July 8, 2014, Royal Oak, Mich. -- Pitt McGehee Palmer & Rivers has been named to the State Bar of Michigan's 2014 Circle of Excellence at the Leadership level. This recognition is reserved for law firms whose attorneys have each contributed at least:
*30 hours of pro bono service; or *$500 to a non-profit program which delivers civil legal services to low-income individuals. This year only 23 law firms in the state have been designated for providing this high level of pro bono services by the State Bar of Michigan. "These are still challenging economic times for many people in Michigan. Our firm has a long tradition of volunteering its time and resources to ensure that everyone can have access to our legal system. We're proud and honored to be recognized by the State Bar for the commitment shown by all of our attorneys," said Michael Pitt, founding partner of the firm. Information about the State Bar of Michigan Circle of Excellence award. You can read the award here.
Pitt Featured in Huffington Post Coverage of Flint EPA Suit
Mary Papenfuss Trends reporter, The Huffington Post
More than 1,700 residents of Flint, Michigan, have filed a class action lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency, accusing officials of “negligent” mismanagement of the city’s...
Detroit News Covers Pitt Led Flint Suit Against EPA
More than 1,700 Flint-area residents and property owners have filed suit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for the “mishandling” of the city’s water crisis in a legal action seeking more than $722.4 million in damages.
The...
Bonanni Featured in Metro Times/Free Press Taco Bell Suit Story
Update: Coverage from the Detroit Free Press
A Livingston County company used various policies to avoid paying employees for time worked, a federal lawsuit alleges.
A complaint filed in U.S District Court in Detroit claims Brighton-based Sundance...
Pitt Files Taco Bell Suit on Behalf of Michigan Employees
DETROIT, Jan. 24, 2016 – A lawsuit has been filed against a Michigan Taco Bell franchisor by several of its Michigan employees for multiple violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) at several of its retail outlets in the Detroit area. The...
Detroit News/Free Press Discuss Lack of UIA Resolution with PMP&R's Lord
From the Detroit Free Press
January 9, 2017
Although it did not come online until 2013, the State of Michigan used an error-prone computer system that has wrongly accused tens of thousands of people of unemployment insurance fraud to assess...
Crain's Interviews Lord in UIA Review Story
From Crain's Detroit Weekly
January 6, 2017
LANSING — The state's embattled unemployment agency said Friday it will review all computer-identified claims of benefits fraud — more than 30,000 — that until now have not been re-examined after...
Lord Interviewed by Michigan Radio Discussing UIA Auditor Report
From Michigan Radio:
A report from the state auditor general says Michigan's Unemployment Insurance Agency isn't doing enough to collect the delinquent taxes from employers. Some of those falsely accused of fraud have filed a class action...
Lord Cited in Detroit News/ WZZM TV Stories Regarding UIA Shakeup
From Detroit News
Lansing — The director of the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency has been reassigned after a shocking review revealed that an automated computer system made more than 20,000 fraud claims against out-of-work residents that...
Lord Discusses UIA Fraud with Traverse City Record Eagle
From the Traverse City Record Eagle -
TRAVERSE CITY — Software once used by Michigan's Unemployment Insurance Agency erroneously accused tens of thousands of people who filed for benefits of intentional misrepresentation, and one attorney fears...
Jennifer Lord Speaks to WNYC About What's Next for UIA
Pitt McGehee Palmer & Rivers Partner Jennifer Lord spoke to John Hockenberry at WNYC in NY. A summary is below.
The Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency reviewed over 20,000 instances where the state accused citizens of fraudulently seeking...
ABA: Who's To Blame for Poisoning of Flint Water?
For LeeAnne Walters, the first sign of trouble came in the summer of 2014, when her 4-year-old son Gavin developed rashes after coming into contact with the water.
In July, Gavin and his twin, Garrett, both suffered scaly patches of skin that...
Lord Shares Disgust with Free Press over State Tapping UIA Funds
LANSING — A bill headed to Gov. Rick Snyder's desk transfers $10 million in "surplus" unemployment insurance funds to help balance the state budget at the same time thousands of Michigan residents are claiming millions of dollars in...
Pitt Takes on Whistleblower Case for Judicial Watchdog
From Courthouse News
DETROIT (CN) – The former head of Michigan’s judicial disciplinary board claims he was fired for recommending a formal complaint be filed against a child-jailing judge (Lisa Gorcyca), disagreeing with the view that she is...
Pitt Sought by Media over Ruling Allowing Flint Residents to Sue State
From Detroit News
A Michigan Court of Claims judge has ruled Flint residents can indeed sue state officials for their decisions that led to the city’s drinking water contamination problems.
Judge Mark T. Boonstra, a Michigan Court of Appeals...
Pitt Discusses Flint Water - 'One Year Later' with Fox 2
From Fox 2 Detroit
Some progress has been made in Flint, the city is back on Detroit water millions of dollars have been earmarked.
But the city's water is still not safe to drink but for the average Flint resident, it does not seem like a year...
Michigan Public Radio Talks to Michael Pitt About Flint Stall
From Michigan Public Radio
Amidst the headlines about Attorney General Schuette's criminal investigation and charges filed in the Flint water disaster, there is another legal story unfolding.
Four separate civil lawsuits were filed on behalf of...
McGehee Featured on WXYZ 7 Spotlight on the News
Pitt McGehee Palmer & Rivers Partner Cary McGehee was a featured guest Sunday, September 4 on Chuck Stokes' WXYZ TV 7 "Spotlight on the News" program to discuss her mentorship and involvement in the 2016 Freedom Tour.
You can see the entire...
Pitt Named VP of Washington Based Public Justice
Royal Oak, Mich., August 23, 2016 – Royal Oak attorney Michael Pitt was recently selected Vice President of Public Justice. Public Justice is a Washington, D.C.-based national public interest firm of 14 lawyers which fights injustices through...
Detroit News Covers Warren Whistleblower Lawsuit
From the Detroit News:
Warren — A former city planner who resigned nearly two years ago is awaiting a federal judge’s decision on a whistleblower lawsuit that alleges Warren officials forced him out of the job.
Kenneth Bouchard, who served as...
Lord Whistleblower Client's Case Aired on Fox 2
WARREN, Mich. (WJBK) - He blew the whistle on his boss while working for the city of Warren, but claims he paid the price when he questioned what he believed was illegal activity.
Meet Ken Bouchard. He worked for the city of Warren coordinating tax...
