Michigan Man's 24th Lawsuit Threatens Family Business

"Most of these cases settle before they ever make it to trial, so people that understand the system... will bring these cases over and over again in order to get something for nothing."

Richard & Dick Singer
Bay City, Michigan

By the end of 2009, unemployment in Michigan reached 15 percent. While neighboring businesses in Bay City lay off employees or close their doors, Richard Singer and his father are working hard to keep their small business afloat. "Any time an entrepreneur decides to go into business for himself, he's incurring a lot of risk, and the rewards are not guaranteed by any means," Singer says. "When you throw in the additional risk of lawsuits and their potential cost, it has a serious effect on the economic engine of this country."

In 2006, one the company's neighbors who had filed 23 previous lawsuits in the county sued Acra Cast, the Singer family business. Acra Cast, with about 15 employees, is a small foundry, which designs and creates precision metal castings ranging from sculptures to machine parts. The plaintiff alleged that emissions from the foundry had contaminated his cars, his carpet, and the siding of his house.

Singer's business has always been in full compliance with all environmental regulations. As the case proceeded, Singer learned that the plaintiff did not even own some of the cars for which he wanted compensation, and he had disposed of the carpets and cleaned the house siding before any evidence could be collected. From the samples they could collect, Singer explains that he and his lawyers eventually discovered that the gritty material on the plaintiff's car could not have been caused by the wax burned at Acra Cast. It contained metal shavings and paint globules, Singer says, and was likely the result of parking near an auto body shop.

Even so, the case dragged on for almost three years, and Acra Cast had to pay for the suit out of pocket. Knowing he had not caused this damage, Singer refused to settle out of court, and he was forced to spend thousands of dollars on legal fees before the case was eventually dismissed in 2009. These expenses, says Singer, burdened his business at a time of extreme hardship. The economy in Michigan and the fact that several of his clients have recently gone out of business meant that profit margins were dangerously narrow. He even had to lay off several of his employees.

"It's one thing to run a business and to put up with the pain and the hard work associated with that," Singer says. "It's an entirely different subject to have someone come in, walk in off the street and short of putting a gun to your head try to steal money from you."

Part of the FacesOfLawsuitAbuse.org awareness campaign.

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[SexSteakSoda]

They should publish the man's name and photo in the local newspaper or just on the internet. If you're going to try to take money away from hard working people then everyone should know about it. You can't take money that's not yours and expect your peers to show you any kind of respect. In reality you're a greedy sack of shit.

[Ubertastic]

these kind of people make me sick, best of wishes to the company

[lotterdan]

The funny thing about this video, is that I used to work for this fat mouthed jackwad, and also years earlier, used to work for the asshole that he is talking about. They both talk very highly of themselves, when in all reality they are both nothing but a couple losers in life!!!

[packerfan748]

there is way too many of these lawsuit videos, im ashamed of my country!!!

[peacefulblonde39]

As a one time bus. owner in Michigan. I do agree with your video. Like you stated the man had prev. sued over 20 times before you. SMH! I have 13 year exp. in the auto industry and 6 years in the transportation industry ( transporting auto parts.) Are you hiring?

[peacefulblonde39]

@camochannel1 Sure, its so much better in other Counties! smh

[chopseh]

Rule number 1: Always go to trial. 

[Kamikuru77]

I want to know the name of this douche bag that tried to sue this honest small business.

[uzijohn]

@SexSteakSoda,

We were told that law was about truth, justice and the American way, yet abuses are everywhere and our legislators (mostly lawyers) have no will to fix the system,

Even if you do get a jury trial they're commonly shielded from relevant information deemed prejudicial, they wouldn't know about this clown’s 23 previous lawsuits,

After a trial when jurors learn the "Full Story" they're often shocked and pissed-off in many cases

[kenfo0]

@wildwilly1111 I am an actual conservative. I disagree with a lot of your post, but the fact is this vid/explanation stinks to high heaven. It is frightening how easily people are misled/cowed.

[kenfo0]

@SexSteakSoda I can only hope someone has a grievance with you and decides to settle it that way. I'm sure SUDDENLY, you'll have an epiphany about how that behavior is then wrong. You are an ass.

[kenfo0]

@SexSteak You have been presented with NO facts, yet you've already reached a conclusion. You have heard a VERY prejudiced, one-sided view of what happened. People like you are absolutely frightening in your loud stupidity.