Michigan Lawyers Weekly articles from October 2008

Michigan Lawyers Weekly archives from October 2008

Michigan med-mal specialists disagree about notices of intent to sue drafting guidepost.
October 6, 2008... Byline: Todd C. Berg, Esq. Michigan Court of Appeals - Medical-Malpractice Despite two Michigan Supreme Court cases and a recent published opinion from the Michigan Court of Appeals, medical-malpractice specialists still don't see...

The accidental lawyer: Robert E. Edick didn't plan to be part of Michigan Atty. Grievance Commission.(Interview)
October 6, 2008... Byline: Jim Stasiowski Practice Profile No one grows up dreaming of disciplining other lawyers. If they envisioned a career in law, the students of Robert E. Edick's generation probably thought of TV's Perry Mason, the burly,...

Skeptical attorney's examination may plunge Detroit crime lab's cases into chaos.(Michigan)
October 6, 2008... Byline: Carol Lundberg A double murder, a confession, an AK-47 and 42 shell casings didn't add up, so Marvin Barnett, a Detroit criminal defense attorney, launched a tiny crusade that turned into a whopping upheaval. An initial report...

Seasoned Michigan litigator relishes the 'combat' and 'contest' of trial work.(Interview)
October 6, 2008... Byline: Melissa P. Stewart, Esq. Practice Profile Robert F. MacAlpine did not follow a traditional path on his quest to become a lawyer. By age 17 - when he decided to become a litigator - he had been living on his own for two...

Atty. Grievance Commission official explains intricacies of disbarment, reinstatement in Michigan.
October 6, 2008... Byline: Melissa P. Stewart, Esq. Detroit's Text Message Scandal The eight-month mayoral scandal in Detroit ended with a plea bargain that marked the beginning of what could be a time of redemption for Kwame Kilpatrick. Aside from...

Proposed bill in Michigan would address insufficient notice of intent to sue issue.
October 6, 2008... Byline: Todd C. Berg, Esq. Legislative Preview - Medical-Malpractice If state Rep. Mark Meadows' bill becomes law, then wrongful-death medical-malpractice plaintiffs who find themselves in the same situation as Nancy Miller might not...

Michigan Lawyers in the News: October 6, 2008.
October 6, 2008... Byline: Michigan Lawyers Weekly Staff Presentations Paul L.B. McKenney of Varnum, Riddering, Schmidt & Howlett LLP presented at the recent American Bar Association Section of Taxation meeting in San Francisco. Marie Alsace Galindo...

Michigan Attorney Discipline Board Case Summaries: October 6, 2008.
October 6, 2008... Byline: Michigan Lawyers Weekly Staff Unearned Fee Misappropriated Funds - Revocation Respondent's law license is revoked because he failed to return an unearned fee of $5,000 to his clients, and misappropriated $15,000 these same...

Michigan Court Of Appeals Case Summaries: October 6, 2008.
October 6, 2008... Byline: Michigan Lawyers Weekly Staff Parental Rights Termination - ICWA The Indian Child Welfare Act requires the trial court to make findings regarding whether the Department of Human Services has made "active efforts" to...

Michigan Court Of Appeals Unpublished Civil Case Summaries: October 6, 2008.
October 6, 2008... Byline: Michigan Lawyers Weekly Staff Civil Procedure Intervention - Untimely Because defendants' motion to intervene in this condemnation case was untimely (almost 28 months after the suit was filed), the trial court did not...

Michigan Court Of Appeals Unpublished Criminal Case Summaries: October 6, 2008.
October 6, 2008... Byline: Michigan Lawyers Weekly Staff Affirmed Convictions Armed Robbery; Conspiracy To Commit Armed Robbery; Felon In Possession Of A Firearm; Felony Firearm; Habitual Offender, Fourth Offense. Effective Assistance. "The record...

Michigan Supreme Court Orders: October 6, 2008.
October 6, 2008... Byline: Michigan Lawyers Weekly Staff Judgment Affirmed Safiedine v. City of Ferndale. (Lawyers Weekly No. 06-67822) (1 pages). On order of the Court, the application for leave to appeal the April 1, 2008, judgment of the Court of...

U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit Case Summaries: October 6, 2008.
October 6, 2008... Byline: Michigan Lawyers Weekly Staff Employment FMLA - Intermittent Leave Plaintiff's employer correctly refused to allow her to convert unexcused absences to intermittent leave taken under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA)...

