Udall Shumway — Mesa, AZ

Udall Shumway PLC, founded in 1965, is a full-service law firm based in Mesa, AZ, with a distinguished history in personal injury, employment law, and family law.

About the Firm

Founded by David Udall and Dale Shumway, the firm has been serving clients for over 50 years. The firm operates from its office at 1138 N. Alma School Rd., Ste. 101, Mesa, AZ 85201, and maintains a strong focus on personal injury, medical malpractice, and nursing home litigation, alongside employment and family law practices.

Key Attorneys

• H. Micheal Wright, Equity Partner – Arizona State University (B.A., Business Administration); University of Arizona College of Law (J.D., 1975). Wright has over 50 years of trial experience, specializing in personal injury, medical malpractice, and insurance bad faith cases. He is a certified specialist and has been recognized as a Lifetime Advocate for Civil Justice by the Arizona Association of Justice. Wright is also a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (since 2003).
• Lincoln M. Wright, Partner – Arizona State University (B.A., English, 1996); Boston College Law School (J.D., 1999). Lincoln Wright focuses on nursing home litigation, arbitration challenges, and appellate work. He secured a published decision in Clark v. Renaissance West, LLC (Ariz. App. 2013), which eased challenges to mandatory arbitration agreements in nursing home cases, and played a pivotal role in Kopp v. Physician Group of Arizona, Inc. (Ariz. 2018), where the Arizona Supreme Court overturned nearly 75 years of precedent.

Practice Areas

Personal Injury, Medical Malpractice, and Nursing Home Litigation

• Represents plaintiffs exclusively in personal injury, medical malpractice, and wrongful death cases.
• Specializes in brain and spinal injuries, accident reconstruction, and hazard/risk assessment.
• Expertise in nursing home regulations, standards of care, and Medicare lien issues.
• Notable cases include Clark v. Renaissance West, LLC and Kopp v. Physician Group of Arizona, Inc..

Employment Law

• Represents employees in discrimination cases (race, gender, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation), wage and hour claims, wrongful termination, and retaliation cases.
• Handles severance agreement reviews with a focus on Arizona’s restrictive covenant (non-compete) standards.
• Cites specific statutes such as the Arizona Civil Rights Act (A.R.S. 41-1463) and implied-contract theories from employer handbooks.

Family Law

• Handles divorce, child custody, spousal maintenance, and asset division, including complex property division involving family businesses, commercial property, and trusts.
• Addresses prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, domestic violence intersections with custody, and division-of-assets matters.
• Led by Sheri D. Shepard, who brings nearly two decades of family law experience.

Recognition and Achievements

• H. Micheal Wright named a Lifetime Advocate for Civil Justice by the Arizona Association of Justice.
• Wright is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (since 2003) and has been listed on Super Lawyers for several consecutive years.
• Lincoln Wright is a member of the American Association of Justice and the Arizona Association of Justice.
• The firm holds an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell.

Notable Cases

• Clark v. Renaissance West, LLC (Ariz. App. 2013): Made it easier for nursing home residents to challenge mandatory arbitration agreements.
• Kopp v. Physician Group of Arizona, Inc. (Ariz. 2018): Overturned nearly 75 years of precedent in a hospital negligence case.

Arizona Legal Context

• A.R.S. 12-542: Two-year statute of limitations for personal injury and wrongful death claims.
• A.R.S. 12-821.01: 180-day notice of claim requirement before suing a public entity or employee.
• A.R.S. 12-821: One-year statute of limitations for suits against public entities.
• A.R.S. 12-2505: Arizona’s pure comparative negligence rule.
• A.R.S. 12-502: Tolling of limitations periods for minors and persons under a legal disability.

The firm’s nursing home litigation practice intersects with additional legal frameworks, including the Adult Protective Services Act and challenges to mandatory arbitration clauses in nursing home admission agreements.