If this opinion indicates that it is “FOR PUBLICATION,” it is subject to 

revision until final publication in the Michigan Appeals Reports.

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S T A T E O F M I C H I G A N

C O U R T O F A P P E A L S

NADIA AWAD,

Plaintiff-Appellant,

UNPUBLISHED

December 29, 2022

v No. 357544

Wayne Circuit Court

CHARLES REILLY, LC No. 20-002929-CZ

Defendant-Appellee.

NADIA AWAD,

Plaintiff-Appellant,

v No. 357550

Wayne Circuit Court

CHARLES REILLY and CYNTHIA 

CASAGRANDE REILLY,

LC No. 20-010668-CZ

Defendants-Appellees.

Before: CAVANAGH, P.J., and K. F. KELLY and GARRETT, JJ.

PER CURIAM.

In Docket No. 357544, plaintiff appeals as of right an order granting summary disposition 

under MCR 2.116(C)(10) in favor of defendant, Charles Reilly (Charles), on plaintiff’s claims of 

defamation, public disclosure of private facts, false-light invasion of privacy, and intentional 

infliction of emotional distress. In Docket No. 357550, plaintiff appeals as of right the same order, 

which granted summary disposition in favor of defendants, Charles and Cynthia Reilly (Cynthia), 

on plaintiff’s civil conspiracy claim. We affirm in both cases.
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I. BACKGROUND

In 2009, plaintiff, who worked in the mortgage industry and was known as Nadia Ali at the 

time, was charged with (1) use of false pretenses to defraud in the amount of $20,000 or more, 

MCL 750.218(5)(a); (2) second-degree money laundering, MCL 750.411n; (3) conspiracy to 

commit a legal act in an illegal manner, MCL 750.157a; and (4) false statements of financial 

condition, MCL 750.219. In March 2009, the Detroit News and the Arab American News released 

articles, which stated that plaintiff had been charged with crimes in relation to “mortgage fraud.” 

One of the articles reflected that plaintiff faced up to 20 years’ imprisonment.

The Michigan Office of Financial and Insurance Regulation initiated proceedings against 

plaintiff. On July 19, 2009, a consent order was entered which prohibited plaintiff “from being 

employed by, an agent of, or control person of a licensee or registrant under the [Mortgage Brokers, 

Lenders, and Servicers Licensing Act (MBLSLA), MCL 445.1651 et seq.,] or a licensee or 

registrant under a financial licensing act.” Plaintiff ultimately pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor in 

the 19th District Court, and the felony charges were dismissed. Plaintiff was sentenced to a term 

of probation. Thereafter, plaintiff got married and changed her last name to Awad.

Subsequently, plaintiff, Charles, and Cynthia all became residents of Woodcreek Park 

Subdivision in Flat Rock, Michigan (the subdivision). Charles and Cynthia are married. Plaintiff 

was a member of the subdivision’s board of directors (the board) for a period of time. While 

plaintiff was a board member, plaintiff’s criminal history was discovered. In 2017, Charles posted 

on Facebook that “[o]ne of the current board members was charged with money laundering and 

conspiracy to commit false pretenses and money laundering in 2009.” Plaintiff contacted Oakland 

County Community Corrections about Cynthia, who worked as a community corrections 

specialist, and expressed concerns that Cynthia had improperly used the law enforcement 

information network (LEIN) to obtain information about plaintiff’s criminal history. An 

investigation commenced. It was determined that Cynthia had not searched the name “Nadia 

Awad” through the LEIN system; instead, she obtained information about plaintiff’s criminal 

history through a neighbor and confirmed the information through the 19th District Court. 

Thereafter, in August 2017, plaintiff applied to set aside her misdemeanor conviction and, in

December 2017, the application was granted.

