Press Releases and Statements
March 10, 2023
Supreme Court Permits Higgins Lake Water Level Case to Proceed ForwardThe Michigan Supreme Court issued an order today rejecting the attempts of a Northern Michigan county to avoid maintaining the legal lake-water levels of Higgins Lake.
January 25, 2023
OLC Secures Restraining Order Against Alleged Illegal Appointment ProcessThe Michigan Court of Appeals issued an emergency injunction against the Genesee County Board of Commissioners from self-appointing a replacement to the seat vacated by former Commissioner Chairman Domonique Clemons.
September 16, 2022
Statement of Attorney Philip L. Ellison Regarding Ruling on Michigan's Newborn Screening ProgramAttorney Philip L. Ellison issues a public statement regarding the recent decision on the constitutionality of the Michigan Newborn Screening Program and the Michigan Neonatal Biobank.
August 08, 2022
Federal Court Finds Tire Chalking Unconstitutional, Orders Payment for Each Swipe of the ChalkAfter five years of litigation, Judge Thomas L. Ludington held tire chalking to be unconstitutional.
April 15, 2022
Lawsuit: Roscommon County Commissioners Violated the Open Meetings ActThree members of the Roscommon County Board of Commissioners have been sued for their violations of the Open Meetings Act.
March 17, 2022
Court of Appeals Reverses and Returns Higgins Lake Water Level Case Back to Local CourtThe Michigan Court of Appeals has reversed the dismissal of a lawsuit brought by a group of Higgins Lake residents and homeowners challenging Roscommon County's practice of keeping the lake level too low.
July 23, 2021
Judge Orders Shiawassee Board To Immediately Appear in Court on OMA LawsuitA judge assigned to the Open Meetings Act lawsuit filed by Outside Legal Counsel has ordered the Board of Commissioners of Shiawassee County to appear for an expedited hearing.
July 08, 2021
OLC Confirms New Path to Hold Public Officials Responsible for Open Meetings Act ViolationsThe Michigan Court of Appeals today issued a decision establishing new precedent confirming that when officials violate Michigan's Open Meetings Act, it is no longer a defense to say we "substantially" compiled.
April 10, 2021
Michigan Supreme Court Affirms FOIA Win By Split DecisionOLC secured affirmance in the Tanton Papers case before the Michigan Supreme Court.
May 14, 2020
OLC Files Amicus Brief on Behalf of Advocacy Group in Michigan Legislature's Historic LawsuitOutside Legal Counsel's Philip L. Ellison and co-counsel Matthew Gronda have filed an amicus brief to correct the unconstitutional imbalance created by Michigan's emergency response laws.
April 27, 2020
Michigan Law Students Spur Suit Against Governor Challenging COVID Travel BanMichigan's prior ban between two residences violated Michiganders' constitutional rights.
April 22, 2020
New Lawsuit Challenges Michigan Governor's Exercise of Emergency PowersOn behalf of a nonprofit advocacy group, OLC has filed a new lawsuit challenging the actions of Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and the two laws being utilized to issue nearly four dozen executive orders in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
April 07, 2020
Citizens File Lawsuit Challenging Governor's COVID-19 Authority to Suspend FOIAOLC has filed a lawsuit against the State of Michigan and Governor Gretchen Whitmer challenging the legal authority to issue Executive Order No. 2020-38 suspending Michigan's transparency and citizen oversight law.
April 03, 2020
OLC Files First Amendment Lawsuit Against Comment-Deleting City OfficialA federal lawsuit filed by OLC alleges that a City Manager has been deleting comments criticizing the government's response to COVID-19 which violates the First Amendment.
April 02, 2020
Power to the People, the Governor, or the Legislature; Who Knows?Under the Michigan Constitution, "the executive power is vested in the governor" yet it says virtually nothing about the governor issuing emergency executive orders or who is in charge in an emergency.
March 22, 2020
Higgins Lake Litigants Fire Back at County's Legal Excuses, Seek Dismissal of State IntervenorHiggins Lake Property Owners: Roscommon County is intentionally causing the mid to later summer lake levels to repeatedly drop below the level mandated by the Legal Lake Level Order to the detriment of the users of Higgins Lake.
