Lawyer instrumental in bailing out students

A local attorney has been voted Best Attorney of Central Michigan 2005
for the fifth consecutive year.

Joseph T. Barberi received 63 votes from Mount Pleasant residents
and students, faculty and staff from CMU during the 5th Annual Central
Michigan Life Readers’ Choice Awards survey.

Barberi said he contributes his success to his staff and the fact
his law firm does a varied type of legal service.

“I really believe the award is received on behalf of the whole law
firm, starting with my receptionist to my paralegal,” Barberi said.
“I’m really proud of it in the sense of every member of my staff.”

Readers submitted their votes during April of last year. Attorney
Gordon M. Bloem had the second most votes with a total of 35 and
attorney Daniel R. O’Neil had 18 votes which put him in third place.

Barberi said his clients come from both the Mount Pleasant and
campus communities.

“For students, I would say that the majority of cases are criminal
and personal injury,” said Barberi, who also gets calls from parents of
CMU students when their child has had problems with other students on
campus.

The criminal cases Barberi said he sees often with students are
alcohol related issues along with personal injury.

He also handles quite a few cases for staff of Central
Michigan University.

“I’d say those cases are personal injury, custody, divorce, and I’ve
done quite a few trusts, advance directives and wills,” he said.

When Mount Pleasant residents approved city Proposal 1 to take
fluoride out of the drinking water in November of last year, Barberi
was hired to represent the citizens in the issue.

Mount Pleasant resident Gladys Mitchell said she was pleased with
Barberi’s help.

“It was great having him represent us,” Mitchell said. “He has been
a very prominent person in the community, and was certainly helpful to
us.”