After months of speculation, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) finally announced the new regulations that govern the white collar exemptions to overtime pay. These regulations will undoubtedly have a significant impact on many employers and employees when they go into effect on December 1, 2016. Under the white collar exemptions, employees who meet the…
We often get questions from clients who either want to cut down trees that are on the border of their property line with their neighbor or who at least want to remove several branches that are encroaching on their property from a tree on their neighbor’s property. So, you might ask, what’s the answer? This…
Author: Daniel J. Dingeman The ability to remove trees in connection with land development is limited by various types of woodlands regulation. In the development context, this regulation focuses on not only on the restrictions on tree removal, but also on controlling soil erosion and sedimentation. The latter focus, which will not be discussed in any…
Dingeman & Dancer, PLC is celebrating the completion of 25 years in business. Established in 1990, the Traverse City based firm represents individuals and businesses. Firm founders, Daniel Dingeman and Mark Dancer, were both born and raised in Traverse City. Dingeman received his J.D. from the University of Detroit Law School and Dancer received his J.D….
Gov. Rick Snyder recently signed legislation that gives Michigan manufacturers a second chance to file (or re-file—if denied) their annual personal property tax (PPT) exemptions. Manufacturers now have until May 31 to file their exemptions with their local assessing office. Under the changes to Michigan’s PPT laws approved by voters in 2014, manufacturers can potentially…
Author: George E. Powell The snow has (finally) melted. Northern Michigan residents can now dig through closets for their sandals, beach towels and swim trunks. Seasonal changes bring more than wardrobe changes, however—the warm months escort in droves of construction and land development projects. Such projects are not always as clean and tidy as they appear from…
Effective on June 27, 2016, Public Act 57 of 2016 amends Michigan law to enable an individual to designate a funeral representative to handle disposition of his or her bodily remains after death and make post-death decisions regarding funeral arrangements. Under prior law, when an individual died in Michigan, decisions regarding funeral arrangements and final…
Property owners and construction clients often come to us for advice after already starting a building or development project because the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) has informed them that their activities have impacted a wetland. Unfortunately, it is often too late at this point to avoid serious consequences. While there are certain procedures available that…
Author: Benjamin W. BryantJ.D., University of Michigan Law School On June 26, 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its opinion in Obergefell v. Hodges, holding that the Fourteenth Amendment requires a state to license a marriage between two people of the same sex and to recognize a marriage between two people of the same sex…
Earlier this week, the U.S. Department of Labor sent to the Office of Management and Budget its final draft of proposed new regulations that govern the white collar exemptions to overtime pay. The anticipated impact these regulations will have on many employers and employees is significant. One change that will almost certainly be implemented is…