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 […]

Greg Grant and Matt Cross, both attorneys in our Traverse City office, recently successfully defended a municipality and police officer against claims of false arrest/wrongful imprisonment and malicious prosecution. The key issue in the case was whether the officer had probable cause to arrest plaintiff for extortion. Finding that the officer had probable case, the Court granted summary judgment in favor of our clients, dismissing plaintiff’s federal claims in their […]

Haider Kazim and Matt Cross, both attorneys in our Traverse City office, recently successfully handled a case for a local municipality. The Court granted summary disposition dismissing plaintiff’s claims under the Whistleblower Protection Act (WPA), holding that plaintiff was not engaged in activity protected under the WPA, and, to the extent she was, the County terminated her for legitimate reasons. Although the Court allowed plaintiff to amend her claim to […]

Recently, two separate courts agreed with CMDA that the lawsuits two former community college instructors filed against the college should be dismissed. The underlying facts showed that two full-time instructors were involved in a series of conflict resolution sessions where both parties were advised to be civil and follow the rules of the college. The evidence also showed that when one of the full-time instructors was going up for tenure, […]

The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals (the Federal Appeals Court which includes Michigan) recently reviewed the firing of a male funeral home director transitioning to female. Ms. Stephens was fired after she advised the funeral home owner, Mr. Rost, that she was intending to live as a woman including utilizing a female name, dressing in women’s clothing and using the women’s restroom. Litigation was filed against the funeral home by […]

On July 13, 2017 Michigan Gov. Rick Synder signed into law Public Act 85 of 2017. The Act, which has been labeled as the “Law Enforcement Body-Worn Camera Privacy Act,” pertains to recordings created by law enforcement officers wearing a video recording device during their police activities. Although it is estimated that less than 10% of law enforcement agencies in the State of Michigan have officers equipped with “body cameras,” […]

The Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) allows an eligible employee to take an unpaid, job-protected leave for a specified family and medical reason with continuation of group health insurance coverage under the same terms and conditions as if the employee had not taken leave.  A few of the common points of FMLA that may be forgotten by the employer are outlined below. Can the employer have communications with the employee […]