Cinnamon Plonka is an accomplished litigator who handles a wide array of civil litigation matters, including first-party no-fault and third-party automobile negligence claims, premises liability, employment litigation, fraud, and insurance coverage disputes, both at the trial level and before appellate courts.
Cinnamon has an impressive track record based on her ability to engage the jury and persuade them to her way of thinking. She is passionate about being in the courtroom and her capacity for conveying a convincing story to seven strangers on a jury drives her success and cements her clients’ loyalty.
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Practice Areas
Bar Admissions
Education
Thomas M. Cooley Law School
Juris Doctor, 1999
- Moot Court Board
- Trial Advocacy Team
Eastern Michigan University
Bachelor of Arts in Social Work, 1994
/
National Institute for Trial Advocacy
June 2004
Professional Groups
- State Bar of Michigan
- Insurance & Indemnity Law and Negligence Law Sections
- Hearing Panelist, Attorney Discipline Board
- Black Women Lawyers Association of Michigan
- Treasurer, 2012 – 2015
- Board of Directors, 2006 – 2015
- President, 2004 – 2006
- Mentor/Mentee Program
- National Bar Association
- Litigation and Insurance Defense Sections
- Zausmer, P.C. Diversity Committee
- Co-Chair
- Eastern Michigan University Foundation Board of Trustees
- Past Trustee
- Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Presentations
- What’s Above the Glass Ceiling?
CenterForce Driving Diversity in Law and Leadership Summit, April 2023 - Practice Makes Perfect: Avoiding Unexpected Pitfalls in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives
Association of Corporate Counsel (Michigan Chapter), April 2022 - Building a Better Workplace: Strategies for Creating and Implementing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Initiatives
Association of Corporate Counsel (Michigan Chapter), October 2020 - Running the Bahri Bases in Court
Insurance Alliance of Michigan Seminar, September 2018 - New Statutory Fraud Provisions in Runner, Capper, Steerer Laws & Assigned Claims Plan
Insurance Institute of Michigan Annual Claims Seminar, September 2014 - Admire v. Auto-Owners, Van Modification
Insurance Institute of Michigan Annual Claims Seminar, September 2013 - Trial Preparation from Start to Finish
Institute for Paralegal Education, November 2012
In the Community
- Oakland THRIVE, Board of Directors, 2024 – Present
- City Year Detroit – Women’s Leadership Breakfast, Host Committee
- Forgotten Harvest, Board of Directors, 2023 – Present
Honors & Awards
- Notable Women in Law by Crain’s Detroit Business – 2024
- Super Lawyers (Michigan) – 2021 – Present
- Top Women Attorneys in Michigan – 2021 and 2022
- Michigan Lawyers Weekly “Women in the Law” – 2017
- Michigan Top Lawyers – 2015