Please join us in welcoming Kevin J. Campbell to CMDA. An attorney in the Firm’s Livonia office, he is an experienced defense attorney with a diverse background that includes the litigation of complex commercial disputes, premises liability and no-fault cases, real estate disputes, constitutional controversies, cases involving alleged noncompliance with the Michigan Open Meetings Act, disputes pertaining to the Michigan law regarding personnel decision-making based on teacher evaluations (MCL 380.1248 […]

Kristen Rewa, an attorney in our Grand Rapids office, was a presenter at the 35th Annual Michigan Association of Municipal Attorneys (MAMA) Advanced Institute Virtual Conference. She spoke to MAMA members on the complaint response process used by the Michigan Department of Civil Rights (MDCR), Michigan Civil Rights Commission and shared some best practices for municipal attorneys when assisting a municipality with a civil rights’ complaint. The participants enjoyed the […]

Access to state and local government meetings has been a hallmark of American democracy for most of our country’s history. All states have enacted open meetings laws that generally require municipalities and local agencies to provide advance notice to the public of meetings held by commissions, boards, tribunals, and councils. This includes a broad spectrum of entities, such as unemployment commissions, tax tribunals, and school boards. These statutes permit any […]

Konschuh v. Turkelson, et al. (Lapeer County Circuit Court No. 17-050850-CL(H); Oakland County Circuit Court No. 17-SC0045-SC; Michigan Court of Appeals No. 349041) is a unique and highly-contentious case that involved a circuit court judge who filed suit against Lapeer County and several of its officials. Judge Byron Konschuh – who remains a sitting judge at the Lapeer County Circuit Court – was charged with embezzlement related charges for depositing […]

We are pleased to announce that Greg Grant and Braeden Willoughby have been elected partners at CMDA. “In addition to being tremendous lawyers, they are both greatly admired for their unique achievements,” said Chris Schultz, managing partner. “Greg possesses outstanding legal skills and maintains exceptional relationships with his clients. Braeden has displayed excellent leadership qualities since joining CMDA. We recognize the work he has done for our clients and look […]

We are very pleased to announce that three attorneys have recently joined our Firm. David Kowalski is an attorney in our Clinton Township office where he focuses his practice on insurance defense, municipal law, appeals and litigation, and research. He has extensive litigation and appellate experience and has received favorable outcomes for clients before the Michigan Supreme Court and the Michigan Court of Appeals. He authors briefs for submission to […]

Effective March 29, 2019 the Paid Medical Leave Act (PMLA) will allow eligible part time employees to receive one hour of paid medical leave for every 35 hours worked. To be eligible for the leave the employee must have worked a minimum of 25 hours per week during the preceding calendar year. The leave time must be used for personal or family health needs or purposes related to sexual assault […]

On January 15-16, 2019 Haider Kazim and Matt Cross, both attorneys in our Traverse City office, gave a presentation to law enforcement leaders throughout Northern Michigan on correctional law updates, including use of force, deliberate indifference, and custodial search and seizure. The presentation took place at Bay College in Escanaba and was hosted by the Michigan Municipal Risk Management Authority (MMRMA). Our Firm offers training and educational seminars on a […]

In this case, Plaintiffs filed a civil rights case seeking damages for the deaths of their sons who were fatally shot during an event at the Defendant membership club where minors allegedly purchased and/or were allowed to consume alcohol. CMDA defended the municipality, Director of Public Safety, and Clerk. Allan Vander Laan, a partner in our Grand Rapids office, and Jennifer Richards, an attorney in our Livonia office, handled the […]

Haider Kazim and Matt Cross, both attorneys in our Traverse City office, recently successfully defended an animal control officer of a northern Michigan municipality against claims of malicious prosecution and conspiracy. The issue in was whether the officer had probable cause to issue plaintiff citations for her farm animals running at large. The focal point of plaintiff’s claim was that the first few citations were issued under a county ordinance […]