March 2026 Pacesetter Drew Masse
Gallon, Takacs & Boissoneault Co, L.P.A. | Maumee, OH

What motivated you to become a trial lawyer? As long as I can remember, I’ve been told “You argue so much you should be a lawyer.” I was told that by my parents, teachers, and classmates. I remember reading somewhere that the Latin meaning of the word “argument” is a search for truth. I’m all for seeking truth.

When did you become a member of MAJ? Why did you decide to join? I became a MAJ member shortly after I passed the Michigan bar exam in 1989, having moved to Temperance, Michigan, from Toledo in 1988. Since 1984, I had been practicing exclusively personal injury law in Toledo, Ohio, and saw the need to practice in Michigan given Southeastern Michigan’s proximity to Toledo. I joined MAJ because I believed it was important to access and contribute to the collective resources and knowledge of Michigan personal injury practitioners, much like I had done with OAJ in Ohio.

Why do you feel it is important for trial lawyers to be a part of MAJ? MAJ offers the opportunity to share in a deep pool of knowledge, resources, and camaraderie within Michigan personal injury practice that cannot be matched elsewhere. I also value MAJ’s commitment to supporting like-minded judicial candidates, an effort I believe is critically important. In my view, that support has helped ensure that Michigan, unlike Ohio, now has a majority of Supreme Court Justices who treat our clients fairly.

Please describe the extent of your MAJ participation (offices held, committees, AAJ, etc): I’ve been an MTLA /MAJ member for 36 years. Over that time, I’ve attended many MAJ seminars, which are always excellent, and I’ve spoken at a few on the topic of the differences between Michigan and Ohio personal injury law.

What is distinctive about your practice, and your firm? The most distinctive aspect of my practice is that I represent clients in both Michigan and Ohio. My firm began by representing Ohio labor unions and workers’ compensation clients and eventually grew into a major presence in the workers’ compensation field. I used to describe it as the “Microsoft of workers’ comp” in Northwest Ohio. Legislative changes, including managed care requirements, have significantly narrowed the scope of Ohio workers’ compensation practice. Today, my firm maintains a strong presence in Ohio personal injury, workers’ compensation, Social Security, and local labor union representation.

What is your most memorable/satisfying case? My most memorable and satisfying Michigan cases involved representing the estates of Ohio residents whose deaths resulted from two separate fireworks explosions in Charlevoix and Osseo in the late 1990s and early 2000s. That representation required working alongside many outstanding Michigan attorneys on both sides of the cases, including a former Michigan Court of Appeals judge we know well. Through that experience, I developed lasting professional relationships and friendships that continue to this day.

What are your interests outside the practice of law? My wife, Gail, and I have long enjoyed sun and water sports. We were avid sailors for many years on Lake Erie, owning several boats, but now find it much easier and relaxing to step on our tritoon boat, turn the key, and take off. We were also enthusiastic alpine and cross-country skiers for many years. We have camped in our old pop-up with our kids all over the US, and we now own a trailer camper that we will be using for extended trips across the country.