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: negligence
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 [...]
Special Appellate Counsel for Emergency Appeals in State and Federal Court of Appeals and Supreme Court
It is the eve of trial. The trial court judge, bent on forcing you into an unsavory settlement with opposing counsel, has granted opposing counsel’s motion in limine to exclude your proposed evidence from the jury’s consideration. This is a key part of your client’s case and without it your client may be facing 100 [...]
Mention of a Non-Party in Affirmative Defense Insufficient to Toll Statute of Limitations as to that Non-Party
In a published decision, the Michigan Court of Appeals has held that mention of a potentially responsible non-party at fault in a class action suit was insufficient as a notice of non-party at fault within the meaning of Michigan Court Rule (MCR) 2.112(K), and therefore insufficient to "toll" the statute of limitations to allow amendment [...]
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 [...]