Local Government Law

Gerald A. Fisher practiced local government law for 20 years at a mid-sized law firm in southeast Michigan, representing cities, villages, and townships, and serving as a senior partner and manager of a large municipal practice group. He then taught for 15 years as a full-time professor at WMU Cooley Law School, teaching property law, constitutional law, and state and local government law. Mr. Fisher is the contributing co-editor of a text entitled Michigan Municipal Law, and co-author of a text entitled Michigan Zoning, Planning, and Land Use Law. He has appeared in many state and local government cases in the Michigan Supreme Court, and has been a long-term member of the Council, and past chairperson, of the State Bar of Michigan Government Law Section. He continues to serve as a legal consultant for local governments, and as a mediator in local government disputes. He has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America in land use and zoning, and in 2001 was named a Lawyer of the Year in Michigan by Michigan Lawyers Weekly. He recently completed 10 years of services as chairperson of the Oakland County Parks and Recreation Commission, and is a board member for Scenic Michigan.

1. Just What Is a “Local Government?” 2. Open Meetings Requirement 3. Procedural Rules for Meetings 4. Public Access to Government Records 5. Federal Constitutional Limits on Local Governments 6. Law-Making Powers of Voters 7. Fair Housing 8. Financing Local Government 9. Background and Importance of Zoning 10. Non-Zoning Land Use Controls 11. Interlocal Agreements 12. Eminent Domain and Regulatory Takings 13. Meet the Court System and Local Attorney 14. Avoiding Personal Liability