A recent decision from the Michigan Court of Appeals could affect anyone who was injured by a fall on snow or ice on someone else’s property. In Williams v. Edward W. Sparrow Hosp. Ass’n, the Court considered whether the existence of weather conditions that could create ice was sufficient to constitute constructive notice that hazardous…
When a lawyer bills a client for expenses in a contingency case, he cannot mark up the amount charged for any third-party services, such as court reporter fees. The fee charged must “reasonably reflect” the actual cost of those services, according to a recently released ethics opinion from the State Bar of Michigan. An attorney…
This is a great question, I run my own business and I am on the only employee, why do I need an LLC? In one word, protection! You own a business, you run a company, why are you treating it like a hobby? Businesses work hard to grow and develop there business, why would you…
What the heck is an S Corporation? This short article outlines the dynamics and the functions of an S-Corp. Is an S-Corp right for your business? Make an appointment with Murphy Reed Law to discuss the pros and cons of this business structure. Murphy Reed Law would like to thank the SBA for the content…
As a business attorney, I help people form corporations and LLCs to protect their assets and increase their net worth. Today, we are bombarded by ads on the radio and television telling us how easy it is to “Form your own LLC or Corporation, and save expensive legal fees!” These ads suggest that attorneys are…
The Nuts and Bolts of Living Trusts For most people, a will is the first choice for passing on an estate to heirs. But it’s not the only choice. Among other tools, the revocable living trust is gaining in popularity, especially among the retiring baby boomers. In addition to being one of several ways to avoid…
A recent opinion by the Michigan Court of Appeals explained how the law on governmental immunity could affect cases brought against government entities. In Estate of Thomas Truett v. Wayne Cnty. Dep’t of Pub. Servs., the Court considered whether a plaintiff could recover against a governmental entity for wrongful death when the Complaint did not…
There can be many nuances to slip and fall cases that illustrate the importance of retaining experienced counsel to help you with your case. One recent Michigan case provides a compelling example. In Paberzs v. Eight Star Ltd. P’ship, the Michigan Court of Appeals considered whether a plaintiff could file an Amended Complaint to add…
In a very sad case, the Michigan Court of Appeals in Oostdyk v. Caledonia Community Schools upheld a trial court’s dismissal of a claim against the school and a bus driver for allegedly causing brain damage. The school claimed governmental immunity after a bus driver continued driving the bus after a 17 year old suffered a seizure.…
In a recent Michigan Court of Appeals decision, Zezula v. City of Lincoln Park, the court ruled that there was sufficient evidence to create a factual dispute as to whether a street was maintained in reasonable repair and that the City had notice of the defect. Motion to Dismiss Filed and Defeated The City attempted to…