Would you accept your own response time?(client-service issues)(Michigan)
October 6, 2008... Byline: Ed Poll LawBiz Coach's Corner My frustration level has been exceeded. How about yours? Have you had dealings with vendors who fail to respond to your reasonable inquiries and requests? Have you had appointments (doctors...

The need for a tech checkup.
October 6, 2008... Byline: Lee S. Rosen Technology Many of us are old enough to remember that when we began our law practices, we prepared documents with typewriters and dictated on to tape. When we went home, we listened to music on vinyl and made calls...

Commentary: defending against asserted patents.
October 6, 2008... Byline: Charles A. Bieneman, Esq. If you're an attorney providing legal advice for a business of any size, odds are that at least once in your career you will be faced with a client threatened by a patent. And if you've read anything about...

Economic crisis leaves law student scrounging to get by.(Michigan)
October 13, 2008... Byline: Douglas J. Levy For the last year, Cherlyn Crosby-Herberts has had to resort to using public transportation to get to her third-year classes at Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing. It's something she never pictured herself...

Lansing paralegal puts off retirement due to Wall Street woes.
October 13, 2008... Byline: Douglas J. Levy In 2005, after 42 years as a legal secretary, Carol Palomaki decided to become a paralegal. "I love what I do," the Lansing resident said. "We do a lot of investigative work, and it's stimulating, and it keeps...

Financial crisis leads to increase in business for Traverse City bankruptcy attorney.
October 13, 2008... Byline: Todd C. Berg, Esq. Wallace H. Tuttle, a bankruptcy attorney in Traverse City who represents mostly small-businesses owners, is "so busy we can't even see straight." By "we," he means himself, his legal assistant and his legal...

Michigan Court of Appeals holds full-credit bid rule bars suit.
October 13, 2008... Byline: Todd C. Berg, Esq. Foreclosure Law - Analysis The Michigan Court of Appeals' recent decision on the common law full-credit bid rule is literally unprecedented. In New Freedom Mortgage Corporation v. Globe Mortgage...

Michigan Court of Appeals consults California law regarding full-credit bid rule.
October 13, 2008... Byline: Todd C. Berg, Esq. Foreclosure Law - Analysis In consulting California law to determine what Michigan law should be regarding the full-credit bid rule, the Michigan Court of Appeals did not cite a relevant California appellate...

Law firm mergers see 3Q slowdown.
October 13, 2008... Byline: Marie Price OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - Law firm mergers slowed during the third quarter after a sharp increase during the previous three months, according to Altman Weil MergerLine, which reported 14 new firm combinations, compared with...

From the darkness: Detroit man saw the Great Depression, sees frightening parallels today.
October 13, 2008... Byline: Jim Stasiowski Take it from Benjamin Stanczyk, a guy who knows about hard times: "I don't care what you call it, we're in a depression now." Stanczyk, 93, is a former U.S. Army military policeman, a longtime attorney in...

Judge John MacDonald says common sense wins, even in crazy economy.
October 13, 2008... Byline: Carol Lundberg Born smack-dab in the middle of the Great Depression, Judge John MacDonald has always had a cautious attitude about money. Spend less than you earn. Save more than you need. Prepare financially to long outlast...

Former asstistant U.S. atty. John Freeman opens practice in Troy.
October 13, 2008... Byline: Carol Lundberg By the time former Assistant U.S. Attorney John Freeman left the safety of his government job for private practice at the end of 2007, the economy was about as bad as it could get. Michigan's housing market had...

Family lawyer in Grand Rapids dealing with tough economy.
October 13, 2008... Byline: Todd C. Berg, Esq. The times aren't so tough economically that Connie R. Thacker has had to take every client who has walked through her door. Nor has she had to drop her $300 per hour billing rate. And, a salary cut...

Separation-of-powers case may yield yet another blockbuster high court ruling.
October 13, 2008... Byline: Marie Price OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - A dispute one appellate judge called the most important separation-of-powers case involving presidential appointment and removal authority in 20 years could reach the U.S. Supreme Court toward the...

Michigan Lawyers in the News: October 13, 2008.(Brief article)
October 13, 2008... Byline: Michigan Lawyers Weekly Staff Appointments Margaret Dobrowitsky of Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione was appointed treasurer of the AIPPI-U.S. chapter. Elections John J. Bursch of Warner Norcross & Judd LLP is chair-elect of...

