On April 25, 2011, in a case illustrating the partisan politics played in the Michigan Supreme Court, the Court issued a 4 to 3 decision to dismiss an environmental protection act case and vacate that Court’s December 2010 decision in the same matter on the ground that the case was “moot.”
Continue reading Is the Court playing politics with wastewater?
Business owners often blur the distinction between successful entrepreneurial start-ups and companies that transition well to professionally-managed, vital companies with staying power. Our client, Jason Schreiber, CEO of Arialink, recently won an entrepreneurial award from The Greater Lansing Business Monthly and was recently asked to comment on his own success, and how he uses his philosophy to create value. (See article http://www.lansingbusinessmonthly.com/articles/206-2011-may/2200-telecommunications-entrepreneur-arialink.html)
The following article appeared in the April 21, 2011 of the Ingham County Legal News.
The Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010 significantly changed estate planning for 2011 and 2012. One of the key changes was to increase the federal estate tax exemption amount from $1 million to $5 million per person. So, for a married couple, they can theoretically pass a combined $10 million to their descendants without a federal estate tax. One of the other key changes was to provide for the “portability” or transfer of the exemption from the deceased spouse’s estate to the surviving spouse. This latter change may reduce some of the incentive to use living trusts.
Over the next several years, group health plans face significant new challenges under the lengthy and complex Health Care Reform Law. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act was signed into law on March 23, 2010 and then was immediately amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act on March 30th (collectively, the “Health Care Reform Law”). The Health Care Reform Law drastically changes health care as we know it and requires immediate action and ongoing analysis and restructuring of benefits in the years to come.
Continue reading Impact of Health Care Reform on Group Health Plans– The First Years
Currently, there is legislation pending (Michigan Senate Bill No. 7) which would require public employers to contribute no more than 80% toward the cost of health insurance for their employees. If this becomes law, numerous public employees will be required to begin contributing at least 20% toward their health insurance costs. This legislation is written with an effective date of January 1, 2013.
Continue reading Proposed Michigan Law: Governmental Employers & Health Plan Contribution Increases
A litigation communications plan, blends both legal expertise and media savvy, by helping to frame messages during the litigation to help preserve, protect and enhance the reputation of the parties.
Today’s business environment demands an aggressive strategy to resolve issues legally while protecting one’s reputation publicly. As a result, lawyers need to be more than legal counselors or advocates. They need to be familiar enough with how perception is created within the public eye and how to use the media effectively to manage that perception. Therefore, the potential impact any litigation will have on a client’s image, reputation, investor relations and future business must be considered in creating a legal strategy.
Continue reading Today’s Legal Strategies Demand Public Relations
The best plans don’t have automatic responses, but a number of questions for the crisis team to ask, such as:
Companies today face increased challenges from regulatory and legislative authorities. Likewise, legal issues continue to permeate the headlines, often in inaccurate and oversimplified treatments placing brands, businesses and reputations at risk.
Should lawyers represent their client’s outside the courtroom, they have to become comfortable in talking freely about their client’s case without jeopardizing legal outcomes. Lawyers in general are trained to be reticent, answer only the questions asked and to give no more information than is necessary. In the face of the media and those who rely on it, however, expansive information and open communication can serve the client better than creating an appearance that the client has something to hide and, worse is hiding behind a lawyer.
