Dearborn Heights council holds closed session on Swope litigation after dispute over counsel

The Dearborn Heights City Council voted Feb. 25 to meet in closed session to discuss pending litigation, Swope et al. v. Dearborn Heights, after several council members said they were uncomfortable with certain attorneys attending the session.

Why it matters: The dispute during the special meeting centered on who should participate in privileged attorney–client discussion about active litigation and whether the city should follow the recommendation of its assigned municipal insurance counsel (MMRMA). Council action to enter closed session and a later vote to “concur in part” with city counsel set the council’s formal position while the litigation proceeds.

At 5:37 p.m., Councilman Hassan Ahmad moved that the council go into closed session “so the city council may discuss the pending litigation, Swope et al. v. Dearborn Heights,” naming possible attendees including the chief of staff, corporation counsel (at the request of Monica Hunt, the MMRMA-assigned attorney), and special legal counsel Miyake; the motion was seconded and approved. The council returned to open session at…