John L. Miller

John L. Miller

managing attorney of GMH’s Upper Peninsula office

education law

John L. Miller

Curriculum vitae

EXPERIENCE

Mr. John Miller is a shareholder in the Firm’s litigation group. John represents public school districts and municipalities in a wide array of litigation—including: employment, FOIA and Open Meetings Act, general education, special education, civil rights, constitutional law, personal injury claims, and workers’ compensation. Mr. Miller has represented governmental entities and private employers throughout Michigan’s state and federal courts—both at the trial and appellate levels, including the Michigan Supreme Court and United States Supreme Court.

Prior to law school, Mr. Miller received a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Northern Michigan University and a Bachelor’s degree from Northern Michigan University. Mr. Miller is a past member of Highland Township’s Planning Commission and is a current member of the Zoning Board of Appeals.

In his spare time, Mr. Miller enjoys biking, skiing, paddling, rock and ice climbing and backpacking.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

EXPERIENCE

Mr. John Miller is a shareholder in the Firm’s litigation group. John represents public school districts and municipalities in a wide array of litigation—including: employment, FOIA and Open Meetings Act, general education, special education, civil rights, constitutional law, personal injury claims, and workers’ compensation. Mr. Miller has represented governmental entities and private employers throughout Michigan’s state and federal courts—both at the trial and appellate levels, including the Michigan Supreme Court and United States Supreme Court.

Prior to law school, Mr. Miller received a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Northern Michigan University and a Bachelor’s degree from Northern Michigan University. Mr. Miller is a past member of Highland Township’s Planning Commission and is a current member of the Zoning Board of Appeals.

In his spare time, Mr. Miller enjoys biking, skiing, paddling, rock and ice climbing and backpacking.

Practice Areas

•  Employment & Labor Law
•  Insurance Defense
•  Litigation
•  Municipal & Government
•  Workers’ Compensation
•  Education Law

EDUCATION

•  Northern Michigan University, B.A., cum laude
• 
Northern Michigan University, M.P.A., summa cum laude
• 
Michigan State University College of Law, J.D., summa cum laude

Admitted to Practice

•  Michigan 2008
•  U.S. Court of Appeals, 6th Circuit 2009
•  U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan 2009
•  U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan 2015
•  U.S. Supreme Court 2016

Memberships

•  State Bar of Michigan
•  Board Member of the Highland Charter Township’s Planning Commission
•  Council of School Attorneys
•  Michigan Defense Trial Council
•  Defense Research Institute
•  Highland Township Zoning Board of Appeals

Representative Cases

• Abata v. Marquette-Alger Reg’l Educ. Serv. Agency, No. 2:22-CV-210, 2023 WL 4758615 (W.D. Mich. June 16, 2023)(in a first amendment retaliation case, obtained a complete dismissal before the ISD was required to participate in discovery.)

• Duchin v. Eastern Upper Peninsula Intermediate Sch. Dist., No. 2:21-CV-161, 2022 WL 969679 (W.D. Mich. Mar. 31, 2022)(obtaining complete dismissal of multi-count civil rights lawsuit against an Intermediate School District and its administrators).

• A.P. v. Peppler, No. CV 19-12744, 2022 WL 1129899 (E.D. Mich. Apr. 16, 2022)(Court dismissed all claims against school administrator after Plaintiff alleged she was subjected to harassment due to her religion).

• Hamilton v Stockbridge Community Schools, 2021 WL 364251 (E.D.Mich. 2021)(obtaining a complete dismissal of civil rights lawsuit that alleged the School District was liable when a teacher had sexual relations with the 16 year-old male plaintiff).

• Perkin v. Jackson Public Schools, 833 Fed.Appx. 429 (6th Cir. 2021)(obtaining a complete dismissal of employment lawsuit that alleged plaintiffs’ due process rights and FMLA rights were violated).

• Wadley v Hazel Park Schools, 2019 WL 6683877 (E.D. Mich. 2019)(obtaining a complete dismissal of constitutional claims and state law tort claims arising from a special education student being accidentally injured at school).

