MDP Releases New Video: “The Insurance Company Court”

From the Michigan Democratic Party

Video Shows How Markman and Zahra Have Ruled for Auto Insurance Companies 100% of the Time

LANSING – The Michigan Democratic Party today released a new 30-second video, “The Insurance Company Court.” The video shows how victims, patients, and medical providers can’t get a fair hearing at the Michigan Supreme Court.

In 24 cases involving claims of patients and their medical providers, Michigan Supreme Court Justices Stephen Markman and Brian Zahra ruled in favor of auto insurance companies every single time.

“Markman and Zahra are nothing more than puppets for the big insurance companies,” MDP Chair Mark Brewer said. “They’ve ruled for auto insurance companies 100% of the time. Victims, patients, and medical providers won’t be treated fairly on the Court until Markman and Zahra are replaced.”

“We need Justices who will follow the law and not rule every time for the special interests who fund their campaigns,” added Brewer. “The numbers don’t lie. Markman and Zahra take insurance company money and then continue to deliver favorable rulings to the insurance companies. That’s not justice. That’s not fairness. It’s time for a change this November.”

You can watch the new video by visiting the link below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7tDhklfVy0

Michigan justice won't recuse himself in emergency manager law hearing

By Paul Egan/ Detroit News

Lansing— A justice of the Michigan Supreme Court has rejected a request he recuse himself from hearing a challenge to the state's toughened emergency manager law.

Lawyers challenging the law on behalf of a group of citizens asked Justice Stephen Markman to disqualify himself from hearing the case because Markman's wife, Kathleen, represented the state attorney general's office in a separate challenge to the law in federal court in Detroit.

They said a judge should recuse himself if his wife has more than a minimal interest in the case.

In an order issued Friday, Markman denied the request.

He said his wife has no involvement in the state court case and removed herself from the federal court case after the issue was raised.

"There is nothing … that causes me to believe that I cannot be fair-minded and even-handed in my exercise of judgment in deciding the constitutional issues involved.

The federal case in which Markman's wife made an appearance was recently dismissed.

The state court challenge alleges the law backed by Gov. Rick Snyder violates the Michigan Constitution and home rule.

It gives greater powers to emergency managers appointed by the state to take control of financially distressed local governments and school districts. One of the most controversial aspects is the power to change the terms of collective bargaining agreements.

Markman's recusal would have been significant because it would have erased the 4-3 majority on the court held by justices nominated by Republicans.