In March 2019, an election for the board was scheduled to be held. Cynthia planned to run 

for a position on the board. An unnamed board member posted negative comments about Cynthia 

on Facebook before the election. On February 27, 2019, Charles posted, in relevant part, the 

following on the “Woodcreek Park Homeowner Association” (the association) Facebook page:

Two years ago, multiple neighbors mentioned a board member had been 

charged with mortgage fraud. I googled it, and found information in multiple 

articles, including a mugshot of the person in question. There was an article by 

Debbie Schlussel, a Detroit News article and a consent order of prohibition pursuant 

to section 18a of the mortgage brokers lenders and services licensing act (signed by 

the person) prohibiting the person from being employed by, an agent, or control 

person of a licensee or registrant under the MBLSLA, or registrant under a financial 

license. The person, who was accused of conspiring with two others, faced up to 

20 years in prison on multiple charges, which included conspiracy to commit false 
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pretenses, and money laundering. (Detroit News column) . . . . After seeing all the 

articles, I felt obligated to share this information with my neighbors. I do not want 

a person like that anywhere near my money, and I assumed other neighbors would 

agree. Unfortunately, that was not the case. I was attacked for posting it even 

though the person’s name was never divulged and the information was factual. My 

wife was running for a seat on the board at that time, so I was accused of using that 

to get my wife voted in. No. I just didn’t want my money handled by the criminal 

above. . . . . The person arrested for the above charges actually went to my wife’s 

employer and alleged that she misused her position to find this information. That 

really takes some gall! My wife, who works as a pre-trial investigator with an 

immaculate record, being accused by someone arrested for a felony with up to 20 

years in prison. . . . Further, the person alleged that my wife defamed her. . . . You 

cannot defame someone if the information is true. They may not like it, but it is 

very much public information and factual. The employer investigated and 

dismissed the complaint. . . .

In February 2020, plaintiff filed suit against Charles, alleging claims of defamation, public 

disclosure of private facts, false light invasion of privacy, and intentional infliction of emotional 

distress. Plaintiff alleged that Charles’s February 2019 Facebook post “falsely suggested that 

Plaintiff had been convicted of a felony” and that her misdemeanor conviction was expunged in 

December 2017. Charles generally denied liability and filed affirmative defenses, alleging his 

statements were true and a matter of public record. To support the affirmative defenses, Charles 

attached (1) the Detroit News article, (2) the Arab American News article, (3) a Wayne County 

register of actions, which outlined plaintiff’s 2009 charges, and (4) the consent order. Charles 

later moved for summary disposition under MCR 2.116(C)(8) (failure to state a claim) and (C)(10)

(no genuine issue of material fact). Plaintiff opposed the motion.

At some point, plaintiff obtained information supporting that in January 2017, Cynthia 

searched the name “Nadia Ali” in the LEIN system. On August 19, 2020, plaintiff filed suit against 

Charles and Cynthia, alleging a claim of civil conspiracy. In lieu of filing an answer to the 

complaint, Charles and Cynthia moved for summary disposition. In relevant part, Charles and 

Cynthia argued that summary disposition was proper because a claim of civil conspiracy requires 

an underlying tort, which plaintiff could not establish. Plaintiff opposed the motion.

The trial court held oral argument on both motions and ultimately granted summary 

disposition in favor of Charles and Cynthia. In brief, the trial court held that summary disposition 

on plaintiff’s defamation claim was proper because Charles’s statements were true and Charles did 

not identify plaintiff in the Facebook post. The trial court also held that summary disposition on 

the claim of public disclosure of private facts was proper because “the disclosed information is 

public, is not offensive to a reasonable person, and is of no consequence to the public.” Plaintiff’s 

false-light claim was also dismissed because nothing in Charles’s posts was false and he did not 

identify plaintiff in the posts. Moreover, the court concluded that Charles’s conduct was not 

outrageous or extreme, and thus, the claim of intentional infliction of emotional distress was 

dismissed. And plaintiff’s civil conspiracy claim against Charles and Cynthia was dismissed on 

the grounds that it could not survive on its own and was part of the same transaction or occurrence 

as the original lawsuit. These appeals followed and were consolidated “to advance the efficient 
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administration of the appellate process.” Awad v Reilly, unpublished order of the Court of Appeals, 

entered July 13, 2021 (Docket Nos. 357544 and 357550).

