· All Briefing Complete in Legal Challenge to New Inland Lake Level Law; Reply Brief Makes Clear the Constitutional Stakes for Higgins Lake Riparians under PA 112

October 31, 2025 - Outside Legal Counsel PLC announced that all briefing is now complete in Semack v. Roscommon County, a landmark Sixth Circuit appeal challenging the State of Michigan’s retroactive attempt to dilute judicially-established lake-level rights at Higgins Lake.

· Statement Following AG Announcement on Mercantile Bank Hostage Incident: Specific Action Acknowledged, Deeper Scrutiny Continues

October 27, 2025 - Outside Legal Counsel PLC issues a statement on the Michigan AG’s decision regarding June 2025 Saginaw bank robbery and hostage situation at Mercantile Bank that resulted in a Michigan State Police sniper killing the perpetrator.

· Michigan Counties Face New Legal Challenge at the Michigan Supreme Court Over Unconstitutional Tax Foreclosure Scheme

October 24, 2025 - Property-rights attorney Philip L. Ellison filed a Michigan Supreme Court application asserting MCL 211.78t violates federal law and strips citizens of their full constitutional rights.

· OLC Secured First Amendment Win Protecting Political Yard Signs

October 20, 2025 - The pair of lawsuits challenged the Village’s enforcement of a political sign ban as being unconstitutional under the First Amendment.

· Federal Court Grants Class Certification and Approves Settlement in Ann Arbor Tire-Chalking Fourth Amendment Case

October 17, 2025 - The settlement affirms that thousands of drivers whose vehicles were marked with chalk by city parking enforcement officers - without a warrant or consent - were subjected to a search in violation of the Fourth Amendment.

· Michigan Homeowners Ask U.S. Supreme Court to Decide Whether States Can Erase the Fifth Amendment

October 16, 2025 - The petition arises from a class action originally filed on behalf of Michigan homeowners Lynette Hathon and Amy Jo Denkins, whose $5,200 tax debt led to the seizure and sale of their family home.

· Outside Legal Counsel Joins in Filing Second Michigan Property Rights Case at the U.S. Supreme Court

October 10, 2025 - Another major Michigan property rights case has been filed with the United States Supreme Court to further challenge Michigan’s controversial system of destroying equity from tax-foreclosed properties.

· OLC Attorney Heads to the U.S. Supreme Court in Landmark Property Rights Case

October 3, 2025 - “This case is about more than one family’s home,” OLC attorney Philip L. Ellison explained. “It’s about making sure government cannot profit from taking property at fire-sale prices. The Constitution promises just compensation, and that means full value, not pennies on the dollar.”

· Higgins Lake Property Owners File Appeal of Special Assessment District Rolls Confirmation

October 2, 2025 - The Higgins Lake Property Owners Association together with hundreds of individual residents and family trusts has formally filed an appeal challenging the confirmation of special assessment district (SAD) tax rolls approved by the Roscommon County Board of Commissioners.

· Federal Lawsuit Targets Saginaw County and Kochville Township Over Unconstitutional Property Seizure

September 20, 2025 - A federal civil rights lawsuit has been filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan accusing Saginaw County and Kochville Township of orchestrating the unconstitutional seizure of valuable commercial property in Kochville Township.

· Sixth Circuit Revives Key Constitutional Claims in Dock Rights Case

September 19, 2025 - The Sixth Circuit has handed down an important decision reversing dismissal of two core constitutional claims brought by Diamond Lake homeowners against a Lincoln Township zoning official.

· Emergency Appeal Filed Over Misleading Higgins Lake SAD Assessment Notices

September 14, 2025 - An emergency appeal has been made to the Michigan Court of Appeals for the alleged constitutionally defective notices regarding the recent Higgins Lake special assessments.

· Outside Legal Counsel Launches MichiganRiparian.com – A New Resource for Michigan Property Owners

September 14, 2025 - As one of Michigan’s leading property-rights and riparian-rights law firm, it is proud to announce the launch of www.MichiganRiparian.com, a dedicated online resource for Michigan property owners, lake associations, and riparians.

