Municipal Law
Municipalities have unique legal needs. They are subject to a multitude of federal, state, and local statutes and regulations and require specialized legal representation to navigate the complexities of governing. Smith & Johnson regularly represents municipalities including: counties, cities, townships, and villages as well as their departments and employees. Our representation covers a broad spectrum of issues including: zoning ordinance disputes, employee problems, constitutional issues, privacy laws, personal injury or property disputes involving governmental employees, regulatory issues, and more. We practice in all state and federal courts as well as before state and federal commissions, including the Michigan Department of Civil Rights and the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
Municipal Law Areas of Service
- Zoning
- Governmental Regulations
- Employment Discrimination
- Privacy Laws
- Open Meetings Act
- Freedom of Information Act
- Municipal Opioid Litigation
- Constitutional Questions
Case Studies
- We have been retained by 36 Northern Michigan cities and counties to represent their interests in MDL 2804: National Prescription Opioid Litigation and are working with a team of attorneys who collectively represent over 60 municipalities in that same litigation. The lawsuits seek to recover taxpayer monies spent by our municipal clients cleaning up the opioid epidemic created by the manufacturers and distributors of those pills. The suit also seeks injunctive relief to prevent continuing actions by those same companies; actions that are alleged to have create the opioid epidemic.
- We defended a city accused of housing discrimination and obtained a dismissal of all claims brought in the Michigan Department of Civil Rights.
- We represented a Township sued in state court for allegedly failing to enforce its zoning ordinance in a land use case and obtained summary disposition in favor of our client.
- A plaintiff agreed to voluntarily dismiss his claim for malicious prosecution against a Village employee we defended after we filed a motion for summary disposition and also obtained an award of legal fees on a preliminary motion.
- The United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission dismissed a complaint alleging discrimination and violation of privacy laws against a Township employee.