Michigan Supreme Court Protects One Family: The Schostaks

LANSING — The Michigan Supreme Court today is hearing the second case in two months involving the family of Michigan Republican Party Chair Bobby Schostak, a last-minute case that could prevent voters in Washtenaw County from deciding next Tuesday on a referendum to stop the rezoning of Schostak-owned land.

“Once again we find that the Michigan Supreme Court works to benefit corporate special interests and politically powerful individuals,” said Michigan Democratic Party Chair Mark Brewer. “This is the second case in two months in which Justices Brian Zahra and Stephen Markman will rule on a case involving a Schostak. The Supreme Court seems to have become a personal business court for Bobby Schostak. I guess if you’re the Chairman of the Michigan Republican Party, the Michigan Supreme Court is protecting your business. If you’re a family seeking justice for an abused child or from an insurance company, this Court doesn’t stand for you.”

In the case, Salem Springs v. Salem Township (No. 146002, 2012), a Schostak Brothers company is attempting to prevent the voters of Salem Township in Washtenaw County from having a say on the rezoning of Schostak Brothers property from agricultural-residential to commercial. The Schostak Brothers company failed at the trial court level and in the Court of Appeals, but now the Supreme Court is hearing arguments to determine if a further appeal will be allowed.

In September, the Supreme Court also ruled in favor of a Schostak-owned company. In Wells Fargo Bank v. Cherryland Mall Ltd. (No. 144578, 2012), the trial court ruled that David Schostak — Bobby’s brother — and his co-defendants owed Wells Fargo more than $2.1 million. The Court of Appeals upheld that decision, but the Michigan Legislature passed and Gov. Rick Snyder signed a bill to void Schostak’s liability retroactively. The Supreme Court ruled that the new law required the Court of Appeals to reconsider its decision upholding the lower court’s judgment.

Source: Press Release – Michigan Democratic State Central Committee