Latest Michigan Headlines

Karlen Named President, COO of Michigan-Based FinCor Holdings

Jul 6 2010 // John R. Karlen has been appointed president and chief operating officer of FinCor Holdings Inc. (FinCor), a Lansing, Mich.-based subsidiary of Medical Professional Mutual Insurance Co. In this role, Karlen will lead all of...

Declarations

Jul 5 2010 // Don’t Text, Just Drive “Txt Back L8R” —Billboards going up around Michigan are reminding drivers to hold off on text messaging. The Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning said that the billboards in...

Michigan Court Rules Liability Waivers for Kids Do Not Bar Lawsuits

Jul 5 2010 // A parent’s signature doesn’t waive the legal rights of a child who is hurt at play, the Michigan Supreme Court said in a decision that has consequences for businesses, schools and other groups offering...

Michigan Man, Fired for Legal Pot Smoking, Sues Wal-Mart

Jul 2 2010 // A Michigan man has sued Wal-Mart Stores Inc. for firing him after he tested positive for medical marijuana he was using legally to treat pain from an inoperable brain tumor and sinus cancer. Joseph Casias, 30, said he was...

Michigan Police Face Challenge of Enforcing Text-Driving Ban

Jun 28 2010 // When Michigan’s ban on texting while driving takes effect Thursday, July 1, police will be able to pull over motorists solely for using their cell phones to send or look at text messages or e-mails. Some in law...

Michigan Billboards Remind Drivers to ‘Txt Back L8R’

Jun 24 2010 // Billboards going up around Michigan are reminding drivers to hold off on text messaging. The Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning said that the billboards in major metropolitan areas will carry the phrase text back...

Michigan Court Rules Liability Waivers for Kids Do Not Bar Lawsuits

Jun 21 2010 // A parent’s signature doesn’t waive the legal rights of a child who is hurt at play, the Michigan Supreme Court said in a decision that has consequences for businesses, schools and other groups offering...

Let Michigan Insurance Consumers Tailor Auto Coverage

Jun 10 2010 // Imagine you live in a town where anyone who dines out is required to buy a $200 bottle of champagne with their meal. That sounds crazy, but it is essentially what is happening to insurers in Michigan, where they are...

Michigan Court Upholds Denial of Basic Home Insurance Rate Hike

Jun 10 2010 // In a unanimous decision this week, the Michigan Court of Appeals upheld a 2008 order by Insurance Commissioner Ken Ross that denied the state’s property insurer of last resort an 18.9 percent rate hike. In reversing...

Michigan University Seeks Compensation Over Bias Charge

Jun 9 2010 // Central Michigan University is asking for $174,294 from an ex- basketball player and her lawyer over their failed sex discrimination complaint involving coach Sue Guevara. The Saginaw News says the university asked U.S....

Change in Michigan Law Opened Door to Lawsuits Against Hooters

Jun 8 2010 // An attorney for two former waitresses in Michigan who said Hooters fired them because of their weight told a newspaper the case is about civil rights. But Hooters said the appearance of its waitresses is a legitimate...

Business Moves

Jun 7 2010 // Fremont Michigan, Northern Mutual Fremont Michigan InsuraCorp Inc., a Michigan-exclusive property and casualty insurance company headquartered in Fremont, Mich., and Northern Mutual Insurance Co. (Northern), a Michigan...

Michigan Court: Wrong Address Not a Barrier to Filing Malpractice Lawsuit

May 27 2010 // The Michigan Supreme Court says the wrong address is not a reason to stop a woman from filing a medical malpractice lawsuit against her former eye doctor. The court’s 4-3 decision this week reinstated a lawsuit...

Survey: Michigan Employers Shifting Healthcare Costs to Employees

May 25 2010 // A survey of mid-sized Southeast Michigan employers shows that health benefits are on par with national trends as traditionally rich benefit offerings go by the wayside, according to McGraw Wentworth, a Michigan-based...

Michigan Employee Sues Hooters, Claims Weight Bias

May 25 2010 // A former Hooters employee in a Detroit suburb has sued the restaurant chain, alleging she was unable to keep her job after being told to lose weight. Cassandra Smith alleges that Hooters put her on 30-day “weight...

May 17 2010 // 26.4% The U.S. Department of Agriculture said crop insurance companies posted profits of 26.4 percent last year, and the federal government wants to reduce its spending on crop insurance. Participating farmers pay premiums...

Fremont Michigan InsuraCorp, Northern Mutual Insurance Plan Alliance

May 13 2010 // Fremont Michigan InsuraCorp Inc., a Michigan-exclusive property and casualty insurance company headquartered in Fremont, Mich., and Northern Mutual Insurance Co. (Northern), a Michigan mutual insurer have agreed to a...

Fremont Michigan InsuraCorp Sees Growth in Q1 2010

May 5 2010 // Fremont Michigan InsuraCorp Inc., a Michigan-exclusive property and casualty insurance carrier, reported revenues of $14.9 million for the first quarter of 2010, up 9.4 percent from revenues in the first quarter...

People

May 3 2010 // Cincinnati, Ohio-based American Empire Surplus Lines Insurance Co. (AESLIC) has named Frederick J. Woebse president and chief operating officer. He succeeds Robert Nelson, who was named chairman and chief executive...

Michigan Governor to Sign Fremont Insurance Anti-Takeover Bill

Apr 29 2010 // A spokeswoman says Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm is expected to sign legislation that would make it tougher for San Antonio-based Biglari Holdings Inc. to take over a west Michigan insurance company. The legislation...