Michigan Supreme Court justices will hear oral arguments Wednesday before an audience of about 800 students at Ann Arbor Pioneer High school.
The session is the latest in a series of visits that have taken place as part of the “Court Connection Program,” which was launched by the high court in 2007 as a public education program aimed principally at high school students.
While the high court normally hears oral argument at the Michigan Hall of Justice in Lansing, justices and staff travel to various communities throughout the year in hopes of helping students understand the appellate courts and Michigan’s judicial system.
Wednesday’s audience will be composed of students from Community, Huron, Pathways, Pioneer, and Skyline high schools in Ann Arbor as well as students from Dexter, Milan, Saline, True North and Whitmore Lake high schools.
A debriefing session with attorneys will follow oral argument.
The arguments will involve the case of the Estate of Beals v State of Michigan.
This case stems from the drowning death of William T. Beals, a 19-year-old student at the Michigan Center and Technical Institute (MCTI) in Plainwell, Michigan.
MCTI is a residential facility, operating under the auspices of the Michigan Department of Human Services, providing vocational and technical training for students with disabilities.
Beals’ estate filed a complaint — by his mother, Theresa Beals — against lifeguard William Harmon and MCTI seeking economic and non-economic damages for the death of her son alleging that damages were caused by Harmon’s gross negligence.
Harmon moved to dismiss Beals’ complaint on the grounds of governmental immunity but the motion was denied by a Barry County Circuit Court judge.
The case then was put before the state Court of Appeals, which affirmed — in a 2-1 unpublished ruling — the circuit court decision.
Harmon appealed to the Michigan Supreme Court.
In an order dated last Dec. 23, the court ordered oral argument on whether to grant the application or take other action.
The court ordered the parties to address whether Harmon’s alleged failure to act was the proximate cause of decedent’s death.
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