$22,900,000 Commercial Paper Financing for Ambulatory Surgery of Northern Michigan

Dingeman, Dancer & Christopherson, P.L.C., provided legal counsel for the $22,900,000 commercial paper transaction with a bank from Netherlands to finance a new ambulatory surgery center in Traverse City, Michigan. The ambulatory surgery center is a joint venture between Northern Michigan Surgery Center, consisting of approximately 26 physicians, and Munson Medical Center….

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The Crosswalk Conundrum: Who Has the Right-of-Way?

As temperatures increase so does foot traffic throughout the State. While a boom in local tourism is great for Michigan’s economy, it also means more vehicles on already busy streets. This poses an increased hazard for pedestrians as drivers often ignore pedestrians at crosswalks. Notably, pedestrian versus vehicle accidents are a serious issue in Michigan….

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Katie Sabo has joined Dingeman & Dancer PLC

Traverse City, September 5, 2018 – Katie Sabo has joined Dingeman & Dancer PLC as a new attorney, practicing primarily in the areas of business law, real estate, estate planning, trust and probate administration.   Sabo is originally from the Upper Peninsula, where she attended Lake Superior State University and graduated magna cum laude with…

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Municipal Zoning Laws Unlawfully Restrict Medical Marijuana Use

On July 17, 2018, the Michigan Court of Appeals issued a major medical marijuana decision in DeRuiter v Township of Byron, holding that Michigan municipalities cannot restrict the location of lawful activities—such as the growing or providing of medical marijuana—under the 2008 voter initiated Michigan Medical Marihuana Act (“MMMA”) to residential areas only. The Court…

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Cash Cow: Medical Marijuana’s Potential Revenue Lures Municipalities

Since the passage of Michigan’s new law providing for the lawful operation and licensing of commercial medical marijuana facilities, communities across the state have been grappling with whether they want the cannabis industry in their town. Although there is wide support among Michigan residents for the lawful use of medical marijuana, municipalities have been slow…

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Michigan Passes New Law to Clarify Questions in Medical Marijuana Industry

On January 26, 2018, Governor Rick Snyder signed Public Act 10 of 2018, amending (and improving) several sections of the Medical Marihuana Facilities Licensing Act (the “MMFLA”). The Act is designed to ensure a smooth transition into the MMFLA, cleans up a number of obvious inefficient aspects of the existing law, and adds protections to…

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Recent Decision Upholds Homestead Exemption for Short-Term Rentals

In Rentschler v Township of Melrose, No. 33633, the Michigan Court of Appeals ruled in favor of a homeowner who claimed he was entitled to a homestead exemption on property that he rented for more than 14 days in a year. Michigan’s Principal Residence Exemption (PRE), also referred to as the “homestead” exemption, exempts a principal…

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2018 Changes for Federal Gift and Estate Tax Exemption

The IRS announced that the federal gift and estate tax exemption, which increases annually with inflation, will be $5.6 million per individual in 2018 (or $11.2 million for a married couple), a $110,000 increase from the 2017 exemption level of $5.49 million. The increase also applies automatically to the generation-skipping transfer tax exemption.  In addition, the…

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Operating Medical Marijuana Facilities: A Guide for Prospective License Applicants

In September 2016, Michigan Governor Rick Snyder signed three Medical Marijuana laws (Acts 281, 282, and 283), providing for lawful operation and licensing of medical marijuana facilities in Michigan. The permitted facilities will be licensed and highly regulated by the State (governed by Acts 281 and 283) under the purview of the State’s Licensing and…

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The Michigan Medical Marihuana Facilities Licensing Act: Taking Advantage of an Opportunity

Author: George E. Powell Michigan, on the heels of economic hardship, recently amended the 2008 Medical Marihuana Act.  The legislature sought to establish a framework for a responsible medical marihuana marketplace—as well as to expand tax revenue opportunity and promote job growth.  Estimates have shown that that the state could generate between $44.3 million to…

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