Michigan

In the case Chambers v. Trettco, Inc., 463 Mich. 297, 614 N.W.2d 910 (2000), a former employee filed suit against her employer under the Michigan Civil Rights Act, Mich. Comp.

Article I of the Constitution of Michigan contains the state’s Declaration of Rights, articulating fundamental guarantees of equality, liberty, and personal autonomy. Three sections are particularly significant are § 2 on equal protection, § 25 on marriage, and § 28 on reproductive freedom.

In Donajkowski v. Alpena Power Co., 460 Mich. 243, 596 N.W.2d 574 (1999), the Michigan Supreme Court held that under the Michigan contribution statute, Mich. Comp.

The Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act declares that the opportunity to obtain employment, housing, education, and the full use of public accommodations is a civil right. The Act prohibits discrimination in these areas based on religion, race, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, height, weight, familial status, or marital status. It further provides protections against retaliation for opposing discriminatory practices or participating in related proceedings.

The Human Trafficking Notification Act of 2016 requires specific public and private entities to display a conspicuous human trafficking notice in locations accessible to the public. Entities subject to the law include: the Department of Transportation, local units of government that operate rest stops, welcome centers, or public bus or rail services, all adult entertainment establishments, public airports, and owners of property that a court has determined constitutes a public nuisance due to acts of prostitution or human trafficking occurring on or connected to the premises.

In People v. Nelson, the defendant was convicted of felonious assault, domestic violence, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. At trial, the Court barred the defendant from testifying that her partner had threatened to kill her; this testimony was central to her self-defense claim.

In People v. Warner, 514 Mich. 41, 22 N.W.3d 1 (2024), the defendant was convicted of first-degree criminal sexual conduct against his minor stepdaughter. He was interrogated by law enforcement three times, initially maintaining his innocence before signing a confession prepared by the police. At trial, the defense requested public funds to hire an expert witness on false confessions to challenge the reliability of the confession. The trial court denied the request, and the Eaton Circuit Court affirmed the conviction on appeal.

In Pueblo v. Haas, 511 Mich. 345, 999 N.W.2d 433 (2023), the parties were in a long-term same-sex relationship that began before marriage equality was recognized in Michigan. The couple used in vitro fertilization to conceive a child, with the defendant serving as the biological parent listed on the birth certificate. After their relationship ended, the plaintiff sought joint custody and parenting time based on her parental role, despite lacking a biological or adoptive connection to the child.

In Radtke v. Everett, 442 Mich. 368, 501 N.W.2d 155 (1993), the Michigan Supreme Court held that a hostile work environment claim under the Michigan Civil Rights Act, Mich. Comp.

The Sexual Assault Kit Evidence Submission Act of 2014 establishes procedures for the handling, submission, and retention of sexual assault evidence kits in Michigan. The law requires a health care facility to notify the appropriate law enforcement agency within 24 hours after obtaining written consent from the victim to release the kit for testing. If the victim does not provide written consent, the facility must inform the individual of its storage policy for unreported sexual assault kits.