Varnum LLP

In 2011, the Michigan legislature enacted laws barring sexually oriented businesses from displaying signs on premises, or off-site billboards, that contain more than "words or numbers." See MCL §§ 125.2833 and 252.318a…more

XG Sciences Inc. of Lansing has used its proprietary know-how to improve lithium-ion battery capacity by a factor of four over conventional anodes. Using graphene nanoplatelet anode material not only improves charge storage…more

Two police officers are being sued because they entered Charles Smith's home after he stole a $14.99 (presumably, before tax) phone charger from Walgreens. As the Sixth Circuit acknowledged: "But for the want of $14.99 or a…more

Seventeen neighbors of the Consumers Energy Lake Wind Energy Park have filed a complaint in Mason County claiming the wind farm has negatively impacted property values and caused sleep disruption, headaches, ringing ears,…more

All roads lead somewhere, but what type of public roads provide access to a lake? The first consideration is whether the road terminates near the shore of a lake, or whether it is a road that runs parallel to the lakeshore…more

The U.S. Department of Energy has awarded $25 million per year for another five years to fund the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center. Michigan State University is a partner in the Center which is physically based at the…more

Are your product records a blessing or a scourge? Are they a core element of successful business operations, or a diversion of time and resources?…more

I attended, and was privileged to be asked to speak at, the 4th Annual Food Defense Strategy Exchange hosted by Tyco Integrated Security recently in Chicago. It was really a great event, with meaningful participation by…more

Grid Logic Incorporated of Lapeer is developing a low-cost superconducting wire for electric utility application. Using a new manufacturing technique, it will embed very fine particles into metals to induce superconductivity…more

Individual customers have signed up to lease each panel for 25 years for a one-time fee of $470 per solar panel. A rebate of up to $150 will be given the customer to account for energy optimization credits…more

My cable bill seems to go up each month, but I know that if I go back and read my lengthy, small-print cable agreement, somewhere I will be able to find where I agreed to it. I'm sure if I called and complained, one of the first…more

The Michigan Energy Innovation Business Council held its Annual Meeting on April 17 in Lansing and elected new Board members. The meeting featured a solar industry panel discussion and a keynote address on the Department of…more

With the conclusion of the last of the seven energy forums ordered by Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder in November, the next stage of fact-finding is underway. The schedule describes the May-June period as the time when the two forum…more

In This Issue: - Community Solar Success - Energy Innovation with Nanoparticles - Annual Meeting of Energy Group - Wind Buoy Goes Back into Lake Michigan - DOE Renews MSU Biofuels Funding - Courts to Rule on…more

Yesterday, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development hosted officials from the Food & Drug Administration at a "Listening Session" on the newly proposed rules under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA),…more