Important Filing Deadline for Eligible Businesses

As we get closer to year-end, this is an important reminder that the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), a federal law that went into effect in January 2024 and requires eligible businesses to disclose and report information about their owners and controllers to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), has an upcoming filing deadline of January 1, 2025.

This deadline is for businesses that existed prior to January 1, 2024. Failure to file by the deadline or comply with the reporting requirements may result in significant civil and criminal penalties including heavy fines and even imprisonment!

If you have further questions or concerns about the CTA and its requirements, be sure to also visit our CTA resource page that includes important Q&A including what information should be reported, company exemptions and what companies are covered under the CTA.

We also encourage you to contact your Foster Swift attorney or a member of our CTA team ASAP if you need assistance:

• Rob Hamor...248.785.4737...rhamor@fosterswift.com
• Amanda Dernovshek...517.371.8259...adernovshek@fosterswift.com
• Nick Stock...616.726.2255...nstock@fosterswift.com
• Nick Oertel...517.371.8139...noertel@fosterswift.com
• J.V. Anderton...517.371.8282...janderton@fosterswift.com
• Megan Cochrane (Legal Assistant)...517.371.8297...mcochrane@fosterswift.com
• Terri Bolyard (Paralegal)...517.371.8234...tbolyard@fosterswift.com

Foster Swift to Appeal MPSC's October 10 Order: A Growing Wave of Municipalities Join the Effort

In a significant development for municipalities across Michigan, Foster Swift Collins & Smith, PC intends to file an appeal of the Michigan Public Service Commission’s (MPSC) October 10 order. This order has raised considerable concerns among local governments, prompting an increasing number of municipalities to join the appeal.

Understanding the MPSC Order

The October 10 order by the MPSC has drawn criticism for its implications on zoning and local governance. Many local leaders believe the order undermines their authority and poses challenges to maintaining efficient and effective land use management and zoning...

What Employers Need to Know Before 2025

On September 18, members of our employment services practice group presented a 2024 Virtual Labor & Employment Law Update webinar to address recent amendments in the law including changes to sick leave & minimum wage requirements, status of noncompete agreements and other requirements businesses and employers need to know before 2025 arrives.

Below are video recording links from the webinar to view or share at your convenience. The first link is the full video in its entirety while the subsequent links have been broken up by topic: 

• 2024 Labor and Employment Law Update (Full Video): Recent Developments that Employers Need to Know
  • An Update on Michigan's Sick Leave and Minimum Wage
  • Concerns Surrounding Employee Drug and Alcohol Testing Policies
  • How Should Employers Approach Employee Accommodations?
  • Best Practices for Recordkeeping to Avoid Legal Violations
  • Implementing DEI into an Employer's Use of AI to Avoid Unintentional Discrimination
  • What Employers Need to Know About Public and Private Sectors of Labor Law
  • Use of Video and Audio Recordings in the Workplace
  • Status of Noncompete Agreements Following Block of FTC Final Rule Ban

When Should You Consider Mediation?

Amanda J. Dernovshek and Kelly Reed Lucas

Despite the common belief, not all legal action is resolved in a courtroom setting.

Mediation is a form of alternative dispute resolution that can be used in most non-criminal cases including contracts, leases, child custody, and divorce disputes. Mediation affords privacy not available in litigation and in a successful mediation, all interested parties work cooperatively toward a settlement or fair resolution of their dispute, with the help of a neutral mediator who facilitates the process.

In the following recording, business attorney Amanda Dernovshek, along with mediator and litigator Kelly Reed Lucas discuss practical guidance on the use of mediation...