II. STANDARD OF REVIEW

A trial court’s decision regarding a motion for summary disposition is reviewed de novo. 

Glasker-Davis v Auvenshine, 333 Mich App 222, 229; 964 NW2d 809 (2020). Because the trial 

court relied on documentary evidence to support its decision, MCR 2.116(C)(10) is the appropriate 

basis for review. See Innovation Ventures, LLC v Liquid Mfg, LLC, 499 Mich 491, 506-507; 885 

NW2d 861 (2016).

A motion under MCR 2.116(C)(10) . . . tests the factual sufficiency of a claim. 

When considering such a motion, a trial court must consider all evidence submitted 

by the parties in the light most favorable to the party opposing the motion. A 

motion under MCR 2.116(C)(10) may only be granted when there is no genuine 

issue of material fact. A genuine issue of material fact exists when the record leaves 

open an issue upon which reasonable minds might differ. [El-Khalil v Oakwood 

Healthcare, Inc, 504 Mich 152, 160; 934 NW2d 665 (2019) (quotation marks and 

citations omitted).]

III. ANALYSIS

Plaintiff argues the trial court erred by granting summary disposition in favor of Charles 

on the defamation, public disclosure of private facts, false light, and intentional infliction of 

emotional distress claims. Plaintiff also argues the trial court erred by granting summary 

disposition in favor of Charles and Cynthia on the civil conspiracy claim. We disagree.

A. DEFAMATION CLAIM

“The law of defamation lies at a crossroads with that of the First Amendment. The First 

Amendment, of course, protects, in part, freedom of speech and freedom of the press.” Reighard 

v ESPN, Inc, ___ Mich App ___, ___; ___ NW2d ___ (2022) (Docket No. 355053); slip op at 5. 

“The First Amendment applies to the states by virtue of the Fourteenth Amendment. US Const, 

Am XIV.” Id. at ___; slip op at 5 n 10. The following is required to establish defamation:

(1) a false and defamatory statement concerning the plaintiff, (2) an 

unprivileged communication to a third party, (3) fault amounting at least to 

negligence on the part of the publisher, and (4) either actionability of the statement 

irrespective of special harm (defamation per se) or the existence of special harm 

caused by publication. [Hope-Jackson v Washington, 311 Mich App 602, 620; 877 

NW2d 736 (2015) (quotation marks and citation omitted).]

Importantly, “[t]ruth is an absolute defense to a defamation claim. The rule applies even 

when the person who allegedly has been defamed is a private citizen and the alleged defamer is 

not a member of the media.” TM v MZ, 326 Mich App 227, 242; 926 NW2d 900 (2018) (quotation 

marks and citations omitted).
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A defamatory statement, by its very definition, is one that is false. To be considered 

defamatory, statements must assert facts that are provable as false. Generally, 

accusations of criminal activity are considered defamation per se under the law and 

so do not require proof of damage to the plaintiff’s reputation.

As an initial step, a trial court must determine whether a respondent’s 

statements were provable as false and therefore capable of defamatory meaning, 

because whether a statement is actually capable of defamatory meaning is a 

preliminary question of law for the court to decide[.] [Id. at 241 (quotation marks, 

citations, footnote, and alterations omitted).]

In this case, Charles stated that a board member had been: (1) “charged with mortgage 

fraud,” “conspiracy to commit false pretenses, and money laundering,” (2) was arrested on these 

charges, (3) “was accused of conspiring with two others,” and (4) “faced up to 20 years in prison 

on multiple charges . . . .” Evidence establishes, and plaintiff does not dispute, that she was 

charged with multiple crimes in 2009. Specifically, plaintiff was charged with (1) using false 

pretenses to defraud in the amount of $20,000 or more, (2) second-degree money laundering, (3) 

conspiracy to commit a legal act in an illegal manner, and (4) false statements of financial 

condition. Using false pretenses to defraud in the amount of $20,000 or more, second-degree 

money laundering, and conspiracy to commit a legal act in an illegal manner are felonies, MCL 

750.218(5)(a), MCL 750.411n(2), MCL 750.157a(a); and making a false statement of a financial 

condition is a misdemeanor, MCL 750.219. Under certain circumstances, using false pretenses to 

defraud in the amount of $20,000 or more carries a penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment. MCL 

750.218(7)(a). Thus, Charles’s statements concerning plaintiff’s criminal charges and the length 

of imprisonment she faced if convicted are true.