November 30, 2019
New Mandamus Lawsuit Filed Against Roscommon County Board of Commissioners on Higgins Lake Water LevelsA new mandamus lawsuit seeks to legally force the implementation of lake level recommendations from a 2010 engineering study and force Roscommon County to use best practices and available technology to properly maintain the actual level of Higgins Lake.
November 30, 2019
Two Months, Three Easements ObtainedIn the past six weeks, OLC has secured three extremely valuable water rights or "riparian" easements for our clients through Michigan.
May 21, 2019
OLC Brings Legal Action Against Roscommon County on Higgins Lake Water LevelsA finding of contempt is being sought against Roscommon County for not maintaining water lake levels on Higgins Lake
February 26, 2019
OLC Challenges Unconstitutional Use of Non-Disclosure Agreements by the State Tax CommissionA new federal lawsuit challenges the government’s use of Non Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) as being in violation of the First Amendment.
January 04, 2019
First Court Hearing to be Held in Mid Michigan Class Action Property Tax CaseOral arguments before the Tuscola County Circuit Court to held on Monday, January 7, 2019 following the filing of a six-county class action lawsuit challenging the legality of tax foreclosures by county treasurers.
December 15, 2018
OLC's Representation Results in St Clair County Judge's PPO Practice Being Deemed UnconstitutionalJudges using personal protection orders to supplement the rules that we all live in society by is deemed unconstitutional.
October 05, 2018
Newborns and Parents to Sixth Circuit: We Do Have Constitutional RightsThe parents of nine Michigan children have filed an appeal to a local federal judge’s decision concluding that they lack constitutional rights to be free from newborn blood draws.
September 09, 2018
New Lawsuit Questions Whether Sanford Lake Property Owners Have Water RightsDo lake-front property owners have "riparian" rights?
June 28, 2018
Sixth Circuit Rules Oxford Village Police Volunteers Are Eligible for Constitutional Name Clearing HearingsThe Sixth Circuit issued a key appellate decision in the case involving three police reserve officers of the Village of Oxford Police Department and their right to demand their government hold a public hearing to clear their good names.
February 22, 2018
Lawsuit: U of M Cannot Hide Donor's Papers by ContractOutside Legal Counsel PLC has today file a merits brief on behalf of a Virginia attorney seeking access to the "Tanton Papers" held at the Bentley Historical Library inside the University of Michigan.
January 04, 2018
Grand Rapids Court Requested to Fine Rockford Over a Million Dollars for FOIA ViolationsOutside Legal Counsel has today filed a motion with the Kent County Circuit Court seeking summary disposition on a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit which seeks impose a new civil fine against the City of Rockford in excess of one million dollars.
November 09, 2017
FOIA Documents Secured From Overcharging City GovernmentOLC secures documents sought to be kept secret by using an illegal fee to constructively deny access.
November 09, 2017
Federal Lawsuit Against Gratiot County and Treasurer Claim Illegal Property TheftOn behalf its client Donald Freed, Outside Legal Counsel has recently filed a federal lawsuit challenging the decision and actions of Gratiot County Treasurer Michelle Thomas in what is described in the complaint as governmental theft.
October 26, 2017
OLC Forces the Michigan Prison System to Release Prisoner Telephone RecordingThe Michigan Court of Claims has sided with Outside Legal Counsel and its client, Scott Lewis Private Investigations, LLC, and ordered the disclosure of a telephone recording created and held by the Michigan Department of Corrections.
June 25, 2017
OLC Client Secures Trial on Michigan Right to Farm Act ProtectionOutside Legal Counsel PLC has secured a legal victory for a local pig farmer against a local government that sued to shut down a small local piggery.
March 11, 2017
OLC Files First-of-Its-Kind Federal Lawsuit against Oxford Over Horse Mounted UnitOLC recently filed a federal lawsuit against the Village of Oxford, its president, manager, and others alleging that its actions at a January 2017 meeting violated the constitutional rights of three members of the local police department.
