Hirzel Law, PLC Welcomes Michael D. McCulloch, Esq., to the firm Michael D. McCulloch, Esq. joined Hirzel Law, PLC in December of 2019. He focuses his practice on condominium law, real estate law, estate planning and litigation. Mr. McCulloch graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in Telecommunications and from Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School where
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Hirzel Law, PLC is pleased to announce that it is opening a second office in Traverse City, Michigan in January 2020 to better serve its northern Michigan clients. The new office is located at 1001 Bay St., Suite B, Traverse City, Michigan. The firm is also proud to announce that Michael McCulloch, Esq., an experienced community association attorney and litigator,
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On September 3, 2019, Representative Matt Hill introduced House Bill 4910, which would create the “Misrepresentation of Emotional Support Animals Act” and criminalize a fake request for an emotional support animal. Requests for emotional support animals continue to rapidly increase under the Federal Fair Housing Act and the Michigan Persons with Disabilities Civil Rights Act, MCL 37.1101 et seq. According to a
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On May 24, 2019, Rep. Sarah Anthony introduced HB 4676 in order to make it easier for Michigan condominium associations and homeowners associations to remove discriminatory provisions from a covenant, declaration or master deed. 42 U.S.C. § 3604 of the Federal Fair Housing Act makes it unlawful to: (c) To make, print, or publish, or cause to be made, printed,
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In Fox Bay Civic Assn, Inc v Creswell, unpublished opinion of the Court of Appeals, issued May 30, 2019 (Docket No. 343384), the Michigan Court of Appeals held that a homeowners association could enforce its deed restrictions banning fences and that a disabled owner could not erect a fence in order to keep her emotional support and service dogs in
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In Sanzaro v Ardiente Homeowners Association, et. al., Docket No. 2:11-CV0-1143-RFB-CWH, 2019 WL 1049380 (D Nev, March 5, 2019), a federal court imposed a judgment of $350,000 in compensatory damages, $285,000 in punitive damages and awarded the plaintiffs attorney’s fees and costs against their homeowners association. Based upon the facts of the case, the court determined that the homeowners association
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Overview of Religious Discrimination under the Fair Housing Act The Federal Fair Housing Act (“FHA”), 42 U.S.C. §3601, et. seq. prohibits a condominium association or homeowners’ association from discriminating against a potential purchaser or an owner based upon religious beliefs. 42 U.S.C. §3604 provides in pertinent part: As made applicable by section 3603 of this title and except as exempted
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