Charles also referred to plaintiff as a “criminal.” This statement is also true because

plaintiff acknowledges she was convicted of a misdemeanor. While plaintiff notes her conviction 

was set aside and Charles does not dispute this assertion, the fact that the misdemeanor conviction 

was set aside does not change the fact that plaintiff was convicted of a crime. Indeed, the version 

of MCL 780.6211that was in effect at the time plaintiff’s misdemeanor conviction was set aside 

stated in relevant part:

(1) Except as provided in this section, a person who is convicted of not more 

than 1 offense may file an application with the convicting court for the entry of an 

order setting aside 1 or more convictions as follows:

* * *

(b) Except as provided in subdivision (c), a person who is convicted of not 

more than 2 misdemeanor offenses and no other felony or misdemeanor offenses 

may petition the convicting court or the convicting courts to set aside 1 or both of 

the misdemeanor convictions.

 

1 MCL 780.621 was later amended by 2020 PA 191 and 2021 PA 78.
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Thus, to qualify for a conviction to be set aside, a person must have been convicted of a 

crime. While the general public may not have been aware of plaintiff’s misdemeanor conviction 

after it was set aside, “[t]he department of state police” was required to “retain a nonpublic record 

of the order setting aside [the] conviction and of the record of arrest, fingerprints, conviction, and 

sentence . . . in the case to which the order . . . applie[d].” MCL 780.623(2). The “nonpublic 

record” is required to be made available to certain individuals, agencies, and courts in certain 

circumstances. See id. Therefore, even though plaintiff’s misdemeanor conviction was set aside, 

the fact of the matter remains that plaintiff was convicted of a crime and a record of that crime 

continues to exist.

While the undisputed evidence establishes that Charles’s statements were true, plaintiff 

argues the statements implied that plaintiff had been convicted of a felony. “A subset of the tort 

of defamation is known as ‘defamation by implication.’ ” Reighard, ___ Mich App at ___; slip 

op at 6-7.

[S]uch a cause of action might succeed even without a direct showing of any actual 

literally false statements. Liability for defamation by implication may be imposed 

based not on what is affirmatively stated, but on what is implied when a defendant 

juxtaposes a series of facts so as to imply a defamatory connection between them, 

or creates a defamatory implication by omitting facts [such that] he may be held 

responsible for the defamatory implication. A defamation by implication stems not 

from what is literally stated, but from what is implied. [Id. at ___; slip op at 7

(quotation marks and citations omitted).]

When considering all of Charles’s statements, they do not imply that plaintiff was

convicted of a felony. Rather, Charles used the words “charged” and “accused” and referenced a 

potential penalty plaintiff faced if convicted. While Charles referred to plaintiff as a “criminal,” 

this reference was only used once. The reader could have inferred that Charles was calling plaintiff 

a criminal because she had been charged with several crimes, as opposed to plaintiff being 

convicted of a felony. Because the undisputed evidence establishes that Charles’s statements were 

true and did not imply plaintiff had been convicted of a felony, the trial court properly granted 

summary disposition in favor of Charles on the defamation claim.

B. PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF PRIVATE FACTS CLAIM

In order “to prove invasion of privacy through the public disclosure of private facts, a 

plaintiff must show (1) the disclosure of information (2) that is highly offensive to a reasonable 

person and (3) that is of no legitimate concern to the public.” Doe v Henry Ford Health Sys, 308 

Mich App 592, 597; 865 NW2d 915 (2014) (quotation marks and citation omitted). Importantly, 

“[t]he information revealed must relate to the individual’s private as opposed to public life. 