August 15, 2016
OLC's Ellison Admitted to Practice Before the US Supreme CourtOn August 8, 2016, Outside Legal Counsel attorney Philip L. Ellison has been accept for admission to practice and argue cases before the Supreme Court of the United States, located in Washington DC.
June 03, 2016
OLC Requests Sixth Circuit En Banc Rehearing on First Amendment Recording CaseOLC has today filed a petition with the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit requesting all active serving federal Sixth Circuit appellate judges to collectively review the three-judge decision in a case seeking recognition of the First Amendment right to audio and video record court proceedings.
May 30, 2016
Former Cottrellville Supervisor Found Personally Liable in Open Meetings caseFormer Cottrellville Township supervisor Kelly Fiscelli was ordered to be held personally liable for her actions in violating Michigan Open Meetings Act
May 12, 2016
Judgment Entered Against Jackson County Sheriff's Office for FOIA ViolationOLC has obtained a judgment against the Jackson County Sheriff's Office for violations of the Michigan Freedom of Information Act.
March 08, 2016
Judge Denies Baker College's Request for Dismissal in Vaccine CaseThe Genesee County Circuit Court has denied the request of Baker College to dismiss or otherwise highly restrict the lawsuit brought by a former nursing student who claims she was wrongly dismissed from the nursing program at Baker's Owosso campus due to discussions involving vaccines.
March 04, 2016
OLC Secures Private Easement Non-Abandonment Victory at Michigan Supreme CourtBy a peremptory order, the Michigan Supreme Court has granted Outside Legal Counsel's clients a reversal of the trial court and Court of Appeals decisions dissolving the former's private road easement in a subdivision.
December 31, 2015
OLC'S Response: Local Political Apathy Is Not A VirtueOutside Legal Counsel's response to the December 30, 2015 editorial of The Times Herald newspaper
December 28, 2015
Judge Finds Goodrich Area Schools Violated FOIAAfter violating the required production deadline and attempting to charge high five-figures for records, a Michigan court ruled in favor of Outside Legal Counsel's client finding that Goodrich Area Schools violate Michigan's Freedom of Information Act.
November 29, 2015
OLC Asks Supreme Court: Who is a Public Official?The Michigan Supreme Court has ordered oral argument in a case brought by Outside Legal Counsel regarding a simple question: who is a public official?
November 23, 2015
Two Courts Rule Against 'Grant Now, Produce Later' FOIA PracticeOLC has obtain two favorable rulings in two separate courts regarding the same illegality the FOIA practice of giving a written notice of "granting" a request but not actually timely producing requested records.
September 29, 2015
Cass County Drops $4,000 Demand for FOIA Fees; Produces Email RecordsAfter trying to demand thousands of dollars for copies of simple emails, Outside Legal Counsel and Cass County reached an agreement requiring the immediate disclosure of nearly 2,000 pages emails and documents at no cost.
August 27, 2015
Appeals Court Reverses Case Dismissal and Orders Trial On Cottrellville Township Supervisor ActionsThe Michigan Court of Appeals today reversed the dismissal of a legal action filed by a former township trustee and two residents who were improperly silenced by a township supervisor at a public meeting.
May 30, 2015
OLC's Clients and Public Granted Unprecedented Access to Secret Police RecordsFollowing a series of lawsuits involving the Village of Oakley, Outside Legal Counsel PLC has successfully obtained nearly 2000 pages of secret records involving controversial pay-to-play policing program.
May 07, 2015
Lawsuit: Village of Oakley Violates FOIA AgainOutside Legal Counsel of Hemlock has filed another lawsuit against the Village of Oakley for ignoring valid requests for financial information.
May 06, 2015
OLC Secures Reversal in FOIA Costs Case Ahead of Major Law ChangeThe Michigan Court of Appeals adopts OLC's arguments that excessive fees under a FOIA is actionable at law.
December 29, 2014
Saginaw Court: Village of Oakley Violated Open Meetings ActIn an issued opinion, the Saginaw County Circuit Court has declared that the Village of Oakley has "clearly" violated the Open Meetings Act in regards to a secret closed-session meeting after excluding the public from observing the same.
