In Pace v. Jessica Edel-Harrelson, et al, issued on February 24, 2015, the Michigan Court of Appeals addressed a Whistleblowers Protection Act claim. There are two remarkable points to the case. The first is that the COA panel (Shapiro, Gleicher and Roynayne-Krause) holds that reporting a suspected future violation of a regulation, law or rule is sufficient to trigger [...]
Tag: carson tucker
Insurance Coverage Not Available to Employer Mistakenly Listed as Insured on State-Required Workers Compensation Forms
The Michigan Court of Appeals ruled on Tuesday, February 17, 2015, that insurance coverage was not available to an employer (Delphi) merely because the insurers had errantly listed the employer on forms required to be filed with the state to notify it of the existence of workers' compensation insurance. Delphi had multiple subsidiaries, some of which [...]
Court of Appeals Issues Ruling On Independent Contractor Case
The Michigan Court of Appeals issued its opinion in a case I briefed (92675_Moore_Appellant's_Brief_313440.12.26.2013.1838) and argued in the Court of Appeals last summer, ruling consistent with the Supreme Court's recent disposition of workers compensation insurance coverage for subcontractors holding themselves out to be employers, while claiming to be employees. The facts involved a workers compensation claimant [...]
The “Common Law” As Defined by the “Department of Justice”
This is old news to some. But, I had some thoughts on this as I ran across it looking for a contact in the Department of Justice while I was in the process of writing a brief in the United States Supreme Court. Apparently, the Department of Justice (at least in the Principality of Delaware) has a [...]
Michigan High Court to Address Scope of “Gross Negligence” Exception to Governmental Immunity
In an order issued on December 23, 2014, the Michigan Supreme Court has granted oral argument to consider the state's application in this wrongful death case. (Estate of Beals.Order). The plaintiff is the estate of an individual who was a student at a state technical college that provided vocational and technical training to individuals with [...]