· Federal Court to Consider Settlement in Warrantless Tire Chalking Lawsuit

September 6, 2025 - A federal court will soon decide whether to approve a proposed class-wide settlement resolving claims that the City of Ann Arbor violated motorists’ Fourth Amendment rights.

· UPDATED: Lawsuit Filed to Protect Higgins Lake Property Owners from Misleading Special Assessment Notices

September 4, 2025 - A new class action lawsuit has been filed in Roscommon County Circuit Court on behalf of all property owners in the Higgins Lake Special Assessment District (SAD) after local officials published a misleading legal notice that could strip hundreds of residents of their constitutional rights.

· More Than 500 Higgins Lake Properties Join Legal Challenge to Special Assessment

September 2, 2025 - Serious momentum has exploded on the political scene against Roscommon and Crawford Counties' proposed special assessment on Higgins Lake, as more than 500 property owners have now signed up with the law firm of Outside Legal Counsel PLC to formally challenge the legality and fairness of the assessment.

· Governor Whitmer Finally Calls Special Election — Thanks to Lawsuit by Outside Legal Counsel

August 29, 2025 - For more than eight months, the people of Bay, Midland, and Saginaw counties were left without a voice in Lansing. The 35th Senate District — home to nearly 270,000 Michiganders — sat empty while critical issues were debated and voted on in the State Capitol. Today that silence finally ended.

· Governor Files Response in 35th District Senate Vacancy Case; Plaintiffs Immediately Reply, Stressing Constitutional Duty

August 28, 2025 - Within hours of the Governor’s formal response, Plaintiffs—represented by Outside Legal Counsel PLC—filed a comprehensive reply brief, underscoring that the Governor’s proffered excuses amount to lawlessness and that nearly 270,000 citizens continue to be denied their constitutional right to representation.

· Charlevoix County Tax Foreclosure Settlement Approved and Claims Process Announced; Property Owners Must File by April 9, 2026

August 25, 2025 - After nearly seven years of hard-fought litigation, the Circuit Court for Charlevoix County has granted final approval to the class action settlement in Zettel v. County of Charlevoix (Case No. 18-0591-26-CZ), a landmark case that restores constitutional protections for property owners whose homes and land were lost in tax foreclosures.

· Higgins Lake Riparian Owners Appeal Dismissal in Lake Level Case, Challenging Michigan’s Public Act 112

August 22, 2025 - Three riparians have filed an appeal with the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, challenging the constitutionality of Michigan law retroactively altering court-ordered lake levels for Higgins Lake.

· Michigan Law Firm Challenges State’s Requirement of Outdated Technicalities to Block Justice

August 17, 2025 - An appeal to the Michigan Supreme Court challenges the required use of an archaic notarization rule to shut down a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) enforcement lawsuit.

· Sixth Circuit Upholds OLC's Prior Win Against Warrantless Government Search in Northern Michigan Property Rights Case

August 12, 2025 - The Sixth Circuit ruled against three government officials who "unreasonably searched the Mockeridges' property in violation of the Mockeridges’ Fourth Amendment rights."

· Lawsuit Filed to Force Special Election and Restore Representation to Michigan’s 35th Senate District

August 10, 2025 - The law seeks to compel Governor Gretchen Whitmer to immediately issue a writ of election to fill the long-vacant seat in the 35th State Senate District, which covers portions of Bay, Midland, and Saginaw counties.

· Aurelius Township Sued for Repeated Warrantless Searches of Private Property

August 2, 2025 - The township not only allegedly violated the Fourth Amendment but also is accused of undertaking a larger pattern of unannounced and unconstitutional searches by local officials.

· Law Firm Files Petition for En Banc Rehearing in Groundbreaking Newborn Genetic Privacy Case Before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit

July 26, 2025 - This high-stakes case addresses critical issues of parental rights, genetic privacy, and constitutional protections under the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments.