Michigan Supreme Court

Lansing, Michigan

Robert P. Young, Jr., Chief Justice

Stephen J. Markman

Brian K. Zahra

Bridget M. McCormack

David F. Viviano 

Richard H. Bernstein

Joan L. Larsen, Justices

Order 

November 2, 2016

152035

CITY OF HUNTINGTON WOODS and CITY

OF PLEASANT RIDGE,

Plaintiffs/

Counter-Defendants-Appellants,

v SC: 152035

COA: 321414 

Oakland CC: 2013-135842-CZ

CITY OF OAK PARK,

Defendant/

Counter-Plaintiff-Appellee, 

and

45TH DISTRICT COURT,

Defendant/Appellee.

_________________________________________/

On October 5, 2016, the Court heard oral argument on the application for leave to 

appeal the June 11, 2015 judgment of the Court of Appeals. We DIRECT the parties to 

participate in settlement proceedings and we appoint Chief Judge Michael J. Talbot to act 

as the mediator. The Chief Judge may direct the parties to produce any additional 

information he believes will facilitate mediation. Any additional information, statements 

or comments made during these proceedings will be confidential and will not become 

part of the record, except on motion by one of the parties. See, e.g., MCR 7.213(A)(2)(f); 

MCR 2.412(C). The mediator shall file a status report with this Court within 42 days of 

the date of this order. If mediation results in full or partial settlement of the case, the 

parties shall file, within 21 days after the filing of the notice by the mediator, a stipulation 

to dismiss (in full or in part) with this Court pursuant to MCR 7.318. 

If the parties are not able to resolve the dispute through settlement discussions, the 

date of the filing of the mediator’s status report shall be considered the date leave to 

appeal is GRANTED, for purposes of the briefing deadlines for calendar cases. The 

parties shall include among the issues to be briefed: (1) whether the revenue-sharing 

scheme provided in MCL 600.8379(1)(c) relates to a political subdivision’s obligation to 

fund a district court; (2) whether the appropriation obligation in MCL 600.8271 creates 
I, Larry S. Royster, Clerk of the Michigan Supreme Court, certify that the

foregoing is a true and complete copy of the order entered at the direction of the Court.

 November 2, 2016

t1026

2

Clerk

an independent funding obligation; (3) whether the 45th District Court is “within” the 

political subdivisions of appellants or whether “the expenses of maintaining, financing, or 

operating the district court . . . were incurred in” the political subdivisions of appellants 

within the meaning of MCL 600.8103(3), MCL 600.8104(2), or both; (4) if so, whether 

City of Oak Park is currently funding “the expenses of maintaining, financing, or 

operating the district court ... incurred in any other political subdivision”; and (5) 

whether the 45th District Court may rescind its agreement with appellants that the district 

court is not required to sit in appellants’ political subdivisions. 

The Attorney General, the Michigan District Judges Association, the Michigan 

Court Administrators Association, the Michigan Municipal League and the Michigan 

Townships Association are invited to file briefs amicus curiae. Other persons or groups 

interested in the determination of the issues presented in this case may move the Court 

for permission to file briefs amicus curiae.

MARKMAN and LARSEN, JJ., would grant leave to appeal only.