Michigan

Grade: F

Michigan does not have an anti-SLAPP law. 

 

2010 Update:

The Michigan House of Representatives passed a strong Anti-SLAPP bill (HB 5036) on August 19, 2010, with bipartisan support.  Justin Kurtz, Public Participation Project’s former Webmaster and the victim of a SLAPP lawsuit, testified before the Michigan House of Representatives in support of the bill.  HB 5036 was introduced by Representative Kate Ebli.  State Representative Kevin Elsenheimer introduced HB 6394 in September 2008, a bill to protect both public officials and citizens from lawsuits arising from their petitioning activity.  The bill has raised concerns for some because it was seen as too protective of government officials vis a vis citizens, especially zoning officials.  Rep. Elsenheimer was expected to introduce anti-SLAPP legislation in response to suits brought by developers against local township officials, but it does not appear that legislation has yet been filed.

Michigan SLAPP Stories:

Featured
Doctors, hospitals sue patients who post negative comments, reviews on social media
Doctors, hospitals sue patients who post negative comments, reviews on social media

As doctors and hospitals throw considerable resources behind legal fights, some patients face huge legal bills for posting negative reviews.

Judge allows lawsuit against CBS by brother of JonBenét Ramsey to proceed
Judge allows lawsuit against CBS by brother of JonBenét Ramsey to proceed

A Michigan judge declined to throw out a defamation lawsuit brought against CBS by the brother of JonBenét Ramsey.

"Yellow Journalist" Loses Defamation Lawsuit, Showing Need for Anti-SLAPP Statutes
"Yellow Journalist" Loses Defamation Lawsuit, Showing Need for Anti-SLAPP Statutes

An editor at the Ionia, Michigan Sentinel-Standard lost the defamation lawsuit she filed against local citizens who complained about her reporting and called her a "yellow journalist."

Flushing Township Supervisor Schwieman plans to sue recall organizer
Flushing Township Supervisor Schwieman plans to sue recall organizer

A township supervisor said that he planned to file a defamation lawsuit against a recall organizer, a Flushing Township resident and former township supervisor.

Pricey Lawsuits Hound Local Governments’ Growth Decisions
Pricey Lawsuits Hound Local Governments’ Growth Decisions

An attorney with a controversial history of suing public officials and private citizens forced this Emmet County township to spend $388,000 to defend itself against multiple lawsuits he’s filed on behalf of a local developer with downstate roots.

Ecology Center's lindane suit settled
Ecology Center's lindane suit settled

The Ecology Center settled a lawsuit filed by a pharmaceutical company that sought more than $9 million from the Ann Arbor-based nonprofit because of its participation in an aggressive campaign to restrict use of a chemical believed to be harmful to people and the environment.

Teacher Union Head Whines in Public, then Sues Group Quoting Him
Teacher Union Head Whines in Public, then Sues Group Quoting Him

The head of the Michigan Education Association (MEA) called a press conference to complain about the Mackinac Center’s successes in promoting charter schools, educational choice and other reforms in public schools. After the Center quoted him in a fund-raising letter, the MEA sued the Center.