Legal Reference Blog by Renee C. Walsh, Esq.

29. August 2007: Public Utilities and Consumer Rights - Michigan

Did you know that Consumers Energy can transfer a debt from another consumer's account to yours or your client's and if payment is not made, a shut off notice will follow? What should you do you do in this situation? ...More

16. August 2007: Small Claims Court

For those persons considering filing a complaint in small claims court because it is said to be cheaper and easier than to hire an attorney, here is food for thought on the matter. Claims that are filed in small claims court could just as well been placed on the regular civil docket. If your case is on the regular civil docket, you do not give up the right to ...More

12. August 2007: Michigan Cyber Court

Did you know that Michigan has a CYBER COURT, created in law at MCL 600.8001 - 8028 and entered into law in 2002?! As the law says, the purpose of the court is to allow commercial disputes to be resolved with the expertise, technology, and efficiency required by the information age economy. Virtual court facilities are established, allowing court filing and proceedings to be conducted electronically.

In Cyber Court, the only means of a hearing is ...More

08. August 2007: Habitual Offender

The Michigan habitual offender statutes provide that individuals convicted of 'a felony, an attempt to commit a felony, or both,' who subsequently commit another felony, are subject to sentence enhancement. MCL 769.10-769.12. If the prosecutor intends to seek enhancement of sentence, he must ...More

02. August 2007: Michigan Attempt to Commit a Crime

The crime of attempt reduces the punishment. In some cases this does nothing. Consider a juvenile defendant age 12 charged with a 5-year felony. At the pretrial, the prosecutor offers an attempt with the selling point being that the maximum punishment is reduced. This is essentially an empty offer as to this defendant because ...More