

Federal Court Rules that Defendant was not Denied Due Process
Case: United States v. Folad Court: U.S. Court of Appeals Sixth Circuit ( Published Opinion ) Judges: Sutton, Gilman, and Stranch Issues: Whether the government violated defendants’ due process rights through the destruction of potentially exculpatory evidence; Action by private entities; Flagg Bros. Inc. v. Brooks; United States v. Lambert; United States v. Garlock (8th Cir.); The destruction of evidence by the government; Arizona v. Youngblood; Brady v. Maryland; California


Prosecutor Did Not Deny Defendant Fair Trial
Case: People v. Vlaz-St. Andre Court: Michigan Court of Appeals ( Unpublished Opinion ) Issues: Prosecutorial error; Whether the prosecutor’s rebuttal argument suggested that defense counsel was intentionally trying to mislead the jury; People v. Bennett; People v. Watson; People v. Fyda; People v. Dobek; Curative instruction; People v. Unger; People v. Ericksen; Right to counsel; Whether the trial court was deficient in failing to engage in further inquiry as to the reasons


Court Order Did Not Change Parenting Time
Case: Ludwig v. Ludwig Court: Michigan Court of Appeals ( Published Opinion ) Judges: Per Curiam – Jansen, Cavanagh, and Cameron Issues: Custody; Vodvarka v. Grasmeyer; Dailey v. Kloenhamer; Fletcher v. Fletcher; Maier v. Maier; Order to begin family therapy & reunification between defendant & the parties’ two children; Whether the order modified a parenting time order; MCL 722.27a(1); Rozek v. Rozek; Shade v. Wright; The Child Custody Act; Blaskowski v. Blaskowski; MCL 722.2


Court Rejects Defendant's MMMA Arguments
Case: People v. Slack (Unpublished Opinion) Issues: Failure to assert a defense under the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act (MMMA) (MCL 333.26421 et seq.); Immunity under MMMA § 4; MCL 333.26424(a) & (b); People v. Hartwick; Failure to raise a futile argument; People v. Ericksen; Affirmative defense under MMMA § 8; MCL 333.26428;People v. Bylsma; Prosecutorial error; People v. Dobek; People v. Callon; People v. Thomas Summary: Holding that Defendant’s arguments for immunity or a


Defendant Not Entitled to Refund of Restitution
Case: People v. Al-Shara Michigan Court of Appeals ( Unpublished Opinion ) Issues: Restitution; People v. Cross; The statutory right to restitution in the Crime Victim’s Rights Act (CVRA) (MCL 780.751 et seq.) & the general restitution statute (MCL 769.1a); MCL 780.766(2) & (11); MCL 769.1a(2) & (11); People v. Turn; Whether defendant was entitled to reimbursement of the restitution he paid; MCL 600.1475; People v. Diermier; Nelson v. Colorado Summary: The court held that the


Defendant's Silence Not Constitutionally Protected
Case: People v. Alexander Court: Michigan Court of Appeals ( Unpublished Opinion ) Judges: Per Curiam – Jansen, Cavanagh, and Gadola Issues: Whether defendant was denied a fair trial when the prosecution introduced evidence that she refused to be interviewed by an agent from the Michigan Inspector General’s Office without an attorney present; People v. Shafier; U.S. Const. amend. V; Const. 1963, art. 1, § 17; Miranda v. Arizona; People v. McReavy; People v. Solmonson; Ineffec


Court Denies Entrapment Defense in Marijuana Case
Case: People v. Amsdill, Michigan Court of Appeals ( Unpublished Opinion ) Issues: Dismissal of charges stemming from patient-to-patient marijuana sales; Michigan v. McQueen (McQueen I & II); People v. Johnson; Entrapment by estoppel; People v. Woods; People v. Pierce; Credibility assessments; People v. Martin; The Michigan Medical Marihuana Act (MMMA) Summary: Holding that the trial court clearly erred in ruling that defendant established all the elements of his entrapment b


Father Entitled to Hearing on Custody
Case: Sims v. Verbrugge Court: Michigan Court of Appeals ( Unpublished Opinion ) Issues: Child custody; The Acknowledgment of Parentage Act (MCL 722.1001 et seq.); MCL 722.1003(1); MCL 722.1004; Effect of acknowledgment of parentage (AOP); MCL 722.1006; Eldred v. Ziny; Foster v. Wolkowitz; The Child Custody Act (MCL 722.21 et seq.); MCL 722.27(1); Proper cause or a change of circumstances; Vodvarka v. Grasmeyer; Effect of a child being illegitimate; MCL 722.1 & MCL 722.2; Sin