From News 10 in Lansing - The Lansing School District fired Lester Duvall in January a little more than two months after he was accused of hurting a 12-year-old student with autism. The boy's mother, Jennifer Garza, explained, "Christian was pulled out of an aisle of desks, picked up, thrown into an old wood teacher's desk, my son kicked him a few times and then he was picked up again and thrown opposite the direction into the bookshelf so hard that his head broke the bookshelf." Garza told News
Ten she found out about the assault from a note Gardner Middle School sent home with her son. "I really hadn't even gotten a lot much more information until the Lansing Police Department got involved and it was the detective that informed me to what extent the trauma really was," Garza said. She was even more outraged when Duvall's 4th degree child abuse charged was reduced to disorder person - jostling. And, he was allowed to pay a $300 fine. "There has been over a decade of documented incidents with the school district that they did nothing about and that itself is outraging," Garza added. Her lawyers said they uncovered those incidents when they used the Freedom of Information
Act to get written statements dating back to 2003 from the Lansing School District. "It's absurd. I don't know how it happened," Garza's attorney, Megan Bonnani, said. "For an individual with such a rich history of documented abuse ... It's not even a slap, less than a slap." You can see the News 10 story here
Legal News -- "On the Front Line: Attorney Fights to Right Injustices"
Channing Robinson-Holmes was featured in a biographical profile published by the Legal News. Read the full profile of Channing here.
WJRT/ABC/Flint -- "See How $600 Million Will be Distributed to Flint Residents"
Michael Pitt and Ted Leopold were quoted in coverage by television outlet WJRT/ABC/Flint regarding the process for filing claims in the Flint Water Crisis class action, in which the State of Michigan announced a proposed $600 million settlement....
Traverse City Record-Eagle -- "Whitmer: $600M Flint Water Deal a Step Toward Making Amends"
MIchael Pitt was cited in an article published by the Traverse City Record-Eagle regarding the State of Michigan's proposed $600 million settlement in the Flint Water Crisis class action. Read the full report here.
The Hill -- "Michigan Agrees to $600M Settlement with Flint Residents"
Michael Pitt and Ted Leopold were quoted in The Hill (daily newsletter covering the federal govt. and national issues) as part of its coverage of the State of Michigan's proposed $600 million settlement in the Flint Water Crisis class action....
The Hill -- "Michigan Agrees to $600M Settlement with Flint Residents"
Detroit Free Press -- "Flint Water Crisis Legal Settlement Totals $600M, Creates Victim Compensation Fund"
Michael Pitt and Ted Leopold were cited in a Detroit Free Press report on the proposed $600 million settlement in the Flint Water Crisis class action and how the funds will be distributed. Read the entire article here.
Detroit News -- "Here's How Flint Families Will Get Paid in Water Crisis Settlement"
Michael Pitt and Ted Leopold were quoted in a Detroit News article reporting on the process to be used for making claims in the Flint Water Crisis class action in which a $600 million settlement has been proposed. Read the entire article...
NBC News -- "Michigan Officials Announce $600M Settlement in Flint Water Crisis"
Michael Pitt and Trachelle Young were quoted in NBC News coverage of the State of Michigan's announcement of a proposed $600 million settlement in the Flint Water Crisis class action. Read the entire report here.
WNEM/CBS/Saginaw -- "AG Announces $600M Preliminary Settlement for Flint Water Civil Lawsuit"
Michael Pitt and Ted Leopold were cited in WNEM/CBS/Saginaw coverage of the announcement by the State of Michigan on a proposed $600M settlement in the Flint Water Crisis class action. Read the entire report here.
Law360 -- "Unemployment Surge Draws Lawyers to the Front Lines"
Jennifer Lord was quoted in a Law360 "Access to Justice" feature examining problems experienced by thousands of Americans trying to collect unemployment benefits due to COVID-19-related layoffs and ongoing issues with automated...
Bridge Michigan -- "Relief, Optimism and Mistrust Greet $600M Flint Water Lawsuit Settlement"
Michael Pitt was quoted in a Bridge Michigan report on reaction to the announcement of a $600M Settlement in the Flint Water Crisis class action. Read the entire report here.
Washington Post -- "Whitmer: $600M Flint Water Deal a Step Towards Making Amends"
Michael Pitt was quoted in a Washington Post report on the announcement of a $600 millon settlement in the Flint Water Crisis class action. Read the entire report here.
Legal News -- "Michigan Court of Appeals Affirms $388K Verdict for Jackson Educator in Whistleblower Lawsuit"
Megan Bonanni was quoted in a Legal News report on the Michigan Court of Appeals affirmation of a $388K verdict in the Pennie Davis whistleblower case against Jackson Schools. Read entire article here.
M. Pitt Cited in MLive Report on Midland Area Couple's Claim Filed Against the Federal Energy Resource Commission in Edenville Dam Collapse
Michael Pitt was quoted in MLive coverage of the claim filed against the Federal Energy Commission by a Midland Couple for property and personal damages caused by flooding after the collapse of the Edenville Dam in May 2020. The firm is representing Dan and Cathy Miller and filed a $1.25 million claim under the Federal Tort Claims Act. Read entire article here.
M. Pitt Cited in Bridge Magazine Report on Lawsuit Firm Filed Against Federal Energy Resource Commission
Michael Pitt was cited in Bridge Magazine coverage of the lawsuit filed by the firm against the Federal Energy Resouce Commission. The plaintiffs are Sanford, Mich. couple Cathy and Dan Allen whose home was severely damaged in mass flooding following the collapse of the Edenville Dam in May 2020.
Midland Daily News -- "Lawsuit Blames State Agencies for Dam Failures"
Mike Pitt, Ted Leopold and Paul Stephen were referenced as plaintiffs' attorneys in a Midland Daily News report on the lawsuit filed June 25 in the Michigan Court of Claims. The coverage notes that the suit's 15 plaintiffs owned property and homes which were damaged or destroyed in the May 19 Midland area flooding caused by the collapse of the Edenville Dam. Read full article here.
Detroit News -- "Feds Didn't Review Finances or Fine Edenville Dam Owner"
Michael Pitt was cited in Detroit News coverage examining the lack of maintenance and repairs at the Edenville Dam and related issues regarding regulation of the dam prior to its collapse and subsequent flooding in the Midland area. Read full article here.
Bridge Magazine -- "Whitmer Administration Names Outside Team to Probe Edenville Dam Failure"
Micheal Pitt was cited in a Bridge Magazine report on the appointment of an independent team of investigators to look into the Edenville Dam failure which resulted in massive flooding and property damage in the Midland, Mich....
GOVERNING -- "Michigan's Ineffective Unemployment System is Nothing New"
Jennifer Lord was cited in an article published by GOVERNING magazine regarding the breakdown in customer service at the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency. Read full article here.
Crain's Detroit Business -- "Nonprofit Sues Canton Apartment Complex, Alleging Discrimination of Recovering Substance Abusers"
Robin Wagner and firm client Joseph Paliwoda were quoted in Crain's Detroit Business coverage of the Personalized Nursing LIGHT House vs. Crossings of Canton housing discrimination suit:
Read full article here.