Michigan Attorney Discipline Board Case Summaries: October 13, 2008.
October 13, 2008... Byline: Michigan Lawyers Weekly Staff Final Notice Of Suspension Case No: 07-119-JC Notice Issued: Oct. 3, 2008 Robert S. Hackett, P 49968, Grand Rapids, Michigan, by the Attorney Discipline Board, affirming Kent County...

Michigan Court Of Appeals Case Summaries: October 13, 2008.
October 13, 2008... Byline: Michigan Lawyers Weekly Staff Contract Indemnity - Pre- Contract Injury An electrical equipment distributor was not required to indemnify DaimlerChrysler for a judgment awarded to a worker who was injured while inspecting...

Michigan Court Of Appeals Unpublished Civil Case Summaries: October 13, 2008.
October 13, 2008... Byline: Michigan Lawyers Weekly Staff Administrative Law State Retirement - Evidence On remand, the trial court in this administrative appeal erred by concluding that it was unnecessary to remand the case to the State Employees'...

Michigan Court Of Appeals Unpublished Criminal Case Summaries: October 13, 2008.
October 13, 2008... Byline: Michigan Lawyers Weekly Staff Affirmed Convictions Armed Robbery; Felony Firearm. Photographic Array. "This was not a quick, random encounter. Troup introduced Swanigan to defendant and Swanigan later kept his eyes on defendant...

Michigan Supreme Court Orders: October 13, 2008.
October 13, 2008... Byline: Michigan Lawyers Weekly Staff Leave Denied Young v. Nandi. (Lawyers Weekly No. 06-67916) (2 pages). On order of the Court, the application for leave to appeal the June 12, 2007, judgment of the Court of Appeals and the...

U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit Case Summaries: October 13, 2008.
October 13, 2008... Byline: Michigan Lawyers Weekly Staff Constitutional Law First Amendment - Distribution Of Leaflets At School A public middle school did not violate the First Amendment when it regulated the time, place, and manner of a student's...

Family trusts provide peace of mind.
October 13, 2008... Byline: Harry S. Margolis Tax and Estate Planning While much of elder law involves planning to protect seniors, their spouses and their estates from the costs of long-term care, that is hardly the only concern that older clients have...

Is 'gaming' the system fair play by lawyers?(law school rankings)
October 13, 2008... Byline: Ed Poll LawBiz Coach's Corner On the front page of its Aug. 26, edition, The Wall Street Journal discussed the ability of deans to "game" the system used by U.S. News & World Report to rank law schools. It reminded me of the...

Verdicts & Settlements October 13, 2008: Woman dragged from limo wins in arbitration.
October 13, 2008... Byline: Michigan Lawyers Weekly Staff The basis of this third-party auto claim for non-economic damages and first-party PIP benefits concerned plaintiff Nancy Matthews, 61. Her family had rented a limousine for her mother's funeral, and she...

Verdicts & Settlements October 13, 2008: Tugboat's winch line breaks, kills deckhand, 32.
October 13, 2008... Byline: Michigan Lawyers Weekly Staff In this personal injury/death claim, filed under the Jones Act and the General Maritime Law by the plaintiff's decedent's estate, the decedent was a 32-year-old deckhand employed by the defendant...

Not enough blacks on Wayne County juries.(analysis of the Sixth Amendment Fair Cross-Section Right)
October 20, 2008... Byline: Todd C. Berg, Esq. Sixth Amendment Fair Cross-Section Right - Analysis The 3rd Judicial Circuit Court of Michigan's jury-selection system, which annually provides jurors for 500 to 600 felony trials, has been, and may still be,...

Detroit Police Department crime lab closure shines bright light on rocket docket.
October 20, 2008... Byline: Carol Lundberg The shutting down of the mistake-plagued Detroit Police Department crime labs is adding pressure to Wayne County's 3rd Circuit Court, which already is straining to live up to the state's speedy-trial policy. ...

Thomas M. Cooley Law School professor crusades against legal jargon.
October 20, 2008... Byline: Jim Stasiowski As much as Joseph Kimble hates the phrases "prior to," "in order to," "with regard to," "in favor of" and "in the amount of," he hates "bad habits" even more. And he's not too thrilled with "tradition," either....

Detroit evidence stacking up in backlogged state labs.(on the overload of state laboratories that are handling evidence in Detroit)
October 20, 2008... Byline: Carol Lundberg The Michigan State Police forensic science lab in Northville, 25 miles west of downtown Detroit, has been handling the evidence in all of the Detroit crime lab's firearms cases since May, when hints of the Detroit...

