Browse Cases
How green are our justices?
KEY
Positive
Neutral
Negative
WEIGHT
1 = Less Impactful
4 = Most Impactful
| Case | Name | Year | Lead Author | Weight | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mays v. Snyder | Plaintiffs in Flint Water Crisis Claim Constitutional Violations Against MDEQ | 2020 | Justice Richard Bernstein | 3 | |
| Midwest Institute of Health v. Governor | Court Declares Gov. Whitmer’s COVID Emergency Powers Unconstitutional | 2020 | Justice Stephen J. Markman | 3 | |
| Progress Michigan v. Attorney General | Personal Emails for Official Government Business Are Not Exempt from FOIA | 2020 | Justice Megan K Cavanagh | 2 | |
| Bisio v. The City of The Village of Clarkston | Third-Party Government Contractors Are Not Exempt from FOIA | 2020 | Justice Stephen J. Markman | 3 | |
| Johnson et al. v. Sec. of State | Court Denies Petition to Halt Certification of the 2020 Election | 2020 | Justice Elizabeth T. Clement | 4 | |
| Henry v. Dow Chemical Company | Dioxin Pollution in the Tittabawasee Flood Plain | 2018 | Justice Stephen J. Markman | 4 | |
| South Dearborn Environmental Improvement Ass’n, Inc. v. Dep’t of Environmental Quality | 90-Day MDEQ Permit Appeal Period Upheld | 2018 | Justice Richard Bernstein | 2 | |
| Citizens Protecting Michigan's Constitution v. Secretary of State | Court Declares Michigan Independent Redistricting Commission Constitutional | 2018 | Justice David Viviano | 4 | |
| Lowery v. Enbridge Energy Ltd. P’ship | Proving Causation in a Toxic Tort Suit | 2017 | Chief Justice Bridget Mary McCormack | 3 | |
| Clam Lake Twp. v. Dep't of Licensing & Regulatory Affairs/State Boundary Comm'n | Annexation of Land Covered by the State Boundary Commission | 2017 | Justice David Viviano | 2 | |
| Detroit Edison Co. v. Dep't of Treas. | Utility-Owned Electric Transmission Equipment is Partially Subject to State Use Tax | 2015 | Justice Stephen J. Markman | 1 | |
| Addison Twp. v. Barnhart | Shooting Ranges May Not Be Subject to Zoning Controls | 2014 | Justice Michael F. Cavanagh | 1 | |
| Elba Twp. v. Gratiot County Drain Comm'r | Equitable Jurisdiction Applies to Drain Code Disputes only when Constitutional Concerns are Implicated | 2013 | Justice Stephen J. Markman | 2 | |
| Price v. High Pointe Oil Co. | No Noneconomic Damages for Negligent Destruction of Property | 2013 | Justice Stephen J. Markman | 4 | |
| Dep't of Envtl. Quality v. Worth Twp. | Municipalities Can Be Responsible for Private Sewage Discharge | 2012 | Justice Diane M. Hathaway | 3 | |
| Anglers of the AuSable, Inc. v. Dept. of Environmental Quality | After Elections, Court Vacates Prior Decision to Protect AuSable Watershed | 2010 | Justice Alton Thomas Davis | 3 | |
| DaimlerChrysler Corp. v. State Tax Comm. | No Tax Exemption for Car Emissions Testing Facilities | 2008 | Chief Justice Robert P. Young, Jr. | 3 | |
| Michigan Citizens for Water Conservation v. Nestle Waters NA, Inc. | Court Limits Standing to Prevent Bottled Water Plant from Draining Wetlands | 2007 | Chief Justice Robert P. Young, Jr. | 3 | |
| Czymbor’s Timber Inc. v. City of Saginaw | Court Upholds Saginaw’s Ban on Hunting | 2007 | Chief Justice Robert P. Young, Jr. | 2 | |
| Federated Ins. Co. v. Oakland County Road Comm'n | AG Not Allowed to Appeal Leaking Underground Storage Tank Case | 2006 | Justice Clifford Taylor | 2 | |
| Glass v. Goeckel | Beach Walking on the Great Lakes Shoreline | 2005 | Justice Maura Corrigan | 3 | |
| Henry v. Dow Chemical Co. | No Compensation for Victims of Toxic Dioxin Exposure | 2005 | Justice Maura Corrigan | 4 | |
