Cross Participates in Pro Bono Expungement Clinic

Matt Cross, an attorney in our Traverse City office, recently participated in a pro bono expungement clinic to clear old criminal convictions.  The clinic is designed to remove barriers to employment and housing for people with old felony and misdemeanor convictions. Mr. Cross met with participants at no charge to discuss their situation and assisted them with completing legal forms.  Michigan law allows individuals to set aside some, but not […]

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Sixth Circuit Reinforces the Importance of Protecting the Identities of Confidential Informants

In Nelson v. City of Madison Heights, et al., while conducting a narcotics investigation at a motel police walked by the room of Shelly Hilliard (“Hilliard”) and spotted a bag of marijuana through the window. After obtaining her consent to enter the room, police found the bag of marijuana. In order to avoid arrest, Hilliard offered to call her drug dealer and order drugs from him. Hilliard signed a confidential […]

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New Law Expands Protections for Municipalities in Premises Liability Lawsuits

Michigan Governor Rick Snyder recently signed into law an amendment to the Governmental Liability for Negligence Act. MCL 691.1402a. This statute describes the extent of municipal duties and liability in claims relating to sidewalk maintenance. Municipalities are required to maintain sidewalks in reasonable repair and are not liable for the failure to maintain sidewalks unless a plaintiff proves the municipality knew, or should have known, of the defective sidewalk more […]

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Cross Obtains Favorable Arbitration Award for Concert Promoter

After a prolonged dispute, Matt Cross obtained an arbitration award for a valued client, a Detroit-based concert promoter.  The promoter paid the producer of the show a $40,000 deposit in five installments to perform its show in Detroit last year.  The producer pulled out last minute and refused to return the promoter’s deposit, citing the promoter’s failure to timely pay two of the five scheduled payments.  Mr. Cross convinced the […]

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Attorney Drafts Endorsement Agreement on Behalf of Client and NFL Player

Matt Cross, an attorney in our Traverse City office, recently drafted an endorsement agreement on behalf of his client, Lawrence Hunt Fashion, Inc.  Lawrence Hunt named New York Giants wide receiver Sterling Shepard as an official brand ambassador of the Detroit-based company that is known for building dress shirts with performance fabric technology making the dress shirts breathable and sweat-wicking. Shepard joins Detroit Tigers catcher James McCann as a Lawrence […]

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Court of Appeals Reaffirms Public Bodies are Under No Obligation to Monitor FOIA Requests Once Denied

In Whittaker v Oakland County Sherriff, unpublished decision of the Court of Appeals dated Nov. 22, 2016 (Docket No. 329545), plaintiff filed suit alleging violation of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). On July 27, 2014, officers suspected plaintiff was driving under the influence and pulled him over. On August 20, 2014, prior to charges being filed, plaintiff submitted a FOIA request to defendant seeking all reports, audiotapes, videotapes, laboratory […]

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Municipal Immunity under the Family and Medical Leave Act

The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) was enacted, in part, “to balance the demands of the workplace with the needs of families…in a manner that accommodates the legitimate interests of employers…” 29 USC 2601(b). The Act entitles eligible employees to take leave: (A) Because of the birth of a son or daughter of the employee and in order to care for such son or daughter. (B) Because of the placement of […]

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Legal Update: Implications of the Recently Enacted Medical Marihuana Facilities Licensing Act on Municipalities

With the recent legalization of recreational marihuana in Massachusetts, Maine, Nevada and California, the total number of states in which recreational marihuana use is legal stands at eight. Twenty states have legalized marihuana for medicinal use. While nationwide legalization is far from a foregone conclusion, with over half of the country legalizing marihuana use in some form the marihuana industry is poised to be the next big growth industry. However, […]

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