This July, Carolyn Wood, one of our legal assistants, attorney Ed Boucher, his son, Noah and other supporters participated in the Motor City Mile Open Water Swim hosted by Swim Across America. Supporters and swimmers came together to raise funds for SAA’s beneficiary, the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center.
We are honored to have sponsored this transformative event and are proud of everyone who represented our firm. Together, support for Swim Across America can help make waves as the organization aims to innovate cancer research, clinical trials and patient programs.
On Monday, December 23rd, a federal appeals court issued a ruling reinstating reporting requirements under the Corporate Transparency Act (“CTA”), with the Treasury Department’s FinCEN extending key deadlines to accommodate the recent legal uncertainty.
Last week, the US District Court for Eastern District of Texas ruled on reporting under the Corporate Transparency Act, issuing a nationwide injunction against its enforcement. The CTA otherwise required entities to report Beneficial Ownership Information on or before January 1, 2025. While this injunction is not permanent, we will suspend filings for companies until the injunction is overturned on appeal.
We are saddened to share the passing of the Honorable John E. Dewane, retired judge and close friend of many members of the Kotz Sangster team, on Thursday, October 14th. At 81 years old, John spent several years as a vital member of our firm in addition to his impactful career serving Berrien County as a Circuit Court judge.
Professionally, John was known for finding simplicity in complexity, displaying an aptitude for getting to the root of an issue and providing clarity to everyone involved. Well-known as an incredibly hard worker, John practiced law for near-50 years in various capacities, with an unmatched understanding of the law and its applications. In his personal life, his renowned storytelling ability, sense of humor, and profound kindness made him beloved by all.
His dedication to his community led him to serve on the boards of several organizations, including the Cornerstone Alliance; Big Michigan Doings, Inc.; the Berrien-Cass-Van Buren Workforce Development Board; the Private Industry Council; and serving as president of the Berrien County Mental Health Board.
Mitt Drew—Kotz Sangster attorney and Managing Director of the firm’s Southwest Michigan Offices, as well as John’s former mentee and close friend—had this to say about him: “John was a legal scholar and dedicated his entire career to serving the citizens of Berrien County. As a practitioner and jurist, he set the standard for professionalism, legal acumen and civility. For those of us who appeared before him and had the privilege of working with him, our lives have been forever touched and impacted by his commitment to the profession, friendship and keen wit.”
To say the very least, John’s passing represents a deep loss for our firm. His wisdom and kindness greatly impacted many members of our team, and we will all miss him dearly.