| Preserve the Dunes, Inc. v. Dept. of Environmental Quality | Citizens Lose Ability to Protect Environment by Challenging a Permit | 2004 | Justice Maura Corrigan | 3 | |
| National Wildlife Federation v. Cleveland Cliffs Iron Co. | Court Limits Ability of “Any Person” to Protect Michigan’s Environment | 2004 | Justice Stephen J. Markman | 1 | |
| Silver Creek Drain District v. Extrusions Division, Inc. | Environmental Contamination is a Factor in Eminent Domain Valuation | 2003 | Justice Clifford Taylor | 3 | |
| Huggett v. Deparment of Natural Resources | New Cranberry Farm Subject to Wetland Permits | 2001 | Justice Michael F. Cavanagh | 1 | |
| Twp. of Burt v. Dept. of Natural Resources | DNR’s Burt Lake Boat Launch Subject to Local Zoning Control | 1999 | Chief Justice Robert P. Young, Jr. | 1 | |
| Nemeth v. Abonmarche Development, Inc. | Sand Dune Erosion Can Be Environmental Harm | 1998 | Justice James Brickley | 4 | |
| Spiek v. Michigan Department of Transportation | No Eminent Domain Compensation for Warren Highway Pollution | 1998 | Justice Patricia Boyle | 2 | |
| Bolt v. City of Lansing | Court Invalidates Lansing Storm Water Pollution Control Fee | 1998 | Justice Elizabeth A. Weaver | 1 | |
| Arco Industries Corp. v. American Motorists Ins. Co. | Insurer Must Defend Company in Chemical Dumping Lawsuit | 1994 | Justice Conrad Mallett, Jr. | 4 | |
| Peterman v. Dept. of Natural Resources | DNR Liable for Beach Erosion on Grand Traverse Bay | 1994 | Justice Dorothy Comstock Riley | 2 | |
| Auto-Owners Ins. Co. v. City of Clare | No Insurance Defense Coverage for Clare’s Leaking Landfill | 1994 | Justice Conrad Mallett, Jr. | 3 | |
| Michigan Millers Mutual Ins. Co. v. Bronson Plating Co. | Insurer Must Defend Potential Polluter in EPA Investigation | 1994 | Justice Conrad Mallett, Jr. | 4 | |
| House Speaker v. Governor | Court Upholds Governor’s Authority to Reorganize the DNR | 1993 | Justice James Brickley | 3 | |
| Adkins v. Thomas Solvent Co. | Groundwater Pollution is No Nuisance for Lowering Property Values | 1992 | Justice Patricia Boyle | 1 | |
| Polkow v. Citizens Ins. Co. of America | Liability Insurance Coverage for Leaking Underground Storage Tanks | 1991 | Justice Michael F. Cavanagh | 2 | |
| Upjohn v. New Hampshire Insurance Company | No Insurance Defense for Leaking Underground Storage Tank | 1991 | Justice Dorothy Comstock Riley | 3 | |
| Protective National Ins. Co. of Omaha v. City of Woodhaven | No Insurance Defense for Woodhaven’s Pesticide Application | 1991 | Justice Dorothy Comstock Riley | 1 | |
| Addison Twp. v. Gout | Natural Gas Pipeline Requires Local Township Approval | 1990 | Justice James Brickley | 1 | |
| Village of Kalkaska v. Shell Oil Co. | Kalkaska Can’t Lease Oil & Gas Beneath City Streets | 1989 | Justice Charles Levin | 1 | |
| Livingston County v. Department of Management and Budget | No State Reimbursement for Livingston County Landfill Upgrades | 1988 | Justice James Brickley | 1 | |
| Schwartz v. City of Flint | Courts Must Allow Local Zoning Boards to Re-Zone | 1986 | Justice James Brickley | 1 | |
| Tallman v. Dept. of Natural Resources | Court Upholds DNR’s Authority to Search Fishing Vessels | 1985 | Justice G. Mennen Williams | 1 | |
| Twp. of Groveland v. Jennings, | Hazardous Waste Treatment Plant Subject to Local Zoning Controls | 1984 | Justice Thomas G. Kavanagh | 1 | |
| Silva v. Township of Ada | Local Zoning Control Weakened for Natural Resource Extraction | 1982 | Justice Charles Levin | 1 | |
| Soap and Detergent Ass'n. v. Natural Resources Comm'n. | Court Upholds Gov. Milliken’s Phosphorus Rule to Protect Lake Huron | 1982 | Justice G. Mennen Williams | 1 |