Opinion ID: 2981463
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Standing and Mootness Under Michigan Law

Text: - 10 - No. 11-2181 Ellias v. Phoenix Life Ins. Company Standing under Michigan law is a limited, prudential doctrine. Lansing Sch. Educ. Ass’n v. Lansing Bd. of Educ., 792 N.W.2d 686, 699 (Mich. 2010). A plaintiff has standing under Michigan law “whenever there is a legal cause of action.” Id. Where a cause of action is not provided at law, a plaintiff may have standing if the plaintiff “has a special injury or right, or substantial interest, that will be detrimentally affected in a manner different from the citizenry at large or if the statutory scheme implies that the [Michigan] Legislature intended to confer standing on the plaintiff.” Id. Further, Michigan courts do not adjudicate” moot questions or declare principles of law that have no practical legal effect in the case” before the court. Anglers of the Ausable, Inc. v. Dept. of Envtl. Quality, 796 N.W.2d 240, 240 (Mich. 2011).