Tag: housing inequality

Five Stories That Matter in Michigan This Week – September 1, 2023

  1. Will Michigan High School Athletes Gain NIL Rights?

Michigan House Bill 4816, sponsored by Rep. Jimmie Wilson Jr. (D-Ypsilanti), would allow high school athletes in Michigan to profit from name, image and likeness (NIL) deals if passed.

Why it Matters: 19 states have laws that allow high school athletes to profit off of use of their NIL. The market for NIL deals is growing—various projections estimate that NIL revenue earned by athletes will top $1 billion this year.

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  1. Fraser Trebilcock Lawyers Selected Among ‘The Best Lawyers in America©’ 2024 Edition in Lansing

Fraser Trebilcock is proud to announce that 10 attorneys from the firm have been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© 2024 edition in Lansing. Only five percent of attorneys in Michigan are awarded with the honor.

Why it Matters: Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers® has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence. Best Lawyers is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey in which almost 87,000 leading attorneys cast nearly ten million votes on the legal abilities of other lawyers in their practice areas; because lawyers are not required or allowed to pay a fee to be listed, inclusion in Best Lawyers is considered a singular honor. Learn which Fraser attorneys were selected.

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  1. Hosting an Event that Involves Cannabis in Michigan Requires Proper Licensing

As the legal cannabis industry continues to grow in Michigan, more events involving the consumption of cannabis are being hosted across the state. As the Cannabis Regulatory Agency (CRA) discussed in a recent information release, such events require proper licensing. Specifically, according to the CRA, “CRA rules require a person who allows consumption of marijuana products on the premises of a non-residential location – and charges a fee for entry, sells goods or services while individuals are consuming on the premises, or requires membership for entry – must acquire either a designated consumption establishment license or a temporary marijuana event license. An application for a temporary marijuana event license must be submitted 90 days prior to the date of the event.”

Why it Matters: Violations of requirements may result in disciplinary action.

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  1. Housing Inequality May be on the Michigan Legislature’s Agenda this Fall

Recent news reports suggest that one of the Michigan’s legislature’s priorities for this fall will be to pass a slate of bills meant to address housing inequality. This may include a 15-20 omnibus bill package addressing issues such as (according to Mlive.com) “efforts to clarify the organizing rights of tenants, requiring landlords pay for the relocation of tenants with red-tagged buildings and establishing a standard criteria for what a housing inspector may consider a safe and livable dwelling.”

Why it Matters: With high mortgage rates and low for-sale housing inventory, affordable housing is a hot-button issue for many Michiganders. Data from the National Low Income Housing Coalition’s Out of Reach report ranked Michigan 28th worst in the nation for rental affordability.

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  1. Business Education Series – Practical A.I. Business Solutions

Explore the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence in the business landscape during our Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce Business Education Series.

Why it Matters: From understanding the capabilities of AI models like ChatGPT to creating customized workflows using API integrations and automation tools, discover how AI can drive innovation and efficiency across industries. Learn more.

Related Practice Groups and Professionals

Higher Education | Ryan Kauffman
Real Estate | Jared Roberts
Cannabis Law | Sean Gallagher

Five Stories That Matter in Michigan This Week – August 25, 2023

  1. Housing Inequality May be on the Michigan Legislature’s Agenda this Fall

Recent news reports suggest that one of the Michigan’s legislature’s priorities for this fall will be to pass a slate of bills meant to address housing inequality. This may include a 15-20 omnibus bill package addressing issues such as (according to Mlive.com) “efforts to clarify the organizing rights of tenants, requiring landlords pay for the relocation of tenants with red-tagged buildings and establishing a standard criteria for what a housing inspector may consider a safe and livable dwelling.”

Why it Matters: With high mortgage rates and low for-sale housing inventory, affordable housing is a hot-button issue for many Michiganders. Data from the National Low Income Housing Coalition’s Out of Reach report ranked Michigan 28th worst in the nation for rental affordability.

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  1. Business Education Series – Practical A.I. Business Solutions

Explore the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence in the business landscape during our Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce Business Education Series. 

Why it Matters: From understanding the capabilities of AI models like ChatGPT to creating customized workflows using API integrations and automation tools, discover how AI can drive innovation and efficiency across industries. Learn more.

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  1. Michigan Supreme Court Clarifies the Difference Between “Requirements” and “Release-by-Release” Contracts Under the Uniform Commercial Code

In an important decision that impacts customers and suppliers in the manufacturing industry, the Michigan Supreme Court, in MSSC, Inc. v. AirBoss Flexible Prods. Co., clarified the contractual circumstances under which a supplier can become bound to a long-term “requirements contract” under the Uniform Commercial Code.

Why it Matters: In light of the Supreme Court’s decision, buyers and sellers of goods should review their contracts with legal counsel to evaluate whether they meet the standards for a requirements contract. Read more on the topic from your Fraser Trebilcock attorney.

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  1. CRA Publishes July 2023 Data; Average Price Increases

Per data released by the Cannabis Regulatory Agency, the average retail price for adult-use sales of an ounce of cannabis is $98.65, an increase from $89.27 in June. This is still a large decrease from July 2022, where the average price was $121.58.  

Why it Matters: While the prices of cannabis and cannabis-related products continue to decrease and make consumers happy, growers on the other hand are seeing profits decrease resulting in them seeking ways to halt new licenses to be granted in an effort to steady prices. Contact our cannabis law attorneys if you have any questions. 

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  1. Michigan Supreme Court Rules on Open and Obvious Doctrine

In its decision in a pair of consolidated cases (Kandil-Elsayed v F & E Oil, Inc and Pinsky v Kroger Co of Mich), the state’s high court did away with a legal doctrine known as “open and obvious.” Generally speaking, under this doctrine, a premises possessor (whether that is the landowner, land contract vendee, lessee, or other party with the right to possess the property) does not have a duty to warn individuals of potentially dangerous conditions on the premises if the condition is “open and obvious.”

Why it Matters: What happens next is anybody’s guess, but likely effects of this decision include an increase in the number of personal injury lawsuits filed, an increase in the number of personal injury cases going to trial, and across the board increases in property insurance rates for commercial and residential property owners.

Related Practice Groups and Professionals

Real Estate | Jared Roberts
Business & Tax | Robert Burgee
Cannabis Law | Sean Gallagher