News - Business

GGTM is proud to announce that our own J. Scott Timmer was elected by his peers to serve on the Council for the Real Property Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan at the Section’s annual meeting on July 21, 2017.  The Council... CONTINUE READING

In Innovation Ventures v Liquid Manufacturing, LLC, Michigan Supreme Court Docket No. 150591 (decided July 14, 2016), the Michigan Supreme Court considered whether the validity of a covenant not to compete should be determined by looking at the factors provided in MCL 445.774a or... CONTINUE READING

On May 11, 2016, the Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016 (“DTSA”) was signed into law by President Obama. DTSA, which amends 18 USC 1836, creates a new federal civil cause of action that will allow businesses to obtain damages and injunctive relief and... CONTINUE READING

Scott Timmer has joined Gielow Groom Terpstra & McEvoy (“GGTM”), adding strength to the firm’s growing legal team. Timmer is the seventh attorney to join GGTM, bringing with him more than 35 years’ experience in the practice of real estate and business law. Timmer... CONTINUE READING

Most contracts containing covenants not to compete or non-solicitation provisions also contain language within those provisions stating that any breach or threatened breach will result in “irreparable harm,” and that it may be difficult to determine or adequately compensate the non-breaching party through monetary... CONTINUE READING

In Epps v 4 Quarters Restoration, LLC, Docket No. 147727 (September 28, 2015), the Michigan Supreme Court held that homeowner contracts with unlicensed builders are voidable, thus putting existing murky law to rest. In Epps, Mr. and Mrs. Epps’ Detroit home suffered flood damage.... CONTINUE READING

In 2000, Michigan adopted the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (“UETA”). In Michigan, the mutual assent of both parties to a contract is required in order to have a valid and enforceable contract. Assent of a party can be demonstrated by an “electronic” signature if... CONTINUE READING

The 6th Circuit Court of Appeals recently ruled that the designs on cheerleading uniforms are entitled to copyright protection under federal law. The Court’s decision hinged on whether the design aspects such as colors, stripes, curves and diagonals, were separate from the utilitarian aspects... CONTINUE READING

Michigan law currently permits employers to restrict the movement of their employees to competing businesses through the use of non-compete agreements. A bill recently introduced in the Michigan House of Representatives, however, seeks to change that. House Bill No. 4198, introduced by Rep. Peter... CONTINUE READING

The State Bar of Michigan (SBM) recently published statistical information that confirms what the attorneys at Gielow Groom Terpstra & McEvoy (GGTM) have known since the firm’s inception: Efficiency results in savings to clients! According to the SBM’s 2014 Economics of Law Practice Report,... CONTINUE READING