Ryan is a seasoned trial attorney with over two decades of litigation experience across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Admitted to the State Bar of Michigan (2004) and the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern District of Michigan (2005), Western District of Wisconsin (2015), and Eastern District of Missouri (2018), Mr. Akers brings a comprehensive legal background to his clients. He specializes in complex cases involving property subrogation, construction defects, product liability, and auto and premises liability.<br><br>Ryan has secured multimillion-dollar verdicts and settlements, including a $2.5M fire loss and a $1.25M jury verdict for a faulty fire suppression system. He regularly advises clients on litigation strategy, insurance coverage, and complex contract matters.<br><br>Previously, he practiced at leading firms and served as in-house counsel at The Cincinnati Insurance Company. He earned his J.D., cum laude, from Regent University School of Law and holds a B.A. in Business Administration from Cornerstone University.<br><br>On a personal note, Ryan Akers is a proud husband to Erin and father of 4 young men, and they occupy much of his free time through various church and outdoors activities.

Lucy Budreau is a strategic and driven attorney with a strong background in litigation, legal research, and client advocacy. She brings a reputation for initiative, analytical skill, and a collaborative approach to solving complex legal problems. Lucy has represented clients in trial, arbitration, and mediation settings, and has handled matters ranging from bulk collections for large financial institutions, bench trials, and arguing motions in district, circuit, and probate courts.<br><br>She began her legal career with Warner Norcross + Judd LLP, where she worked across a broad range of litigation matters. Lucy later joined Altior Law, PC, where she continued to support litigation and arbitration teams. In a new, non-practicing role for CURE Auto Insurance, Lucy manages legal operations for the internal law firm, working closely with Claims and Legal leadership.<br><br>Lucy earned her J.D. magna cum laude from Michigan State University College of Law, where she was a Trustee Scholar and a teaching assistant for multiple legal courses. She holds a B.A. in Latin American and Caribbean Studies with a Spanish minor from the University of Michigan. Lucy is admitted to practice law in the State of Michigan, as well as in the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Michigan.<br><br>When she is not working, Lucy enjoys exploring Detroit with her husband, cooking, and spending time with their pets.

Xavier Burns is a dedicated No-Fault insurance attorney with over six years of focused legal experience advocating for clients in personal injury protection (PIP) and auto insurance cases. A graduate of Michigan State University College of Law in 2019, Mr. Burns brings both a strategic mindset and a client-centered approach to every case.<br><br>Since beginning practice in 2020, Mr. Burns has successfully handled hundreds of No-Fault cases involving denied medical benefits, wage loss, replacement services, and attendant care claims. Known for thorough case preparation and effective negotiation skills, Mr. Burns has secured favorable settlements and verdicts for his clients throughout the state of Michigan.

Robert C. Busch Jr. is a civil litigation attorney who has been practicing law with a strong focus on auto insurance defense. He brings experience from both the plaintiff and defense sides, giving him a comprehensive understanding of the legal landscape surrounding insurance matters.<br><br>Robert earned his Juris Doctor from Western Michigan University Cooley Law School, graduating magna cum laude. During law school, he was a member of the Law Review and served as a judicial clerk for the Honorable Judge Valentine in the Oakland County Circuit Court.<br><br>He currently focuses his practice on defending CURE in a wide range of civil litigation cases. His areas of expertise include first-party auto no-fault (PIP) claims, third-party auto negligence cases, and complex insurance coverage disputes. In the past, he also regularly represented clients involved in Michigan's Assigned Claims Plan (MACP), servicing insurer defense, and subrogation matters.<br><br>Robert Busch is known for his strategic litigation approach, attention to detail, and commitment to achieving favorable outcomes for his client.

Dylan Dahring is a skilled and detail-oriented attorney with extensive experience in insurance defense, personal injury, and immigration law. Currently serving as a PIP attorney for CURE Auto Insurance, Dylan manages a high-volume caseload involving complex first-party No-Fault claims, with a focus on strategic litigation, motion practice, and trial preparation under Michigan's evolving insurance laws.<br><br>Over the past three years, Dylan has built a reputation for strong client advocacy, effective legal drafting, and courtroom readiness. In his current role, he routinely defends CURE against personal injury protection (PIP) claims, conducting depositions, filing and arguing dispositive motions, and navigating litigation from pre-suit through trial.<br><br>Dylan's prior legal experience includes associate roles at prominent Michigan firms such as Latham Law Group, Anselmi Mierzejewski, and Vandeveer Garzia. There, he handled a broad range of cases involving 1st and 3rd party auto negligence, insurance coverage disputes, and civil litigation. His strong grasp of Michigan No-Fault law has made him a reliable asset in resolving cases efficiently and favorably for his clients.<br><br>Dylan earned his J.D. from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law and holds a B.A. in Political Science from Michigan State University. He is admitted to practice in Michigan and is known for his strategic mindset, litigation skill, and commitment to delivering client-focused legal solutions.