Practice Profile: Elizabeth C. Jolliffe, founder of Michigan-based Your Benchmark Coach.
October 20, 2008... Byline: Douglas J. Levy Lawyers are so busy listening to everyone else, they tend not to listen to themselves. Elizabeth C. Jolliffe says that's where they go wrong. "If they really take a look at themselves and what's important...

Music store owner continues legal battle against Livonia sign ordinance.(Joseph Marras)
October 20, 2008... Byline: Carol Lundberg Through his aggressive street-level advertising and legal challenges, Joseph Marras has kept Livonia safe for merchants who put their messages on the sides of their vehicles. With the signs and tactics he kept...

Thomas M. Cooley Law professor: Upsetting city hall an oddity.(Joseph Marras)
October 20, 2008... Byline: Carol Lundberg It seemed to Joseph Marras a perfect promotion for his music store. He hired a teenager to dress like Santa Claus, and handed him a brightly colored sign that read PIANO SALE, and sent him out to entice Middlebelt...

Michigan Lawyers in the News: October 20, 2008.
October 20, 2008... Byline: Michigan Lawyers Weekly Staff Elections Charles Denton of Barnes & Thornburg LLP was elected secretary-treasurer of the State Bar of Michigan's Environmental Law Section. Connie R. Thacker of Rhoades McKee was re-elected...

Michigan Court Of Appeals Case Summaries: October 20, 2008.
October 20, 2008... Byline: Michigan Lawyers Weekly Staff Business Law Receiver - Judicial Sale The circuit court correctly declared that defendant's apartment complex was a public nuisance due to fire code violations and discharges of raw sewage...

Michigan Court Of Appeals Unpublished Civil Case Summaries: October 20, 2008.
October 20, 2008... Byline: Michigan Lawyers Weekly Staff Attorney Fees Account Stated - Affidavits In a suit to recover money due on an account stated, defendant's failure to file the affidavit required by MCL 600.2145 after the plaintiff complied...

Michigan Court Of Appeals Unpublished Criminal Case Summaries: October 20, 2008.
October 20, 2008... Byline: Michigan Lawyers Weekly Staff Affirmed Convictions Accessory After The Fact To A Felony. Evidence. There was sufficient evidence presented that defendant helped the shooter avoid arrest. People v. Ucaj. (Michigan Court of...

U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit Case Summaries: October 20, 2008.
October 20, 2008... Byline: Michigan Lawyers Weekly Staff Bankruptcy Proof Of Claim Sanctions - Moot Appeal Where the bankruptcy court found that an unsecured creditor violated Rule 9011(b) after ordering the creditor to show cause for submitting...

Take it from a plumber: Skill enhancement is vital.(on the training and education of lawyers)
October 20, 2008... Byline: Ed Poll LawBiz Coach's Corner Late in July, the Wall Street firm of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft announced its second round of lawyer layoffs this year, for a total of more than 130 lawyers dismissed. The firm said that 90...

Commentary: Alternative Dispute Resolution in special ed. matters benefits parents, school districts.(Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004)
October 20, 2008... Byline: Laura A. Athens, Esq. In the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEA), Congress reaffirmed and expanded its commitment to ADR as a preferred means of resolving special education disputes by requiring...

Commentary: The old-school lawyer should give mediation a chance.
October 20, 2008... Byline: Antoinette R. Raheem, Esq. For those of us practicing law for 15, 20 and 30-plus years, mediation can mean varied things. Traditionally, seasoned lawyers did not have mediation classes in law school, while recent law school...

Commentary: Gearing mediation toward the end user should be courts' aim.
October 20, 2008... Byline: The Hon. Cynthia Diane Stephens ADR has been a part of the Michigan justice system landscape since the judicial determination in 1969 that the public policy of this state favored arbitration. "Michigan mediation," now called case...

Commentary: 13th Circuit Court's way with ADR is a model worth following.
October 20, 2008... Byline: Richard J. Figura, Esq. With the addition in 2000 of Sect. 2.410, 2.411 and 3.216 to the Michigan Court Rules (MCR), mediation has become a procedural step on the way to, and as an alternative to, trial in an increasing number of...

Commentary: Minimizing discovery abuses in arbitration means drafting provisions carefully.
October 20, 2008... Byline: Alan M. Kanter, Esq. What remedies are available when parties arbitrating refuse to comply with discovery? Such conduct causes delay and interferes with claims or damages. Presumptive sources of arbitral authority are...

