Whatever joy the Sumerians thought the poppy brought, opiate use — heroin and opioid pain relievers like oxycodon — is now an epidemic, not just in Michigan, but across the United States. In just the past three weeks: Two sisters from Farmington overdosed on heroin in different locations on the same day. A 20-year-old woman from
Last Sept. 25, the people living on Butternut Drive woke to the sound of a detonation reverberating in the darkness. The home at 52600 Butternut was on fire. The 2010 census placed Shelby Township in Macomb County as one of the most affluent communities in the state of Michigan. It is not the type of
Jennifer Myers could not pay $91.99 a month in child support. So she was arrested and when brought to court, where without an attorney, she was put in jail for 30 days. According to the coroner she died died in the Macomb County (Michigan) jail from a sepsis infection. However, what she may have really
Hospital liability arises from two separate and distinct sources. The first comes from malpractice committed by medical staff and the second arises from the negligence of administrative staff. The legal theories behind these two sources of litigation are different and can cause confusion for hospital administrators. While a hospital’s liability for the negligence of its
The factors that make up a successful Drug Treatment Court (DTC) are diverse, but the emerging research demonstrates, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the interaction between a judge and a participant is central to that success[1]. The bond between participant and judge is not solely dependent upon the judge’s personality but rather upon the nature
Voting represents the very essence of a democracy and in the last week or so several courts have struck down restrictions on this basic right. These restrictions on the right to vote were passed in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Shelby County v. Holder 133 S. Ct. 2612 (2013) That case essentially struck down
The intuitive understanding of the central role of the judge, which had been embraced by many of the original Drug Treatment Court (DTC) judges in creating and operating their courts, has been supported by significant new research. DTCs have been the subject of more scientific research than any other judicial activity. However, the primary focus
In recent years a new kind of dog has begun to appear in courtrooms. These dogs are used as therapeutic support in two basic circumstances, first, for emotionally vulnerable witnesses and second, for individuals who are participating in a Veteran’s Treatment Court. Going to the Dogs? A therapy dog is not a service dog, as
Deflategate is the controversy involving a claim that footballs were slightly deflated by the members of New England Patriots staff, during the AFC Championship Game and that the Patriot’s quarterback Tom Brady was aware of it. What Are the Facts? Shortly after the game, NFL officials started a reportedly $3+ million investigation into the alleged
This post discusses the importance of the “Rule of Law” in the context of the efforts by Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis to deny marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Four Key Principles for the Rule of Law The rule of law is based upon four principles: The government and its officials and agents are accountable under