at the last second, the defendant, who was traveling over 90 mph, swerved into oncoming traffic and struck the vehicle the plaintiff operated. The crash was extremely violent, causing the plaintiff to sustain fatal injuries.

Settlement

$1,000,000

Car Crash

A Shiawassee County man was operating a sedan when he was hit crossing an intersection by another vehicle that failed to see him. The collision was horrific and our client’s car was totaled. The “jaws of life” were used to extract him from the wreck. Our law office retained an accident reconstruction expert to investigation and explain why the other vehicle was at-fault for causing the accident. A trucking expert was also retained. After an intensive period of discovery, the defendant had no ability to dispute liability and was forced to accept blame. His injuries included a low back fusion, an operation to repair a torn left shoulder, multiple oral surgeries and depression.

Settlement

$870,000

Car Accident

Plaintiff was in a line of traffic on Haggerty Road when a vehicle suddenly stopped in front of him. Plaintiff attempted to swerve away from the vehicle and was struck by another vehicle during his evasive action. Plaintiff sustained a serious low back injury during this crash, necessitating extensive treatment including a lumbar spinal fusion surgery. The Lee Steinberg Law Firm was able to recover lost wages, the payment of medical bills, payment to family members for attendant care and replacement services, as well as pain and suffering.

Settlement

$850,000

Car Accident

Our client was walking in a popular shopping mall when she was hit by a car. The driver of the car was adamant he was not at-fault for causing the crash. The insurance company for the driver placed all the blame for the accident on our client. As a result of the crash, our client sustained a fetal placental abruption. The medical examiner called it a stillbirth. The defense disputed the fetus was viable and did not want to pay anything. After aggressive and persistent discovery, including numerous depositions and the use of experts, our firm resolved the lawsuit for the family for $850,000.

Settlement

$850,000

Car Wreck

Woman was hit by a drunk driver in Midland County. The crash lead to three separate surgeries, including a repair of a shattered left femur, repair of a fracture to the right distal humeral shaft and a right ankle fracture repair. The plaintiff was in rehabilitation for three months following the car accident. She was left with permanent scarring and other permanent ailments.

Settlement

$750,000

Car Accident

A commercial truck driver failed to notice that traffic had come to a stop and rear-ended the pick-up truck our client occupied. The force of that impact propelled the pick-up truck into the vehicle in front of it causing a chain reaction. Five vehicles were ultimately involved in the crash. After a tough battle, our client passed away from his injuries.