• Stanton v Woodside, 2019 WL 4302787 (ED Mich 2019)(dismissing federal lawsuit filed by former school principal alleging that his due process rights were violated).

• Dowker v Richmond Community Schools, No. 336964, 2018 WL 4339509, at *1 (Mich Ct App, September 11, 2018)(affirming the dismissal of whistleblower lawsuit filed by former school principal who had been terminated for misconduct.)

• Michigan Open Carry, Inc v Clio Area Sch Dist, 501 Mich 941; 904 NW2d 420, 421 (2017)(affirming Court of Appeal’s opinion that upheld school district’s policy banning firearms.)

• Kirby v. Fitzgerald Public Schools District, 2017 WL 3616492 (E.D.Mich. 2017)(obtaining dismissal of lawsuit alleging race and gender discrimination.)

• Carter v. Warren Consolidated School District, 2017 WL 4518682 (Mich App 2017)(obtaining dismissal of defamation/retaliation lawsuit that arose from feedback about a substitute teacher to staffing agency.)

• Herman v Clio Area Schools, ____ Mich App____(2016)(published decision)(establishing that school districts can regulate the possession of firearms on school property.)

• Knox-Pipes v. Genesee Intermediate Sch. Dist., No. 322295, 2015 WL 5657396 (Mich. Ct. App. Sept.

• Houser v. Tecumseh Pub. Sch., No. 321357, 2015 WL 5488669 (Mich. Ct. App. Sept. 17, 2015)(reversing denial of summary disposition for school district and confirming that school districts are entitled to immunity when providing honest responses to reference checks.)

Zdrowski v Algonac Community Schools, No. 13-cv- 12995, ___ F. Supp.3d___ (ED Mich. 2015)(Granting dismissal of a multi-count discrimination complaint against the school district and two teachers.)

• Campbell v Dundee Community Schools, No 12-cv- 12327, 2015 WL 4040743 (ED Mich. 2015)(Granting summary judgment to School District and its employees. The former student alleged that her civil rights were violated when she was molested by a coach in middle school.)

• Dizdarevic v. City of Hamtramck, 2014 WL 7896367 (E.D.Mich. 2014)(court granted summary judgment for City and officers in lawsuit alleging plaintiff was falsely imprisoned for 6 months.)

• City of Pontiac Retired Employees Ass’n v. Schimmel, 751 F. 3d 427 (6th Cir. 2014)(successfully petitioning 6th Circuit to reconsider appeal en banc, which resulted in the 6th Circuit reversing unfavorable opinion.)

• Burns v. City of Saginaw, 2015 WL 525968 (6th Cir. 2015)(affirming dismissal of police officer’s federal civil rights complaint against the City of Saginaw.)

• Griffin v. Sanders, 914 F.Supp.2d 864 (E.D.Mich. 2012)(dismissing disability discrimination claims against school district and teachers.)

• Fuhr v. Sch. Dist. of Hazel Park, No. 08-CV-11652, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 105820 (E.D. Mich. 2011)(summary judgment granted for the school district on a multi-count employment discrimination lawsuit.)

• Light Source, Inc. v. Display Dynamics, Inc., 2:09-cv-14268, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 45804 (E.D. Mich. 2011)(obtained a judgment exceeding $500,000 for a local subcontractor against an Ohio general contractor.)

• Pack v. Mt. Morris Consol. Sch., No. 10-cv-12125, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 17149 (E.D. Mich. 2011)(motion to dismiss granted for the school district on the basis that prior administrative hearing barred any new litigation.)

• Bloch v. Davison Cmty. Schs, No. 290709, 2010 Mich. App. LEXIS 1479 (Mich. App. 2010) (successfully argued in the trial court and the court of appeals that the plaintiff’s freedom of information act request was appropriately denied by the school district.)

News / blog

John L. Miller, Shareholder at GMH

Giarmarco, Mullins & Horton, P.C. is pleased to announce that John L. Miller is now a shareholder with the firm. Mr. Miller represents public school districts and municipalities in a wide array of litigation—including: employment, FOIA and Open Meetings Act,...

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