Liability will not be imposed for giving publicity to matters that are already of public record or 

otherwise open to the public.” Id. at 597-598 (quotation marks and citations omitted).

Plaintiff argues that Charles exposed private facts in the February 2019 Facebook post 

because, at the time Charles made the Facebook post, plaintiff’s misdemeanor conviction had 

already been set aside. Plaintiff argues that Charles obtained the information through Cynthia, 

who obtained information about plaintiff’s criminal history through “a criminal LEIN search of 
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Plaintiff.” However, in so arguing, plaintiff disregards the Wayne County register of actions and

the news articles, which all outlined plaintiff’s criminal charges. Plaintiff presented no evidence 

supporting that these materials were not accessible to the general public. Indeed, on appeal, 

plaintiff notes “[a]pparently, the Wayne County Circuit Court, had a public record of the charges 

against the Plaintiff . . . .” Consequently, the undisputed evidence establishes that Charles 

referenced “matters that [were] already of public record or otherwise open to the public.” See 

Doe, 308 Mich App at 598 (quotation marks and citation omitted). Because liability cannot be 

imposed, summary disposition was proper. See id.

C. FALSE-LIGHT INVASION OF PRIVACY CLAIM

To establish a claim for false-light invasion of privacy, a plaintiff must prove “the 

defendant broadcast to the public in general, or to a large number of people, information that was 

unreasonable and highly objectionable by attributing to the plaintiff characteristics, conduct, or 

beliefs that were false and placed the plaintiff in a false position.” Puetz v Spectrum Health Hosps, 

324 Mich App 51, 69; 919 NW2d 439 (2018) (quotation marks and citation omitted). “[M]alice 

is an element of false-light invasion of privacy, regardless of whether the plaintiff is a public or 

private figure.” Foundation For Behavioral Resources v WE Upjohn Unemployment Trustee 

Corp, 332 Mich App 406, 413; 957 NW2d 352 (2020). Additionally, “the defendant must have 

known of or acted in reckless disregard as to the falsity of the publicized matter and the false light 

in which the plaintiff would be placed.” Id. at 410 (quotation marks and citation omitted).

In this case, the undisputed evidence does not support that plaintiff was placed in a false 

light. As already discussed in detail, the statements made in the February 2019 Facebook post 

were true and did not imply plaintiff had been convicted of a felony. The fact that plaintiff’s 

misdemeanor conviction was set aside in December 2017 does not change the fact that plaintiff 

was charged with three felonies and a misdemeanor in 2009. Consequently, a genuine issue of 

material fact does not exist as to whether Charles “attribut[ed] to . . . plaintiff characteristics” or 

“conduct . . . that were false and placed the plaintiff in a false position.” Puetz, 324 Mich App at 

69 (quotation marks and citation omitted). Summary disposition in favor of Charles was therefore 

proper on the false-light claim.

D. INTENTIONAL INFLICTION OF EMOTIONAL DISTRESS CLAIM

“To establish a claim of intentional infliction of emotional distress, a plaintiff must prove 

the following elements: (1) extreme and outrageous conduct, (2) intent or recklessness, (3) 

causation, and (4) severe emotional distress.” Hayley v Allstate Ins Co, 262 Mich App 571, 577; 

686 NW2d 273 (2004) (quotation marks and citation omitted).

It is for the trial court to initially determine whether the defendant’s conduct 

may reasonably be regarded as so extreme and outrageous as to permit recovery. 

But where reasonable individuals may differ, it is for the jury to determine if the 

conduct was so extreme and outrageous as to permit recovery. [Id.]

“Liability does not extend to mere insults, indignities, threats, annoyances, petty 

oppressions, or other trivialities.” Doe v Mills, 212 Mich App 73, 91; 536 NW2d 824 (1995). 