December 04, 2014
Lawsuit: City of Portage Wrongfully Plays Favorites With Police ReportsCan a Michigan city play favorites with who it releases or refuses to release standard police reports to? The answer is no, according to a new lawsuit.
October 31, 2014
Ellison, Hemlock Litigator, Named Up-and-Coming Michigan AttorneyOutside Legal Counsel attorney and civil litigator Philip L. Ellison has been selected by Michigan Lawyers Weekly as one of the state's Up and Coming Lawyers for 2014.
October 13, 2014
OLC Obtains Order Shutting Down Entire Police DeptUpon the application and evidentiary hearings conducted by OLC, the Saginaw County Circuit Court as ordered the immediate shut down of the Village of Oakley Police Department.
October 13, 2014
Supreme Court Considers OLC's Arguments Made by Filed Amicus BriefBy an order of the Michigan Supreme Court, an amicus brief written and filed by Outside Legal Counsel will be considered by the high court.
August 28, 2014
Cottrellville Township 'Secret Meeting' Lawsuit SettledToday, the on-going lawsuit between Cottrellville Township and its Board of Trustees and local citizen Caroline Zoran was settled after an hour-long discussion between the parties, their attorneys, and the St. Clair County Circuit Court.
July 29, 2014
Public Act 56 Suffers Its First Change in 2014A change to Public Act 56 came into effect in June 2014.
May 29, 2014
Lawsuit: Algonac School Board Held Secret Email Meetings in Drafting Superintendent's Six-Figure ContractThe lawsuit alleges the Algonac Community School's Board of Education of violating the state's Open Meetings Act.
May 03, 2014
Cottrellville Township Residency Lawsuit Appealed to Michigan Supreme CourtOLC filed papers on behalf of township trustee Michael Zoran requesting the Michigan Supreme Court to assume control over the challenge to a township supervisor's failure to adhere to residency requirements.
April 23, 2014
Supreme Court Rules in Favor of GrandparentsThe Michigan Supreme Court ruled in favor of OLC's clients, two grandparents who have long been denied the opportunity to seek visitation rights under Michigan’s grandparenting statute.
March 10, 2014
Supreme Court "Rail-Trail" Decision Upholds Rule of Property LawComments of Attorney Philip L. Ellison, a water-rights and property-rights attorney at Outside Legal Counsel, following the 8-1 decision in Marvin M. Brandt Revocable Trust v. United States.
February 26, 2014
TC Resident and Grand Traverse Board Settle Open Meetings LawsuitTraverse City resident Ann Laurence and the Grand Traverse County Board of Commissioners today settled their lawsuit involving various allegations of violations of Michigan’s Open Meetings Act.
February 26, 2014
Saginaw Court Rules Oakley Violated FOIA, But Orders Protection of Anonymous Donors to Secret Police FundOn February 20, 2014, Saginaw County Circuit Court Judge Robert L. Kaczmarek issued his 22 page decision outlining his long-awaited decision regarding a Freedom of Information Act challenge.
January 20, 2014
Unconstitutional: Saginaw County Courthouse Electronics BanOutside Legal Counsel, a Saginaw-based law firm, has filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of a client against Saginaw County Sheriff William Federspiel and one of his subordinates asking for the recently enacted Electronics Ban Order to be halted.
December 20, 2013
Rare Court Proceeding Challenges Township Supervisor's Authority to Hold OfficeIn a first of its kind legal action, a request for "special leave" has been filed with the St. Clair County Circuit Court seeking judicial permission to conduct a legal challenge on whether the Cottrellville Township Supervisor is illegally holding her local municipal office.
November 27, 2013
Grandparents File Brief After Supreme Court Orders Further Arguments Regarding Grandparenting RightsOn behalf of two grandparents seeking visitation rights under Michigan’s grandparenting statute, Attorneys Colin Dill of Dill Law PLLC and Philip L. Ellison of Outside Legal Counsel PLC have filed a supplemental brief after the Michigan Supreme Court ordered oral argument on whether to hear the case.
November 14, 2013
FOIA Lawsuit Seeks Restraining Order on New Court of Claims Law, PA 164Outside Legal Counsel PLC has filed for an emergency temporary restraining order against the State, the Department of Corrections, and its agents from taking any steps to transfer the already underway case to the newly created Court of Claims at the Michigan Court of Appeals.
November 04, 2013
Cottrellville Township's Squashing Public Participation Ruled IllegalCottrellville Township - The St. Clair County Circuit Court ruled today that the actions of Cottrellville Township and its supervisor, Kelly Ann Lisco, violated the Michigan Open Meetings Act
November 02, 2013
Case Study: OLC Reclaims Riparian Rights for Lake Front Property by Court DecisionAfter litigating for more than a year, Outside Legal Counsel PLC has re-established riparian rights to the shorelands of an inland lake in West Michigan paving the way for the landowner to begin enjoying its riparian rights, including building and maintaining a dock.
July 22, 2013
Lawsuit Filed Against Cottrellville Township, Supervisor for Cutting Public Comments ShortOutside Legal Counsel PLC has filed a lawsuit in St. Clair County Circuit Court for a township prematurely ending public comment at its public meetings.
May 24, 2013
Hastings Senior Sues His School District Over Secret Expulsion Proceedings, RecordsA high school senior, within a few weeks of graduation, has filed a lawsuit against his school district alleging violations of the Open Meetings Act and Freedom of Information Act for his district’s failure to disclose who it has expelled over the past three years.
April 29, 2013
Sunshine Lawsuit Against Gaming Board Challenges >$4,000 FOIA FeeOLC has filed a lawsuit on behalf of Oakland County resident who requested a few legal records and was assessed more than $4,000 in fees before the agency would even begin to look into the request.
April 24, 2013
OLC Files FOIA Lawsuit Over Police Reservists RecordsOutside Legal Counsel PLC has filed a lawsuit against the Village of Oakley alleging violations of Michigan Freedom of Information Act.
March 18, 2013
Michigan Law Still Bans Knives Despite TSA Change (But Not For Long)Despite the change of federal law, Michigan also has opted to continue a previously enacted state-level ban more restrictive than TSA's former rules but the Michigan law will likely be trashed under a legal doctrine known as preemption.
February 08, 2013
OLC Secures Judgment for Activist Against City's Secret Email MeetingOLC has secured a judgment against the City of Ludington on behalf of a citizen activist and community blogger regarding the illegal use of email-based city council meeting and voting practices.
February 01, 2013
Homeowner Sues Consumer Rights Group for Violating Consumer Rights Law, Ironic Lawsuit AllegesOn behalf of an exploited homeowner, Outside Legal Counsel PLC has filed a lawsuit against the Better Business Bureau of West Michigan, Inc alleging its business rating system and business accreditation program are being operated in violation of the Michigan Consumer Protection Act.
December 30, 2012
Online Passwords & Social Media Accounts Now Legally ProtectedMichigan Governor Rick Snyder today signed into law Public Act 478 of 2012, a new law designed to prohibit employers and educational institutions from requiring employees and students to hand over or even request passwords or access to personal online accounts.
November 11, 2012
Hey Hunters, Recreational Trespass Is Real and IllegalHunters need to pay attention to property rights and property lines or they might find themselves afoul with the law
November 09, 2012
Ludington City Council Spent ≈$100K in Secret Email Meeting, Lawsuit AllegesOn behalf a local resident, Outside Legal Counsel PLC has filed a lawsuit against the City of Ludington alleging violations of Michigan's Open Meetings Act.
November 01, 2012
Kalamazoo Appeals Court Rules Against Jack's Wholesale Windows in Favor of Wronged HomeownersOutside Legal Counsel PLC has secured an improved civil judgment against Jack's Wholesale Windows and Design of Schoolcraft, Inc, a replacement-windows company located in Southwest Michigan.
