On November 2, 2015, President Barack Obama announced a new executive order to “Ban the Box,” which is a check off on federal job applications that requires job applicants to disclose their criminal conviction history on the face of the application. This initial disclosure often causes employers to eliminate applicants before ever considering their qualifications. Background investigations will still occur, but at the federal level, agencies will delay inquiries into […]

Employers should re-evaluate the creation of indemnity with clients where workers are placed at client work sites and also analyze any existing indemnity provisions of contracts with others where either has agreed to provide indemnity. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) reversed more than 30 years of precedent in the recent case of Browning-Ferris Industries of California, Inc., which effectively changed the rules regarding protection for previously protected employers. Most […]

Stolle v. Kent State University 610 Fed. Appx. 476, United States Court of Appeals, 6th Circuit, May 1, 2015 Dr. Ronald Stolle, a non-tenure track faculty instructor in the Department of Finance for Kent State University (KSU) sued the College and several administrators alleging retaliation for exercising his First Amendment Rights. The facts of the case show that on January 8, 2011, Dr. Stolle wrote a three page letter to […]

We are pleased to announce that Jennifer A. Richards has joined our Firm as an attorney in our Livonia office. She focuses her practice on municipal law, insurance defense, law enforcement defense, and litigation and appeals. Ms. Richards writes briefs for submission to all levels of state and federal courts, arguing cases in all levels of state and federal courts of appeals, and performing research for all areas of law […]

A huge congratulates to Jim Glover who recently celebrated his 25th anniversary with the Firm. Jim is the Firm’s courier and is one of the most dependable and hardworking employees at CMDA. We thank Jim for 25 years of loyal service!

CASE LAW UPDATE Silk v. Board of Trustees, Moraine Valley Community College 795 F.3d 678 (July 30, 2015) Mr. Silk was an adjunct professor at the College and he began working there in 1986. As an adjunct professor he was non-tenured and an at-will employee. Mr. Silk’s typical teaching load included four courses during the fall and spring semester and two or three classes during the summer. In March of […]

Several CMDA attorneys attended the 4th Annual Salute to the Justice System held on October 29. This year’s Honoree was Melvin L. Larsen, Co-Author of the Elliot-Larsen Civil Rights Act, Former Member of the Michigan House of Representatives and Former Chairman of the Michigan Republican Party. Mr. Larsen is pictured here with Elizabeth Rae-O’Donnell, an attorney in our Livonia office.

CASE LAW UPDATE Minnis v. Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College 2015 WL 3941846 (June 29, 2015) Mr. Minnis, the former coach of the LSU women’s tennis team sued the University claiming Title VII and Title IX discrimination when the University failed to renew his contract in June of 2012. Minnis was hired in 1991 and was the first African-American coach of any sport […]

CMDA is honored and appreciative for the trust our clients have placed in our Firm since 1965.  As a way to give back to the community as we celebrate our 50th anniversary, every month throughout 2015 the Firm will be donating 50 items (or more) to a local charity. In October we will be collecting new and unused mittens and gloves, in children and adult sizes, for Mittens for Detroit. The sole […]

Many businesses, as employers, have experimented with treating their workers as independent contrac­tors in an effort to avoid withholding wages for taxes, social security (FICA) and unem­ployment insurance, as would be required for workers classified as employees. The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) com­piled a new six-part test, issued under the Administrator’s Interpretation 2015-1. Is the work an integral part of the employer’s business? For example, a lawyer doing work […]