An employment dispute with Michigan State University is moving toward arbitration as graduate students claim they weren't paid for work performed as teaching assistants.According to an MSU contract negotiated by the Graduate Employees Union, May 15 was the last day of...

Month: September 2013
Michigan lawmakers consider repealing licensure requirements
More than two dozen bills currently before the Michigan legislature may be of interest to business owners throughout the state. The bills, which are generally aimed at doing away with occupational licensing requirements for particular kinds of businesses, are being...
Franchisee opens BoConcept furniture store in downtown Birmingham
Some great things about franchising: the franchisee's stake in the business can make for a superb incentive; the franchisor's already-proven business model alleviates the franchisee of much leg work; and essentially, the risk is shared.These were undoubtedly among the...
Southfield-based Barton Malow gets contract with Consumers Energy
Michigan state law requires energy companies to derive 10 percent of their energy from renewable resources. That goal has to be met by 2015, and public utility giant Consumers Energy, which provides electricity and natural gas to more than half of Michigan's...
Investment group purchases downtown Detroit’s Holiday Inn Express
Downtown Detroit's Holiday Inn Express & Suites is now under new ownership. The sale of the business was finalized in July but only recently announced. The new owner, Vic Partners LLC, is a private equity firm mostly made up of Detroit-area investors, and the...
Noncompete agreements increasingly subject of lawsuits
Since 1985 the state of Michigan has enforced employee noncompete agreements to help businesses protect trade secrets, customer relationships, confidential information and the general value of a company.In fact, nationwide, the practice of including noncompete clauses...
Michigan craft brewery calls foul in trademark dispute
Business owners work hard to establish a reputation for their products and gain customers' trust, so it's no wonder that many commercial law cases involve disputes over trademarks and copyrights. For instance, Michigan's craft beer-brewing industry has been steadily...
Young Michigan entrepreneur starts smart phone case business
A lot of people plan a business with the intention of making that business a long-term effort. But other people plan one business for the short-term, all the while keeping their eyes on other possible ventures down the road.Consider the remarkable story of a young man...