September 03, 2012
Case Study: Lifting of Stop Work OrderOLC has successfully assisted a husband and wife homeowner from the effects of a Stop Work Order issued on the building of a retirement home on Lake Huron in Iosco County, Michigan.
August 03, 2012
Mount Pleasant Hospital Sued Over Exploiting Unpaid InternshipsOLC files lawsuit against Mount Pleasant, MI-based hospital over its unpaid student internship employment practices.
July 26, 2012
OLC Secures Civil Judgment in Lawsuit Against Jack's Wholesale Windows On behalf of a young couple in Kalamazoo, Michigan, the law firm of Outside Legal Counsel PLC has secured a civil judgment against local window company, Jack's Wholesale Windows and Design of Schoolcraft, Inc.
June 06, 2012
5 Years of Jail Time Possible for Accessing Spouse's EmailAccessing the email and Facebook of your significant other without permission is against Michigan law.
May 09, 2012
OLC Attorney Featured as Guest Columnist in the May 2012 Woods-n-Water MagazineOLC attorney Philip L. Ellison has been featured as a guest columnist in the May 2012 issue of the Woods-N-Water News magazine
May 02, 2012
I'll See You in Small Claims CourtMichigan's small claims courts handle cases where the parties are disputing a money claim in the amount of $3,000 or less.
March 26, 2012
Local Attorney Comments on Story Regarding Employer's Demand for Facebook PasswordsAttorney Philip L. Ellison comments on two leading Democratic US senators' inquiry of whether employer-required access to individual Facebook profiles violates federal laws.
March 16, 2012
A Michigan Court Grants OLC's Request to Serve a Subpoena via FacebookIn an age of instant communications and interconnectivity, OLC has secured a court order allowing it to serve a Michigan trial subpoena through the social networking site Facebook.
February 04, 2012
Michigan's Crime Victims' Law is a Little Known Tool for Crime VictimsMichigan's crime victims' law is a powerful tool for the victims of crimes in response to unlawful acts of criminals, but only if utilized.
September 17, 2011
Constitution Week - Unusual Particulars From the US ConstitutionStarting Saturday, September 17th, Michigan is officially celebrating the US Constitution. The US Constitution contains a number of other unusual and unknown legal aspects.
September 04, 2011
Michigan Landlord-Tenant Law Silent as to Michigan BedbugsBut once an infestation of bedbugs as occurred, the question becomes who is responsible for the cost of their eradiation under Michigan law?
September 02, 2011
First Circuit Rules Public Can Videotape Cops in Public PlacesThe First Circuit Court of Appeals has recently ruled that members of the public have a 'clearly established' First Amendment right to film police officers conducting police business in a public place.
September 02, 2011
Michigan Appeals Court Declines to Address Challenge to Michigan's Son of Sam Law The Michigan Court of Appeals declined to review a legal challenge to Michigan's 'Son of Sam' law, a statute within Michigan's Crime Victim's Rights Act, that prohibits a convicted individual from profiting from marketing or publicizing previous criminal acts unless full restitution, compensation, and other costs has been first paid.
August 25, 2011
How Can a Judge Order CMU Professors Back to Work?On Monday, August 22, 2011, the Honorable Paul A Chamberlin issued a court order against the protesting faculty members requiring the professors to return to work based upon a complaint filed by Central Michigan University.
July 13, 2011
Survey: Three in Ten Americans Cannot List Any First Amendment Rights A survey conducted by the First Amendment Center has found that most Americans can name at least one of the five freedoms found in the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. Yet, a staggering three in ten could not list a single First Amendment right.
June 24, 2011
OLC Attorney Featured as Guest Columnist in July 2011 Woods-n-Water MagazineOLC attorney Philip L. Ellison has been featured as a guest columnist in the July 2011 issue of the Woods-N-Water News magazine.
March 30, 2011
Filing FOIA Requests for Professors' EmailsThe idea of using the Freedom of Information Act to receive copies of a professor�s emails has spread to Michigan causing a 'perfect storm' of competing principles.
