Michigan

Prominent Lawyer Gets 8 Months as Her Attorney Husband Urges Court to Blame Him in Tax Case

A third-generation lawyer in a prominent Michigan legal family was sentenced to eight months yesterday in a federal tax case. Nancy Dilley, who pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor of failing to file a 2007 tax return, must also serve a year of supervised release after she completes her prison term…

Jul 7, 2011 4:54 PM CDT

New Mich. Rules Allow Jurors to Ask Questions, Judges to Summarize Evidence

Michigan Chief Justice Robert Young Jr. says jurors will no longer be treated like kindergarteners under new rules adopted by his court. Now jurors may take notes, discuss the evidence throughout civil trials, and pass along questions for witnesses to the trial judge, report the Detroit News, the Detroit Free…

Jun 30, 2011 12:16 PM CDT

City Settles Suit, Ex-City Attorney’s Law License Is Suspended re Court Sex During Plea Negotiations

The city of Holland, Mich., and a former deputy city attorney have settled on undisclosed terms a federal lawsuit filed by a defendant in a drunken-driving case who said she was raped by the lawyer, Carl Gabrielse, in a jury room bathroom during plea negotiations in a Holland District Court…

Jun 21, 2011 5:23 PM CDT

12 Michigan Law Firms Launch 5-Year Diversity Push

Twelve Grand Rapids, Mich., law firms signed a pledge this week to boost diversity through a collaborative five-year program that promotes the recruitment, retention and advancement of women and minorities in the local legal community. The joint program, which is organized through the Grand Rapids Bar Association, builds on past…

Jun 17, 2011 5:51 PM CDT

Detroit Seeks $10M from Ex-Partner of Venable, Says She Didn’t Do Job Due to Relationship with Mayor

An ongoing dispute over $10 million paid by the city of Detroit to a former partner of Venable and Saul Ewing who served as independent police monitor for more than five years has now moved to federal court. The city has also upped the ante against attorney Sheryl Robinson Wood…

Jun 15, 2011 10:40 PM CDT

Michigan Law Firm Pledges $1M in Free Legal Work for Start-Ups

Michigan-based Varnum is donating up to $1 million in pro bono legal services over the next five years to help start-up and fledgling businesses in the state. Gov. Rick Snyder announced the pledge Wednesday. The contribution is part of a plan Snyder is backing, MiSpringboard, to boost economic activity in…

Jun 10, 2011 1:45 PM CDT

ABA on Blind Applicant’s Suit: LSAT Isn’t Required; Law Schools Decide How to Weigh Any Test

In a written public statement responding to a federal lawsuit filed last week that accuses the American Bar Association of discriminating against those with visual impairments by requiring law school applicants to take an admission test that includes questions requiring the ability to diagram and demonstrate visual reasoning skills, the…

Jun 1, 2011 10:00 AM CDT

Blind Law School Applicant’s Suit Contends ABA Violates ADA by Promoting LSAT

A federal lawsuit filed in Michigan yesterday by a legally blind law school applicant contends that the American Bar Association is discriminating against the blind and visually impaired in the manner in which it accredits law schools. By pushing law schools to use the Law School Admission Test administered by…

May 25, 2011 6:00 PM CDT

Perpetuities Rule Finally Ends $100M Waiting Game for Lumber Baron’s Heirs, 92 Years After His Death

Remember the rule against perpetuities? It played out in real life concerning a cantankerous Michigan lumber baron’s will, finally putting an end to a $100 million waiting game for his heirs. Not allowed to collect their share of Wellington Burt’s fortune until 21 years after the death of his youngest…

May 10, 2011 11:26 PM CDT

Should Judge Let Defense Atty Testify re Ex-Client’s Alleged Slay Admissions? Gov’t Says No Hearsay

A self-confessed Detroit hitman serving time for eight murders reportedly has claimed responsibility as well for four more slayings that another man has been convicted of committing. But, perhaps fearing that he could face further punishment, Vincent Smothers has declined to testify about the slayings. Instead, he has made the…

May 9, 2011 8:32 PM CDT

Murder Defendant to Claim Low Sodium Caused Insanity

A Michigan man accused of stabbing his mother to death is expected to claim low sodium caused his temporary insanity at the time of the crime. A lawyer for Charles Foresi claims the defendant suffered a brain dysfunction because of an improperly treated salt imbalance known as hyponatremia, report the…

May 4, 2011 3:27 PM CDT

Blowing Kisses at Jailed ‘Client’ Reportedly Led to Criminal Case Against Lawyer

Nina Marie Backon said she was representing Eric Edward Wilamowski as his attorney. But the Michigan lawyer’s affectionate treatment of Wilamowski led authorities to question the now 23-year-old man, who said she had been blowing kisses at him in May 2010 because the two were engaged to be married, reports…

Apr 27, 2011 9:57 PM CDT

Michigan Judge on Administrative Leave Over Travel Expenditures

Sylvia James, chief judge of Michigan’s 22nd District Court, was placed on paid administrative leave yesterday after a community service fund with thousands expended on travel was discovered. The Michigan Supreme Court ordered a deeper investigation into the situation, which was revealed in a state Court Administrative Office audit of…

Apr 14, 2011 5:26 PM CDT

Attorney Pleads Guilty to Smuggling Contraband to Her Jailed Fiance

A Michigan lawyer has pleaded guilty to possession of drugs and other contraband after smuggling six Xanax pills and tobacco to her jailed fiance. Nina Backon admitted to the offense when suspicious authorities searched her boyfriend, Eric Edward Wilamowski, and found the items, reports the Detroit News. She had initially…

Apr 8, 2011 6:55 PM CDT

Prosecutor Concerns About Defense Spur Reversal; Lawyer Accused of Calling Client ‘Toast’

A defense lawyer accused of smiling and calling her sexual abuse client “toast” after the verdict did not deliver effective assistance, the Michigan Court of Appeals has ruled. The court granted a new trial for defendant Jeffrey Gioglio in an appeal spurred by the prosecutor’s concerns, according to the Associated…

Apr 7, 2011 12:20 PM CDT