Eakta Dave is an experienced litigation attorney serving as in-house counsel for Citizens United Reciprocal Exchange (CURE). In this role, she handles complex first-party and provider no-fault matters from inception through resolution. Her responsibilities include drafting and arguing motions, managing hearings, conducting depositions, participating in case evaluations and facilitations, and preparing and arguing dispositive motions. Eakta is known for her strong courtroom advocacy and strategic legal analysis.<br><br>Prior to joining CURE, Eakta gained extensive litigation experience representing plaintiffs in personal injury matters—including auto no-fault, provider claims, third-party negligence, and dog bite cases—at well-regarded Michigan law firms. She has successfully managed a large caseload, negotiated settlements, and provided end-to-end litigation support. Her early career includes clerkships that refined her legal writing, research, and case management skills, including an internship with the Honorable Terrence G. Berg at the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.<br><br>Eakta earned her J.D. from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, where she received multiple Book Awards and served on the executive board of the Peer Mentor Program. She holds a B.S. in Finance from Oakland University and is fluent in Hindi, Gujarati, Punjabi, and Urdu.<br><br>She is admitted to practice law in the State of Michigan and is an active member of the Oakland County Bar Association and the Wolverine Bar Association.

Dima Hajj-Ahmad is a dedicated and detail-oriented attorney who was admitted to the State Bar of Michigan in November 2023. She graduated from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law in 2023 and brings a fresh, thoughtful perspective to her legal practice. She is also a proud member of the Arab American Bar Association, reflecting her strong commitment to both community engagement and professional growth.

Sarah M. Hollon is an experienced insurance defense attorney with a strong background in representing insurers, corporations, and self-insured entities in a wide range of litigation matters. With 3 years of legal experience, she focuses on defending claims involving first and third-party claims.<br><br>Sarah earned her Juris Doctor from Michigan State University and is licensed to practice in Michigan since 2022. She also earned a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology and Criminal Justice from Western Michigan University. Known for her thorough case analysis, strategic thinking, and client-focused advocacy, she works closely with clients to minimize risk and resolve disputes efficiently, whether through negotiation, motion practice, or trial.<br><br>When not practicing law, Sarah enjoys video games, reading, playing with her two Corgis, and spending time with her husband Nick.

Chelsea LaPorte brings a strong Midwest work ethic and a passion for helping others to her legal practice. Originally from Northern Michigan, Chelsea earned her undergraduate degree from Central Michigan University before going on to receive her Juris Doctor from the University of Toledo College of Law.<br><br>When she's not advocating for her clients, Chelsea enjoys spending time with her three dogs, tending to her garden, and diving into tabletop games with friends and family. Her balanced approach to life and law makes her a compassionate, strategic, and relatable advocate.

Attorney Scott P. Mussin's background provides him with extensive experience in the courtroom and handling litigation cases. His experience working in the Office of the General Counsel at Ford Motor Company provided a concrete foundation to understand complex legal cases from the perspective of both plaintiff and defendant.<br><br>Mr. Mussin expanded his knowledge and experience in the private sector where he was the managing partner at Mussin & Scanland, PLLC covering a wide array of legal matters. Mr. Mussin now brings his experience to CURE with a focus on Coverage cases and preventing fraud in the legal industry.

Tara Raske-Liles joined The Law Office of Chad B Sponder in September 2024 as a PIP Associate Attorney. Her practice focuses on all aspects of PIP defense, including pre-suit investigations, discovery, and motion practice.<br><br>After receiving her undergraduate degree from the University of Minnesota, Morris in 2006, and Juris Doctor from Thomas M Cooley Law School in 2010, Tara spent the first part of her legal career representing Medicare and Medicaid health insurance plans through subrogation. She saved the State and Federal Government millions of dollars through her tenacious approach and a commitment to maximizing recoveries.<br><br>She expanded her legal license in 2021 to the Federal Court including both the Eastern District of Michigan and the Western District of Michigan. She represented secured creditors in all phases of Chapter 7, Chapter 11, and 13 bankruptcies.<br><br>Tara is known for a strategic and pragmatic approach, striving to achieve optimal outcomes for her clients, whether it be through negotiation or litigation.<br><br>Beyond her legal career, Tara enjoys spending time with her children and two dogs.

