State, Federal, and Appellate Courts

• A Home-Field Advantage: Protecting Your Business with Forum-Selection Provisions

  October 7, 2015

  (October 8, 2015) Doing business today often involves working with other businesses in different counties, states, and even countries. Indeed, the internet makes it especially easy to find the best, most cost-effective business partners, no matter where they are physically located. And while both businesses typically enter into the long-distance relationship with the best of […]

• Michigan Supreme Court Permits Homeowners to Recover Transfer Taxes

  October 6, 2015

  (October 8, 2015) This summer, the Michigan Supreme Court issued an opinion in Gardner v. Department of Treasury, ruling that homeowners who can demonstrate, when they sell their principal residence, that the state equalized value (SEV) at the time of sale is less than or equal to the SEV at the time of their purchase […]

• Can You Recover Attorney Fees in the Michigan Courts?

  September 7, 2015

  (September 1, 2015) Whether it’s the plaintiff walking into the office to discuss filing a lawsuit, or the defendant sitting down to discuss a recent complaint, a common question often pops up at that first meeting: how can I get the other side to pay for my legal expenses? And it’s a fair question, no doubt, […]

• Important Lessons Regarding Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation Agreements from the Kent County Business Court

  August 7, 2015

  (August 3, 2015) Since his appointment to the Kent County Specialized Business Docket (“Business Court”), Judge Christopher Yates has issued multiple opinions regarding the enforcement of non-competition and non-solicitation clauses. Those opinions provide important insight for any entity or individual seeking to enforce or avoid a non-competition or non-solicitation clause in the Business Court. For one, […]

• Statutory Conversion: Recent Rulings Provide Clarity and Relief for Litigation Plaintiffs

  July 6, 2015

  (July 7, 2015) Statutory conversion (i.e., civil theft) under MCL § 600.2919a permits a plaintiff to sue a defendant for “converting property to [that] person’s own use.” It is an often-alleged claim by Michigan plaintiffs, and for good reason. A successful statutory conversion claim opens the door to recovering treble damages and legal fees, and with […]

• Court Sends Warning Signal to Michigan Business Owners Regarding Shareholder Oppression Litigation

  June 2, 2015

  (June 25, 2015) A recent decision by the Michigan Supreme Court raises two important points for Michigan businesses and business owners: issues of shareholder oppression and any potential remedies for oppression are decided by the judge, not a jury, and a violation of a shareholder agreement or other governing corporate documents can create a claim for […]