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Michael D. Homier

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Grand Rapids
T 616.726.2230
F 616.726.2299

Overview

As the leader of the firm's Municipal Practice Group, Mike Homier focuses his practice in the areas of municipal law, public finance, zoning and land use as well as related litigation. Mike serves as general counsel for municipalities throughout Michigan, and has extensive experience representing counties, cities, villages, townships, libraries and municipal authorities facing a wide array of different legal challenges. In this capacity, he regularly handles high profile and sensitive issues.

Distance is not an obstacle to providing efficient and effective services, as Mike and his colleagues address day-to-day legal needs through the use of the telephone, video-conference, email and the Internet.

Mike has successfully helped municipalities in the planning and regulation of many commercial and residential developments. In addition to his planning and zoning expertise, he has gained significant experience in public finance and has served as issuer's counsel and bond counsel in several sophisticated projects. To keep on the cutting edge of this ever-changing discipline, Mike is a member of the National Association of Bond Lawyers and is listed in the "Red Book."

Mike is a skilled litigator who has extensive municipal litigation and prosecution experience. For many years, he was assigned as a special prosecutor by the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth prosecuting occupational code violations and currently serves as lead prosecutor for many of the firm's municipal clients. Regardless of the type of litigation, Mike concentrates on obtaining client-driven results working closely with the municipality's administration to obtain the best results at the lowest reasonable cost.

Honors & Recognitions

Former Member of Foster Swift Executive Committee

"Top Lawyer", Grand Rapids Magazine, 2022 in Municipal Law

Affiliations

Memberships & Affiliations

Legal Affiliations:
  • American Bar Association
  • State Bar of Michigan
  • Grand Rapids Bar Association
  • Ingham County Bar Association
  • ACADEMIC POSITION: Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School, Adjunct Professor of Zoning and Land Use Planning
Industry & Professional Associations:
  • National Association of Bond Lawyers
  • Michigan Association of Municipal Attorneys
Community Involvement:
  • Caledonia Planning Commission, Former Member
  • Caledonia Zoning Board of Appeals, Former Member

Experience

Representative Matters

  • In a unanimous opinion issued April 13, 2023, the Michigan Court of Appeals held in favor of the City of East Lansing in a class-action lawsuit related to electric franchise fees. Heos v City of East Lansing, Court of Appeals Case Nos. 361105, 361138. The Court of Appeals reversed earlier decisions of the Ingham County Circuit Court, which had granted summary disposition to plaintiff James Heos and other similarly situated Board of Water and Light customers. The Court of Appeals directed the circuit court to instead enter summary disposition in favor of the City on remand.

    In reaching this decision, the Court of Appeals held that plaintiff’s claim under the Headlee Amendment to the Michigan Constitution and his similar equitable claims were untimely because they were not filed within one year after the franchise ordinance was adopted. The Court of Appeals further held that plaintiff could not bring an action under the 1905 Foote Act because the Foote Act only applies to electric utility providers, not electric customers. Consequently, the City was entitled to dismissal of all of plaintiff’s claims. The opinion is available online here.
  • Implementing a development and finance plan for improvements to two major roads that resulted in nearly $10 million of public improvements at no cost to the taxpayers, including as the Township's bond counsel for nearly $7 million of special assessment bonds.
  • Negotiating and implementing an action plan to avoid substantial fines levied by the EGLE for violating ground water discharge limitations.
  • Negotiating a settlement of zoning litigation on favorable terms that also extended sanitary sewer service to an adjacent subdivision at a substantial reduction in cost to the homeowners.
  • Getting involved in litigation arising from the Township's sewer expansion through the County Board of Public Works which had the effect of ending protracted and costly litigation.
  • Working with the Fire Chief to achieve a lower interest rate for financing the Township's aerial platform truck saving taxpayer dollars.

Communications

Publications

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News & Events

Speaking Engagements

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News

Education

Michigan State University College of Law, J.D., 1999, magna cum laude

University of Arizona, B.A., 1995

Bar and Court Admissions

Michigan

U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan

U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals

U.S. Supreme Court

Lansing
Southfield
Grand Rapids
Detroit
Holland
St. Joseph