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 Jackson v. VHS Detroit Receiving Hospital, Inc., 814 F.3d 769 (6th Cir. 2016), the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit held that a female mental health technician presented sufficient evidence to establish a prima facie case of sex discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C.

In Kalich v. AT&T Mobility, LLC, 679 F.3d 464 (6th Cir. 2012), the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit affirmed summary judgment in favor of the employer, holding that the plaintiff failed to establish a claim of sex discrimination or hostile work environment under Michigan’s Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, Mich. Comp.

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.