A few more success stories from the Law School’s clinics:

Man wins freedom after wrongful conviction

A judge vacated the double murder conviction and sentence of Michigan Innocence Clinic client LaVone Hill, providing him the relief he had been seeking for more than 22 years. Hill was convicted in 2002 — in part due to the police corruption — of two murders he did not commit.

Survivors take a stand on trafficking

Students in the Human Trafficking and Immigration Clinic helped a group of survivors draft a submission to an European Union-level independent monitoring body. The document highlights the failure of nations to investigate human trafficking cases as human trafficking rather than acts of abuse by an individual actor.

Mother wins dispute over housing

The Michigan Court of Appeals ruled that small size alone does not mean a home is unfit for a child, thanks to the work of the Child Welfare Appellate Clinic. The state had sought to end a mother’s parental rights, arguing that an extended-stay motel did not qualify as “safe and suitable housing.”

Tenant sues over housing discrimination

A disabled woman successfully sued an Ann Arbor landlord under the city’s non-discrimination ordinance, alleging that they refused to rent to people who use government housing vouchers. She was represented by the Civil Rights Litigation Initiative. 

Veteran receives settlement over car 

A client of the Veterans Legal Clinic had taken his classic car to a local mechanic who failed to properly attach the fuel line, and the car exploded as the client was driving it home. Students negotiated a settlement that resulted in the client receiving $11,000, more than the value of the car.

Youth receives needed services

A mother was struggling to communicate with the school of her 4-year-old son, who has autism spectrum disorder and global developmental delays. Students in the Pediatric Advocacy Clinic worked to provide him with personal care services related to eating, toileting and walking so that he can thrive at school — and to improve the mother’s communication with the school.  

Students advise startups in Kenya, Costa Rica

Two teams of students traveled abroad through the International Transactions Clinic to work with clients in emerging markets. One team worked in Kenya with business students involved in the International Investment Fund, while the other traveled to Costa Rica to advise a sustainable energy startup. 

Three former youthful offenders resentenced

Since May, the Juvenile Justice Clinic has had three clients resentenced and released after 45-50 years in prison. One was 18 and two were 20 years old when they were arrested and convicted of murder, but now all are in their 70s. The courts judged that they do not pose a public safety risk, are remorseful and have been rehabilitated.

Client testifies before Congress

The Zell Entrepreneurship Clinic advises student athletes on name, image, and likeness issues. One client spoke to Congress on the need for regulation of NIL, specifically calling out the clinic’s support as pivotal.

Detroit food nonprofit gets established

The Community Enterprise Clinic has a longstanding partnership with the Detroit Black Community Food Sovereignty Network, which opened its Detroit Food Commons last year. The clinic continues to assist the organization with legal issues like intellectual property, zoning and general contract work.