Municipal Litigation Center

Advancing the interests of municipalities in Michigan courts and tribunals

The Municipal Litigation Center and the MML Mission

The mission of the MML is to advocate on behalf of its member communities in Lansing, Washington and the courts; provide traditional and unique forums and formats to educate local elected and appointed officials; and, to assist local government leaders in administering services. To further that mission in the courts, the Municipal Litigation Center is designed to:

Advocate

• Identify issues of concern to municipalities in the courts

• Develop positions and strategies to advance municipal interests in the courts

• Develop specific litigation support tools

• Identify factual situations likely to result in successful outcome for municipalities

• Make recommendations to enhance revenue sources and to reduce costs of litigation

Educate

• Develop programs for members, municipal attorneys and the judiciary

Assist

• Compile information re: fiscal spending for litigation by case code

• Compile statistics by case codes

• Compile statistics re: involvement of municipalities in bankruptcy cases and tax tribunal hearings

• Prepare litigation alerts to be emailed to members

Goals of the Municipal Litigation Center

• Identify issues and factual situations for which a positive outcome in court can enhance the position of municipalities.

• Identify areas of concern that may expose municipalities to unnecessary risk in litigation and to develop strategy to minimize the exposure.

• Prepare guidelines and checklists for effective representation of municipalities in the state trial courts, the bankruptcy courts and the Michigan Tax Tribunal.

The tools are intended to advocate the municipal position, to increase revenues that may result to a municipality through prosecution of its ordinances and to decrease potential exposure and expenses in litigation.

Municipal Litigation Center

• advocating the interests of municipalities

• enhancing the effectiveness of the municipal position in Michigan Courts and tribunals

• Restoring Michigan Communities presentation slides & manual (PDF)

• Municipal Prosecution - Distribution of Fines and Costs manual (PDF)

For more information please contact: Sue A. Jeffers, Director, Municipal Litigation Center
at 800-653-2483 or sjeffers@mml.org.