· Federal Lawsuit Challenges Heavily Redacted Police Videos After Dog Killed by St. Clair County Law Enforcement

February 10, 2026 - A new federal civil-rights lawsuit challenges the use of heavy and selective redactions of official police videos as being unlawful under FOIA and the First Amendment.

· Michigan Supreme Court Asked to Decide Whether Higgins Lake Property Owners Can Be Placed Under Open-Ended Taxing Authority Without Knowing What They’ll Pay For

January 26, 2026 - Higgins Lake SAD case challenges government practice of approving special assessment districts before any project, cost, or benefit is identified

· Parents Ask U.S. Supreme Court to Protect Newborn Genetic Privacy and Enforce Constitutional Limits

January 8, 2026 - The case centers on a simple premise: parents (not government officials) have the right to decide what happens to their children’s genetic material once a medical test is complete.

· Property Owners File Federal Appeal Over Unlawful Permit Condition Imposed by Michigan State Official

January 4, 2026 - A federal appeal challenges the ability of Michigan environmental regulators to demand unauthorized conditions to permits.

· Court of Appeals Asked to Decide Whether a State Agency or County Board Decides About the Dam on Higgins Lake

January 1, 2026 - A pair of property owners and a nonprofit advocacy group involving Higgins Lake have asked the Michigan Court of Appeals to decide a basic but important question: who actually has the legal authority to approve a dam on a Michigan inland lake, the state or the county?

· Court Throws Out Nine-Year-Old Township Enforcement Case and Reaffirms Broad Protection for Michigan Farmers Under Right to Farm Act

December 29, 2025 - The Bay County Circuit Court has entered a final judgment dismissing Fraser Township’s nine-year lawsuit against aBay County farmer

· Veteran Journalist Charlie LeDuff Teams with OLC to File Lawsuit Challenging “Grant-and-Delay” FOIA Tactics in Michigan

December 24, 2025 - With the help of Outside Legal Counsel PLC, long-time journalist Charlie LeDuff is challenging Michigan’s unlawful “grant-and-delay” FOIA practices after six-month records delays, seeking court-ordered transparency and accountability.

· Federal Lawsuit Challenges Michigan’s Use of Personal Protection Orders to Silence Lawful Speech

December 24, 2025 - A federal civil rights lawsuit was files today challenging how Michigan's cyberstalking-by-proxy statute, MCL 750.411s, is being unconstitutionally used to suppress First Amendment protected speech via improper personal protection orders.

· Outside Legal Counsel Secures Another Fourth Amendment Victory, Extending Prior Sixth Circuit Win to Township Code Enforcement

December 19, 2025 - Outside Legal Counsel PLC has secured a federal consent judgment against Aurelius Township that permanently bars warrantless property inspections and reinforces constitutional limits on local code enforcement.

· Merits Brief Filed in Pung v. Isabella County Before the United States Supreme Court

December 1, 2025 - The Pung case from Mid Michigan is poised to define property rights and government accountability in Michigan and nationally.

· Dual Lawsuits Filed After Armed DNR Officer Invades Private Hunting Property Without Cause; Challenges 'Open Fields' Doctrine

November 24, 2025 - OLC has filed two lawsuits after a DNR officer entered private hunting property without cause. The cases seek challenge the use of Michigan's open-fields doctrine.

· US Supreme Court Signals Interest in Another Michigan Tax-Foreclosure Case

November 22, 2025 - The United States Supreme Court took notable action today in Hathon v. State of Michigan, directing the State to file a response to the petition for certiorari.

· Class Action Filed for Trespass and Unauthorized Marking of Private Trees Across Saginaw County

November 18, 2025 - A new class action lawsuit has been filed against a power company and its contractor for entering private property without permission, marking healthy trees with blue paint, and threatening excessive trimming and removal far beyond what Michigan law allows.

· 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.