Crime/Courts

Two Denso executives agree to plead guilty in price-fixing case

05/21/13 Two executives of Denso Corp., a maker of automotive electronic control components and heater control panels with a U.S. subsidiary in Southfield, will serve 15 and 16 months apiece in prison after pleading guilty to three charges filed Tuesday at U.S. District Court in Detroit, in the ongoing supplier price-fixing prosecution.

Ex-Detroit library official indicted in $1.4 million bribery scheme

05/21/13 The ex-technology chief for Detroit's public libraries and two former business contractors are charged in a $1.4 million bribe and kickback scheme. The U.S. Justice Department announced the indictments Tuesday.

Court rules for Fannie, Freddie in Oakland Co. lawsuit

05/20/13 Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson said he "always thought this case would end up in the Supreme Court" and will appeal.

The way forward for Detroit

05/19/13 Highlights from Emergency Manager Kevyn Orr's financial plan:

RUMBLINGS: Davidson clan divides over foundation

05/19/13 A petition to split the $1 billion-plus William Davidson Foundation into two pieces was dismissed by Oakland County Probate Court last week for lack of jurisdiction, but the family differences that led to the request are likely to continue.

MICHIGAN BRIEFS: After job fair fails, firm manufactures new workers

05/19/13 When a career fair turned into a disappointment, Jonathan DeWys could have whined that the lack of skilled workers was hampering his company's growth. Instead, he channeled the lessons into developing a better solution: a new, in-house educational program.

Crain's week in news, May 11-17: Beaumont-Henry Ford merger, Papa Joe's in Detroit, Rossetti moving to downtown

05/18/13 Five Beaumont clinical chiefs asked the hospital system's board to reconsider the proposed merger with Henry Ford; Papa Joe's will bring not one, but two, gourmet markets to downtown Detroit; architectural firm Rossetti is moving to the Federal Reserve Building.

Ex-Mayor Kilpatrick asks appeals court to free him

05/16/13 A lawyer for Kwame Kilpatrick says the ex-Detroit mayor is vulnerable to attack at a federal prison while his injured knee is immobilized with a brace.

Benefits of changes in malpractice law still being disputed

05/12/13 Two decades after Michigan passed comprehensive medical malpractice reform, there is ample evidence that both premium rates and lawsuits filed are down.

Crain's week in news, May 4-10: Several B Spot Burgers coming to Mich.; Dave and Chuck the Freak headed to WRIF; Ford sponsor of fireworks

05/11/13 Warren-based Crown Group was announced as being acquired by a group of investors; Ford will take over as title sponsor of the annual fireworks in downtown Detroit; the Lions signed "Ziggy" Ansah and eight other draft picks; and a cargo container intended to be a demonstration of a hotel lobby was dropped at Eastern Market.

$60K payment for ejecting kids with skin condition

05/08/13 The U.S. Justice Department says a Detroit-area restaurant will pay $60,000 for telling a family to leave because the children had a genetic skin condition. The department sued the Golden Corral in February, saying the Westland restaurant violated the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Flagstar Bank agrees to pay $110 million to settle lawsuit

05/05/13 The sins of previous management continue to haunt Troy-based Flagstar Bank Inc. (NYSE: FBC). It was announced on Thursday that the mortgage bank had agreed to pay $110 million to settle a lawsuit accusing it of making misrepresentations to Armonk, N.Y.-based MBIA Inc. to insure mortgage-backed securities that defaulted.

Hantz suit on hold; class action mulled

05/05/13 A lawsuit against Southfield-based Hantz Financial Services Inc. and several of its senior executives is on hold until the Michigan Court of Appeals decides whether to certify it as a class action on behalf of 300 investors.

Grand/Sakwa can weigh its options on Troy land after court victory

05/05/13 Is Farmington Hills-based Grand/Sakwa Properties LLC looking to redevelop, resell or work out a settlement deal on key land for the transit center in Troy? It's not yet clear, but a court victory last week gives the company some options.

RUMBLINGS: Retired justice takes Supreme swipe at court

05/05/13 In a memoir out next week, former Michigan Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth Weaver paints the bench where she served for 16 years as a politically rife "tyrannical body" where justices shrouded their dealings in secrecy and were "at each other's throats" in a war for power.

Crain's week in news, April 27-May3: Troy transit center, right-to-work law, Trinity merger, X Games

05/04/13 Michigan's high court invites solicitor general to file brief on right-to-work law, the merger between Trinity Health and Catholic East is final, MyLocker is moving its headquarters downtown and Detroit is named a finalist for the X Games.

Michigan Supreme Court asks solicitor general why it should give opinion on right-to-work law

05/03/13 The state Supreme Court has asked the Michigan solicitor general to weigh in on why the high court should grant Gov. Rick Snyder's request to give an opinion on the legality of the state's new right-to-work law.

Partner benefits stand for Michigan state workers

05/02/13 Same-sex domestic partners of state employees will continue to qualify for health insurance after the Michigan Supreme Court decided not to hear an appeal filed by the state. In a short order released Thursday and dated Wednesday, justices unanimously said they were not persuaded they should review the case.

Winans scion fails to get fraud sentence delayed

05/02/13 A judge won't extend the deadline for Michael Winans Jr. to report to federal prison for financial fraud. Winans is a member of the gospel music Winans family. He's due to start a nearly 14-year prison term on May 9, but he wants 60 days to clear up what he considers to be "major errors" in the case.

Judge gives major sentencing break to ex-engineer in GM theft case

05/01/13 A former General Motors engineer convicted of stealing thousands of pages of hybrid technology was sentenced Wednesday to just a year and a day in prison, far below the punishment sought by the government in a case that involved her husband and an alleged scheme to take the trade secrets to China.

MICHIGAN BRIEFS: Positive charge: LG Chem finally will start making batteries

04/28/13 After delays and an investigation into how the company spent federal stimulus funds, LG Chem Michigan Inc. says it is set to begin production of advanced batteries this year in Holland, MiBiz reported last week.

Ex-airport CEO: Vindicated by dismissal ruling

04/27/13 The former chief of Detroit Metropolitan Airport says a ruling by an arbitrator that she was wrongly fired is vindication. Turkia Mullin told reporters Friday at her attorney's office in Bloomfield Hills that the Airport Authority Board was wrong to fire her in 2011 and in the manner in which she lost her job.

Carfax hit with $50 million antitrust lawsuit by 120 dealerships

04/26/13 The owners of 120 auto dealerships have filed a federal lawsuit against Carfax Inc., alleging that the vehicle history reporting company engages in anti-competitive practices and violates antitrust laws.

Detroit health company worker pleads guilty in $24M Medicare fraud

04/24/13 The U.S. Justice Department says a woman who worked for Detroit medical service companies has pleaded guilty in a $24 million Medicare home health care fraud scheme.

Underwear bomber lawyer suspended for 6 months

04/23/13 A well-known attorney who was assigned to assist the Detroit underwear bomber has been suspended from practicing law for six months after being accused of mishandling clients' money to shore up his personal finances. The case revealed that Anthony Chambers suffers from alcoholism and depression. He testified that he drank as much as a bottle of Jack Daniel's whiskey a day during the peak of his problems.