Commentary: Mediating sooner, especially when it's all about the money.
October 20, 2008... Byline: Richard L. (Tony) Braun, Esq. Historically, litigators have tended to eschew early mediation. Instead, they have protested that a bunch of discovery is necessary to evaluate their cases. Such a traditional view deserves to be...

Verdicts & Settlements October 20, 2008: Contractors, city at odds over sediment removal.
October 20, 2008... Byline: Michigan Lawyers Weekly Staff In January 2005, plaintiff ACME Contracting, Ltd. and defendant City of Novi entered into a contract, wherein ACME agreed to remove approximately 54,700 cubic yards of sediment from the bottom of...

Verdicts & Settlements October 20, 2008: Plaintiff can't prove tree cutter damaged property.(Brief article)
October 20, 2008... Byline: Michigan Lawyers Weekly Staff This claim for property damages stemmed from an April 26, 2006, tree cutting performed by defendant Sting Ray Tree Co. Mary Griffith, the plaintiff, alleged that she contracted with Sting Ray to cut a...

Verdicts & Settlements October 20, 2008: Theft of leased car puts man's credit in jeopardy.(Brief article)
October 20, 2008... Byline: Michigan Lawyers Weekly Staff Plaintiff Wassim Issa had his leased 2003 BMW stolen in front of a family member's Dearborn house on a religious holiday. As soon as Issa discovered his car had been stolen from the neighborhood, which...

No diverse source list? Then, no diverse jury pools.(Letter to the editor)
October 27, 2008... Byline: Michigan Lawyers Weekly Staff To the Editor: Appreciating that while 39 percent of the Wayne County population is black, only 18 percent of perspective jurors from the 3rd Judicial Circuit are of the same race, I believe there...

NOI pleading requirements have been clear for more than 50 years.
October 27, 2008... Byline: Michigan Lawyers Weekly Staff To the Editor: Having defended medical-malpractice claims for 53 years, I believe I have some knowledge about the requirements necessary to properly plead a medical-malpractice claim in Michigan....

Michigan Supreme Court hopeful wants to return to gold standard for currency.(Robert W. Roddis)
October 27, 2008... Byline: Todd C. Berg, Esq. Michigan Supreme Court Election He knows it's a long shot. A really long shot. But Grosse Pointe Farms solo practitioner Robert W. Roddis, 57, wants to do away with paper money and return to the gold...

Judge Paula J. Manderfield says she's a perfect fit for Michigan Court of Appeals.
October 27, 2008... Byline: Todd C. Berg, Esq. Manderfield says she's a perfect fit for COA Judge Paula J. Manderfield said her 16 years on the trial bench have made her "ready to hit the ground running" should she be elected to the Michigan Court of...

Flint atty. Michael J. Kelly says experience qualifies him for Michigan appellate bench.
October 27, 2008... Byline: Todd C. Berg, Esq. Flint attorney Michael J. Kelly, running for the one open seat on the Michigan Court of Appeals, said the court needs judges with experience like his. "I've represented clients in more than 50 cases in the...

Law-related races on Michigan's Nov. 4 ballot.(List)
October 27, 2008... Byline: Michigan Lawyers Weekly Staff Non-incumbents listed with places of residence. (Information compiled from Web site of Michigan Secretary of State.) Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court (Elect one to an eight-year term.) ...

Flint attorney Charles Bird recalls difficult road to regaining suspended law license.
October 27, 2008... Byline: Carol Lundberg By the time Charles Bird faced his discipline hearing in 1978, the one that led to a five-year suspension of his license, he doubted he would ever find redemption. He had been arrested and brought up on drug...

Michigan lawyer Evan Callanan recalls struggle to regain law license after conviction.
October 27, 2008... Byline: Carol Lundberg Lawyer Evan Callanan lost his license. He lost his liberty. And eventually he lost his way. But what he didn't lose was his passion to practice law. That passion helped him hold on, though sometimes very loosely,...

State Bar of Michigan president says they are there for Michigan legal community.(Edward H. Pappas)
October 27, 2008... Byline: Douglas J. Levy State Bar of Michigan Ask not what the State Bar of Michigan can do for you. Ask what you can do for yourself thanks to the State Bar. That's the message Edward H. Pappas hopes the Michigan legal community...

Judge Diane M. Hathaway challenging Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Taylor for seat.(Clifford W. Taylor)
October 27, 2008... Byline: Todd C. Berg, Esq. She is trying to unseat the state's highest-ranking jurist, but Judge Diane M. Hathaway concedes she has gaps in her knowledge about the record of Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Clifford W. Taylor. She...

Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Taylor defends his court's rulings.(Clifford W. Taylor)
October 27, 2008... Byline: Todd C. Berg, Esq. Don't think that because Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Clifford W. Taylor speaks softly and has a gentlemanly demeanor that he'll shy away from a fight. Especially if what is being picked on is his...

Second chances are rare for the disbarred in Michigan.
October 27, 2008... Byline: Carol Lundberg In the first eight months of this year, 17 Michigan attorneys were disbarred. Statistics predict few if any of them will practice again. Only 16 of the 356 attorneys disbarred since 1978 have successfully...

Michigan Lawyers in the News: October 27, 2008.
October 27, 2008... Byline: Michigan Lawyers Weekly Staff Appointments Lori Buiteweg of Nichols, Sacks, Slank, Sendelbach & Buiteweg, P.C. was appointed to the executive committee of the State Bar Board of Commissioners. Elections Andrew H....

Michigan Attorney Discipline Board Case Summaries: October 27, 2008.
October 27, 2008... Byline: Michigan Lawyers Weekly Staff Final Notice Of Reprimand Case Nos. 06-102-GA; 07-5-GA Notice Issued: Oct. 8, 2008 Richard I. Lippitt, P 64242, Milford, Michigan, by the Attorney Discipline Board, affirming Tri-County...

Michigan Court Of Appeals Case Summaries: October 27, 2008.
October 27, 2008... Byline: Michigan Lawyers Weekly Staff Criminal Law Automobile Search - Pre-existing Warrant A pre-existing warrant for defendant, which police discovered after learning his identity during an illegal arrest for loitering, is a...

Michigan Court Of Appeals Unpublished Civil Case Summaries: October 27, 2008.
October 27, 2008... Byline: Michigan Lawyers Weekly Staff Administrative Law Untimely Appeal - Dismissed The trial court properly dismissed petitioner Pontiac Food Center's appeal of the Department of Community Health's decision to terminate...

Michigan Court Of Appeals Unpublished Criminal Case Summaries: October 27, 2008.
October 27, 2008... Byline: Michigan Lawyers Weekly Staff Affirmed Convictions Assault With Intent To Rob While Armed; Felony Firearm; Carrying A Concealed Weapon. Effective Assistance. Defendant "argues that he received ineffective assistance of counsel...

Michigan Supreme Court Orders: October 27, 2008.
October 27, 2008... Byline: Michigan Lawyers Weekly Staff Leave Denied People v. Wyatt. (Lawyers Weekly No. 06-68024) (3 pages). On order of the Court, the application for leave to appeal the April 17, 2008 order of the Court of Appeals is considered, and...

U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit Case Summaries: October 27, 2008.
October 27, 2008... Byline: Michigan Lawyers Weekly Staff Bankruptcy Projected Disposable Income - Calculation The bankruptcy court improperly calculated the Chapter 13 debtors' projected disposable income by relying solely on the income and expense...

Commentary: Are you a business collaborator, or just a lawyer?
October 27, 2008... Byline: Ed Poll LawBiz Coach's Corner In a recent coaching session, an attorney spoke to me about his frustration when he and several colleagues paid a visit to a prospective client. The lawyers were prepared to make a full...

Getting tenant improvement work letter to be its best takes coordination, definition.
October 27, 2008... Byline: Thomas S. Smith Real Estate The tenant improvement work letter and process most often arise in the context of office and retail real estate leasing transactions. This process is often negotiated by business representatives or...

Verdicts & Settlements October 27, 2008: Modification disputed in contract breach case.
October 27, 2008... Byline: Michigan Lawyers Weekly Staff The plaintiff manufacturer's representative, Gallup & Associates, Inc., worked for commissions and sold magnets that were manufactured in China for defendant-principal BGRIMM (USA), Inc., a Fairlawn,...

Verdicts & Settlements October 27, 2008: Slow to diagnose woman's bowel perforation.
October 27, 2008... Byline: Michigan Lawyers Weekly Staff Plaintiff Evangeline Hall underwent an elective hysterectomy at Oaklawn Hospital in Marshall. The surgery was performed by gynecologist Neysa Bartlett, D.O. Post-operatively, Hall suffered continual...

Commentary: Look closer at man behind 'Genius,' and you'll find stubbornness to counter courage.(Flash of Genius )
October 27, 2008... Byline: Steven L. Oberholtzer, Esq. I was drawn to the recently released film Flash of Genius, because as a patent lawyer, I had to see the only movie in my memory related to my field. The movie portrays the controversy between Dr....