Joel Ashton and Stanley Okoli recently had dismissals upheld on two related Condominium Association cases in the Michigan Court of Appeals and Michigan Supreme Court. To say the least, these were contentious cases in which a co-owner experienced a sewer back-up in her basement in October 2016, with the alleged subsequent discovery of rod hole leaks in the foundation, for which she initially sued the Condominium Association, its insurer, the […]

On June 24, 2022, the United States Supreme Court issued its opinion in Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which overturns Roe v Wade. Even as Supreme Court opinions go, it is a giant in size as well as societal impact. The opinion has generated a flood of commentary from voices on all sides of the abortion policy debate. Seemingly, not everyone commenting on the opinion has actually read it. […]

The Federal Appeals panel affirmed an opinion by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan over the granting of Summary Judgment in a condominium case that has broad ramifications. The Plaintiff claimed her Defendant next door neighbor was aggravating her preexisting asthma condition due to the frequent smell of smoke emanating from their unit. This action turned into what is regarded as a landmark case. It relates […]

Attorneys John Gwyn and Joel Ashton from the Firm’s Community Association and Real Estate Law practice group participated in the Community Associations Institute’s (CAI) Great Exhibitor Outdoor Fair at Mill Race Park in Northville, Michigan.  John Gwyn was a speaker at the event’s Q&A Education Panel of Experts where he offered his legal expertise on a variety of questions regarding Homeowners’ Associations and Condo Associations. Both attorneys enjoyed interacting with […]

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 […]

CMDA is proud to announce that Christopher G. Schultz has been recognized as a “Go To Lawyer” for Business Law by Michigan Lawyers Weekly. The “Go To Lawyers” program identifies and recognizes the top 22 lawyers across the state in a given practice area. Christopher G. Schultz has broad and extensive experience of nearly 40 years in matters involving small and large businesses and related litigation. He has significantly grown […]

CMDA attorney Ray Richards was recently interviewed as a criminal expert on “History’s Greatest Mysteries.” The History Channel show featured the unsolved case of the Sodder family. On Christmas morning in 1945, five of their children vanished from their family home in West Virginia during a raging fire. Despite the work of many, the mystery of the Sodder children’s disappearance remains. Ray E. Richards, II is an Of Counsel attorney […]

The latest issue of Urban Aging News highlights an article on The Ladybird Deed written by Norman “Gene” Richards. The article provides an overview of the ladybird deed, along with the benefits and challenges that come with that method of transferring property when a person dies. Urban Aging News is a quarterly publication that provides information, insight, and inspiration for Metro Detroit’s maturing adults. Check out the Spring 2022 issue here. […]

John Gwyn, an attorney in our Livonia office, recently attended the Community Associations Institute (CAI) 2022 Annual Law Seminar in California. While at the seminar, and unbeknownst to him, the national presenters chose to feature one of Mr. Gwyn’s cases as an example of the complicated interplay between tort, easement, and contract law. The case involves a Circuit Court Judge in Macomb County agreeing with CMDA that claims made in […]

I first met Frank Beckmann through some Detroit Lions alumni events Lem Barney and Mike Lucci had taken me to in the late 1990s, and Frank and I instantly hit it off. It tickled me because I idolized the guy as a kid. Back then, I thought I wanted to be a radio play-by-play guy like all the legends we had in this town: Ernie Harwell, Paul Carey, George Kell, […]