Publications

• Two Weeks Down, Fifty More to Go!

  January 16, 2019

  We are off and running in 2019! As we begin the third workweek of 2019 and gear up for the remainder of the year, our Commercial Litigation Team at Rhoades McKee wants to take a moment to say “THANK YOU” for referring and recommending our team to your clients and contacts. We truly appreciate the trust you place […]

• Spoiled Milk! A Crisis for Michigan Dairy Farmers

  December 13, 2018

  Why is There a Michigan Dairy Farm Crisis? With the U.S. dairy industry producing milk at a higher rate than consumer demand, the result is a worldwide surplus of milk. This surplus leaves dairy farmers in milk producing states like Michigan receiving less and less for their product. As a result of these low returns, […]

• Three Most Commonly Asked Questions on Cybersecurity and Privacy

  December 10, 2018

  What advice do you have to avoid cyberattacks? Many of our clients themselves provide cybersecurity services to other businesses. They often remind us that a little common sense goes a long way. We encourage our clients to not only have formal policies governing use of company IT resources, but also to have regular formal and […]

• Escalating Environmental Due Diligence Costs Ahead?

  November 15, 2018

  Escalating Environmental Due Diligence Costs Ahead? In 2019, we may see an increase in due diligence costs associated with many commercial real estate transactions in Michigan. There is proposed legislation to impose government fees on customary environmental due diligence reports, as described below. Pending before the Michigan legislature is a bill (Senate Bill 943) that […]

• Preparing Your Workplace for Legalized Marijuana

  November 15, 2018

  Seeing through the Smoke: Preparing Your Workplace for Legalized Marijuana On November 6, 2018, Michigan became the tenth state in the nation and the first state in the Midwest to legalize the use of recreational marijuana. This approval has left employers across the state questioning what this means for their workplace. The new law called […]

• Butter be Ready: The Preventive Controls for Human and Animal Food Rules Take Effect

  September 20, 2018

  As of September 17, 2018, food facilities of all sizes are required to be in full or partial compliance with the Preventive Controls for Human Food (PCHF) and Preventive Controls for Animal Food (PCAF) rules. The PCHF and PCAF rules are part of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). As such, the rules require food […]

• New Sales and Use Tax Standards

  August 7, 2018

  The Michigan Department of Treasury has just released the new sales and use tax standards for remote sellers. Prior to 2018, Michigan could not force sellers without a physical presence in the state to remit sales or use tax to the state. On June 21, 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned this longstanding restriction and […]

• IRS Enforces Passport Restrictions to Collect Tax Debt

  July 30, 2018

  Abroad summer travel plans may be indefinitely delayed due to a new tax collection tool – Internal Revenue Code (IRC) § 7345, which permits the IRS to certify to the State Department individuals who have serious delinquent tax debt. Once the State Department receives a certification, it may deny or revoke the passport of that […]

• Court Ruling Lacks Direction on Ordinary Negligence and Malpractice Claims

  July 30, 2018

  On July 23, 2018, the Michigan Supreme Court released its opinion in Trowell v Providence Hospital (Docket No. 154476) addressing whether the plaintiff’s claims are sounded in ordinary negligence or medical malpractice.  If a claim sounds in ordinary negligence or malpractice is often a critical issue as ordinary negligence claims are not subject to the […]

• Foreign Supplier Verification Program Rule Affects More Importers

  July 26, 2018

  The Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP) was published by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in November 2015. It requires that importers or their agents ensure foreign food suppliers meet the same food safety standards required of domestic food manufacturers. For the purpose of the FSVP, an importer is a U.S. owner or consignee of […]