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: causation
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 [...]
Surveillance Recordings Created by Private Entity “Public Records” Subject to FOIA Disclosure Where Law Enforcement Takes Possession of Such Records in Pending Investigation
In Amberg v. City of Dearborn, released on December 16, 2014, the Michigan Supreme Court has held that video surveillance created by a private entity but handed over to law enforcement officials for a pending misdemeanor investigation were public records subject to disclosure under Michigan's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The video surveillance was created [...]
Michigan Supreme Court Reverses Court of Appeals Decision Forcing Workers Compensation Agencies to Remain Open at Certain Locations
The Michigan Supreme Court has reversed the Court of Appeals decision that held the Director of the Michigan Administrative Hearing System and the Director of the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs were required to maintain local offices for litigation of Workers' Compensation Agency hearings. Read the opinion here: Younkin v. Zimmer In September 2012, [...]
Missing Pane of Glass from Public Bus Shelter Not a Defective or Dangerous Condition Sufficient to State Cause of Action Against Public Bus Authority Under “Public Building” Exception to Governmental Immunity
The Summary Disposition Standard Debate This case highlights a current conflict among the Court of Appeals. There is a current “debate” among Court of Appeals panels in recent opinions about the sufficiency of pleading a cause of action against the government when assessing the government’s motion for summary disposition under MCR 2.116(C)(7), which provides for [...]