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 […]

In a 2012 decision, the Supreme Court evaluated the constitutionality of jail policies that required all inmates, including inmates suspected of minor offenses, to undergo routine strip searches prior to their admission to the general inmate population. Several organizations comprised of jail officials, among others, submitted amicus curiae briefs in which they outlined the risks that accompany the admission of inmates to the general population. Deferring to their judgment and […]

What was the exact date of your first hair cut?  If you cannot remember and you are an asylum applicant, you may have just earned yourself a deportation order back to the country you were fleeing.  Under the REAL ID Act of 2005 (Act), Immigration Judges (IJ) have an “incredible” amount of power and latitude when making credibility determinations.  With the implementation of the Act, any inconsistency in an applicant’s story is reason […]

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 authorities said a 36-year-old player punched him in the head, knocking him unconscious.  He passed away on Tuesday, July 1. Attorney Jim Acho was a classmate of John’s at Catholic Central High School and a close friend for 30 years. Jim explains, “He’s a fantastic human […]

Many high income earners believe they cannot contribute to a Roth IRA because of the income limitations imposed by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).  There is a backdoor route high income earners can take, however, to accomplish the same thing as opening a Roth IRA directly. For 2014, the income and contribution limits for a Roth IRA are as follows: Filing Status ModifiedAdjusted Gross Income ContributionLimit Married, Filing Jointly ˂ $181,000 Up to […]