L. Page Graves

Traverse City Attorney

L. Page Graves is a Partner of the firm. Mr. Graves is a native of Lansing, Michigan. He received his bachelor’s degree from Western Michigan University and his law degree, cum laude from The Thomas M. Cooley Law School. While attending law school, Mr. Graves served as Assistant Editor of the Cooley Law School Law Review.

Mr. Graves focuses his practice on Michigan No-Fault Automobile Insurance Law, representing medical service providers and severely injured people in collecting unpaid and underpaid no-fault benefits. Mr. Graves has published several articles and text materials regarding subjects and issues prevalent in his personal injury and Michigan No-Fault Automobile Insurance Law practice. Mr. Graves has also been a featured speaker at law practice seminars on no-fault related topics. Mr. Graves was the first Adjunct Law Professor at The Thomas M. Cooley Law School to teach the subject matter of Michigan No-Fault Automobile Insurance Law. He taught night school classes from the fall of 2002 to the spring of 2005. Mr. Graves was recognized by his peers as the 2023 “Lawyer of the Year” in Insurance Law in Northern Michigan by Best Lawyers.

Mr. Graves has received an “AV” rating from Martindale-Hubbell which is the highest rating of legal ability and ethics awarded by the company. According to Martindale, “an AV certification mark is a significant rating accomplishment—a testament to the fact that a lawyer’s peers rank him or her at the highest level of professional excellence.” Mr. Graves has been honored further by being recognized and included in the 2012–2023 Editions of Best Lawyers, which is the oldest and most respected peer-reviewed publication in the legal profession. The Best Lawyers lists of outstanding attorneys are compiled by conducting exhaustive peer-review surveys in which tens of thousands of leading lawyers confidentially evaluate their professional peers. If the votes for an attorney are positive enough for inclusion in Best Lawyers,that attorney must maintain those votes in subsequent polls to remain on the list for each edition. Lawyers are not permitted to pay any fee to participate in or be included on the list.

Mr. Graves is a member of the State Bar of Michigan and the Grand Traverse-Leelanau-Antrim Bar Association. Mr. Graves served on the Board of Directors, for the Traverse City (Noon) Rotary Club and on the Board of Governors, for the GTLA. Mr. Graves has also served as past Co- Chair of the Board of the Traverse City, City Opera House; as an Executive Board Member for Traverse Regional Area Ticketing; as an Executive Board Member for the Ingham County Bar Association; as past President of the Young Lawyers section of the Ingham County Bar Association; as an Executive Board Member for the Arthritis Foundation, Central Michigan Chapter; as past Executive Board Member for the Michigan Trial Lawyers Association; and a past Board Member of the John D. Voelker Foundation. Mr. Graves is a current member of the the Elks (Traverse City Lodge No. 323.)

email: pgraves@smith-johnson.com
phone: 231.946.0700

Page has been the best part of my accident that almost took my life. He is open and honest with me about the legal process in dealing with my injuries from my accident. His follow through has been stellar and never once has he let me down. Page is approachable at almost all times. I’ve contacted him on the weekends, holidays and even when he has been on vacation. He has always taken the time for me. After six years of legal care, I consider Page a great attorney but more importantly to me, a good friend. I would recommend Page to anyone I know.

Mike Tisdale

Mr. Graves’ representation of clients has resulted in the publication of Michigan jurisprudence (Yono v MDOT, 499 Mich 636 (2016); Hagerty v Manistee Co Rd Comm’r, 493 Mich 933 (2013); Jarrad v Integon Nat Ins Co, 472 Mich 1251 (2005); Griffith v State Farm Mut Auto Ins Co, 472 Mich 1020 (2004)). Mr. Graves has argued multiple personal injury related cases before the Michigan Court of Appeals and before the Michigan Supreme Court (See, e.g., Yono v MDOT, dated December 9, 2015).

Mr. Graves has received an “AV” rating from Martindale-Hubbell which is the highest rating of legal ability and ethics awarded by the company. According to Martindale, “an AV certification mark is a significant rating accomplishment – a testament to the fact that a lawyer’s peers rank him or her at the highest level of professional excellence.” Since 2012, Mr. Graves has been repeatedly honored further by being recognized and included in the annual Best Lawyers, which is the oldest and most respected peer-reviewed publication in the legal profession. The Best Lawyers lists of outstanding attorneys are compiled by conducting exhaustive peer-review surveys in which tens of thousands of leading lawyers confidentially evaluate their professional peers. If the votes for an attorney are positive enough for inclusion in Best Lawyers, that attorney must maintain those votes in subsequent polls to remain on the list for each edition. Lawyers are not permitted to pay any fee to participate in or be included on the list. Mr. Graves is also client and peer reviewed by Avvo, a recent web-based attorney profile marketing entity, growing in popularity in today’s mobile media environment.

Mr. Graves is a member of the State Bar of Michigan and the Grand Traverse-Leelanau-Antrim Bar Association. Mr. Graves now currently serves on the Board of Governors for the GTLA. For the past 10 consecutive years, Mr. Graves continues to serve on the Board of Directors of the Traverse City, City Opera House, in which he also served as past Co-Chair. Mr. Graves has served as a past Executive Board Member for the Ingham County Bar Association; past President of the Young Lawyers section of the Ingham County Bar Association; past Executive Board Member for the Arthritis Foundation, Central Michigan Chapter; past Executive Board Member for the Michigan Trial Lawyers Association; and past Board Member of the John D. Voelker Foundation. Mr. Graves is a current member of the Rotary Club of Traverse City (noon club) and the Elks (Traverse City Lodge No. 323). Finally, Mr. Graves actively/annually volunteers with the Northern Michigan Adaptive Sports Skiing program.

L. Page Graves

Testimonials

Joe G.