Tag Archives: Michigan Supreme Court

Statute of Repose Does Not Apply to Breach of Contract Claims

In a recent decision handed down by the Michigan Supreme Court, Miller-Davis Co. v. Ahrens Construction, Inc., the court ruled that Michigan’s six-year statute of limitations for breach of contract, MCL 600.5807(8), applied to breach of contract claims against contractors, architects, or engineers for improvements to property. In doing so, the Supreme Court rejected the [...]

Breaking: Saurman Reversed

The Michigan Supreme Court this afternoon issued a short (two page) Order that reversed the Court of Appeals opinion in Residential Funding Co. v Saurman, which I discussed previously. The Saurman opinion in the Court of Appeals had ruled that Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc. (“MERS”) could not foreclose by advertisement in the State of [...]

Michigan Supreme Court Clarifies Circumstances When Creation or Termination of Joint Tenancies Will Lead to Uncapping of Taxable Value

In a recent opinion, the Michigan Supreme Court clarified some instances where the death of a joint tenant, or the creation or termination of a joint tenancy may lead to an uncapping of the property’s taxable value. In Michigan, a property’s tax bill is calculated by multiplying the applicable millage rate by the property’s taxable [...]

Michigan Supreme Court Allows Detroit Public Schools to Keep Funds Collected through Unauthorized Tax Levy

The Michigan Supreme Court’s March 30, 2010 ruling in favor of the Detroit Public Schools (DPS) allows DPS to keep millions of dollars that DPS collected improperly, by continuing to charge taxpayers for a millage for three years after it expired.  Briggs Tax Service, LLC v Detroit Public Schools. In September 1993, voters in Detroit [...]

Jackson v Estate of Green: The Effect of a Partition Action on a Joint Tenancy

Joint tenants hold equal and undivided interests in a parcel, with a right of survivorship. When a joint tenant dies, the deceased’s interest does not descend to heirs. Instead, the entire ownership remains in the surviving joint tenant or tenants.  This transfer occurs automatically upon the death of the joint tenant. Michigan recognizes two types [...]

McNeil v Charlevoix County: An Exception to Michigan’s Employment At-Will Doctrine

On July 21, 2009, the Michigan Supreme Court ruled in McNeil v Charlevoix County, 2009 Mich. LEXIS 1572, that a local health agency had the authority to require employers to adhere to a more strict regulation regarding workplace smoking than was required under state law. In addition, the Court ruled that (a) the local regulation [...]

Shortening the Time Period for Discharged Employees to Bring Suit

Employees normally have three years to file a lawsuit for discrimination under Michigan law.  The Statute of Limitations for a breach of contract case is six years.  However, Michigan courts will uphold agreements to shorten the period of limitations for employment disputes.  A recent Michigan Supreme Court opinion held that an agreement to shorten the [...]