News Categories: Business Issues

October 2020

Michigan Gov. Signs Law Giving Healthcare Facilities Liability Protections

On October 22, 2020, Governor Whitmer signed into law House Bill 6159, creating a Pandemic Health Care Immunity Act to protect health care workers against liability for claims arising out of care provided in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This law was part of a package of COVID-related bills signed

September 2020

Pharmacies Can Be Sued For Ordinary Negligence But Not Medical Malpractice

By: Nicole Joseph-Windecker In its unanimous unpublished decision of Estate of Kevin Karl Gottschalk, by Kathleen Tocco, Personal Representative. v. Plumbrook Pharmacy, et al., the Michigan Court of Appeals held that pharmacies cannot be sued for medical malpractice as a matter of law. This ruling on September 17 was consistent with

September 2020

FBMJ Attorney Joseph McGill Elected Treasurer of the State Bar of Michigan

Foley, Baron, Metzger & Juip PLLC is pleased to announce that Joseph McGill, a principal with the firm, was recently elected as the treasurer of the State Bar of Michigan for the 2020-2021 bar year. McGill will be sworn in by Justice Bridget McCormack of the Michigan Supreme Court at

September 2020

Attorney Anthony Pignotti Authors Article on COVID-19 Executive and Administrative Orders and Their Impact on the Legal System for MDTC Quarterly

FBMJ attorney Anthony Pignotti authored “Summary and Analysis of Executive and Administrative Orders Issued in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic and Their Impact on the Legal System” for the September 2020 issue of Michigan Defense Quarterly Volume 37, No. 1 – 2020. The article addresses how COVID-19-related executive and administrative orders

August 2020

2021 Medical Marijuana Licensing Fees – Not So High

The annual regulatory fees set by state regulators and paid by licensed medical marijuana businesses are significantly decreasing – by up to 70% for some licensees. The decrease in these fees, which cover costs incurred by the state in maintaining the state medical marijuana program, is a welcome development to

July 2020

Oakland County Violated Constitution by Keeping Tax Sale Proceeds

County governments that sell properties at auction to satisfy unpaid tax debts commit an unconstitutional taking when they keep the surplus proceeds of those sales beyond the amount of taxes owed. Relying in part on law from 800 years ago, the Michigan Supreme Court issued a ruling on July 17,

July 2020

Gov. Whitmer Extends Remote Notarization Provisions Through August 31, 2020

Remote notarizations will continue to be permitted through August 31, 2020 under a new order Gov. Whitmer issued this week. Executive Order 2020-158 extended a previous order encouraging the use of electronic signatures and remote witnessing of signatures due to COVID-19 and suspending in-person notarization and signing requirements. NOTARIZATION As with the

June 2020

More Businesses Allowed to Open But Must Be Compliant

The start of June brings further relaxed restrictions in the State of Michigan as the Governor announced an end to the Stay at Home orders applicable to most Michigan businesses. This is the Governor’s recognition of the State’s overall improvement in combatting COVID-19, correlating with improved tracing efforts, health system