Justices hold court at high school

A stolen motorcycle, and the unlicensed driver who was injured while riding it, are at the center of a case the Michigan Supreme Court will hear on Wednesday, Oct. 23, at Big Rapids High School. At issue is whether the plaintiff in Rambin v Allstate Insurance Company "unlawfully" took the motorcycle by borrowing it from a man who was not the true owner. A person who takes a vehicle "unlawfully" cannot recover no-fault benefits. But the Michigan Court of Appeals held that the plaintiff's use of the motorcycle was not "unlawful" because he did not know that the motorcycle was stolen and had not violated the Michigan Penal Code. While the Supreme Court normally hears oral argument at the Hall of Justice in Lansing, the Court goes on the road to different Michigan communities twice a year as part of its "Court Community Connections" program. "Court Community Connections" is aimed principally at high school students to help them have a better understanding of Michigan's judicial branch. Students and teachers will study the case before the oral argument. After discussing the case with legal professionals, students from Big Rapids, Chippewa Hills, Evart, Marion, Pine River, Morley Stanwood, Crossroads Charter Academy, and Reed City high schools and Ferris State University will have front-row seats for the 12:30 p.m. session in the Big Rapids High School auditorium. Following oral argument, students will be debriefed by the attorneys in the case. Briefs are available on the Supreme Court's website at http://courts.mi.gov/Courts/MichiganSupremeCourt/oral-arguments/2013- 2014/Pages/146256.aspx. Published: Tue, Oct 22, 2013