Publications

• Holy Schneikes! I’ve Been Hacked. Now What?

  November 28, 2017

  As cybercrime becomes increasingly widespread, businesses should not only have a policy to reduce the likelihood of a cyber-intrusion, but also be prepared on how to respond if and when they are hacked. Advance preparation, including a response plan, can minimize the adverse effects and opportunity costs that are inherent in every data breach. There […]

• New LUST Money Available to Fund Cleanups in Michigan

  November 2, 2017

  It’s a good time to move forward with leaking underground storage tank (LUST) cleanup work in Michigan.  Last week, a new law was enacted to create the Legacy Release Program (LRP) to reimburse eligible owners and operators for a portion of the cleanup costs for older, “legacy” releases. We have seen them many times: old […]

• Court of Appeals Addresses a Plaintiff’s Ability to Pursue New Theories of Malpractice Not Included in the Plaintiff’s Notice of Intent

  October 31, 2017

  The Court of Appeals released a published opinion on October 24, 2017 addressing the analysis required by a trial court where the plaintiff’s experts in a medical malpractice action abandon the standard of care theories in the plaintiff’s notice of intent (NOI) and articulate entirely new standard of care theories not addressed in the notice […]

• PACA Contracts: Court Ruling Outlines Best Practices for Payment Terms

  October 3, 2017

  Sometimes growers and other sellers of perishable agricultural commodities (fruits and vegetables) lack attention to the details when it comes to their contracts. Many sales occur by way of handshake. While that process may be what is expected in your locality, growers and sellers in the Western District of Michigan are putting themselves in serious […]

• New Regulations for Michigan Medical Marijuana Businesses Put Applicants on FBI’s Radar

  August 1, 2017

  (August 1, 2017) Last month, Michigan’s Governor, Rick Snyder, signed into law new amendments to the Michigan Medical Marijuana Facilities Licensing Act (the “MMFLA”) which once again highlights significant differences between state and federal laws pertaining to the use and regulation of medical marijuana. The new law could also force those who wish to legally […]

• Should You Sell Your Business to Your Employees?

  July 31, 2017

  The sale of a business to its employees can be both rewarding and challenging for a business owner. On one hand, this type of sale is an opportunity to transition the company to people who are an integral part of the operation, which can help ensure a smooth transition. On the other hand, the employees […]

• Live to File Another Day

  July 11, 2017

  Michigan Supreme Court Addresses Significance of Notice of Intent Service Date to the Tolling of the Statute of Limitations in Medical Malpractice Actions On June 27, 2017, the Michigan Supreme Court released its opinion in Haksluoto v Mt. Clemens Regional Med Cntr addressing the significance of the date of service of a notice of intent […]

• Selling Your Business to a Family Member

  June 12, 2017

  Business owners can spend decades building the value of their business with the intention of one day transitioning that business to a family member. There are a number of key considerations to evaluate when planning the sale of your business to the next generation. First, you can never start planning too early. There are many […]

• Resetting the Table

  June 8, 2017

  The Removal of Uninvited Guests In October 2016, we informed you of two Obama-era Department of Labor Guidance Memos (2015 and 2016) which opened up many employers to a host of employment issues for individuals hired as independent contractors or under some degree of contractual control.  We suggested, only partially tongue-in-cheek, that employers should consider […]

• Reduce Risk with a Cybersecurity Policy

  June 6, 2017

  (June 6, 2017) As cyberattacks become increasingly common, businesses are confronting risks previously only seen in works of fiction. Cybercriminals steal users’ identities, make fraudulent purchases, and disrupt everything from travel to essential emergency services. With this in mind, New York recently became the first state to impose minimum cybersecurity standards on financial services companies. […]