The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is responsible for enforcing federal laws that prohibit employment discrimination. On March 6, 2014, the EEOC released a “Religious Garb and Grooming in the Workplace: Rights and Responsibilities” guideline that all employers, managers, and supervisors should review.  The EEOC reports that it received 3,721 charges alleging religious discrimination in 2013, more than double the 1,709 charges received in 1997. The EEOC cites the following examples […]

The marketplace for handmade and unique items is expanding thanks to websites like Etsy, eBay, and Pinterest.  These sites allow crafty entrepreneurs to reach a large network of consumers at a very low cost.  The use of 3D printers is becoming increasingly popular and has the potential to expand the marketplace for handmade and unique items even further.  Previously only available to large-scale producers, 3D printers are becoming more economical and provide artists […]

Both the H-1B visa and the E-3 visa allow U.S. businesses to employ foreign workers in specialty occupations, however the differences between the two are important for employers to understand. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) place a cap on available H-1B visas at 65,000.  Within five days from the start of the filing period, USCIS received 124,000 petitions.  A lottery determined which petitions were selected, subject to few exemptions.  With […]

As the economy progresses through an economic cycle and continues to improve, business owners are seeing the value of their business recover.  Now is a good time for business owners to develop a plan for their company’s future, even if retirement is not on the horizon. A succession plan is a long-term process put in place by the business owner that identifies who the business will be transferred to upon the […]

Greg Grant, an attorney in our Traverse City office, recently obtained a dismissal in a defamation case filed against a Michigan sheriff.  The plaintiff in the case ran against the incumbent sheriff during the last election.  The plaintiff claimed that the sheriff made numerous defamatory statements to others regarding the plaintiff’s background and qualifications during the campaign. Through discovery, Mr. Grant was able to demonstrate that any statements made by […]

The search-and-seizure provisions of the Fourth Amendment are all about privacy. To honor this freedom, the Fourth Amendment protects against “unreasonable” searches and seizures by state or federal law enforcement authorities. However, law enforcement may override your privacy concerns and conduct a search of you, your home, office, personal or business documents, bank account records, etc. if they have probable cause to believe they can find evidence that you committed […]

The Firm is pleased to announce that Christopher G. Schultz has been selected to be the new managing partner of the Firm. Concluding his tenure as managing partner after nine years, T. Joseph Seward explained, “I talked with the equity partners about my wish to step down as managing partner and go back and do what I love most about being a lawyer, going to court, litigating files, and trying cases.  […]

Gregory R. Grant, an attorney in our Traverse City office, was recently nominated for the Grand Traverse Association of Legal Professionals coveted Boss of the Year award. Maureen Jones, a legal assistant, nominated Mr. Grant and explains, “Greg’s ability to get the utmost out of discovery, write motions, and find pertinent case law swiftly, simply amazes me. As busy as he is, he is never too busy if I have […]

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!