Happy Friday! A few brief legal updates on proposed Bills and a Court decision. Patent Trolls! Back in July I wrote a post about legislation that was introduced in the House : A Tool for Business in Fighting Against Patent Trolls That House Bill has sat for about 8 months. The House Judiciary Committee is meetingContinue reading “Michigan Law Update: Patent Trolls, Aggressive Solicitation, and a Real Estate dispute”
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Working to Build Better Communities: Lending Barriers to Stabilizing Neighborhoods in Detroit.
Today Thomas J. Curry, of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (“OCC”) spoke at the 2016 National Interagency Community Reinvestment Conference in LA. You can read Mr. Curry’s complete remarks here. Mr. Curry acknowledged the many groups and organizations “working to build better communities and improve the financial lives of low- and moderate-income individuals” AContinue reading “Working to Build Better Communities: Lending Barriers to Stabilizing Neighborhoods in Detroit.”
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”
Waiting For Your Personal Invitation From the Non-Profit CEO?
The Attorney General’s Office issued a press release today in collaboration with The Michigan Nonprofit Association, Council of Michigan Foundations,Michigan Association of United Ways: A guide to supporting Michigan’s charitable nonprofit organizations Some good advice for charitable giving. One point I thought worth mentioning – volunteering. If a charitable non-profit is worth giving your money to,Continue reading “Waiting For Your Personal Invitation From the Non-Profit CEO?”
Purpose Driven General Counsel 