Michigan

  • September 23, 2026

    Wash. Judge Blocks Ed. Dept. Mental Health Grant Cuts

    A Washington federal judge preliminarily enjoined the U.S. Education Department from terminating up to $1 billion in K–12 mental health grants serving 15 states, finding states provided sufficient evidence that the agency was planning to unlawfully cut those grants.

  • September 23, 2026

    Bush Bros. Says Rival Chili Co. Copies 'Chili Magic' TM

    Bush Brothers has filed a trademark infringement suit in Michigan federal court accusing competitor Magic Man Foods of copying Bush's "Chili Magic" mark and its distinctive trade dress by using a confusingly similar color scheme for similar canned chili bean products.

  • September 23, 2026

    Mich. Court Keeps Freeze On Voting Data Deletion In Place

    A temporary restraining order preventing the deletion of voter records from the Aug. 4 primary election will remain in place pending the release of administrative rulings from the Michigan Secretary of State, a Michigan judge ruled Tuesday.

  • September 23, 2026

    Mich. Judge Gives Cannabis Cos. Chance To Fix Complaint

    A Michigan federal judge has given two companies challenging the city of Menominee's marijuana licensing process a chance to amend their complaint after the city argued that a waiver signed as part of a license application bars their nine-count lawsuit.

  • September 23, 2026

    Suit Over Mich. Teen's Campground Drowning Reinstated

    A Michigan recreational campground must face claims it breached a duty owed to a 15-year-old who drowned in a human-made swimming pond, a state appeals court has ruled, saying a jury must decide if the campground failed to warn swimmers of the deep, murky and dangerous conditions of the water.

  • September 23, 2026

    Nepotism Allegation Can't Sustain Race Bias Suit, Judge Says

    An automotive parts manufacturer does not have to face a Black former employee's lawsuit alleging she was fired for using her cellphone at work while a human resources manager's white daughter evaded discipline, a Michigan federal judge ruled, concluding Wednesday that the worker's nepotism accusations couldn't support race bias claims.

  • September 23, 2026

    Michigan Powerhouses: Varnum

    Since opening its first office in Grand Rapids over 130 years ago, Varnum has shaped Michigan's legal landscape with its work on high-stakes litigation like a lawsuit seeking more than $220 million in allegedly unpaid promissory notes from a vehicle manufacturer and lucrative deals like the acquisition of a prominent space-tech startup.

  • September 23, 2026

    Judge Rejects $2.5M Fees For Opt-Out Attys In Chevy Case

    A Michigan federal judge has rejected a motion from LG Chem and its affiliates for $2.5 million in fees for attorneys who had urged their clients to opt out of a $150 million settlement resolving allegations that Chevrolet Bolt batteries were defective, then to opt back in, saying the attorneys did nothing to materially improve or work toward the deal.

  • September 23, 2026

    State Pols Urge Justices To Rein In Kalshi's Sports Offerings

    A coalition of state lawmakers has urged the U.S. Supreme Court to review a Third Circuit decision allowing Kalshi to keep its sports offerings online in New Jersey, emphasizing that sports betting oversight must be left to the states.

  • September 22, 2026

    Michigan School District Denies Race Bias In COVID Stipends

    When a Michigan school district distributed federal COVID grant stipends only to white school administrators, Black administrators were excluded not because of their race, but because they worked at a high school rather than a middle or elementary school, counsel for the district told a federal judge Tuesday.

  • September 22, 2026

    Ex-Nuclear Power Workers Ask To Amend Wage-Fixing Suit

    Former nuclear plant workers are asking a Maryland federal court to let them refile a proposed class action, saying they have new, direct evidence that companies worked together to fix wages in the nuclear energy industry.

  • September 22, 2026

    RI Judge Vacates Feds' Noncitizen Benefit Restrictions

    New York and other states applauded a Rhode Island federal judge's finding that the Trump administration flouted rulemaking requirements when it reinterpreted a 30-year-old welfare reform bill to try to subject a slew of federally funded benefit programs to immigration status verification requirements.

  • September 22, 2026

    Ford Seeks To Toss F-150 Oil Consumption Class Claims

    Ford Motor Co. has asked a Michigan federal judge to dismiss claims brought by seven Ford F-150 owners who allege the automaker concealed an oil consumption defect, arguing that the drivers have failed to plausibly allege Ford knew about the purported problem when they bought their trucks.

