Each year Traverse City’s newspaper, The Record-Eagle, invites their readers to vote for their favorite businesses, services and places in the Grand Traverse area. Congratulations to Haider Kazim who has been selected by readers as the Top Lawyer in the Grand Traverse Area. Mr. Kazim, a partner in our Traverse City office, was also selected as the top lawyer in 2011.

Congratulations to Greg Grant, an attorney in our Traverse City office, who was recently selected as one of the region’s leading attorneys by Traverse City Business News magazine. He was chosen following a survey of all attorneys in the area. He will be featured, along with 24 other attorneys, in the publication’s December issue. Congratulations Greg!

Jim Acho, a senior attorney in our Livonia office, and his family were the guests of the Detroit Chapter of the NFL Alumni at the September 29, 2013 Detroit Lions football game. At the game, Mr. Acho was recognized by the former players for the legal work he has done on their behalf throughout the past decade. Former NFL players recently reached a multi-million dollar settlement with the NFL in the highly-publicized […]

Gregory Grant, Associate Attorney in our Traverse City office, recently successfully defended a Northern Michigan Health Department in a building defect claim.   In this case, the female plaintiff returned to her place of employment at a space leased by her employer in a building owned and operated by the Health Department.  When the plaintiff arrived at her office, the building was closed as it was after 5 p.m.  She used her key […]

Whether you are a landlord, a small business owner or an individual undoubtedly you will find yourself in a position in which someone owes you or your business money. Collections can be difficult to pursue on your own, especially when the debtor is resistant to paying his or her debt. Attorneys are often contacted for assistance with collecting debts. Various legal theories can be used when filing a lawsuit, such […]

Whether you are a landlord, a small business owner or an individual undoubtedly you will find yourself in a position in which someone owes you or your business money.  Collections can be difficult to pursue on your own, especially when the debtor is resistant to paying his or her debt.  Attorneys are often contacted for assistance with collecting debts.  Various legal theories can be used when filing a lawsuit, such as breach of contract, […]

In a 5- 4 decision announced June 24, 2013, the United States Supreme Court made it more difficult for workers to prove they have been retaliated against on the job. In the decision of University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center v Nassar, the Court clarified the standard for plaintiffs who claim they have faced negative employment decisions in retaliation for complaints of employment discrimination in Title VII actions. Title VII […]

Hiring workers can involve liability for homeowners and businesses alike, even if the workers hired are only part-time or temporary.  An employer should be careful when deciding to classify a worker as an employee versus an independent contractor.  The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) imposes severe penalties upon businesses and homeowners if a worker is misclassified as an independent contractor, rather than an employee. Effective January 1, 2013, Michigan’s Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) […]

We are pleased to announce that Eilzabeth Rae-O’Donnell has joined our Firm as an attorney in our Livonia office. She focuses her practice on municipal law and labor and employment law. Prior to joining CMDA, she served as the assistant city attorney for the City of Southfield where she practiced all areas of municipal law, including prosecutions, tax appeals, zoning and planning, Freedom of Information Act and labor and employment […]

In what has been called a big victory for borrowers of commercial loans, the Michigan Court of Appeals has upheld the Michigan legislature’s recent passage of the Non-Recourse Mortgage Loan Act (NMLA). In the case of Wells Fargo Bank v Cherryland Mall Ltd Ptnsp, the Court addressed the issue of whether developer David Schostak is personally liable for a guarantee on an original $8.7 million non-recourse loan obtained for the purpose of renovations […]