Michigan

Bar Presidents Protest ‘Reckless’ Investigation of Mich. Judge

Twelve former presidents of the Grand Rapids Bar Association are protesting the “reckless” manner in which they say the Judicial Tenure Commission is investigating a Michigan judge. In a letter (PDF) to the commission, they say that District Judge Steven Servaas, who has been on the bench for 35 years,…

Feb 29, 2008 5:08 PM CST

High-Profile Detroit Municipal Lawyer to Lose License After 28 Years

After 28 years in practice, the former deputy director of the Detroit Law Department is poised to lose her law license. Unless she appeals and the full Michigan Attorney Discipline Board reverses a hearing panel’s determination, Brenda Braceful will lose her law license March 13, reports the Detroit Free Press.…

Feb 22, 2008 11:57 PM CST

Judge Censured for Excessive Bail, Severe Attitude

The Michigan Supreme Court has publicly censured a judge for setting “grossly excessive” bail and showing a “severe attitude” toward witnesses and litigants. Judge Norene Redmond of Eastpointe was censured after the court reviewed her actions in three cases, according to the Detroit Free Press and Detroit News. The cases…

Feb 8, 2008 7:07 PM CST

Lawyer’s Alleged Tin of Pot Busted by Courthouse Metal Detector

A Michigan lawyer has been charged with a misdemeanor count of marijuana possession, after a small metal container in which he allegedly kept the illicit substance set off the metal detector as he was entering a local courthouse. Unnamed sources explained that Edwin Hettinger, 48, of Portage, was charged after…

Feb 6, 2008 7:12 PM CST

Judge Shines Light on Secret Pact to Settle, Hide Text Messages

A Michigan judge has ordered the release of documents indicating that Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick settled a police whistle-blower lawsuit to try to hide text messages showing he lied about his relationship with his chief of staff, the Detroit Free Press reports. Wayne County Circuit Judge Robert Colombo ordered release…

Feb 6, 2008 5:49 PM CST

Ex-Detroit Mayor, Now Chair of Dickinson Wright, Weighs Gubernatorial Bid

Lawyer Dennis Archer has a long list of accomplishments. He’s been a supreme court justice (on the Michigan Supreme Court), a mayor (of Detroit) and a president (of the ABA). But Archer, now the chairman of Dickinson Wright, may have a new goal: the Michigan governor’s office. Archer told the…

Feb 6, 2008 5:11 PM CST

Shunned Worshippers File Suit, With Mixed Results

As more evangelical churches return to the practice of disciplining errant members, some shunned worshippers are taking the disputes to court. More than two dozen lawsuits related to church discipline have been filed in the past decade, the Wall Street Journal reports (sub. req.), relying on information from the Religion…

Jan 18, 2008 3:03 PM CST

AIG Unit Agrees to Pay $42.5M for Environmental Cleanup

A subsidiary of American International Group Inc. has agreed to pay $42.5 million to clean up environmental contamination at four industrial facilities that had been owned by Fruit of the Loom. The money will be used to clean up four sites in Michigan, New Jersey and Tennessee, the Associated Press…

Jan 10, 2008 6:51 PM CST

6th Circuit Revives ‘No Child Left Behind’ Suit

A Michigan school district may pursue its lawsuit against the federal government over funding for the No Child Left Behind Act, the Cincinnati-based 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Monday. In 2005, the Pontiac Public School District joined litigation brought by school districts in Texas and Vermont, in addition…

Jan 7, 2008 8:19 PM CST

Former Michigan Law Prof Fights Alleged Gay Bias

A cutting-edge breach-of-contract case brought by a former law professor denied tenure at the University of Michigan could have an impact on gay bias claims and education law nationwide, depending on its outcome. Because there is no law in Michigan protecting employees from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation,…

Dec 20, 2007 8:09 PM CST

No Signs for Big Mich. Law Firm

A well-known law firm in Grand Rapids, Mich., would like to put up street-level signs to help clients find their five-floor downtown offices. But that’s not possible, because the bank from which Warner Norcross & Judd rents its office space has already taken up all the available ground-floor sign space,…

Dec 14, 2007 10:11 PM CST

$2.5M Settlement in Rare Clery Act Case re Murdered Student

Eastern Michigan University has agreed to pay a $2.5 million settlement to the family of a murdered student apparently slain in her dorm room, in an unusual case related to violations of the federal Clery Act due to non-disclosure of campus safety information. EMU and the family of Laura Dickinson…

Dec 14, 2007 12:56 AM CST

Realtors Win, FTC Loses Multilist Case

An administrative law judge in Washington, D.C., has sided with a Realtor group against the Federal Trade Commission, in one case in an ongoing national legal battle over efforts by Realtors to protect their turf from discount brokers. Realcomp II Ltd., of Farmington Hills, Mich., near Detroit, does not have…

Dec 13, 2007 9:19 PM CST

Discovery Spat in Mich. Murder Case

Often it’s the defense that complains about the prosecution withholding evidence in pretrial discovery in a criminal case. But prosecutors are seeking an emergency order from the Michigan Court of Appeals to stop a murder trial scheduled to start Monday because the defense allegedly didn’t produce critical evidence. Allison Bates,…

Dec 6, 2007 9:26 PM CST

Motormouth

Geoffrey Fieger’s fiery tongue has earned him millions. Now it could cost the Detroit lawyer his career.

Dec 1, 2007 4:26 PM CST