Litigation

General Litigation
The principal work of the General Litigation Section, the largest practice group in the Litigation Division, is defending negligence and intentional tort actions against the City as well as those cases that allege that the City has violated federal civil rights. Such cases include, actions arising out of:

• Police misconduct
• Injuries suffered due to alleged defective streets and sidewalks
• Motor vehicle, (including DDOT coach) accidents
• Injuries caused by alleged building defects
• Claims against employee alleging gross negligence
• Trespass-nuisance actions

Commercial Litigation
The Commercial Litigation Section defends the City in actions arising out of:

• Breach of contract
• Public contract bids
• Business torts
• Property disputes (quiet title, land sales and development)
• A variety of matters seeking injunctions, mandamus and other extraordinary relief. From time to time, the Commercial Section brings actions for interpleader and counterclaims.

Appeals Section        
The Appeals Section provides appellate representation for all types of civil litigation within the Law Department, except for       lawsuits assigned to the Labor and Employment Division and certain types of real property lawsuits. The Appeals Section represents the City in the appellate courts of the State of Michigan and the United States.

Tax Section
The Tax Section collects delinquent taxes for real property and City income taxes; defends the City of Detroit in assessment cases before the Michigan Tax Tribunal; collects accounts receivable; represents the City's interest in federal bankruptcy court; gives advice to the Finance Department, the Planning and Development Department, the Mayor's Office, and other City departments about fiscal matters, the collection of taxes and the collection of accounts receivable.

Tax Frequently Asked Questions

Revenue Collection Section
The Revenue Collection Section is composed of five attorneys, two legal assistants, two clerks, and a staff of secretaries who meticulously assist with the preparation of legal documents.              

Claims Section
It is the goal of the Claims Section to investigate and attempt to resolve claims for both personal and property damage incurred by citizens of the City of Detroit. It is also our mission to notify City departments of potential litigation. The Claims Section works with the various City departments to attempt compliance with safety regulations so that future injury and/or litigation can be avoided.

Claims Frequently Asked Questions

Community Prosecution
The Community Prosecution Unit of the Law Department focuses on the continuing needs of the community by forging and maintaining partnerships among community residents, service providers (The Public Works and Buildings & Safety Engineering departments), governmental agencies, elected officials, and law enforcement officers. By working together, each citizen and community agency can become community stakeholders, improving public safety and the overall quality of life in Detroit. The unit provides a valuable “umbrella” for communicating and managing residential issues, such as abandoned houses, drug houses, building code violations, illegal dumping, and prostitution.

Our purpose is to improve the quality of life in Detroit and help make our neighborhoods safe.