Detroit, MI

Supreme Court to decide whether MSU misled Detroit College of Law retirees

Published

3 weeks ago

January 22, 2026

Supreme Court to decide whether MSU misled Detroit College of Law retirees

LANSING – Michigan Supreme Court justices quizzed attorneys on Jan. 21 about whether Michigan State University failed to uphold contractual obligations made by the former Detroit College of Law after the schools merged was filed soon enough.

Elizabeth Watza, assistant general counsel for MSU, argued that the claim came outside of the statute of limitations, or in other words, wasn’t filed in time.

Mark Cousens, an attorney for a married couple who are both former employees of the Detroit College of Law and believe contractual obligations are owed to them, argued the university misled the couple about its obligations through the merger. And he noted MSU only shared a transfer agreement with the couple after their two-year window to bring a claim expired.

Amy and Robert McCormick filed the lawsuit against MSU in the fall of 2022 after learning of the terms of the merger between the university and the Detroit College of Law, which included terms that MSU would be responsible for paying and performing certain liabilities and obligations. The McCormicks have argued, including successfully in a 2-1 Michigan Court of Appeals decision, that MSU committed an act of fraudulent concealment by not notifying them sooner of the impact of the merger on them.

The McCormicks were both tenured faculty members at the Detroit College of Law before it merged with MSU in the summer of 2020. In 2013, they both agreed to resign from their positions with the law school “in exchange for certain contractual guarantees.” Robert McCormick retired in exchange for benefits, and Amy McCormick continued teaching as an emeritus professor, teaching one class per academic year while maintaining the healthcare coverage she received as a tenured faculty member.

As the merger developed, the couple had concerns about the Detroit College of Law, in whatever future form it took, honoring contractual obligations to them. They received mixed messages from officials, according to their lawsuit.

Amy McCormick was told by a Detroit College of Law dean that the integration would be done through a sale of assets rather than a merger, meaning MSU would not be responsible for any of the DCL’s responsibilities. And an attorney for MSU told Amy McCormick that any contract claims the couple had would have to be made against the Detroit College of Law.

The McCormicks initially pursued a claim against the Detroit College of Law. Then, in May of 2022, MSU notified the couple of the existence of a transfer agreement. Four months later, the couple filed the lawsuit the Supreme Court is hearing.

The McCormicks are arguing that MSU essentially tried to conceal the agreement.

Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth Welch asked Watza whether she believed the clock should reset for any legal filings if fraudulent concealment was found in a case. Watza acknowledged resetting the clock would be appropriate in that instance.

However, Watza told justices that the McCormicks weren’t diligent in their inquiry with university officials about who might be responsible for claims.

Cousens argued MSU is responsible for fraudulently concealing the deal, citing an email from a university lawyer telling the couple the now-defunct entity of the DCL would be solely responsible for any contractual obligations.

“Michigan State hid its liability,” Cousens argued. “Now, this court should not endorse the ability of a defendant to hide behind lies and misrepresentations … the whole point here is Michigan State, deliberately or not deliberately misled the plaintiffs (the McCormicks), and as a result, the plaintiffs could not have known that they should have sued Michigan State, and when they learned, that’s when they filed suit.”

The court is expected to rule in the case at a later date.

Contact Karly Graham at kgraham@lsj.com. Follow her on X at @KarlyGrahamJrn.

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Detroit, MI

Detroit Cody, Ferris State alum was lead official at Super Bowl LX

Published

19 minutes ago

February 9, 2026

Press Room

Detroit Cody, Ferris State alum was lead official at Super Bowl LX

article

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 08: Referee Shawn Smith looks on prior to the start of Super Bowl LX between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots at Levi’s Stadium on February 08, 2026 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Kevin C. Co

FOX 2 – Usually, the best officials are the ones you don’t notice in games – but Shawn Smith defies that description, although not for any controversial calls Sunday.

The backstory:

The lead official at Super Bowl LX yesterday is a Detroit Cody High School graduate and Ferris State University alum.

A 1994 graduate with a bachelor’s degree in accountancy, Smith has been an alternate referee for a couple past Super Bowls but yesterday was his first time on the field.

According to Ferris State, Smith is in his 11th season as an NFL official and 8th as referee, which is the lead official, recognizable by the white cap.

