In a much awaited opinion, the Michigan Supreme Court has held that a claimant may recover "nonecconomic damages" such as "pain and suffering" and "emotional distress" damages and excess "economic damages" in actions against the government under the "motor vehicle" exception to governmental immunity. Two lower appellate court cases came to opposite conclusions about whether [...]
Tag: motor vehicle exception
Supreme Court to Address Interplay (If Any) Between the No-Fault Act and the Governmental Tort Liability Act
Last Friday, September 19, 2014, I participated in a panel discussion at the Negligence Law Section breakout at the state bar conference in Grand Rapids to discuss the Michigan Supreme Court's upcoming (October 8) hearing of oral arguments in the calendar cases of Hunter v. Sisco, et al, and Hannay v. MDOT, the latter in which I [...]
Supreme Court Poised to Address Damages Claims Against Government for Negligent Operation of Motor Vehicles
As I mentioned in a previous post, the Michigan Supreme Court issued a reconsideration and Grant Order, and a Consolidation Order, with respect to the Court of Appeals' decisions in Hunter v. Sisco, et al. and Hannay v. MDOT cases and will consider them together as calendar cases in the fall. This is turning out to be a significant case both for [...]
Supreme Court to Consider Both “Noneconomic” and “Economic Benefits” Damages Cases Against Governmental Entities
As I had predicted in earlier posts (see below), and suggested in my amicus curiae brief to the Supreme Court in Hannay v. MDOT, Supreme Court Docket No. 146763, yesterday, the Michigan Supreme Court issued an order granting reconsideration of the application filed in Hunter v. Sisco, Supreme Court No. 147335, ordering the parties to [...]
Supreme Court to Consider “Scope” of Government’s Liability Under Motor Vehicle Exception and No-Fault Insurance Act
Yesterday, I filed an amicus curiae brief on behalf of the Michigan Townships Association, Oakland County, Macomb County, and Wayne County to challenge the Court of Appeals' decision in Hannay v. Michigan Department of Transportation. There the Court of Appeals ruled that "bodily injury" damages available against the government for injuries arising from the negligent operation of a [...]