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,” […]

Jim Acho has been LaMarr Woodley’s attorney since he turned professional with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Today LaMarr is retired after an All Pro career and has turned his attention to Hollywood and acting and producing. LaMarr filmed six episodes of a TV show he hosts called “Tackle My Ride,” which aired this year on NFL Network and Spike TV. The networks have ordered the show for two seasons and LaMarr […]

Jim Acho appeared at the NFL Alumni Annual dinner at Tam O’Shanter Country Club on June 12, 2017. Jim spoke to retired players and gave an update on the new Baseline Assessment Plan implemented pursuant to the NFL Concussion Class Action Settlement, of which Jim and CMDA are one of the law firms involved. Photo: Jim Acho with Lions legends and CMDA clients Mike Lucci and Eric Hipple. Lucci was the […]

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 […]

On April 21, 2017, the Second Circuit Court of appeals in NLRB v. Pier Sixty, LLC, 855 F.3d 115 (2nd Cir. 2017), upheld the National Labor Relations Board’s conclusion that a terminated employee’s profanity based comments about his supervisor on Facebook were not so egregious as to exceed protection under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA or Act). Pier Sixty operates a catering company in New York City.  In 2011, […]

Everybody knows of the problems of aging adults, however few give it the serious attention it needs.  The failure to address these issues appropriately can result in serious financial distress and/or a loss of independence.  I have outlined five common mistakes made by aging adults and tips on how to avoid making them. First Mistake: Doing nothing If you do nothing to deal with aging you have a good chance […]

A school district refuses to allow the service dog of a student with disabilities into the classroom because the student was assigned a one-on-one instructional aide by the school district, rendering the service dog superfluous. The parents remove their child from the school district and ultimately sue the school district and the school’s principal for violations of Title II of the American’s With Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of […]

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 […]