Real Estate Law

In Cody Park Association vs. Royal Oak School District, we successfully represented a group of homeowners, who sought to prevent a neighborhood park from being converted into a bus maintenance facility. The Michigan Court of Appeals ruled that a state agency is not immune from local zoning ordinances, and the property was maintained as a park.

In Greenberg vs. City of Madison Heights, we successfully represented a dentist  who leased an office within a hospital, which was exempt from property taxes. However, the City assessed the taxes against the group of doctors who owned the building, who in turn, demanded that our client pay, although there was no provision in the lease. Reversing the Michigan Tax Tribunal, the Michigan Court of Appeals ruled that absent a contrary lease provision, the first non-exempt lessee is responsible for property taxes. This resulted in a savings of thousands of dollars to our client.

                                              Family Law

In Rucinski vs. Rucinski, our client's former husband claimed that he was not the father of a child born during the marriage. The Michigan Court of Appeals ruled that a father may not challenge paternity after entry of a judgment of divorce.

                                          Civil Procedure 

In Poss vs. Poss, the parties placed a detailed settlement on the Court record. After entry of the judgment, the trial judge altered the terms in a manner adverse to our client's interests. The Michigan Court of Appeals ruled that an agreement or consent between parties stated in open Court cannot later be altered by the trial Court, thereby reinstating the original bargain to which our client had agreed.

                                            Criminal Law

In People vs. Rowe, et. al., we represented a group of female Detroit Police Officers, who entered guilty pleas to charges of having illegally received public assistance benefits, on a promise that they would not lose their jobs. The Michigan Supreme Court, reversing the Michigan Court of Appeals, remanded the cases to the trial Court after our clients were fired, and we were successful in assisting them in keeping their employment. 

In People vs. Trabucchi, we successfully argued first to a District Court Judge, and then a Circuit Court Judge that a Michigan law prohibiting ticket scalping was unconstitutional. Although the Michigan Court of Appeals later reversed these decisions, the case has been widely cited, and eventually served as a basis for a Federal Court decision declaring the City of Detroit ticket scalping ordinance unconstitutional. Although over 20 years old, the case was mentioned in media coverage during the 2006 World Series.