Daily Briefs

Disbarred prosecutor loses appeal at Supreme Court
DETROIT (AP) — The Michigan Supreme Court has turned down an appeal from a former top drug prosecutor who was disbarred for allowing perjury at a 2005 trial.
The court won’t upset the punishment ordered last spring by the Attorney Discipline Board. Karen Plants was head of the drug unit in the Wayne County prosecutor's office. She allowed an informant and police officers to lie about the informant’s role in a 103-pound cocaine bust.
In 2011, Plants pleaded guilty to misconduct in office and was sentenced to six months in jail.
Plants says she was trying to protect the informant's identity but later acknowledged that her actions were wrong.

Unemployment OKed for fired Michigan state lawyer
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — A judge has ruled that a former Michigan assistant attorney general fired for misconduct should receive unemployment benefits.
Andrew Shirvell was accused of stalking and harassing former University of Michigan student body president Chris Armstrong. A federal court jury earlier this year awarded Armstrong $4.5 million in his lawsuit against Shirvell, who was accused of harassing Armstrong and claiming he had a “radical homosexual agenda.”
Then-Attorney General Mike Cox fired Shirvell in 2010 after he criticized Armstrong.
Shirvell’s original request for unemployment benefits was denied because he was dismissed for misconduct.
But Ingham County Judge Paula Manderfield last month ordered Shirvell to get unemployment benefits, claiming he “was fired for constitutionally protected speech” rather than misconduct.

Law firm hosts Just Baked CEO at Women’s Caucus Event Oct. 17
Just Baked CEO Pam Turkin recently spoke at the Women’s Wine & Cheese Series hosted by Jaffe Raitt Heuer & Weiss’s Women’s Caucus Group on Wednesday, Oct 17. Jaffe Partners and co-organizers of the Women’s Caucus Group Alicia Schehr and Sarah Weston made the announcement.
“Pam Turkin became a metro Detroit success story by turning her local bakery into a national cupcake empire,” said Weston. “By sharing her business experiences, we gained new insights that we can apply to our own career aspirations.
Approximately 70 local women business leaders attended the event, which was held at Jaffe’s Southfield office.
The evening provided a networking opportunity for attendees, and Turkin discussed her unique story on building a thriving business.
This was the first event for the Women’s Caucus Group speaker series which plans to host quarterly events. The group aims to advance women’s professional goals by providing support, networking and educational opportunities through valuable programming.

––––––––––––––––––––
Subscribe to the Legal News!
http://www.legalnews.com/Home/Subscription
Full access to public notices, articles, columns, archives, statistics, calendar and more
Day Pass Only $4.95!
One-County $80/year
Three-County & Full Pass also available