In Nelson v. City of Madison Heights, et al., while conducting a narcotics investigation at a motel police walked by the room of Shelly Hilliard (“Hilliard”) and spotted a bag of marijuana through the window. After obtaining her consent to enter the room, police found the bag of marijuana. In order to avoid arrest, Hilliard offered to call her drug dealer and order drugs from him. Hilliard signed a confidential […]

Jim Acho, a partner in our Livonia office, was the guest speaker at the 2017 NFL Players Association Detroit annual winter meeting at the Renaissance Center on February 23rd.

Michigan Governor Rick Snyder recently signed into law an amendment to the Governmental Liability for Negligence Act. MCL 691.1402a. This statute describes the extent of municipal duties and liability in claims relating to sidewalk maintenance. Municipalities are required to maintain sidewalks in reasonable repair and are not liable for the failure to maintain sidewalks unless a plaintiff proves the municipality knew, or should have known, of the defective sidewalk more […]

Jim Acho, a partner in our Livonia office, appeared on several radio shows today after a crucial ruling against the NCAA was handed down by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) over the weekend. Of local interest, Jim was a guest on WJR’s popular Frank Beckmann Show, a show on which Jim has appeared more than a dozen times the past 15 years. To listen to Jim’s interview, click here.

Greg Grant of the Traverse City office recently obtained a no cause of action verdict in an excessive force trial in federal court.  Mr. Grant represented four corrections officers whom the plaintiff alleged used excessive force against him while he was inmate in a Michigan county jail.  Specifically, the plaintiff claimed that he was maced twice and tasered twice while locked in his cell. The evidence at trial demonstrated that […]

After a prolonged dispute, Matt Cross obtained an arbitration award for a valued client, a Detroit-based concert promoter.  The promoter paid the producer of the show a $40,000 deposit in five installments to perform its show in Detroit last year.  The producer pulled out last minute and refused to return the promoter’s deposit, citing the promoter’s failure to timely pay two of the five scheduled payments.  Mr. Cross convinced the […]

Individuals in Michigan seeking to protect assets from creditors no longer have to transfer their assets to Delaware, Nevada or Alaska.  Effective February 5, 2017, the Qualified Dispositions in Trust Act, Domestic Asset Protection Trusts, Public Act 330 of 2016, will allow the owner of trust assets to retain and protect his or her assets from creditors, while still retaining the power to direct investment decisions, the power to veto […]

Matt Cross, an attorney in our Traverse City office, recently drafted an endorsement agreement on behalf of his client, Lawrence Hunt Fashion, Inc.  Lawrence Hunt named New York Giants wide receiver Sterling Shepard as an official brand ambassador of the Detroit-based company that is known for building dress shirts with performance fabric technology making the dress shirts breathable and sweat-wicking. Shepard joins Detroit Tigers catcher James McCann as a Lawrence […]

In Whittaker v Oakland County Sherriff, unpublished decision of the Court of Appeals dated Nov. 22, 2016 (Docket No. 329545), plaintiff filed suit alleging violation of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). On July 27, 2014, officers suspected plaintiff was driving under the influence and pulled him over. On August 20, 2014, prior to charges being filed, plaintiff submitted a FOIA request to defendant seeking all reports, audiotapes, videotapes, laboratory […]

In the case of Richardson v Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, which includes the state of Michigan, interpreted, clarified and enlarged the defendant employer’s defense to a claim of age discrimination under the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act. The Court of Appeals confirmed that the 62-year old plaintiff, Richardson, failed to offer either direct or indirect evidence that her job was terminated based […]