  • September 22, 2026

    Coinbase Halts Mich. Sports Offerings Amid Litigation

    Coinbase has agreed to pull its sports event contracts from Michigan while the Sixth Circuit untangles a web of litigation over the legality of prediction market platform sports offerings across two other states.

  • September 22, 2026

    Wendy's Says 314-Store Franchisee Lost Rights Before Ch. 11

    Wendy's Co. told a Michigan bankruptcy court that one of its largest U.S. franchisees lost the right to operate 314 restaurants before filing for Chapter 11 protection, arguing that the franchise agreements had been validly terminated and are no longer part of the debtor's bankruptcy estate.

  • September 22, 2026

    Oil Cos. Escape Mich. Climate Change Antitrust Suit

    A federal judge on Tuesday nixed a lawsuit from Michigan accusing global oil and gas giants of conspiring for decades to delay the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy, ruling the allegations do not amount to valid antitrust claims.

  • September 22, 2026

    Michigan Powerhouses: Pitt McGehee

    An ardent civil rights advocate for 30 years, Pitt McGehee Palmer Bonanni & Rivers earned a spot as one of the Law360 2026 Michigan Powerhouses following a banner year, with the firm successfully challenging governmental immunity, expanding whistleblower protections and pushing to reform the statute of limitations for sexual abuse survivors.

  • September 22, 2026

    Mich. Fed. Judge On 1-Year Leave Over Drunken Driving Case

    U.S. District Judge Thomas L. Ludington is taking a one-year paid leave of absence from the bench following his misdemeanor conviction for drunken driving, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan announced Tuesday.

  • September 21, 2026

    Mich. Judge Drops State Claims In Dental Practice Suit

    A Michigan federal judge said Monday that he is dropping state law claims from a Medicaid fraud suit filed against a group of dental offices, citing a strong potential for jury confusion, and will only consider federal law claims.

  • September 21, 2026

    HHS Can Claw Back $195M In Medicaid Payments From Mich.

    A D.C. federal judge on Monday said Michigan must return almost $200 million in Medicaid payments made to two state-operated psychiatric facilities, agreeing with a finding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' appeals board that the institutions did not meet federal requirements.

  • September 21, 2026

    Mich. City Says Data Center Moratorium Suit Is Premature

    A Michigan city has urged a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit from developers that challenges a one-year moratorium on data center development, saying the pause doesn't represent a final land use decision that can be reviewed by a court.

  • September 21, 2026

    Mich. Contractor To Pay $5M To Settle AbilityOne FCA Case

    The U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan on Monday announced the settlement of a False Claims Act case against Lifeview Group Inc., in which the government contractor agreed to pay more than $5 million to resolve allegations involving a federal employment program for people who are blind or have significant disabilities.

  • September 21, 2026

    NEC Hits Anker With New Patent Suit, Days Before EDTX Trial

    Japan-based electronics company NEC Corp. has sued over home security products made by Chinese rival Anker Innovations, accusing it of infringing six image processing patents, days before another NEC suit against Anker on similar patents is set for trial in Texas.

  • September 21, 2026

    Mich. Orthodontics Worker's Race Harassment Claims Survive

    A former employee of a Michigan orthodontics practice can take to trial her allegations that a co-worker created a hostile work environment by repeatedly using language mocking slavery, although a federal judge tossed her race discrimination and retaliation claim.

  • September 21, 2026

    FedEx Seeks High Court Review Of 6th Circ. Pension Ruling

    FedEx has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review the Sixth Circuit's decision to revive two proposed class actions alleging Kellogg's and FedEx's outdated actuarial assumptions shortchanged joint-and-survivor benefits for retirees, claiming the circuit court's "erroneous" interpretation of federal benefits law warrants high court review.

Expert Analysis

  • Ohio Case Reflects States' Aggressive Criminal Antitrust Turn

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    The Ohio Attorney General's Office’s recent bid-rigging indictment of an online auctioneer is the latest signal that states, through attorneys general pursuing more kickback cases and legislators expanding the reach of antitrust laws, are shedding their historical reluctance to wield their criminal antitrust enforcement powers, say attorneys at Arnold & Porter.

  • Pivotal 6th Circ. Ruling Threatens Decades Of NLRB Decisions

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    The Sixth Circuit's recent decision in Brown-Forman v. National Labor Relations Board fundamentally challenged the NLRB's long-standing practice of establishing policies through adjudication rather than formal rulemaking, giving employers and unions a new avenue to procedurally attack the vast majority of its rules, say attorneys at Faegre Drinker.

