Tag

Michigan Supreme Court

All articles tagged with #michigan supreme court

politics2 years ago

"Michigan Supreme Court Considers Minimum Wage Changes and Paid Time Off Requirements"

The Michigan Supreme Court is considering a case that could raise the state's minimum wage to $13 per hour next year. Advocates from the group One Fair Wage had gathered enough signatures for a ballot initiative, but the Republican-controlled Legislature preempted it by passing its own minimum wage increase. However, before Governor Gretchen Whitmer took office, legislators essentially gutted the law, leading to a legal battle. The court's ruling, expected next year, will determine whether the practice of adopt-and-amend is constitutional. Meanwhile, some in the restaurant industry have raised concerns about the minimum wage increase, citing potential price increases, layoffs, and closures. One Fair Wage is also trying to put a $15 minimum wage proposal on next year's ballot.

politics2 years ago

Michigan Supreme Court Considers Minimum Wage Increase and Legislative Changes

The Michigan Supreme Court is set to decide on the constitutionality of a legislative maneuver used in 2018 to undermine a minimum wage increase and paid sick leave proposal. The controversial "adopt and amend" strategy allowed lawmakers to divert the proposals from the ballot and make significant changes to their original intent. Opponents argue that this move violated the constitutional rights of voters, while defenders claim that the legislature has the authority to adopt and amend laws in the same session. The court's decision will determine whether Michigan workers will see a sudden minimum wage hike, whether restaurant workers will move from a tipped wage to minimum wage, and whether paid sick leave mandates will be expanded to small businesses.

legal2 years ago

"Michigan Supreme Court to Decide Fate of Minimum Wage and Paid Time Off"

The Michigan Supreme Court is considering a case involving the "adopt and amend" strategy used by Republicans in the state legislature to weaken two 2018 ballot initiatives that aimed to increase the minimum wage and require paid sick leave. The court's decision could potentially triple the minimum wage for tipped workers and mandate paid time off for all businesses in the state.

legalcriminal-justice2 years ago

Flint water crisis prosecutions come to a close without convictions

The Attorney General's office in Michigan has officially ended its pursuit of criminal prosecutions related to the Flint water crisis, after seven years without any convictions. This decision comes after the Michigan Supreme Court rejected an attempt to revive charges against former Governor Rick Snyder. The prosecution team, led by Chief Deputy Attorney General Fadwa Hammoud and Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy, stated that the Flint water cases are now "closed." The Supreme Court's decisions were based on procedural flaws rather than the merits of the prosecution. A full report on the prosecutorial efforts will be released in 2024.

crime2 years ago

Michigan Supreme Court Denies Crumbley Case Appeal

The Michigan Supreme Court has refused to hear the case of James and Jennifer Crumbley, the parents of the Oxford school shooter. The couple is facing involuntary manslaughter charges for allegedly buying their son the gun used in the massacre and failing to inform the school about his troubling behavior. The decision allows the unprecedented charges against the parents to stand, making them the first parents in America charged in a mass school shooting. The Crumbleys could still plead guilty in exchange for potential leniency, but the prosecution would have to agree. The judge would have the final say.

legal2 years ago

Michigan Supreme Court Denies Appeals in Flint Water Crisis Case

The Michigan Supreme Court has declined to hear appeals against former officials involved in the Flint water crisis. The court previously ruled that state prosecutors improperly used a "one-man grand jury" to indict the officials. The dismissed cases included charges against former state and city officials for their handling of the 2014 water crisis, which led to lead contamination and an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease. The Supreme Court's decision not to hear the appeals marks the end of this set of criminal charges. The Flint Water Prosecution Team plans to explore other options for releasing evidence to the public.

legal2 years ago

"Michigan Court Upholds Vital Compensation for Severe Car Crash Victims"

The Michigan Supreme Court has ruled that Michigan residents who were catastrophically injured in car wrecks before the summer of 2019 can continue to bill insurance companies for ongoing care, providing critical relief for thousands of people. A new state law had set a fee schedule and a cap on reimbursements, putting 18,000 people at risk of losing their long-term benefits. However, the court determined that the "vested contractual right" to ongoing benefits cannot be taken away or diminished without a clear intent from lawmakers. The decision was supported by Democratic and Republican justices, with a dissenting opinion expressing concerns about the impact on insurance costs.

legal2 years ago

Michigan Supreme Court Protects Pre-2019 Crash Survivors' Full Care in Auto Insurance Law Ruling

The Michigan Supreme Court has ruled that the new medical cost controls in Michigan's recent overhaul of its no-fault auto insurance system do not apply retroactively to the nearly 15,000 car crash victims whose accidents occurred before the change in the law. However, the cost controls do apply to medical services for crash victims whose accidents occurred after the law change. The decision means that the unlimited, lifetime medical services for the pre-2019 crash survivors must be paid in full and are not subject to cost controls. The court's decision also exempts pre-2019 crash survivors from the law's new 56-hour cap on in-home attendant care provided by family or friends. The ruling makes it less likely for Michigan drivers to see future refunds from the Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association.

crime2 years ago

Crumbley Parents Appeal to Michigan Supreme Court in School Shooting Case

James and Jennifer Crumbley, the parents of Ethan Crumbley, who carried out the deadly 2021 Oxford High School shooting, are appealing to the Michigan Supreme Court, arguing that they should not be charged for the massacre carried out by their son. The Crumbleys maintain that the prosecution cannot prove that they caused the students' deaths and that the only one responsible for the deaths was their son, who has pleaded guilty to the murders and is awaiting sentencing. The Oakland County Prosecutor's Office argues that the Crumbleys, more than anyone else, could have prevented the shooting had they paid attention to their son's mental health.

health2 years ago

Michigan Supreme Court Justice Richard Bernstein Takes Temporary Leave for Mental Health Treatment

Michigan Supreme Court Justice Richard Bernstein will temporarily step away from some court duties while seeking mental health care out of state. Bernstein, whose family is eponymous with the Sam Bernstein Law Firm, has served on the court since 2014. He is the first and only blind justice to ever serve on the Michigan Supreme Court. During his absence, he will continue working remotely on all active cases.