Appeals
2021 Michigan NonEconomic Damages Announced
On January 27, 2021, the State of Michigan Department of Treasury released the 2021 limitations on noneconomic damages in medical malpractice cases. The “upper cap” limitation was adjusted to $851,000. The “lower cap” was adjusted to a limitation of $476,600.Michigan has placed a limitation on the total amount of damages that can be recoverable for noneconomic loss in a medical malpractice
Pharmacies Can Be Sued For Ordinary Negligence But Not Medical Malpractice
By: Nicole Joseph-WindeckerIn its unanimous unpublished decision of Estate of Kevin Karl Gottschalk, by Kathleen Tocco, Personal Representative.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 prior decisions from Michigan courts on the grounds that pharmacie
FBMJ Attorneys Win Change for Toxic Tort Causation Standards in Michigan
FBMJ Attorneys recently prevailed in convincing the Michigan Court of Appeals to require more stringent causation proofs from plaintiffs in toxic tort cases. The case will have far reaching consequences for all toxic tort cases, as the opinion brought causation analysis in Michigan toxic tort cases in-line with the causation analysis adopted by many other jurisdictions. This will provide all entit
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, 2020 that property owners’ interests in the surplus proceeds of any such sales remain even after the au
Michigan State of Emergency Extends Into July: Here’s What Litigants Need to Know
Many of the more than 160 Executive Orders and Administrative Orders Gov. Whitmer and the Michigan Supreme Court have issued in response to the COVID-19 pandemic impact the legal system, the litigants, and their insurers. Below is a brief review of how these orders change important civil litigation deadlines ranging from the statute of limitations, motion practice and trials. These changes will co
Away With Solowy? Supreme Court Takes Up Appeal that Could Lead to Expansion of 6-Month Discovery Rule
By: Christina J. Green, Nicole C. Joseph-Windecker and Mitchell C. JacksonHow long does a plaintiff have to file a medical malpractice case? Well, that could be changing soon, as the Michigan Supreme Court recently took up an appeal that may give plaintiffs more time to file suit. This appeal could impact the healthcare community and its insurers for decades to come due to its potential to expa
Federal Courts Issue Rulings on 1st Amendment Rights During COVID-19
Most state governments have responded to COVID-19 with executive orders and laws that restrict the public from certain activities, including religious assembly. Such limitations on activities protected by the First Amendment have resulted in a flurry of lawsuits – at least one that reached the Supreme Court – alleging First and Fourteenth Amendment violations that raise a critical question: Ho
The Ol’ Expert Switcheroo: COA Holds AOM Signed by New Expert “Amendment” and Relates Back
If a plaintiff replaces an affidavit of merit (AOM) signed by an unqualified expert with one signed by a qualified expert, does the subsequent AOM constitute an “amendment” to the original AOM, such that it relates back for statute of limitations purposes? Surprisingly, yes—at least according to the Court of Appeal’s recent opinion in Legion-London v. Surgical Inst. of Mich Ambulatory Surg
2020 Michigan Non-Economic Damages Caps
The State of Michigan Department of Treasury has announced the 2020 Non-Economic Damages Caps for medical malpractice claims. With respect to obtaining compensation for the injured plaintiff, Michigan has a statutory cap on the amount of noneconomic loss that a plaintiff may be awarded in a medical malpractice lawsuit. Noneconomic damages are intended to compensate the plaintiff for injuries and l
COA: Medicaid Lien Reimbursement Made Easy…
On February 4, 2020, the Michigan Court of Appeals issued its published opinion in the matter of Theresa Byrnes, et al. v. Jacob Martinez, M.D., et al. This opinion provides much-needed guidance to attorneys and courts regarding the methods used to consider and implement when attempting to settle a lawsuit involving a Medicaid lienholder. The opinion also provides specific guidance regarding how t