Daily Briefs

Supreme Court extends telephone arguments through January


WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court said Wednesday it will continue to hear arguments by telephone through at least January because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The court's announcement extended telephone arguments by a month.

"The Court will continue to closely monitor public health guidance in determining plans for the February argument session," the court said in a statement.

The justices last met in person to hear arguments in February of this year, but they closed the courthouse to the public in March because of the public health crisis and postponed arguments in March and April.

The court first held arguments by telephone in May and made the audio available live, also a first for the tradition-bound court. After a summer break, the court resumed hearing arguments by phone and making the audio available live in October.

 

Michigan car fee for unlimited medical coverage will drop
 

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan drivers who want unlimited personal injury protection benefits will pay $86 a vehicle starting next summer, down from $100 currently.

The fee was mandatory for decades but became optional beginning in July under a change in state law. The Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association, a state-created nonprofit entity that reimburses auto insurers for medical claims surpassing $580,000, announced the 14% fee reduction Wednesday.

It said the cut to the fee, which was $220 per vehicle between mid-2019 and mid-2020, is primarily due to health care cost controls and other changes in the 2019 law enacted by Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the Republican-led Legislature. The changes reduced the association's liabilities by $3.5 billion and eliminated a deficit position.

Motorists who forego personal protection benefits entirely and those who choose less coverage avoid the assessment.

 

Online seminar to examine ‘Civil jury trials in the era of COVID-19’
 

The Association f Defense Trial Counsel will present a Virtual Lunch – and – Learn Seminar examining “Civil jury trials in the era of COVID-19” on Tuesday, December 8, beginning at noon via Zoom.

Guest speaker Macomb County Circuit Court Judge Michael Servitto will discuss conducting a jury trial during a pandemic and his experience with voir dire, witnesses, technology, and jury issues with an eye on health mandates and recommendations.

For registration information, contact ADTC Executive Director Jessica Dzieszkowski at 810-338-5504 or jdzieszkowski@harveykruse.com.



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