  • What A Court Doc Audit Reveals About Erroneous Filings

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    My audit of 1,522 court documents from last month found that over 95% contained at least one verifiable error, with fewer than 1% showing clear indicators of artificial intelligence use — highlighting above all else that lawyers may want to focus most on strengthening their review processes, says Elliott Ash at ETH Zurich.

  • Series

    Mich. Banking Brief: All The Notable Legal Updates In Q1

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    Michigan's financial services sector saw several significant developments in 2026's first quarter, including the state Department of Insurance and Financial Services' issuance of a bulletin on the use of artificial intelligence and the Michigan House's introduction of a bill based on the Model Money Transmission Modernization Act, say attorneys at Dykema.

  • How Cos. Can Navigate The Patchwork Of AI Safety Bills

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    In the first few months of 2026, state and federal lawmakers introduced hundreds of bills to address the perceived safety risks of artificial intelligence, so companies should assess whether existing or planned services could be scoped into AI safety legislation across jurisdictions, say attorneys at Hogan Lovells.

  • Series

    Ultramarathons Make Me A Better Lawyer

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    Completing a 100-mile ultramarathon was tougher, more humbling and more rewarding than I ever imagined, and the experience highlighted how long-distance running has sharpened my ability to adapt to the evolving nature of antitrust law and strengthened my resolve to handle demanding, unforeseen challenges, says Dan Oakes at Axinn.

  • Getting The Most Out Of Learning And Development Programs

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    Junior associates can better develop the legal, business and interpersonal skills they need for long-term success by approaching their firms’ learning and development programs armed with five tips for getting the most out of these resources, says Lauren Hakala at Reed Smith.

  • OhioHealth Suit Signals Higher Antitrust Heat On Hospitals

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    The recent antitrust lawsuit against OhioHealth by the U.S. Justice Department and Ohio attorney general shows that federal and state enforcers are closely examining the competition issues in the healthcare sector, including restrictive contracts and antisteering practices, say attorneys at Freshfields.

  • Opinion

    AI Presents A Make-Or-Break Moment For Outside Counsel

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    The rapid adoption of artificial intelligence by corporate legal departments is forcing a long-overdue reset of the relationship between inside and outside counsel, and introducing a significant opportunity to shed frustrating inefficiencies and strengthen collaboration for firms willing to embrace the shift, says Intel Chief Legal Officer April Miller Boise.

  • Series

    Watching Hallmark Movies Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    I realize you may be judging me for watching, and actually enjoying, Hallmark Channel movies, but the escapism and storylines actually demonstrate qualities and actions that lead to an efficient, productive and positive legal practice, says Karen Ross at Tucker Ellis.

  • 5 Tips For Navigating Your Firm's All-Attorney Summit

    Excerpt from Practical Guidance
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    Law firm retreats should be approached strategically, as they present valuable opportunities to advance both the firm's objectives and attorneys' professional development through meaningful participation, building and strengthening internal relationships, and proactive follow-up, says James Argionis at Cozen O’Connor.

  • Series

    Coaching Soccer Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Coaching youth soccer for my 7-year-old son's team has sharpened how I communicate with clients, prepare witnesses, work within teams and think about leadership, making me a more thoughtful and effective lawyer in many ways, says Joshua Holt at Smith Currie.

  • Series

    Law School's Missed Lessons: The Human Element

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    Law school teaches you to quickly apply intellect and logic when handling a legal issue, but every fact pattern also involves a person, making the ability to balance expertise with empathy critical to the growth of relationships with clients, colleagues and adversaries, says Rachel Adcox at Adcox Strategies.

  • As Justices Mull Suncor, Cos. Face New Climate Suit Realities

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    Following the U.S. Supreme Court's recent decision to hear Suncor Energy v. Boulder County — its first case analyzing the litigation impact of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's rescission of its 2009 greenhouse gas endangerment finding — companies must consider new preemption questions surrounding climate lawsuits after the rescission, say attorneys at Hollingsworth.

  • The Benefits Of Choosing A Niche Practice In The AI Age

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    As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly accessible, lawyers with a niche practice may stand out as clients seek specialized judgment that automation cannot replicate, but it is important to choose a niche that is durable, engaging and a good personal fit, says Daniel Borneman at Lowenstein Sandler.

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