Nacht Law is both founded and rooted in the City of Ann Arbor, so a great number of our clients are either employed or have business in Ann Arbor. Attorneys at Nacht Law regularly represent people and businesses from both the city of Ann Arbor and Washtenaw county, in employment matters, executive compensation, business litigation, and civil-rights claims; employment: whistleblowers, and victims of retaliation, discrimination, harassment, or seeking to manage accommodation and medical leave issues, or unemployment compensation; businesses seeking sound advice on personnel policies, human resources, non-compete issues, business litigation; doctors and medical groups seeking to retain new people, set policies, third-party Medicare audits, compliance programs; criminal defendants fighting for their civil rights to be presumed innocent.

The Police Chief of Ann Arbor is Barnett Jones. And the City Council consists of the Mayor: John Hieftje, and ten Council members, two from each of Ann Arbor's five wards. One half of City Council is elected in annual partisan elections: Ward 1, Sabra Briere and Sandi Smith; Ward 2, Stephen Rapundalo and Tony Derezinski; Ward 3, Stephen Kunselman and Christopher Taylor; Ward 4, Marcia Higgins and Margie Teall; Ward 5, Mike Anglin and Carsten Hohnke

ANN ARBOR DISTRICT COURT

A district court has exclusive jurisdiction of all civil litigation up to $25,000; and handles garnishments, eviction proceedings, land contract and mortgage foreclosures, and other proceedings. In the criminal field, district court handles all misdemeanors where punishments do not exceed one year, including arraignment, setting and acceptance of bail, trial and sentencing; and conducts preliminary examinations in felony cases. Also, a small claims division for civil cases up to $3,000 is provided in district court. In these cases, litigants agree to waive their right to a jury, rules of evidence, representation by a lawyer, and the right to appeal from the district judge's decision. If either party objects, the case will be heard by the general civil division of the district court.

The 15th Judicial District Court of Ann Arbor is located in downtown Ann Arbor in the Washtenaw County Courthouse. It is a trial court of limited jurisdiction. The 15^th District Court has exclusive jurisdiction over the following types of cases: Civil suits involving $25,000 or less, Adult criminal misdemeanor offenses punishable by up to one year's imprisonment, Civil infractions, Traffic violations, Landlord/tenant disputes, Small claims (involving $3,000 or less), Land contract forfeitures. In addition to its jurisdiction to try adult criminal offenses punishable by up to one year's imprisonment, the district court is the court in which all other adult criminal proceedings begin, regardless of the nature of the offense. In carrying out this function, the district court has jurisdiction to issue arrest and search warrants, set bail and accept bond, conduct misdemeanor and felony arraignments, preside over preliminary examinations for felony and misdemeanor offenses outside its trial jurisdiction, and perform civil marriage ceremonies. The court is presided over by three elected judges, Christopher Easthope, Julie Creal, and Elizabeth P. Hines, and one appointed magistrate, M. Colleen Currie.

Ann Arbor Employment

Major employers (as of 2010) among the most common occupations in Ann Arbor are Management, professional, and related occupations, 63%. Sales and office occupations, 14%. and Service occupations, 11%. Approximately 61 percent of workers in Ann Arbor, Michigan work for companies, 27 percent work for the government and 5 percent are self-employed. The leading industries in Ann Arbor, Michigan are Educational services, and health care, and social assistance, 47%; Professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management services, 12%; and Retail trade, 7%: