HOUSE BILL No. 5156

 

November 14, 2013, Introduced by Reps. Shirkey and McBroom and referred to the Committee on Government Operations.

 

     A bill to amend 1961 PA 236, entitled

 

"Revised judicature act of 1961,"

 

by amending section 6421 (MCL 600.6421), as amended by 2013 PA 164.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 

     Sec. 6421. (1) Nothing in this chapter eliminates or creates

 

any right a claimant may have to a trial by jury. Nothing in this

 

chapter deprives the circuit or district court of jurisdiction to

 

hear and determine a claim for which there is a right to a trial by

 

jury as otherwise provided by law. Except as otherwise provided in

 

this section, if a claimant has the right to a trial by jury and

 

asserts that right as required by law, the claim may be heard and

 

determined by a circuit or district court in the appropriate venue.

 

     (2) For declaratory or equitable relief sought by a claimant

 


within the jurisdiction of the court of claims described in section

 

6419(1) and arising out of the same transaction or series of

 

transactions with a matter asserted for which a claimant has the

 

right to a trial by jury under subsection (1), unless joined as

 

provided in subsection (3), the court of claims shall retain

 

exclusive jurisdiction over the matter of declaratory or equitable

 

relief until a final judgment has been entered, and the matter

 

asserted for which a claimant has the right to a trial by jury

 

under subsection (1) shall be stayed until final judgment on the

 

matter of declaratory or equitable relief.

 

     (3) With the approval of all parties, any matter within the

 

jurisdiction of the court of claims described in section 6419(1)

 

may be joined for trial with cases arising out of the same

 

transaction or series of transactions that are pending in any of

 

the various trial courts of the state. A case in the court of

 

claims that has been joined with the approval of all parties shall

 

be tried and determined by the judge even though the trial court

 

action with which it may be joined is tried to a jury under the

 

supervision of the same trial judge.