Business Law - Ledford & Associates

6th Circuit pierces corporate shield defense

September 3, 2026

6th Circuit pierces corporate shield defense: A new appellate ruling in Williams v. Mastronardi Produce-USA confirms that a dismissed discrimination lawsuit against a foreign parent company does not automatically protect its US subsidiary from facing the identical claims.

6th Circuit hands win to West Michigan auto supplier

August 11, 2026

6th Circuit hands win to West Michigan auto supplier: The appellate court ruled in favor of Walker-headquartered Challenge Manufacturing, affirming that documented attendance issues and a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) constitute a rock-solid defense against discrimination and constructive discharge claims.

Updates to the MES Act go into effect in July 2026

June 15, 2026

New Michigan Unemployment Law Changes (Effective July 2026)

What changed: Unemployment claimants must report 3 work searches weekly; new domestic violence survivor protections; expanded Work Share flexibility; streamlined appeals; more hardship waiver opportunities.

What’s New – Michigan Youth Employment Law

June 1, 2026

Just a reminder. now that school is out about the new youth employment laws in Michigan.

Work‑hour limits for minors ages 14 and 15 changed March 31, 2026. These limits align more closely with federal standards. During school sessions from Labor Day to May 31st minors in this age group may work between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., for no more than three hours per day and 18 hours per week.

During summer, from June 1st through Labor Day, work may extend until 9:00 p.m., with a maximum of 40 hours per week. Different and generally broader limits apply to 16‑ and 17‑year‑olds, though restrictions on hazardous work and late‑night hours remain in place.

Posted In: Business Law, Michigan Law

Amazon fights labor rule banning captive audience meetings

May 19, 2026

The decision arose from six consolidated labor complaint cases against Amazon out of Staten Island, New York. Workers at Amazon’s Staten Island fulfillment and storage centers accused the company of resorting to union-busting tactics, including holding captive audience meetings, after the Amazon Labor Union organized in April 2021.

At one point, Amazon held captive audience meetings at the fulfillment center every 45 minutes, six days a week.

Kids claim child labor law violations at Roblox

May 14, 2026

A class of children who use the online gaming platform Roblox say the platform is violating state and federal child labor laws by profiting off the unpaid and underpaid labor of minors, according to a new lawsuit filed in the Northern District of California.

The minor plaintiff says he never had a work permit, and Roblox never meaningly informed his parents of his labor on the platform. He also argued that any contract he may have entered into by agreeing to the platform’s terms and conditions is unenforceable because he is underage.

Michigan's new Anti-SLAPP law: a practical guide for business counsel

April 15, 2026

Consider a scenario: a Michigan business owner testifies at a township planning meeting against a proposed development. Weeks later, the developer files a defamation suit. The suit is filed not to win, but to bury the business owner in legal fees and send a message to anyone else thinking about speaking up. Before December 2025, that business owner had no expedited way out. Now they do.

What gig workers and employees who get tips need to know about the new no‑tax‑on‑tips tax break

April 8, 2026

As with all tax breaks, there are lots of rules in place that can determine if someone is eligible for a deduction, and if so, how big.

Only restaurant servers, barbers, house cleaners, babysitters and other workers in occupations where tips are customary are eligible for the tip-related tax break. As required by Congress, the IRS created a list of traditionally tipped occupations. It includes rideshare drivers, pet sitters and several others.

Customers must have voluntarily paid all tax-deductible tips

H-1B Lottery Process Opens March 4 With New Weighted Selection

February 3, 2026

US employers can enter workers in the annual H-1B lottery from March 4-19, US Citizenship and Immigration Services announced Friday, the first time odds of selection will be weighted based on wages and seniority.

USCIS finalized regulations in December that will give workers greater chances of selection for 85,000 H-1B slots according to which of four wage levels they’re assigned to. The Trump administration has said the rule will prioritize the most high skilled and highly paid foreign workers.

Men Suing Uber, Lyft Over Women’s Safety Feature Bet on Novel Claim

January 22, 2026

Lawsuits accusing Uber Technologies Inc. and Lyft Inc. of discriminating against male drivers through app features aimed at keeping women safe present a unique gig economy test for California’s broad public accommodations law.

Two proposed class actions under California’s Unruh Civil Rights Act are challenging the companies’ matching programs allowing women passengers to request women drivers.

They claim these programs limit the male drivers’ income and job opportunities, as well as reinforce gender stereotypes that men are dangerous. The lawsuits seek $4,000 for each male driver, whose numbers could reach into the hundreds of thousands.

Michigan Laws Making News

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Tag: Business Law