Senate votes to ensure jury trials in state suits

LANSING (AP) -- The Michigan Senate has voted unanimously to ensure people who file certain types of lawsuits against the state have a right to a jury trial. The bill approved Wednesday and headed to Gov. Rick Snyder amends a law passed last month that gave jurisdiction over state suits to different judges. Majority Republicans took lawsuits against the state and state officials away from Ingham County judges in the Democratic-leaning Lansing area and moved them to four appeals court judges. The new Court of Claims also has jurisdiction over suits against the state that county judges oversaw. One criticism of the law is it could deprive plaintiffs of the right to a jury in certain cases. Snyder is expected to sign the bill soon. ---------------- Online: House Bill 5156: http://1.usa.gov/1eX4q1u. Published: Fri, Dec 13, 2013