For decades, Attorney Barry J. Goodman has built his legal career around representing people whose lives have been disrupted by negligence. His path into personal injury law began with a personal experience that shaped his view of justice from an early age. His father, a postal employee, suffered injuries in a traffic accident while on the job and remained dependent on federal workers’ compensation for the rest of his life.
That experience influenced Goodman’s decision to pursue a career focused on helping people seek justice when they have been harmed. Today, his work reflects that early commitment through a longstanding practice representing clients in a range of personal injury matters in Michigan.
Building a Career in Personal Injury Law
Goodman’s legal education began at Bradley University, where he received his undergraduate degree in 1974 after attending on scholarship. He then earned his J.D. with honors from Stetson University College of Law in 1977. His professional career began in Florida, where he spent two years with a small general-practice firm before moving to Michigan.
After relocating, Goodman worked at two firms while concentrating his practice solely on personal injury cases. His professional path eventually led to a partnership with Gerald H. Acker. The two attorneys had first become acquainted through their shared interest in basketball and later began discussing the possibility of establishing their own practice. In 1993, they founded Goodman Acker, P.C., creating a firm centered on plaintiff-side personal injury representation.
A Focus on Plaintiff-Side Representation
The firm has continued to concentrate on plaintiff-side personal injury cases, with Goodman developing extensive experience representing people injured through the negligence of others. His professional work has included matters involving car accidents, truck accidents, premises liability, and wrongful death. This focus reflects his longstanding commitment to helping clients pursue justice after serious injuries and other losses.
For Goodman, personal injury representation is closely connected to ensuring that people have meaningful access to the legal system. His profile emphasizes his desire to keep courthouse doors open for those seeking justice and his commitment to helping clients rebuild their lives after they have been affected by the negligence of others.
The firm’s personal injury practice also encompasses a broad range of cases. Its areas of representation include motor vehicle accidents, bicycle and motorcycle accidents, slip and fall cases, medical malpractice, birth injuries, dog bites, premises liability, and wrongful death. These areas reflect the firm’s longstanding focus on representing individuals and families affected by personal injuries.
A Notable $14.5 Million Arbitration Award
One of the most significant results highlighted in Goodman’s career came in 2001, when his client received a $14.5 million arbitration award following injuries caused by a faulty subsurface wiring problem. The defect caused a manhole cover to fly up and strike the car in which the client was a passenger. The award addressed pain and suffering, medical expenses, and related costs stemming from her injuries.
The attorney’s profile also notes that Goodman has achieved several seven-figure verdict results for injured clients throughout his career. The $14.5 million award stands out among the accomplishments highlighted in his professional history and reflects his experience handling significant personal injury matters.
Leadership Within the Legal Community
Beyond his work representing injured clients, attorney Goodman has contributed to the legal profession through professional organizations and leadership positions. He is a member of the Michigan and Florida Bars and is a former president of the Michigan Association for Justice. He also served as past chair of the Negligence Section of the State Bar of Michigan and has been a frequent lecturer at professional gatherings.
His professional involvement has also extended to community organizations. Goodman has been a longtime board member of the Anti-Defamation League, where he has also served as an officer. He was appointed by former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm to serve as a member of the Mackinac Island Historical Park Commission. These roles have complemented a legal career centered on personal injury representation and professional service.
Recognition for a Longstanding Career
Goodman’s professional career has received recognition from several legal organizations. His listed honors include being named among the Nation’s Top One Percent of Attorneys by the National Association of Distinguished Counsel in 2019 and being selected to The National Trial Lawyers’ Top 100 Personal Injury list that same year.
He was also recognized as a Leaders in Law honoree by the Michigan Trial Lawyers Association in 2015. These distinctions add to a career that has combined decades of personal injury practice with professional leadership and service within the legal community.
Continuing a Client-Centered Legacy
Despite his professional accomplishments, Goodman’s profile emphasizes the personal meaning he finds in representing injured clients. He has described helping people rebuild their lives after injuries caused by negligence as one of the most rewarding aspects of his work. He also values the opportunity to help clients regain a sense of worth and look toward a brighter future. That perspective provides context for a legal career shaped by a longstanding commitment to personal injury representation.
Away from legal practice, Goodman enjoys traveling, theater, golf, tennis, and spending time with his family. These interests offer a personal dimension to a career that has remained closely connected to client advocacy, legal service, and community involvement.
A Career Grounded in Personal Injury Advocacy
The career of attorney Barry J. Goodman reflects decades of work in plaintiff-side personal injury law, from his early legal experience in Florida to establishing a Michigan practice with Gerald H. Acker. His $14.5 million arbitration award, professional leadership, legal recognitions, and continued work with injured clients have all contributed to his longstanding role in Michigan personal injury litigation.
As a founding partner, this attorney has built a career around representing individuals affected by negligence and helping clients pursue justice through the legal system. His professional story remains closely connected to personal injury advocacy and to the principle that people whose lives have been disrupted by negligence should have meaningful access to justice.
