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Bryan Waldman Obtains Jury Verdict for Dog Bite Victim – Leads to Successful Settlement

Sinas Dramis Law Firm partner, Bryan Waldman, recently obtained a substantial jury verdict for a dog bite victim in the Ingham County Circuit Court in Lansing, Michigan. The verdict was in the amount of $326,151.00 and believed to be one of the largest dog bite jury verdicts ever obtained in Ingham County. Our client was an elementary school teacher and avid runner. One morning while out for a run, she was attacked by a German Shepard. After suddenly and violently knocking our client to the ground, the German Shepard circled around her, growling and threatening to attack again. Our client’s physical...

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Hamade v Garza: Court of Appeals Upholds Dog Bite Victim’s Case Against Landlord

The Michigan Court of Appeals’ recent decision in Hamade v Garzarepresents a positive development for Michigan plaintiffs who are victims of dog attacks. In fact, the case could benefit plaintiffs outside the context of dog bites. Hamade deals with a landlord’s liability when a tenant’s dog attacks and injures an individual. In Michigan, both statute and common law govern the liability of an owner of a dog. However, any action against a landlord who is not the owner of the dog is governed by the common law standard of reasonable care, which requires an individual to act in a way so...

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Stephen Sinas Argues Price v High Pointe Oil Company Before the Michigan Supreme Court

On Thursday, November 15, 2012, Stephen Sinas argued the case of Price v High Pointe Oil Company before the Michigan Supreme Court.  Jim Graves and Stephen Sinas have represented Beckie Price as a result of an incident that occurred on November 17, 2007, in which High Pointe Oil Company negligently released 400 gallons of fuel oil directly into the basement of Ms. Price’s home in DeWitt, Michigan.  As a result of the incident, Ms. Price was immediately displaced from her home and the home had to be destroyed.  Despite its negligence, High Pointe Oil Company argued that it only had...

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The Affordable Care Act and What it Means for Michigan

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, more commonly known as the Affordable Care Act (or “Obamacare”) was signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 23, 2010, and was most recently upheld in large part by the United States Supreme Court in National Federation of Independent Businesses v Sebelius. On the simplest level, the goal of the Act is to ensure that Americans have access to quality, affordable healthcare. Because this new plan will have a substantial impact on all of us, we’d like to provide you with some highlights of what the Affordable Care Act offers, and...

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Sinas Dramis Law Firm Obtains $3 Million Settlement for Slain War Veteran

The Sinas Dramis Law Firm has recently obtained a $3 million settlement stemming from the 2005 wrongful shooting death of Ionia County resident Fred Bletz, a decorated veteran of the Vietnam War.  Mr. Bletz was shot and killed in his own home on March 4, 2005, by members of the Ionia County Sherriff’s Department, when their failure to follow proper police procedure proved fatal. On the evening of March 4, 2005, while Fred and his wife Kitti Bletz were fast asleep, Ionia County Sheriff’s deputies Travis Gribble and Brent Denny set out to execute a misdemeanor traffic warrant for the arrest...

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Supreme Court Ruling Further Limits “Special Aspects” Exception

Supreme Court Columns

A recent decision by the Michigan Supreme Court may have a negative impact on the ability of Michigan’s citizens to recover for injuries sustained in slip and fall accidents. In the case of Hoffner v Lanctoe, the Michigan Supreme Court held that ice leading up to the only entrance of a fitness center was avoidable because the plaintiff was not “absolutely compelled” to confront it, and therefore Michigan’s open and obvious doctrine prevented the plaintiff from recovering for her injuries. The Hoffner decision could have a significant impact on the rights of individuals in Michigan and may mean increased danger to...

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