Nelson graduated Cum Laude from University of Notre Dame Law School in 2003. Before joining The Law Offices of Chad B. Sponder, Nelson spent over twenty-years both a litigator and transactional attorney representing plaintiffs AND defendants in all aspects of state, federal and bankruptcy litigation. Away from the office Nelson enjoys spending time with his two children, volunteering, and trivia.

Nancy L. Safie is a senior trial attorney on the Bodily Injury team at CURE in-house counsel. Before coming to CURE, Nancy worked as an attorney in the Office of General Counsel at The Auto Club Group. She has extensive experience in the area of No-Fault Law including several single chair circuit court jury trials through to verdict. She is originally from Michigan and graduated magna cum laude from Wayne State University and in the top of her class at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law.

Clare M. Sawicki joined CURE In-House Counsel in 2023. Since joining the firm, Ms. Sawicki has worked on numerous first- and third-party litigation matters.<br><br>Ms. Sawicki earned her Bachelor of Music Performance degree from Wayne State University in 2011 and her Juris Doctorate from The University of Detroit Mercy School of Law in 2017, where she graduated with high honors. Throughout law school, Ms. Sawicki obtained additional certifications in advanced legal research and worked as the research assistant to the Dean of Students. She was named a 2014 UDM Law Fellow and is proud to continue to be an active member of the Detroit Mercy Law community.<br><br>Virtually all of Ms. Sawicki's legal career has been concentrated in the area of no-fault and auto negligence. Prior to becoming an attorney, Ms. Sawicki spent several years as a law clerk at an in-house counsel firm representing a national insurance carrier, where she obtained hands-on experience with first- and third-party no-fault litigation. She was admitted to the State Bar of Michigan in 2017 and began her career of zealously defending insurance carriers and policy holders in various stages of civil litigation, including pre-litigation negotiation and settlement matters. Upon graduation from UDM Law, and prior to her admission to the State Bar, Ms. Sawicki fine tuned her legal research and writing skills as a Judicial Clerk to the Honorable Mark A. Randon of the United States Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of Michigan.<br><br>Ms. Sawicki currently resides in Mount Clemens, Michigan with her wife Katie. When she is not in the courtroom, Ms. Sawicki enjoys renovating their historic home and experiencing new cultures and cuisine through travel.

Chad B. Sponder is an accomplished attorney with over twenty-five years of legal experience, currently serving as Managing Attorney of The Law Office of Chad B. Sponder, In-House Counsel for CURE Auto Insurance's Michigan legal operations. In this capacity, Mr. Sponder oversees litigation strategy, legal compliance, and claims-related legal matters, ensuring alignment with corporate objectives, regulatory standards and judicial requirements.<br><br>Prior to his current role, Mr. Sponder led CURE Auto Insurance's in-house legal office in New Jersey, where he managed a team of attorneys and support staff, and was instrumental in streamlining litigation processes and improving legal outcomes across the region.<br><br>Mr. Sponder earned his Bachelor of Arts from New York University in 1996 and his Juris Doctor from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in 1999. He brings to his practice a depth of experience in insurance defense, with a primary focus on fraud claims, litigation management and corporate legal strategy.<br><br>Known for his sharp legal acumen, operational insight, and commitment to excellence, Mr. Sponder continues to play a key role in advancing CURE's mission to provide fair and affordable insurance coverage, without consideration of income proxies, through sound legal governance.

Grady L. Toombs, JD is a seasoned attorney and business executive with over two decades of legal and corporate leadership experience. Specializing in litigation management including trial practice, corporate law, healthcare compliance, and contract negotiation, he has held key roles including Senior Attorney, In-House Counsel, and CEO. He has conducted trials in both a first and second chair capacity. Grady has also advised C-suite leaders on regulatory strategy, risk mitigation, and operational compliance across industries ranging from insurance and healthcare to retail and hospitality.<br><br>Grady holds a JD from Michigan State University College of Law and is licensed to practice in Michigan and Florida, including federal courts in the Sixth Circuit. He is a frequent speaker on healthcare law and corporate legal strategy and actively participates in bar associations and industry seminars.