By Ben Solis
Gongwer News Service
The Miller Law Firm this week sued Michigan State University over more than $281,000 in unpaid attorney fees accrued representing former MSU Board of Trustees Chair Rema Vassar during an investigation into alleged improprieties in her role as leader of the board.
The plaintiff in Miller Law Firm v. MSU (COC Docket No. 24-000158) argued that they entered into a written agreement executed by Vassar and the firm, and that MSU agreed to pay the attorneys' fees and costs incurred during the investigation.
Vassar resigned from her position as chair in March after a 63-page report found that Vassar and trustee Dennis Denno violated board rules and code of ethics by interfering with investigations and lawsuits and using students to attack colleagues.
The board stripped her of committee posts and other duties. It also sent a formal request to Governor Gretchen Whitmer to review whether to remove the two trustees and censured the trustees as well.
Sen. Sylvia Santana (D-Detroit) requested a formal opinion in March from the Department of Attorney General on the legality of the Michigan State University Board of Trustees' actions against its former chair which the senator called an “unprecedented and unjust,” violation of the Constitution.
Vassar has defended her conduct.
The complaint against the university filed this week by the law firm tasked with representing Vassar said that the board additionally and separately agreed that the university would pay her costs and fees, ratified those agreements and that the law firm performed its duties.
The university paid invoices between February and March 2023, but failed to pay invoices during April and May 2023, a total of $281,747. Invoices were due upon receipt of, the law firm said, and that it was entitled to charge interest at 5 percent per annum to any balance that was not timely paid.
The firm is now suing the university for breach of contract, seeking a declaratory judgment that MSU is liable for the breach, or in the alternative that MSU is liable based on promissory estoppel.
In either case, the firm has asked Judge James Redford to award damages in the amount owed plus interest.
The university has not responded to the complaint, court records show.
Gongwer News Service
The Miller Law Firm this week sued Michigan State University over more than $281,000 in unpaid attorney fees accrued representing former MSU Board of Trustees Chair Rema Vassar during an investigation into alleged improprieties in her role as leader of the board.
The plaintiff in Miller Law Firm v. MSU (COC Docket No. 24-000158) argued that they entered into a written agreement executed by Vassar and the firm, and that MSU agreed to pay the attorneys' fees and costs incurred during the investigation.
Vassar resigned from her position as chair in March after a 63-page report found that Vassar and trustee Dennis Denno violated board rules and code of ethics by interfering with investigations and lawsuits and using students to attack colleagues.
The board stripped her of committee posts and other duties. It also sent a formal request to Governor Gretchen Whitmer to review whether to remove the two trustees and censured the trustees as well.
Sen. Sylvia Santana (D-Detroit) requested a formal opinion in March from the Department of Attorney General on the legality of the Michigan State University Board of Trustees' actions against its former chair which the senator called an “unprecedented and unjust,” violation of the Constitution.
Vassar has defended her conduct.
The complaint against the university filed this week by the law firm tasked with representing Vassar said that the board additionally and separately agreed that the university would pay her costs and fees, ratified those agreements and that the law firm performed its duties.
The university paid invoices between February and March 2023, but failed to pay invoices during April and May 2023, a total of $281,747. Invoices were due upon receipt of, the law firm said, and that it was entitled to charge interest at 5 percent per annum to any balance that was not timely paid.
The firm is now suing the university for breach of contract, seeking a declaratory judgment that MSU is liable for the breach, or in the alternative that MSU is liable based on promissory estoppel.
In either case, the firm has asked Judge James Redford to award damages in the amount owed plus interest.
The university has not responded to the complaint, court records show.
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