Posts by svertel@secrestwardle.com
Third-Party Trial Win by Jeffrey Bullard, Sr.
Court Extends Invitee Status to Airbnb Guests and Raises Duty of Condominium Associations
In Letvin, the Michigan Court of Appeals continued to liberalize premises liability law, reiterating the Supreme Court’s decision in Janini v London Townhouses Condo Ass’n, 514 Mich 86 (2024), which allowed condominium owners to sue their condominium associations for injuries sustained in common areas. Letvin extended Janini to Airbnb renters, who can now sue their…
Read MoreOwner’s Loss: Supreme Court Issues Guidance on Ownership Under the No-Fault Act
In Abdulla v Progressive, the Supreme Court denied no-fault benefits to a commercial driver who owned an uninsured truck. In doing so, the Court reversed the lower court, which awarded benefits despite the truck’s lack of insurance because it was technically titled to an LLC, albeit an LLC that the driver solely owned. The Supreme…
Read MoreSpeculation Does Not Establish Notice
Bowers reinforces that, even after Kandil-Elsayed, plaintiffs must still produce evidence establishing notice and causation. General winter conditions and speculation regarding when ice formed remain insufficient to survive summary disposition. The decision also confirms that MCL 554.139 continues to provide limited application to residential tenants. A localized icy condition does not render a parking lot unfit…
Read MoreSecrest Wardle MI PIP Monthly – June 2026 Update
Secrest Wardle MI PIP Monthly – May 2026 Update
Secrest Wardle MI PIP Monthly – April 2026 Update
Supreme Court Provides Guidance on Relevant Inquiry for “Unlawful Taking” of Motor Vehicles Pursuant to MCL 500.313(a)
In Swoope v Citizens Ins Co, the Michigan Supreme Court distilled MCL 500.3113(a)’s rule that bars eligibility for PIP benefits where a vehicle in use was “taken unlawfully,” to limit its application to only where the taking of the vehicle was unlawful, as opposed to potential unlawful use of the vehicle itself. The Court’s interpretation…
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