practices

View All Practices News

Insurance

Cannabidiol & Cosmetics – Changing Federal & State Regulations

Based on recent enforcement actions and rule changes at the state and federal levels, the focus on cannabidiol (CBD), the non-psychoactive component of both hemp and marijuana, as an additive to consumer products is on consumable products such as foods, beverages, and dietary supplements rather than topical products such as cosmetics.  The FDA is advising that they may pursue enforcement actions

State Allows Provisioning Center to Reopen, Sell Untested Marijuana

There were four recalls of marijuana in January 2019 while more than 70 unlicensed provisioning centers were permitted to reopen as the state continues to struggle to find a balance of making marijuana available to those with a medical need and to ensure all provisioning centers that dispense such marijuana are licensed – a process that can take up to one year.For now, provisioning centers that

2019 Michigan Non-Economic Damages Caps

On January 18, 2019, the State of Michigan Department of Treasury announced the 2019 Non-Economic Damages Caps for medical malpractice claims. Michigan has placed these limitations on the total amount of damages for non-economic loss that are recoverable in a medical malpractice action since 1993. The limitations are enacted by statute in MCL § 600.1483, which defines “non-economic loss” as d

Fruchey Co-Presents “A Legal Perspective on PFOS/PFAS Contamination Issues”

FBMJ attorney Ben Fruchey co-presented “A Legal Perspective on PFOS/PFAS Contamination Issues” to the Environmental Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan (SBM) on July 10, 2018.  The presentation provided an overview of the physical properties, regulation and remediation of Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), with an emphasis on sites and regulation in Michigan.  The presentatio

McGill and Cupples Co-Author Article for CLM – “Defending Carbon Monoxide Exposure Claims”

FBMJ attorneys Joe McGill and Jennifer Cupples co-authored “Defending Carbon Monoxide Exposure Claims,” published in the May, 2018 issue of CLM Magazine.  The article focuses on winning a carbon monoxide exposure claim with a thorough investigation based on recognized scientific methodology.“Defending Carbon Monoxide Exposure Claims,” discusses key elements of a successful defense of carb

2018 Michigan Non-Economic Damages Caps

Since 1993, Michigan has placed a limitation on the total amount of damages for non-economic loss that are recoverable in a medical malpractice action.  The current limitation is enacted by statute in MCL § 600.1483.  “Non-economic loss” is defined under the statute to mean damages or loss due to pain, suffering, inconvenience, physical impairment, physical disfigurement, loss of society an

Perfluoroalkyl Compounds: An Emerging Contaminant in Michigan

FBMJ attorneys Richard Baron, Benjamin Fruchey and Nicholas Andrew co-authored “Perfluoroalkyl Compounds: An Emerging Contaminant in Michigan,” published in the Fall 2017 issue of the State Bar of Michigan Environmental Law Journal. The article focuses on the impact of poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) as emerging contaminants in the State of Michigan, while also providing a general

FBMJ Attorneys Co-Author Article for CLM – “Emerging Contaminants – What You Need to Know About PFASs”

Richard Baron, Benjamin Fruchey and Nicholas Andrew co-authored “Emerging Contaminants – What You Need to Know About PFASs,” published in the December, 2017 issue of CLM Magazine. The article focuses on the impact of poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) as emerging contaminants, and how the associated health and environmental consequences have caught the insurance industry’s attenti

Attorney Richard Baron Presents Fracking Webinar

FBMJ attorney, Richard Baron, along with Texas attorney Rebecca Jo Reser, delivered a presentation entitled “Fracking and Insurance Coverage Issues” as part of the quarterly meeting of the Environmental & Toxic Tort Section of the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM). The presentation focused on the hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) process, the environmental risks associate

Emerging Contaminants, Emerging Concerns

Most contaminants share a common trait: stop its release and the ecosystem will dilute the concentrations or degrade the contaminant until it is no longer a threat to human health or the environment. Yet greater attention and scrutiny is now being focused on the potential harmful effects of poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), substances that appear to be highly mobile, easily enter the hu