“The test to determine whether a person’s conduct was extreme and outrageous is whether 
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recitation of the facts of the case to an average member of the community would arouse his 

resentment against the actor, and lead him to exclaim, ‘Outrageous!’ ” Lewis v LeGrow, 258 Mich 

App 175, 196; 670 NW2d 675 (2003) (quotation marks and citations omitted). This test is a 

demanding one. Indeed, the necessary threshold for establishing conduct is extreme and 

outrageous has been described as “formidable.” Atkinson v Farley, 171 Mich App 784, 788-789; 

431 NW2d 95 (1988).

It has not been enough that the defendant has acted with an intent which is 

tortious or even criminal, or that he has intended to inflict emotional distress, or 

even that his conduct has been characterized by malice, or a degree of aggravation 

which would entitle the plaintiff to punitive damages for another tort. Liability has 

been found only where the conduct has been so outrageous in character, and so 

extreme in degree, as to go beyond all possible bounds of decency, and to be 

regarded as atrocious, and utterly intolerable in a civilized community. [Id. at 789 

(quotation marks and citation omitted).]

In this case, plaintiff’s intentional infliction of emotional distress claim is based on 

Charles’s 2019 Facebook post, which contained information that plaintiff had been charged with 

multiple crimes, including several felonies. We fail to see how Charles’s posting goes “beyond 

all possible bounds of decency” so as to be “regarded as atrocious, and utterly intolerable in a 

civilized community.” See id. Indeed, plaintiff was charged with multiple felonies and a 

misdemeanor in 2009, and plaintiff ultimately pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor. The information 

was publicly available through the online news articles and through the Wayne County register of 

actions. While plaintiff notes that her misdemeanor conviction was set aside and Charles does not 

challenge this, the fact of the matter remains that plaintiff was charged with several felonies. 

Additionally, while members of the board likely would have been able to determine that plaintiff 

was the individual Charles was referring to in the post, Charles did not refer to plaintiff by name. 

A question of fact did not exist as to whether Charles exhibited extreme and outrageous conduct. 

Rather, the trial court properly concluded that Charles’s statements essentially amount to “mere 

insults, indignities, . . . annoyances, petty oppressions, or other trivialities,” and such statements 

are not actionable. See Doe, 212 Mich App at 91.2

 

2 We note that plaintiff devotes a significant portion of her brief on appeal to arguing that Cynthia

obtained information about plaintiff’s criminal history by illegally searching the LEIN system. 

However, plaintiff only named Charles as a defendant in case number 20-002929-CZ. Therefore, 

Cynthia’s alleged actions are irrelevant for purposes of determining whether summary disposition 

was proper on the defamation, public disclosure of private facts, false light, and intentional 

infliction of emotional distress claims. Indeed, “[a] party is bound by [his or her] pleadings, and 

it is not permissible to litigate issues or claims that were not raised in the complaint.” Bailey v 

Antrim Co, ___ Mich App ___, ___; ___ NW2d ___ (2022) (Docket No. 357838); slip op at 6 

(quotation marks and citation omitted; second alteration in original). Thus, we did not consider 

Cynthia’s alleged illegal acts when analyzing whether summary disposition in favor of Charles 

was proper.
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E. CIVIL CONSPIRACY CLAIM

“A civil conspiracy is a combination of two or more persons, by some concerted action, to 

accomplish a criminal or unlawful purpose, or to accomplish a lawful purpose by criminal or 

unlawful means.” Swain v Morse, 332 Mich App 510, 530; 957 NW2d 396 (2020) (quotation 

marks and citation omitted). “In addition, to establish a concert-of-action claim, a plaintiff must 

prove that all defendants acted tortiously pursuant to a common design that caused harm to the 

plaintiff. For both civil conspiracy and concert of action, the plaintiff must establish some

underlying tortious conduct.” Urbain v Beierling, 301 Mich App 114, 132; 835 NW2d 455 (2013) 

(quotation marks and citations omitted).

