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Michigan LLCs – Maintain your Corporate Formalities and Keep up your Guard.

Yesterday I received an e-mail reminder from the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) LLC owners are reminded that annual filing fees and statements must be filed by February 15. “Annual statements and annual reports can be filed online at http://www.michigan.gov/fileonline.” LARA sent a reminder as follows: “Also, the act provides that ifContinue reading “Michigan LLCs – Maintain your Corporate Formalities and Keep up your Guard.”

Business Contracts and Lawsuits: Isn’t it All a Matter of Interpretation?

Happy Friday! A few weeks back I posted about a trial that I had involving a dispute over the interpretation of a real estate contract. Back in December I posted about commercial leases and how courts will enforce the plain meaning of an “unambiguous” contract. These posts encourage “clear drafting” of business contracts. Ambiguous contractsContinue reading “Business Contracts and Lawsuits: Isn’t it All a Matter of Interpretation?”

Michigan Real Estate Law Update: Innocent Until Proven Guilty – Termination only after Conviction of Drug & Assault Crimes.

Landlords and Investment Property Owners – something to keep your eye on. Michigan House Bill 5217 was introduced on January 13, 2016 – you can see the text here. This Bill will, if passed, affect Landlords and Owners of Rental Properties. The net effect appears to make it harder to remove tenants engaged in drug activity and assaultContinue reading “Michigan Real Estate Law Update: Innocent Until Proven Guilty – Termination only after Conviction of Drug & Assault Crimes.”

Lessons From Trial: WORDS MATTER when Drafting Real Estate Documents

I recently had a trial over a relatively simple real estate document (that, just to be clear, I played no part in drafting). The Owner and Buyer negotiated the terms of an option to purchase real estate. The Investor and Buyer negotiated terms that they both thought were plain. No one thought that the dealContinue reading “Lessons From Trial: WORDS MATTER when Drafting Real Estate Documents”

Business Law Update: In Commercial Leases Courts Will Enforce the Plain Meaning

Happy Friday all! I read an unpublished court of appeals decision from November 17, 2015 – Mandre Properties LLC v Darren R. Marsh DDS No 322633 The opinion was brief and to the point. It is an easy read Facts (straight forward): The parties entered into a commercial lease. Tenant vacated the premises beforeContinue reading “Business Law Update: In Commercial Leases Courts Will Enforce the Plain Meaning”

U.S. Supreme Court’s Latest Ruling – Businesses and Arbitration Clauses

As the USA Today article put it: “Score one for business over consumers at the Supreme Court this term” “The justices ruled 6-3 Monday that California customers cannot band together against satellite TV provider DIRECTV because a federal law favoring dispute resolution by individual arbitration trumps a state law that once protected such class actions.” Also see Yahoo.comContinue reading “U.S. Supreme Court’s Latest Ruling – Businesses and Arbitration Clauses”

Non-Profit Leaders: Creating Entrepreneurial Organizations and Engaging Millennials

Last week MIBiz handed out its Best-Managed Nonprofits Awards As part of the award ceremony some of the non-profit executives shared their insights “into creating entrepreneurial organizations. Check that MIBiz article outhere. One observation by Michael Merren, executive director of The Pantry in Grand Rapids: “I find that (millennials) are very interested in working in the community andContinue reading “Non-Profit Leaders: Creating Entrepreneurial Organizations and Engaging Millennials”

News of Sham Real Estate Companies’ “Bad Acts” a Lesson for Real Estate Investment Companies.

Today the ABAJournal reported the following article: “Deed thieves use sham companies to hide their identities” According to the ABAJournal: “Fraudsters are using sham limited liability companies that shield their identities in order to obtain properties without the knowledge or full understanding of the owners.” Further, “Some fraudsters search legal notices for delinquent mortgages andContinue reading “News of Sham Real Estate Companies’ “Bad Acts” a Lesson for Real Estate Investment Companies.”

Real Estate Investors: A Discussion on Laches

If you aren’t into real estate investment in Grand Rapids – maybe you should be. According to an MLIVE article posted last week, Grand Rapids has one of the hottest real estate markets in the country. As reported by MLIVE: “For landlords and real estate investors, Grand Rapids is the second best rental market in the Midwest andContinue reading “Real Estate Investors: A Discussion on Laches”