An Affair To Reprimand

A former state legislator has been reprimanded by the Michigan Attorney Discipline Board 

Respondent and the Grievance Administrator filed a Stipulation for Consent Order of Discipline and Waiver which was approved by the Attorney Grievance Commission and accepted by the hearing panel. The stipulation contained respondent’s admission that he was convicted by no contest plea on August 28, 2019, of willful neglect of duty public office, a misdemeanor, in violation of MCL 750.478, in People of the State of Michigan v Todd Anthony Courser, 40th Circuit Court Case No. 19-013022-FH

Detroit Free Press reported on a defamation case brought against it by the attorney

The Detroit News said a former state lawmaker and his lawyer agreed to pay $20,000 to settle a lawsuit against the newspaper.

Ex-Rep. Todd Courser had filed a defamation lawsuit against the News for a 2015 report about efforts to cover up an affair with another lawmaker. The case was dismissed by a judge, but Courser and attorney Matthew DePerno were also ordered to pay $79,701 in sanctions.

The $20,000 settlement this week ended the dispute just before the Michigan Court of Appeals had planned to hear arguments.

The settlement “sends a message that frivolous lawsuits against news organizations for performing their duties under the First Amendment will not be taken lightly,” publisher and editor Gary Miles said Wednesday. 

Courser, a Lapeer County Republican, quit the Legislature in 2015 and later pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor related to the scandal. Cindy Gamrat, a Republican from Allegan County, was expelled from the House.

(Mike Frisch)