In this case, plaintiff alleged that Charles and Cynthia “conspired to defame and otherwise 

slander . . . Plaintiff by publishing Plaintiff’s prior criminal charges . . . through the use of social 

media published to members of the Woodcreek Park Homeowner’s Association.” Plaintiff further 

alleged that Charles and Cynthia conspired to invade her privacy and intentionally inflict emotional 

distress upon plaintiff. However, as already discussed in detail above, summary disposition on the 

defamation, public disclosure of private facts, false light, and intentional infliction of emotional 

distress claims was proper because the information published by Charles was true and was a matter 

of public record. Thus, because plaintiff failed to create a genuine issues of material fact to sustain 

these claims, plaintiff cannot rely on these torts to support her civil conspiracy claim.

Plaintiff also alleged that Cynthia violated MCL 28.214, MCL 752.794, MCL 752.795, 

and MCL 752.796, and appears to suggest that Charles conspired with her to violate these statutes. 

While violation of a statute can factor “into a common-law negligence cause of action,” plaintiff 

does not provide authority to support that a violation of these statutes would constitute actionable 

torts. Randall v Mich High Sch Athletic Ass’n, 334 Mich App 697, 717; 965 NW2d 690 (2020). 

Additionally, “generally speaking, a plaintiff cannot make a viable claim for money damages based 

strictly on violation of a statute unless the Legislature provides for a private statutory cause of 

action.” Id. “[A] plaintiff has no private cause of action to enforce [a statutory] right unless (1) the 

statute expressly creates a private cause of action, or (2) a cause of action can be inferred from the 

fact that the statute provides no adequate means of enforcement of its provisions.” Lane v 

KinderCare Learning Ctrs, 231 Mich App 689, 695-696; 588 NW2d 715 (1998).

In this case, plaintiff fails to explain or rationalize how violations of these statutes would 

create actionable torts or how she has a private cause of action under any of the listed statutes. 

Plaintiff also does not explain or rationalize how Cynthia violated the statutes. Instead, plaintiff 

argues in a cursory manner that the statutes were violated. Parties “may not merely announce 

[their] position and leave it to this Court to discover and rationalize the basis for [their] claims, . . 

. nor may [parties] give issues cursory treatment with little or no citation of supporting authority.” 

Houghton ex rel Johnson v Keller, 256 Mich App 336, 339; 662 NW2d 854 (2003). Consequently, 

because plaintiff merely announced her position without providing binding authority or 

meaningful analysis, the argument is abandoned and need not be considered by this Court. See id. 

Nonetheless, to the extent we have considered the argument, we conclude that plaintiff cannot rely 

on MCL 28.214, MCL 752.794, MCL 752.795, and MCL 752.796 to support her civil conspiracy 

claim because plaintiff does not have private causes of action under those statutes. Consequently, 

the trial court properly granted summary disposition on plaintiff’s civil conspiracy claim. See 

Smith Living Trust v Erickson Retirement Communities, 326 Mich App 366, 395-396; 928 NW2d 
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227 (2018) (holding that the trial court properly granted the defendants’ motion for summary 

disposition when the plaintiff failed to provide sufficient evidence of a separate actionable tort).3

In light of our conclusions, the remainder of the parties’ arguments on appeal are rendered 

moot and we decline to address them. See Attorney General v Pub Serv Comm, 269 Mich App 

473, 485; 713 NW2d 290 (2005).

Affirmed.

/s/ Mark J. Cavanagh

/s/ Kirsten Frank Kelly

/s/ Kristina Robinson Garrett

 

3 Plaintiff states on appeal that discovery was still open when the trial court granted the motions

for summary disposition. However, plaintiff does not explain or rationalize this argument or cite 

supporting authority. Moreover, plaintiff fails to explain or rationalize how further discovery 

would have uncovered factual support for plaintiff’s positions. Because plaintiff merely 

announced her position without providing binding authority or meaningful analysis, the argument 

is abandoned and need not be considered. See Houghton ex rel Johnson, 256 Mich App at 339.