The referee manages the entire officiating crew, announces the penalties, and is the final authority on rulings.

Smith got his start officiating Pop Warner games in junior high school and also officiated flag football at Eastern Michigan University, according to Football Zebras, a release by Ferris State University said.

The former Cody Comet was recruited to run track and play football at Eastern Michigan University before transferring to Ferris State.

While at Ferris, he began to officiate high school football and later to the Division II gridiron.

At the collegiate level, Smith officiated in Conference USA, the Mid-American Conference, and the Big Ten Conference. He was hired by the NFL in 2025.

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 08: Referee Shawn Smith gives a thumbs-up prior to the start of Super Bowl LX between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots at Levi’s Stadium on February 08, 2026 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ke

The Source: Information for this report is through Ferris State University.

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Detroit, MI

Where is Super Bowl 61? Detroit Lions target time, channel and odds

Published

12 hours ago

February 9, 2026

Press Room

Where is Super Bowl 61? Detroit Lions target time, channel and odds

Well, now that Super Bowl 60 is over – the Seattle Seahawks triumphed over the New England Patriots, 29-13, for their second Lombardi Trophy – it’s time for Detroit Lions fans to start dreaming of Super Bowl 61.

The Lions have four NFL titles, but they remain the only NFL franchise that has existed for all 60 years of the Super Bowl era not to have made the big game. (The Cleveland Browns, Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars also have never made the Super Bowl.)

So where (and when) should confident Lions fans be booking their tickets for now?

Super Bowl 61 is scheduled for Feb. 14, 2027, and will be televised on ABC and ESPN. A good sign for Lions fans? ABC’s previous Super Bowl broadcast was in 2006 and also involve Detroit – when Ford Field hosted the Seahawks and the Pittsburgh Steelers (who were victorious). 2027 will also be the first Super Bowl broadcast by ESPN.

The 2026 NFL season will feature the first Super Bowl played on Valentine’s Day, as the season won’t kick off until Sept. 10, and will end on Jan. 10.

Where is Super Bowl 61?

The 2027 Super Bowl will be played at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. It’ll be the ninth Super Bowl in the Los Angeles area, and the second played at SoFi; in the first, the Los Angeles Rams – led by ex-Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford – were the victors in their home stadium over the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Lions are 1-2 in franchise history at SoFi Stadium, which is home to both the Rams and the Los Angeles Chargers – 0-2 against their fellow NFC squad, the Rams, and 1-0 against the AFC’s Chargers.

Here’s what else you need to know about next year’s Super Bowl:

Super Bowl 2027 channel

Kickoff: 6:30 p.m. ET.

Channel: ABC, ESPN.

The Super Bowl between the AFC and NFC champions will be televised on ABC and ESPN and can be streamed on ESPN+.

Super Bowl 2027 odds

The Lions have the fifth-best odds to reach Super Bowl 61 per DraftKings sportsbook. What do the odds mean? A $1 bet on the Rams would yield a profit of $9.50 if they were to win it all next season. Likewise, a $1 bet on the Dolphins would yield a $200 profit.

Odds from DraftKings as of Jan. 28, subject to change.

Rams: +950

Seahawks: +950

Bills: +1000

Patriots: +1200

Eagles: +1300

Lions: +1300

Packers: +1400

Ravens: +1400

Chargers: +1500

Chiefs: +1500

49ers: +1600

Broncos: +1800

Texans: +1900

Jaguars: +2000

Bears: +2200

Bengals: +2200

Cowboys: +3500

Buccaneers: +4000

Colts: +5000

Commanders: +5000

Vikings: +5500

Steelers: +6000

Giants: +7000

Falcons: +8000

Panthers: +9000

Saints: +9000

Titans: +11000

Browns: +13000

Jets: +15000

Raiders: +15000

Cardinals: +20000

Dolphins: +20000

Odds are courtesy of BetMGM as of Saturday, Feb. 7.

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Detroit, MI

Detroit Pistons players, front office confident as trade deadline passes

Published

1 day ago

February 8, 2026

Press Room

Detroit Pistons players, front office confident as trade deadline passes

Detroit Pistons President of Basketball Operations Trajan Langdon said he took some calls ahead of the NBA trade deadline on Thursday. CBS News Detroit’s Rachel Hopmayer reports on the only move the team made and why the organization has confidence in their core players.

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