Daily Briefs, August 9

Bar loses appeal in ‘06 attack on customer
BAD AXE, Mich. (AP) — A bar in Michigan’s Thumb can’t shed responsibility for an attack on a Detroit-area hunter who was beaten unconscious after a friend danced with another man’s wife, the state appeals court said last Friday.
 

The court refused to overturn a jury verdict that found Longshot Lanes 45 percent liable for Carl Schnorr’s injuries. His jaw was wired shut for four months after the December 2006 attack, and he had seven metal plates and 35 screws placed in his head.
 

The 40-year-old Macomb County man said he was punched and repeatedly kicked outside the Bad Axe bar when he tried to help his friend, who was being dragged out by bouncers around last call. Schnorr sued the bar, claiming it was negligent because it had failed to quickly contact police when there was an earlier confrontation on the dance floor.
 

The bar’s appeal centered on the judge’s decision to let the case go to the jury. Longshot Lanes had asked Huron County Judge M. Richard Knoblock to rule in its favor, claiming police would not have prevented Schnorr’s injuries because everything happened so fast.
 

The appeals court, however, said it was proper to let the jury decide the case.
 

After last year’s trial, Schnorr’s attorney, John Perrin, said the jury had awarded his client nearly $300,000. Responsibility for that amount is roughly shared by Longshot Lanes and Jason Krause, who was accused of attacking Schnorr and found to be 40 percent at fault.
 

The jury said Schnorr was 15 percent responsible for what happened.

Special members to be recognized at ALA  luncheon, Aug. 18
The Association of Legal Administrators, Metropolitan Detroit Chapter, will honor its special members on their 10-plus years with the chapter at the Member Recognition  Luncheon on Thursday, Aug. 18, beginning at noon at The Whitney.
 

Among those being honored for outstanding leadership in legal management are: Linda Benns, Jean Bigler, Deana Bommarito, Mary Ellen Leopold, Sharon Newman, Linda Moore, and Jeanne Wong.
 

The luncheon will also feature guest speaker Thomas  A. Patton on the subject of “Retirement & Baby Boomers.” Patton is a licensed investment advisor representative for Retirement Planning GPS, LLC (an independent agency).
 

For additional information on the luncheon, visit www.aladetroit.org.

Forum on ‘Indexed Annuities and Other Financial Products’
Miller Canfield will present a Before the Bell Breakfast Forum taking a look at “Indexed Annuities and Other Financial Products” on Thursday, Aug. 18, from 7:15 to -8:30 a.m. at the Townsend Hotel in Birmingham.
 

Area investment advisors, registered representatives, and trust officers are invited to attend the next Before the Bell Breakfast Forum presented by Miller Canfield securities lawyers Mike Coakley and Tom Cox. Indexed annuities and other financial products have seen increased investor and regulator interest lately.  Coakley and Cox will highlight some of the landmarks in this ever-changing landscape.
 

Space is limited; advance registration is required.  There is no cost to attend.
 

Register online by Friday, Aug. 12. Anyone with questions may call (248) 267-3345 or email bera@millercanfield.com.

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