We are pleased to announce that the following attorneys from CMDA have been named Michigan Super Lawyers for 2014: Jeffrey Clark, Allan Vander Laan, and Haider Kazim. Each year, no more than five percent of the lawyers in the state receive this honor. Christopher G. Schultz, managing partner of the Firm, explains, “Having numerous highly-skilled and experienced attorneys at CMDA named as Michigan Super Lawyers comes as no surprise. All […]

We have all heard the probate horror stories. Someone’s last will and testament took five years to be probated, generating hundreds of thousands of dollars in attorneys’ fees. All of the assets from someone else’s estate were stolen by the personal representative (executor), leaving the family with nothing. The probate judge was unfair. Such stories instill fear about probate administration, which can lead to estate planning decisions with unintended consequences. […]

Recent decisions issued by the U.S. Supreme Court and the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals have clarified the law regarding the force police officers may use to stop a person attempting to flee from police by driving away in a motor vehicle. The Supreme Court had previously established in Tennessee v. Garner (1985) that officers can apply potentially deadly force to stop a fleeing suspect if the officer has […]

Identity theft is occurring more often, due in part to the recent data breaches with merchants, hospitals, and various websites. Identity theft also results from so-called “phishing scams,” in which the victim is tricked into revealing personal information. Even if you do business only with trusted companies, and you keep your personal information to yourself, you should still be aware of the following signs of identity theft: You see withdrawals […]

On May 22, 2014, the Michigan House of Representatives passed House Bill 5273, Michigan Investment Markets (MIM). This Bill amends the Michigan Uniform Securities Act to provide for the creation and regulation of intrastate security markets or exchanges. It is designed to complement the Michigan Invests Locally Exemption (MILE), recently signed into law by Governor Snyder, which permits investment crowdfunding for small businesses. The Bill is currently pending before the […]

Elder law is a fairly new and growing area of the law and focuses on the legal issues that come with aging. Some of the most common legal questions that arise are in regard to Medicaid nursing home planning, guardianships, and conservatorships. Medicaid Nursing Home Planning One of the most difficult decisions many families face is whether to put a loved one in a nursing home. Family members try to […]

CMDA is a proud sponsor of the Play it Forward for Bieniewicz event taking place on Saturday August 30th at 2:00 p.m. at Compuware Arena.  The Plymouth Wildcats match up with the Windsor Spitfire for a fundraiser Hockey Game to celebrate the life of John Bieniewicz. John Bieniewicz, a married father of two sons ages 9 and 13, was refereeing an adult-league soccer match in Livonia, MI on Sunday when […]

Jim Acho, a senior attorney in our Livonia office, was highlighted in the July 18, 2014 edition of the Detroit Legal News.  The article outlines his experience handling sports law matters, including filing a class action lawsuit on behalf of 1,100 former Major League Baseball players. We hope you enjoy reading the complete article here: http://www.legalnews.com/oakland/1392123/

Wearable technology is becoming more and more present in our technologically-based society. Google Glass is “smart eyewear” featuring a small computer built into a pair of glasses. Google Glass functions much like a smartphone, but users see a visual display in their line of vision and operate the device with voice commands. The glasses provide a hands-free way to be fully connected to technology at all times. After being in […]

In the wake of the Great Recession, which, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, began in December 2007 and ended in June 2009, a flurry of federal legislation was enacted to provide support for consumers.  The Fair Credit Reporting Act, which became effective July 21, 2010, was amended to provide for “one-call fraud alerts.”  Under this amendment, if you believe you have become a victim of identity theft, you may call […]