Daily Briefs

Court of Appeals affirms clergy
sexual abuse convictions

Last Thursday, the Michigan Court of Appeals affirmed Neil Kalina’s two Second-Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct convictions, announced Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. Kalina was charged and convicted following the attorney general’s statewide clergy abuse investigation.  

Neil Kalina, 67, formerly of Shelby Township, was sentenced in July 2022 after a jury found him guilty of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old child in 1984. He was a priest at St. Kiernan Catholic Church in Shelby Township from 1982-1985. He is currently incarcerated at the Cooper Street Correctional Facility in Jackson.

“I am proud of the work of our prosecutors to secure these sentences against sexually abusive former priests within the Catholic church,” Nessel said. “To see these convictions withstand appellate scrutiny reinforces my appreciation of their efforts.”

The court additionally remanded the case to the trial court for resentencing after ruling in Kalina’s favor that a technical error occurred in constructing his sentence when the Court considered acquitted conduct in tabulating an appropriate term of incarceration.

Kalina was one of 11 clergymen charged by the Michigan Department of Attorney General’s clergy abuse investigation team. For additional information on the attorney general’s clergy abuse investigation or to submit information, visit the department’s website at www.michigan.gov/ag/initiatives/catholic-church-clergy-abuse.


Protecting firms from deepfakes and misinformation explored in webinar

In an era where deepfakes and disinformation are rampant, safeguarding a law firm’s reputation is paramount. To hearn how to combat these digital threats,  the State Bar of Michigan’s Practice Management Resource Center will offer a free upcoming webinar.

“Combatting Deepfakes and Disinformation on Social Media: Safeguarding Your Law Firm’s Reputation” will take place on Wednesday, May 22, from 2-3 p.m. via Zoom.
Key takeaways include how to proactively protect and manage a firm’s online reputation; implement AI-based strategies to detect and neutralize misinformation; formulate a strong crisis management plan.

The webinar will be led by Tanner Jones, who has more than a decade of experience in law firm business development and marketing. As a leader in the digital marketing landscape for law firms, he has helped firms win web-dispute cases. He is vice president of business development for Consultwebs.

To register for the webinar, visit https://bit.ly/3Jeu5YT.

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