March 07, 2011
OLC represents landlord regarding a motion to halt sale of former tenant's seized vehicle to pay rent debt.Outside Legal Counsel PLC has recently represented a Saginaw, Michigan property-owner with a minor legal issue but a difficult media situation.
February 28, 2011
Michigan FOIA: 180 Day Time Limit Starts at Mailing of DenialIn a published decision by the Michigan Court of Appeals, the Court ruled that a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) denial occurs when the public body issues, rather than drafts, a written notice.
February 11, 2011
OLC Secures Legal Victory Ensuring Lake Access Rights for Hundreds in Northeast MichiganIn a lawsuit that started almost two years ago regarding riparian (lake access) rights on a northeast Michigan lake, Outside Legal Counsel PLC attorney Philip L. Ellison has secured a legal victory for the owners of the nearly 480 lots in the Shady Shores Park subdivision near Rose City, Michigan.
February 01, 2011
Legal Obligations for SnowpocalypseWith the high amount of expected snowfall, Michigan citizens are reminded of a few key legal provisions on what to do with the wet, cold snow.
January 26, 2011
Michigan Court of Appeals: 90 Days or Bust on Michigan Whistleblower ClaimsThe Michigan Court of Appeals explicitly affirmed a strict 90-day window from the occurrence of the alleged violation to bring a claim under the Michigan Whistleblowers' Protection Act.
January 22, 2011
Governor Snyder Calls for End of Price Item Law, But What Is It Really?In his first State of the State address, newly inaugurated Michigan Governor Rick Snyder called for an end to certain provisions of Michigan's Pricing and Advertising of Consumer Items Act, Act 449 of 1976. But the current law is much more than just about price stickers.
January 14, 2011
MLK Day: Celebrate Your Civil RightsMartin Luther King, Jr. once wrote, while confined in the Birmingham jail, that an injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. Today, several important state and federal laws exist to give and protect citizens’ civil rights.
January 06, 2011
Michigan Supreme Court Expansively Defines Lakefront Riparian Property Rights Abutting Public RoadwaysThe Michigan Supreme Court released its lengthy 4-3 opinion regarding Michigan riparian rights for properties separated from a lake by a public roadway.
December 27, 2010
Looking Under the Lid of the CAN-SPAM ActThe CAN-SPAM Act imposes certain requirements to send emails of a commercial nature. CAN-SPAM does not ban spam outright, but rather provides a code of conduct to regulate commercial email messaging practices.
December 26, 2010
OLC Lawyer Filed Appeal to the Michigan Supreme Court; Justices Take Only 8 Days to AnswerIn a land property dispute case, Portage attorney Philip L. Ellison filed an extraordinary appeal request with the Michigan Supreme Court.
November 21, 2010
Two Tips on Using Your Sales Contract to Keep Down Your Account Receivable Ratio A few changes in your sales contracts can put you in a stronger position when attempting to collect on the uncollectible. In this tight economic climate, cash flow is the absolute most important short-term factor in business survival. Most businesses have excellent products or services yet struggle when their customers do not or will not pay on-time.
November 01, 2010
Ogemaw County Property Rights Case Immediately Appealed Before TrialOutside Legal Counsel, along with co-counsel from Gronda PLLC, has filed an extraordinary pre-trial application to appeal with the Michigan Court of Appeals. The case involves the requested vacation of platted property privately dedicated for shared private use at "Shady Shores."
Archived & Previously Issued Articles
Who is Responsible? Caveat emptor!Beware of the Scam - If It is Too Good....
New Michigan Data Law Increases Business Liability
Employers Using Web To Learn of Employees Outside Life
Cyber Court: A Law But Not A Reality
State Website Offers Criminal History for $10
ID Theft & Web Top Fraud List
Have You 'Googled' Yourself?
Spammer Fined, But Won't Stop Spam
Granholm Really Signs An E-Commerce Bill
Granholm, Feds: No Bad Emails
e-Wines On Sale
Courts Hear Spam Lawsuits
Safeguard Your Web Address
U.S. House Subcommittee: Make Spyware Illegal
Keeping Domain
ID Theft - Prevention and Help